STAGE

The Love of a King

2 Peter Dainty

Introduction

This ungraded summary is for the teachers use only

and should not be given to students.

The story
Edward was the eldest son of King George V. He had a
lonely and difficult life as a boy in Buckingham Palace
and never had the chance to play with other children
because he was different he was going to be king.
During the First World War, when he was a soldier, he
met ordinary people for the first time.
background to the story
After the war his father asked him to travel around
It is not always easy being a member of the royal
the world and meet people from different countries.
family. To others it may seem a rather fortunate and
He was a great success crowds of people came to
protected life, but there are also a lot of pressures.
see him, and he walked around, meeting and talking
Edward was not the first prince to find it difficult to
to people.
play his part properly, and he was not the last. He
In 1930, Edward met Wallis Simpson for the first
was one of the first to be chased by photographers,
time. He liked her, partly because she didnt always
and although the British newspapers did not print
agree with him (because he was going to be king,
stories about Edward and Wallis, many newspapers in
most people always agreed with him). Wallis was
other countries, particularly in America, did. Edwards
an American. She had divorced her first husband
story is a good example of how difficult it can be for a
because he was violent. She was now married to
member of the royal family to satisfy everybody the
Ernest Simpson, and living in London. Edward became
church, the government, his own family, the people
friendly with the Simpsons and eventually, he and
and to have the private life that he wants.
Wallis fell in love.
People have the same problem with royalty today.
In 1936, King George died and Edward became
They want the royal family to be special people. But
king. A few weeks later, Wallis asked her husband
they also want them to be like ordinary people, with
for a divorce: he agreed. But when Edward told the
the problems of ordinary people. Many of the royal
Archbishop of Canterbury that he wanted to marry
family have found this impossible.
Wallis, he was told that the church could never allow a
king to marry a divorced woman. The Prime Minister, before reading
Stanley Baldwin, was also opposed to the marriage.
Here are some ways to help your students approach
In December 1936, Edward gave up being king his
the story:
younger brother George became king and he left
1 Give students the title of the book and show them
England for France. Wallis followed him and they got
the picture on the cover. Ask them to try and guess
married, taking the names of the Duke and Duchess
what kind of story it is.
of Windsor. But the new King George refused to allow
2 Ask the students to read the text on the back cover
Wallis to return to England and live at Windsor Castle.
of the book, and the story introduction on the first
For thirty years the Duke and Duchess lived in Paris.
page. Then ask them a few questions about the
Then in 1966, they returned to London for a small party
story, or use the Before Reading Activities in the
with Queen Elizabeth. In 1972, the Duke died, and was
back of each Bookworm.
buried at Windsor Castle. When the Duchess died, in
3 Use the pre-reading activity in this worksheet.
1986, she was buried next to him.
4 If there is a recording of this title, play the first few
pages and stop at an interesting point.

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 STAGE
The Love of a King
2 Pre-reading activity

Word search

W P A K C A B D W A

E Y L N B I I L R R R D U H R S A D R

A R C H B I S H O P G I R H E A R T O

K J A N C Y S W W Q U V Y C A K K T Y

X V U N C L E W N U E O F X M C Z P A

W E D D I N G G G M I R R O R R Q T L

N C E R E M O N Y E I C M J T R U T H

N C Q I I M Z Y J E W E L L E R Y G G

To the teacher

Aim: To introduce the story and familiarize students
with some of the key vocabulary
Time: 1015 minutes
Organization: Give one copy of the word search
to each of the students (or each group of students)
and ask them to try and identify some of the words.
When they have found all or most of the words check
that they understand the meaning. Then ask what
sort of story might contain these words.
Key: These words appear in the word search they
also appear in the glossary at the back of The Love
of a King: archbishop, argue, bury, ceremony, crown,
divorce, dream, heart, jewellery, kiss, mirror, royal,
sad, truth, uncle, war, weak, wedding

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 STAGE
The Love of a King
2 While reading activity

Order the events

Put the events in the right order.

EvENT ORDER

a Edward met Wallis.

b Edward travelled around the world.

c Edward went to school in Buckingham Palace.

d Edward and Wallis went skiing.

e Edward spent a year at Oxford University.

f Edward and Wallis fell in love.

g Edwards father died.

h Edward became Prince of Wales.

i Edward was very lonely because he had no-one to play with.

j Edward went to war.

k Edward visited the Simpsons almost every day.

l Edwards driver was killed.

To the teacher

Where: At the end of Chapter 6 Organization: Give each student (or group of
Aim: To ensure the first part of the story is clearly students) a copy of the summary of events in the
understood first six chapters and ask them to put the events in
Time: 1015 minutes the right order, 112.
Key: a8, b7, c1, d10, e4, f11, g12, h3, i2, j5, k9, l6

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 STAGE
The Love of a King
2 After reading activity

Questionnaire

The Love of a King

1 Which character do you like most in the story? ............................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

2 Why? ............................................................................................................................................

3 Which character do you dislike most in the story?

......................................................................................................................................................

4 Why? ............................................................................................................................................

5 Do you think Edward was right to ask Wallis to marry him when she was already married?

......................................................................................................................................................

6 Do you think Wallis was right to divorce her first husband?

......................................................................................................................................................

7 Do you think Wallis was right to divorce her second husband?

......................................................................................................................................................

8 Do you think the newspapers were right to print pictures of Edward when he was on holiday?

......................................................................................................................................................

9 Baldwin didnt want Edward to be king. Was he right?

......................................................................................................................................................

10 Churchill wanted Edward to be king. Was he right?

......................................................................................................................................................

11 Why do you think Edward didnt return to England in 1966?

......................................................................................................................................................

12 Would you like to have some of Walliss jewellery?

......................................................................................................................................................

To the teacher

Aim: To focus students back on some events and each student to fill in individually. When they have
characters in the story done this they should compare their questionnaire
Time: 30 minutes with that of a partner, and attempt to justify their
Organization: Give a copy of the questionnaire to answers.

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