Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, enters Bridgerton as a charismatic yet guarded presence within the ton. Recently returned to London after his father’s death, Simon draws attention for his charm and composure, even as he makes it clear he has no intention of marrying or participating fully in the social season. If you ask Lady Whistledown at the start of Season 1, Simon is a rake. 

But, there’s more to Simon than meets the eye. His resistance is shaped by a difficult childhood marked by emotional neglect and rejection from his cruel father. Flashbacks throughout the season reveal that Simon’s vow never to have children is born out of a desire to end his family line, which he associates with pain.

Simon’s wariness gives way as his relationship with Daphne Bridgerton deepens. What starts as a strategic courtship develops into a genuine emotional connection, forcing Simon to confront — and work through — the impact of his upbringing. By the end of Season 1, Simon and Daphne are happily married, and the birth of their son secures the future of the Hastings line.

Read on to learn more about Simon’s role in the first great romance of Bridgerton.

Vital stats

Name: Simon Basset

Played by: Regé-Jean Page

Title: Duke of Hastings

Spouse: Daphne Bridgerton

Marital status: Married

Parents: The late Duke of Hastings and Sarah Basset

Children: August Basset

Closest confidant: Anthony Bridgerton

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “Diamond of the First Water” (13:35)

PHOTO BY LIAM DANIEL

Season 1

• Simon arrives in Mayfair to clean out Hastings House after his father’s death. He’s soon coerced into attending the first ball of the season, hosted by Lady Danbury, who’s something of a maternal figure to him. 
• Simon meets up with his old friend Anthony Bridgerton and formally meets the viscount’s eldest sister, Daphne. During dinner at Bridgerton House, Simon assumes Daphne is delighted to be seated next to him, since he is a duke. Daphne counters, calling Simon a “rake,” suggesting he is the kind of male aristocrat who enjoys the pleasures and freedom of singledom far more than the commitment of matrimony. Lady Whistledown’s most recent comments about Simon influence the conversation. 
• Simon catches Nigel Berbrooke accosting Daphne and sees Daphne strike him defensively. Afterward, Simon suggests that he and Daphne pretend to court — to raise Daphne’s appeal to other suitors while discouraging marriage-minded mothers from pursuing Simon.
• As their false courtship continues, Simon and Daphne develop a genuine emotional bond. When Simons realizes his feelings are becoming real, he pulls away.
• Queen Charlotte encourages a match between Daphne and the queen’s nephew, Prince Friedrich. As Simon prepares to leave Mayfair, Lady Danbury advises him not to run from love. 
• Simon attends the ball, intending to say goodbye, and finds Daphne outside. He kisses her passionately. Anthony catches them and demands Simon marry his sister. When Simon refuses, Anthony challenges him to a duel. 
• Daphne rides a horse into the middle of the duel. The gunshots scare it, and she falls off. Simon panics. She begs him to marry her so the duel will be called off. Simon says he won't have children, and Daphne agrees. She’ll be happy as long as they’re together. 
• Simon and Daphne obtain a special license and get married. After the wedding, they confess they've fallen for each other. This sudden burst of honesty leads to a harmonious and sexually fulfilling honeymoon. 
• Throughout the season, flashbacks reveal Simon’s childhood: His father withheld affection and rejected him because of a speech impediment, repeatedly calling him a disappointment who was unworthy of the Hastings name. These experiences shape Simon’s views on family and his vow never to have children.
• Upon returning to London, Daphne learns the mechanics of conception and realizes Simon is deliberately preventing pregnancy. She confronts him. 
• Simon moves into a separate bedroom, determined to uphold his vow to himself (and against his father). 
• Lady Danbury tells Simon that continuing to deny himself joy only allows his late father’s cruelty to persist. 
• Daphne attempts to repair the relationship and reveals she read the letters he wrote to his father as a child, pleading for affection. The two reconcile, choosing honesty and love.
• Daphne gives birth to a son, marking Simon’s acceptance of fatherhood and newfound family — and a happier, more loving future for the Hastings line.

Notable scenes

Simon makes the oath to his father in Season 1, Episode 2, “Shock and Delight” (57:20–58:05) 

Why it’s memorable: In a flashback, Simon confronts his father, the late Duke of Hastings, and vows never to have children — declaring that the Hastings line will end with him. This defining choice —a key source of conflict that drives the emotional arc of Season 1 — shapes Simon’s behavior  and becomes a central obstacle in his relationship with Daphne.

Simon explains he and Daphne’s love story to the queen in Season 1, Episode 5, “The Duke and I” (30:35–32:57) 

Why it’s memorable: Simon and Daphne are summoned before Queen Charlotte to explain the nature of their relationship. Simon openly describes Daphne as someone who’s deeply important to him, defending their connection in a public setting. The exchange marks a shift in how Simon presents his relationship with Daphne — no longer as a strategic arrangement but as a bond he openly acknowledges. The scene highlights the growing seriousness of their partnership and reinforces Queen Charlotte’s role as both an obstacle and arbiter within the social order of the ton.

Simon and Daphne confess their feelings in Season 1, Episode 5, “The Duke and I” (49:49–57:42) 

Why it’s memorable: On their wedding night, Simon and Daphne acknowledge their “burning” affection for one another and consummate their marriage. The scene marks a turning point in their relationship, transitioning from strategic partners to a married couple bound by intimacy and duty.

Simon and Daphne’s rainsoaked confession in Season 1, Episode 8, “After the Rain” (52:21–56:24) 

Why it’s memorable: After a prolonged conflict, Simon and Daphne stand in the rain together, signaling their literal and metaphorical ability to finally weather the worst as a couple. The two speak openly about their marriage and the choices that have kept them apart. Daphne swears she loves every part of Simon, finally giving him the emotional assurances he has wanted since childhood. She urges him to choose a different kind of affection now — one far from the shadow of his father. The conversation moves something in Simon, and he later comes to Daphne and pledges to be the husband she needs, resolving the central and emotional conflict of the season.

Viral moments

• Stare into my eyes