Daphne Basset (née Bridgerton) is the Duchess of Hastings and the wife of the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset. In the books, they share five children together, Amelia, Belinda, Caroline, David, and Edward. However, in the Netflix series, they share a son together named August.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Daphne is the eldest Bridgerton daughter, and the fourth of eight siblings. In the books, she was the person who informed her eldest brother, Anthony, of their father's death.
Later life[]
Around the age of 21, she married the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset, a good friend of her brother's and a member of the Royal family. They went on to have five children together, Amelia, Belinda, Caroline, David, and Edward. They made permanent residence together at Hastings House.
Physical appearance[]
Like all the Bridgertons, Daphne bears a striking resemblance to her siblings: the same thick brown hair, the same wide mouth, and the same elegant bone structure.
Daphne is considered pretty, but nothing exceptional. She has long, thick, dark brown hair, large, dark brown eyes with a narrow green circle around their pupils, the color of a deep moss, thick eyebrows, full, soft, pink lips with a hint of peach at the corners, and a wide, charming smile. Her heart-shaped face is not pretty by society's standards, but she is quite attractive.
However, in the Netflix series, Daphne has light brown hair and blue eyes; she is considered to be an exceptional beauty, and the "Incomparable" or "Diamond" of the season.
Personality traits[]
Growing up in the Bridgerton family, Daphne was surrounded by love and joy, and hopes to marry and have a family as wonderful as her own. As the eldest daughter, Daphne feels pressure to marry well so that her younger sisters will also marry well. But the more she is exposed to the real world and London society, Daphne realizes that she will face many challenges; her only hope is that the love she knows and has experienced will be the key to overcoming these challenges.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Simon Basset[]
Daphne and Simon begin a friendly relationship, pretending to be courting for both their benefit. Daphne's prospects increase, as she is seen to be more desirable, and Simon is free of the ladies looking to court him. They become close friends, and eventually the pair end up falling in love over the course of their ruse, and marry—though not without complications, as Simon is against having children and Daphne desperately wants a household filled with them. Eventually, they have five children together, Amelia, Belinda, Caroline, David, and Edward. In the Netflix adaptation, however, they have one boy named August.
Nigel Berbrooke[]
Nigel is Daphne’s ex-fiance. Daphne deeply disliked Nigel, due to their profound age difference and his unbecoming character, but he obtained a special permit to marry her and threatened to ruin her reputation if she did not. Thankfully, Nigel's reputation was tarnished and he left town to tend to his personal affairs, leaving Daphne free to marry whomever she pleased.
Prince Frederick[]
Though he does not appear in the books, in the Netflix show, as the queen's "Incomparable" or "Diamond," Daphne is introduced by the queen to her nephew, Prince Frederick. Frederick is infatuated, though at first Daphne is not reciprocal of his advances. Yet, after Simon ends their ruse and friendship, effectively breaking Daphne’s heart, she allows Frederick to properly court her. As Frederick is on the verge of proposal at a ball, Daphne flees from him and finds Simon, realising she is in love with the duke and not the prince. She becomes engaged to Simon, and later apologises to Frederick, explaining how she and Simon share a true love too strong to fight.
Familial[]
Caroline Basset[]
Daphne absolutely adores her little girl, Caroline. She often takes her along when she has tea with her mother and sisters.
Friendships[]
Quotes[]
"I burn for you.”
Trivia[]
- She was the first of the eight Bridgerton siblings to marry.
- In the books, she has five children and her first child was a girl who was named, Amelia.
- Her children are named alphabetically like her and her siblings are.
- She has an interest in art and history.
- She always wanted to be a mother.
- However, in the Netflix series, she has one son named August.