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You are here: UK History > Royal History > House of Windsor > George VI | The reluctant king
As the second son of king George V, no one ever thought that the timid Prince Albert, known as Bertie to his friends would be thrust into the spotlight. However, after his brother Edward VIII abdicated, Bertie ascended the throne ruling as George VI.
Born: Prince Albert of York, 14th December 1895 at York Cottage, Sandringham, Norfolk
Died: 6th February 1952 (aged 56), Sandringham House, Norfolk
Reign: 11th December 1936 – 6th February 1952
Parents: George V and Mary of Teck
Predecessor: Edward VIII
Successor: Elizabeth II
Spouse: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Children: Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret
Royal House: Windsor
Albert Frederick Arthur George was born in December 1895, during the reign of his great grandmother and was named after his great grandfather, Prince Albert. As such, he was known as Bertie by friends and family, up until his coronation. He received the name of Albert because he was born on the 34th anniversary of his great grandfather’s death and his uncle, the Prince of Wales thought it would be a nice gesture. At birth, he was fourth in line to the throne after his grandfather, father and elder brother.
As was custom, his parents were generally removed from his everyday upbringing and by all accounts, his father was incredibly strict and fostered an atmosphere of fear among his children. Bertie was known to be a very shy and sickly child, suffering from a stammer which plagued him for years and chronic stomach pains. At various points, he also had difficulties walking and issues with his knees for which he was forced to wear corrective splints. Though he was naturally left handed, as a young prince, he was forced to write with his right hand as was common at the time.
His great grandmother, Queen Victoria, died on 22nd January 1901 and his grandfather, the Prince of Wales, succeeded her as King Edward VII, moving him up the line of succession.
As is usually custom for minor royals and younger members of the royal family, Bertie was prepared for a life in the forces. From 1909, he attended the Royal Naval College at Osborne, after two years, he finished bottom of his class in his final exam, but progressed to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, anyway. When his grandfather died in 1910, his father became King George V and his brother, became the Prince of Wales and ceased his military service. Though Bertie was no second in line for the throne, he continued to serve with the forces.
He spent the first six months of 1913 on a training ship in the West Indies and Canada, where he served as midshipman, however he never overcame his seasickness, leading to a transfer to the Royal Airforce.
Unlike his brother, who desperately wanted to serve in WWI, Bertie did briefly see warfare. He was medically evacuated for an appendectomy and did not see further combat because of ill health. By 1918, he had been appointed Officer in Charge of Boys at the Royal Naval Air Service’s training establishment at Cranwell. Following the creation of the Royal Air Force, he transferred there, where he served as an officer before undertaking flight training at the RAF Cadet School. Where his brother might have been the first royal to fly to his ascension council, Bertie was the first member of the British Royal family to be certified as a fully qualified pilot.
Despite his poor health, Bertie wanted to serve on the continent while the war was still in progress and was stationed in France, where he served on the staff of the Independent Air Force. Following the force’s disbanding, he remained on the continent with the RAF before returning to Britain, he then became fully qualified as an RAF pilot on 31st July 1919 and was promoted to squadron leader the next day.
That same year, he started at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied history, economics and civics for a year. The following year, he was created Duke of York, as is usual for a monarch’s second son, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killarney. It was at this time that he started to take on more royal duties, representing his father and touring coal mines, factories and railyards. These visits lead him to becoming known as the Industrial Prince. His stammer and shyness caused him to appear less confident in public than his older brother, but he was physically active and enjoyed playing tennis, resulting in him playing at Wimbledon in 1926. It was events like this that led to him being a popular member of the royal family and his interest in working conditions, endeared him to the public. He later became president of the Industrial Welfare Society and began a series of annual summer camps for boys between 1921 and 1939, which brought together young boys from all different social backgrounds.
In a time when royalty were supposed to marry fellow royals, Bertie went against the grain and was given freedom in choosing a wife. After being made the Duke of York, he met Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. The pair had met before as children, but this was the first time they’d met as adults. She rejected his proposals twice, but after a long courtship, the pair got engaged. They were married on 26th April 1923 at Westminster Abbey and the marriage was considered an act of modernisation for the royal family.
As newly weds, the pair toured Africa as the Duke and Duchess of York, though because of his stammer, Bertie was wary of speaking in public. On his return, he started to see a speech therapist, Lionel Logue, who helped him overcome his stammer and gave him the chance to speak in public with less hesitation. This inspired the film the King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.
Together, Bertie and Elizabeth had two daughters, Elizabeth born in 1926 and Margaret born in 1930. Elizabeth, who was known as Lilibet, was a particular favourite of her grandfather George V, who she referred to as Grandpa England.
Bertie and Elizabeth formed a close and loving family and resided at 145 Picadilly rather than at one of the royal palaces.
King George V spoke publicly about wishing that Bertie and his children could take the throne instead of his older son. However, on his death, Bertie’s brother ascended and became King Edward VIII on 20th January 1936.
As King Edward was unmarried and had no children, Bertie was heir presumptive. Less than a year later however, King Edward abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson and Bertie, who was reluctant to take the throne, became king. On the day of Edward’s abdication, the parliament of the Irish Free State removed all direct mention of the monarch from their constitution. The next day, it passed an act giving the monarch limited authority, making it a republic and removing it from the Commonwealth.
Bertie assumed the regnal name George VI and for the first few months of his reign, concentrated on sorting out issues surrounding his brother. His first act as king was creating his brother the Duke of Windsor, with the style of his Royal Highness but this included banning any wife or children from having royal titles. Bertie was also forced to buy two royal residences that were owned by Edward, as these were private properties and didn’t belong to the crown.
His coronation took place on 12th May 1937 which would have been Edward’s coronation date. In a break with tradition, his mother the Dowager Queen attended, to support him. After dealing with the issues over the Duke of Windsor, Bertie’s time was dominated with the growing likelihood of war. He was constitutionally bound to support the policy of appeasement promoted by Neville Chamberlain. Just before the outbreak of the second world war, Bertie and his wife toured the UK and Canada, the first time a reigning monarch had visited the region.
Following the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939, Britain declared war and joined over European nations in the fight against fascism. The royal family was advised to leave the capital, but Bertie resolved to stay in London despite bombing raids. He and his wife officially stayed in Buckingham Palace throughout the war and spending nights at Windsor Castle, the children were housed elsewhere. Buckingham Palace was bombed in September while they were in residence and later in the war, the Duke of Kent, Bertie’s younger brother was killed in active service.
In 1940, Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain and a lifelong friendship between Prime Minister and king was born. It was the closest personal relationship in modern British history between a monarch and the premier. The pair met up every Tuesday, following Churchill’s appointment and would continue to meet privately for lunch for several years.
Throughout the war, both the king and queen would make visits around the UK to boost morale and Bertie would regularly visit British forces overseas. After the war, in 1946, Bertie attended the first UN assembly, which was held in London.
Following the conclusion of the war, the dissolution of the British Empire began to accelerate, with India and Pakistan, joining Ireland and becoming independent. The empire began its transformation into a voluntary association of independent states.
The stress of WWII took a toll on Bertie’s health, which was already poor due to years of heavy smoking. Towards the end of his reign, he was suffering from lung cancer and a number of other ailments. As his health continued to decline, his daughter Elizabeth began to take on more royal duties, accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Bertie seemed well when he appeared in public in 1951 but underwent an operation in the September of that year, where the whole of his left lung was removed after a tumour was found. That year’s State Opening of Parliament saw his speech read for him by the Lord Chancellor and the Christmas broadcast was recorded in sections and edited together.
Despite medical advice to remain at home, Bertie went to the airport on 31st January 1952 to see Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh off on their latest royal tour. It would be the last time he was seen in public. He would be found in his bed at Sandringham House six days later having passed away in his sleep. Elizabeth returned home as Queen of the United Kingdom.
Initially, Bertie was buried at the Royal Vault, but was later transferred to the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 1969. His wife and daughter Margaret, who both died in 2002, were buried with him.
Following his death, the George Cross and George Medal were both founded and were handed out to those who provide excellent service.
Sandringham, Norfolk
Buckingham Palace, London
Windsor Castle, Berkshire
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