George VI | |||||
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![]() Formal photograph, c. 1940–1946 | |||||
King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (more...) | |||||
Reign | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | ||||
Coronation | 12 May 1937 | ||||
Predecessor | Edward VIII | ||||
Successor | Elizabeth II | ||||
Emperor of India | |||||
Reign | 11 December 1936 – 15 August 1947 | ||||
Predecessor | Edward VIII | ||||
Successor | Position abolished[a] | ||||
Born | Prince Albert of York 14 December 1895 York Cottage, Sandringham, Norfolk, England | ||||
Died | 6 February 1952 Sandringham House, Norfolk | (aged 56)||||
Burial | 15 February 1952 | ||||
Spouse | |||||
Issue Detail | |||||
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House |
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Father | George V | ||||
Mother | Mary of Teck | ||||
Service/branch | |||||
Years of service | 1913–1919 (active service) | ||||
Battles/wars |
George VI (born Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor;[1] 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom from 11 December 1936 until his death on 6 February 1952. He became king when his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. George was married to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon from April 1923 until his death.
He was succeeded as monarch by his elder daughter, Elizabeth.
George had a stutter.[2] This made it very difficult for him to carry out many of the public duties of a king which required him to make speeches. He was treated by an Australian speech and language therapist called Lionel Logue.[2] The story of this part of George's life was made into a movie in 2010 called The King's Speech.[2] Colin Firth played the role of George, and Geoffrey Rush played the role of Logue.
George became a very popular king throughout the British Empire. He won admiration during World War II (1939–1945), in which he stayed at Buckingham Palace during the most intense months of the Blitz. The Palace was bombed more than twice but he still remained, becoming a symbol of resistance and "fighting spirit". He enjoyed a close working relationship with his wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, inviting him to join the Royal Family on Victory in Europe Day (1945) to celebrate the defeat of the Nazis.
After World War II ended, his health began to decline which meant he couldn’t do many duties as king so Princess Elizabeth took them on in his place. A heavy smoker, George died of lung cancer and was given a state funeral. He was 56 years old.
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