She was officially crowned at the age of 27. Notwithstanding George’s symbolic leadership of the British people during World War II, his reign was perhaps most important for the accelerating evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations and the postwar transformation of Great Britain into a welfare state. During the victory celebration at the end of the war in Europe, the king invited Prime Minister Churchill to appear with him on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, just as he had done with Chamberlain. On April 26, 1923, he married Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, youngest daughter of the 14th earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... (From left) Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Princess Margaret, and Princess Elizabeth, 1939. They had two children: Elizabeth, born in 1926, and Margaret, born in 1930. Dezember 1895 - 6. British royalty, second son of George V, became King of Great Britain 12/1936 after his elder brother, Edward VIII abdicated. King George and Queen Elizabeth undertook many morale-boosting visits to Britain’s bombed-out cities, touring hospitals and visiting with wounded troops. Though formally known as "His Highness Prince Albert of York," within the family the future king was called "Bertie," and, as a young man, "Albert.". On June 3, 1920, he was created duke of York. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, violating the Munich Pact, and war was declared. So as not to be confused with her daughter, King George VI’s widow, Queen Elizabeth, took on the name "Queen Mother.". He guided his country through World War II and the years of rapid transformation that followed. George VI, born Albert Frederick Arthur George was the King of the United Kingdom from December 11, 1936, to 1952 when he died. A planned tour of Australia and New Zealand was postponed after the king suffered an arterial blockage in 1949. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. He was the king (monarch) of the United Kingdom from 11 December 1936 until he died. Prince Albert, Duke of York (as George VI was known before he became king), had been bullied and undermined from childhood by his tyrannical father, George V, and kept at a distance by his cold mother, Queen Mary.Understandably, he grew up with a profound lack of self-confidence that not merely caused him to stammer so badly in public that he sometimes became … Al Green is known for the hit song "Let's Stay Together," and for leaving his musical career at its height in the 1970s to become a reverend at his own church. His birth occurred while his great-grandmother Victoria was the Queen of England. George VI, som var känd som Albert tills han blev kung, föddes till prins George, då hertig av York (senare kung George V) och hans fru, Mary of Teck. Sie wurde im Alter von 27 Jahren offiziell gekrönt, um nicht mit ihrer Tochter, König George VI., verwechselt zu werden Witwe, Königin Elizabeth, nahm den Namen "Königinmutter" an. Han var deras andra son efter födelsen av sin bror Edward året innan. In 1951, following years of heavy smoking, King George was diagnosed with lung cancer and arteriosclerosis. The Establishment reacted against the idea of a twice married American divorcée as Queen, and Edward decided to abdicate in favour of his younger brother Albert who became King George VI. Recognizing that his stammer was an ordeal for her husband and his audiences, Elizabeth sought the help of Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist living in London. Philip Ziegler's biography of the father of Britain's current Queen Elizabeth, "George VI: The Dutiful King", is a slim addition to the 'Penguin Monarchs' series, offering just six chapters over fewer than 80 pages of a hardbound duodecimo format (approx 7" x 5") publication, … Link to Wikipedia biography During the Second World War, the King and Queen became symbols of the fight against fascism. Nevertheless, focused on World War II, the two men quickly developed a strong working relationship and deep respect for each other. Normally went to … Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Henry the Navigator, a 15th century Portuguese prince, helped usher in both the Age of Discovery and the Atlantic slave trade. He once said, "I pray God that my eldest son will never marry and that nothing will come between Bertie [Prince Albert] and Lilibet [Albert’s daughter] and the throne.". During World War I, the future king served on the HMS Collingwood. Updates? He saw action at the inconclusive Battle of Juteland in May 1916. Born on December 14, 1895, he added as the ruler of the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, first Head of the Commonwealth and the last Emperor of India. George VI visited the British forces abroad in locations such as North Africa, Malta, and Normandy. Acceding to the throne upon his brother's abdication, he was immediately confronted with the turmoil in European politics leading up to the Second World War, then the War itself, followed by a period of austerity, social transformation and loss of Empire. Around this time, his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, the presumptive heir, began to take on some of his royal duties. During World War II the king and queen were praised for their staunch resolve and morale-boosting visits to factories and war-battered cities while the government of Winston Churchill prosecuted the war. Eleanor Roosevelt (centre), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in London, 23 October 1942. König George VI (geb. Patrick Howarth was the author of numerous works of history, biography and criticism, including 'The Year is 1851' and 'George VI'. That struggle and George’s tremendous will power are captured in the motion picture The King’s Speech (2010), which depicts his long-term relationship with the unconventional Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue and climaxes with the king’s inspiring live radio address on September 3, 1939, as Britain entered World War II. Crowned on 5/12/1937, he was a popular monarch in troubled times, Married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1932, had two daughters. After the war, Prince Albert went to Trinity College (University of Cambridge) and studied history, economics and civics. He and Chamberlain appeared together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the crowds after the agreement’s announcement, a tradition normally restricted to royal family members. Second World War. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. 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 the 1930s, King George VI, a strong supporter of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, hoped that Chamberlain would be able to stave off a war with Nazi Germany. George VI was crowned the king of the United Kingdom in 1937 and was an important symbolic leader for the British people during World War II. En savoir plus sur Biography.com. From 1948 on, the king’s health deteriorated, and he died a few months after undergoing an operation for lung cancer. König George VI wurde am 14. He is best remembered for his 1960s segregationist politics. Charles II was the monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland during much of the latter half of the 17th century, marking the Restoration era. Sarah Bradford is an internationally acclaimed historian and biographer. George VI, also called (1920–36) Prince Albert, duke of York, in full Albert Frederick Arthur George, (born December 14, 1895, Sandringham, Norfolk, England—died February 6, 1952, Sandringham), king of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. He earned respect by scrupulously observing the responsibilities and limitations of a constitutional monarch. Her father, King George VI suffered from lung cancer for much of his later life and died in his sleep on Feb. 6, 1952, at age 56. George VI became King unexpectedly following the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, in December 1936. At around age eight, the future King George VI developed a stammer, and he suffered the indignity of wearing leg braces to correct his knock knees. George VI’s stammer. Prince Albert was crowned on May 12, 1937, and took on the name George VI to emphasize continuity with his father and restore confidence in the monarchy. During the war, George became a powerful symbol of courage and fortitude for the British people. Reserved by nature, and of deep religious belief, he was helped in his work by his wife. Of the fifth generation of his family to live in Massachusetts, George Leonard pursued a conventional existence until the American revolution. During World War II, the royal couple was resolved to stay in London at Buckingham Palace despite intense German bombing raids. George VI (1895-1952) was king of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1936 to 1952. In May 1940, when the House of Commons forced Chamberlain to resign, the king wished to appoint Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (later 1st earl of Halifax) to the premiership but was induced to select Winston Churchill, whose wartime leadership he then supported unreservedly. He was succeeded by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. George VI of the United Kingdom (Born as Albert Frederick Arthur George; on December 14, 1895, in York Cottage, United Kingdom – Died on February 6, 1952, Sandringham Estate, United Kingdom) was King of the United Kingdom and its overseas dominions from November to December of 1936 until his death. Though Chamberlain's efforts were criticized as a "policy of appeasement" by the opposition party in Parliament, King George VI supported his prime minister. Rather than relocate his family to the safety of Canada, he remained in the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain. In 1943 the king visited British troops in North Africa. He only stayed there for one year, however, and in 1920, he was made the Duke of York and began to carry out public duties for his father. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Although King George had ceased to be emperor of India when India and Pakistan became separate independent countries, he was formally recognized, on April 27, 1949, as head of the Commonwealth of Nations by the governments of its member states. George VI - Lady Elizabeth TV-14 1:21 Born Elizabeth Angela Martuerite Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother Elizabeth was one of the most popular debutantes of her time. Shortly after the declaration of war, The Queen's Book of the Red Cross was conceived. Er war der zweite Sohn des Prinzen Georg, Duke of York und dessen Gemahlin Prinzessin Mary of Teck. He had married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923. After twice rejecting Albert's marriage proposal, Elizabeth finally accepted, and they were married on April 26, 1923, at Westminster Abbey. King George VI ruled long enough to oversee the tumultuous post-war years in Britain, the collapse of the British Empire and the emergence of the Commonwealth. Corrections? https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-VI, English Monarchs - Biography of George VI, The Home of the Royal Family - Biography of George VI, George VI - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), George VI - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Princess Margaret, and Princess Elizabeth. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. At first reluctant, Prince Albert began seeing Logue and partaking in his unorthodox exercises. It was the same day as the death of Prince Albert in 1861 and consequently he was christened Albert Frederick Arthur George, known as Bertie to the family. Prince Albert and Logue cultivated a strong relationship and, gradually, his speech improved. In June 1944, 10 days after the D-Day invasion, the king visited the troops in Normandy. George VI, also called (1920–36) Prince Albert, duke of York, in full Albert Frederick Arthur George, (born December 14, 1895, Sandringham, Norfolk, England—died February 6, 1952, Sandringham), king of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. He previously suffered from lung cancer and had a lung removed; it was later determined that he had died of a coronary thrombosis. Biography. He was born on December 14, 1895 in the royal family's country house in Norfolk, popularly known as the Sandringham house. Gerald Ford became the 38th president of the United States following Richard Nixon's resignation, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. He supported Winston Churchill completely throughout the war and even visited armies on the battlefronts. His wife often accompanied him and participated in the sessions. Howarth was a former diplomat who had worked in public relations, and had served in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. Succeeded by his daughter Elizabeth at just 55 years old, King George VI had a deep sense of honour and duty and was completely dedicated to his turbulent role as King. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He was married to Marie Antoinette and was executed for treason by guillotine in 1793. Though affectionate with his mother, affection was not always returned, and his father was harsh and critical. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. A conscientious and dedicated man, he worked hard to adapt to the role into which he was suddenly thrown. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. King George VI (born Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George; December 14, 1895–February 6, 1952) was King of the United Kingdom, Head of the British Commonwealth, and the last Emperor of India.