George VI

George VI was born on 14 December 1895 at York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. He was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, and was known as “Bertie” to his family and close friends. He was not expected to inherit the throne, as his elder brother Edward was the heir apparent. He attended naval college as a teenager and served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during the First World War. He fought at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and was mentioned in despatches for his bravery. He also suffered from a stammer, which he tried to overcome with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue. In 1920, he was created Duke of York and began to take on more royal duties. In 1923, he married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, a Scottish aristocrat and a distant cousin. They had two daughters: Elizabeth, born in 1926, and Margaret, born in 1930. The family lived at 145 Piccadilly in London and at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. They were popular with the public for their warmth and informality. George was also interested in science, technology, industry, agriculture and sports. He founded the King’s Cup Air Race in 1922 and was patron of several sporting associations. In 1936, George’s father died and his brother Edward ascended the throne as Edward VIII. However, Edward caused a constitutional crisis when he decided to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. The British government, the Church of England and the dominions opposed the marriage, as it was seen as incompatible with Edward’s role as head of state and head of the church. Edward chose to abdicate rather than give up Simpson, and George reluctantly became king on 11 December 1936. He took the regnal name George VI to emphasise continuity with his father and restore confidence in the monarchy. George VI faced many challenges as king, both at home and abroad. In September 1939, Britain declared war on Nazi Germany after its invasion of Poland. George VI supported Prime Minister Winston Churchill and visited troops, factories, bombed areas and other countries during the war. He also broadcast several speeches to rally the nation and the empire. He stayed at Buckingham Palace throughout the war, despite it being bombed nine times. His wife, Queen Elizabeth (later known as The Queen Mother), shared his sense of duty and became a symbol of courage and resilience for the British people. In 1947, George VI celebrated his silver wedding anniversary and embarked on a tour of South Africa with his wife and daughters. It was the first time a reigning monarch had visited South Africa. He also granted independence to India and Pakistan in 1947, ending British rule in the Indian subcontinent. He ceased to be Emperor of India but became Head of the Commonwealth instead. He recognised that Britain’s role in the world had changed after the war and that its empire would gradually evolve into a free association of nations. George VI’s health deteriorated in his later years. He had smoked heavily since World War I and developed lung cancer. In 1951, he had a lung operation but never fully recovered. He died in his sleep on 6 February 1952 at Sandringham House at the age of 56. His eldest daughter Elizabeth succeeded him as Queen Elizabeth II. His funeral was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where he was buried in the royal vault. In 1969, his body was moved to the newly built King George VI Memorial Chapel, where he was joined by his wife in 2002 and his daughter Princess Margaret in 2002. George VI was a conscientious and dedicated king who worked hard to adapt to the role into which he was suddenly thrown. He was a man of deep religious faith and a loving husband and father. He was respected and admired by his people and his peers for his courage, humility and sense of duty. He led Britain and the Commonwealth through the dark days of World War II and the post-war transition. He is remembered as a good and faithful servant of his country and his God.