George VI

Edward VII UK and successors

Prince Albert in RAF uniform

StateLibQld 1 110084 Duke and Duchess of York at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane, 1927

TIMEMagazine12Jan1925

1 crown George VI 1937

George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of India until August 1947, when India gained independence. George VI was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, and he ascended the throne after the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. His reign saw the acceleration of the decline of the British Empire, the challenges of World War II, and the beginning of the transformation of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations.

Early Life

George VI was born at York Cottage, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, during the reign of his great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. He was the second son of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary). His early life was marked by ill health and he was educated at home by tutors. Later, he attended the Royal Naval College, Osborne, and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. After serving in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force during World War I, he took on more public duties and invested in his interest in industrial and social issues.

Duke of York

In 1920, he was created Duke of York. He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, and they had two daughters, Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret. As Duke of York, he carried out a wide range of public duties and was known for his efforts to help those suffering during the economic hardships of the 1920s and 1930s.

Accession and Reign

George VI came to the throne unexpectedly following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII, who had chosen to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American, which was deemed unacceptable as head of the Church of England. As king, George VI worked to restore the prestige of the monarchy and was a symbol of continuity and stability during the upheavals of the 1930s and the Second World War.

During World War II, George VI remained in London during the Blitz and visited troops on several battlefronts. He and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, became symbols of resistance and endurance. His reign saw the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, and his title of Emperor of India was dropped. The post-war period saw the acceleration of the decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean.

Death and Legacy

George VI died of a coronary thrombosis on 6 February 1952 at Sandringham House, Norfolk. He was succeeded by his elder daughter, Elizabeth II. His death marked the end of an era, but he is remembered for his dedication to duty and his role in guiding the British monarchy through the challenges of the mid-20th century.

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