KING GEORGE VI (r. 1936 – 1952)

Although 2002 was a celebration marking The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, it was also the 50th anniversary of her father’s death. King George VI died on 6 February 1952 aged just 56, leaving the young Princess Elizabeth as Queen and a nation in mourning.

Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister at the time, commented in the House of Commons that: ‘The King walked with death, as if death were a companion, an acquaintance  whom he recognised and did not fear’.

George had never expected to be king. Born Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George, he was the second son of King George V, and therefore was behind his elder brother Edward in the line of succession. 

He served in the Navy and fought in the First World War. He was mentioned in dispatches for his role in the Battle of Jutland, fought in the North Sea.

After the war he played an active role in the Royal Family as Duke of York. He became President of the Industrial Welfare Society, which aimed to promote industrial relations.

He also founded the popular Duke of York’s Camps for Boys, which brought together boys from all kinds of backgrounds to enjoy outdoor life together, and attended the camps regularly himself.

In 1923 he married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and the Duke and Duchess of York travelled together on official visits to Australia and east Africa. There was also time for family and leisure. They had two children, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose.

The Duke was an excellent lawn tennis player, and appeared in the 1926 All England Championships at Wimbledon in the men’s doubles. He also enjoyed horse racing.

On the death of his father in 1936, Prince Edward became King Edward VIII, but the monarchy was thrown into crisis by his association with Mrs Wallis Simpson. 

The King was prevented by his ministers from marrying Mrs Simpson on the grounds that she was a divorcee and thought unsuitable to become Queen. 

He was faced with a choice of renouncing Mrs Simpson or abdicating.  He chose the latter option and signed an official Act on 10 December 1936 with the bill being given the Royal Assent the following day. King George VI’s reign therefore dates from 11 December 1936.

King George VI was in many ways faced with a daunting task on becoming King. The monarchy was in a weakened state and his new duties had been thrust upon him. Within three years, the country was also at war with Germany and her allies. 

The King did much to endear himself to the British public during the Second World War.  He insisted on remaining in Buckingham Palace during the Blitz while the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were sent to Windsor Castle, and he and the Queen lived on the same rations as everyone else.

During this time nine bombs fell on Buckingham Palace.  The King and Queen toured many of the areas that had suffered from heavy bombing and the King conducted visits abroad to see his troops, in France and North Africa, for example. 

By his close association with the plight of the British people, King George VI contributed towards fostering a tremendous spirit of unity, while his visits to bomb-damaged areas and troops abroad helped boost morale.

He also founded the George Medal and the George Cross to honour the ‘many acts of heroism performed both by male and female persons especially during the present war.’  In 1942 the George Cross was given to the island of Malta in recognition of the bravery displayed during the island’s long siege by the Germans.

George VI also undertook many tours abroad with his wife.  In 1938 he paid a State visit to France and followed that the following year by a visit to Canada and the United States. 

This was the first time that a British Sovereign had entered the United States.  After the war, King George became the first sovereign to take his family on a Royal tour, when in 1947 he and his family visited South Africa.

It was also a time of change in the Commonwealth.  King George VI was the last to hold the title ‘Emperor of India’ when in 1947 India and Pakistan became independent. 

India indicated that she wished to remain as part of the Commonwealth, however. 

As such she agreed in 1949 that the King would be accepted as the Head of the Commonwealth.

The post-war years were ones of economic depression, the start of the Cold War and huge social reforms undertaken by the then Labour government led by Clement Atlee. It was in this climate that the King’s health began to fade and in 1951 he had a lung operation. 

He waved goodbye to his eldest daughter, Princess Elizabeth, and her husband on 31 January 1952 as they boarded a flight at London airport destined for Kenya and the Commonwealth. 

It was the last time they would ever see each other. The King passed away in his sleep on 6 February 1952 while staying at his beloved Sandringham.

At King George VI’s funeral, Winston Churchill laid a wreath, attached to which was a wreath containing the message written on the Victoria Cross. It simply read: ‘For valour.’