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George VI Albert Frederick Arthur Windsor, K.G., G.C.V.O., K.T., P.C., K.P., His Majesty George VI, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and of the British dominions beyond the seas, King, Defender of the Faith. His Majesty was born 14 December 1895, the son of Prince George, Duke of York (later King George V), and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York (later Queen Mary), at York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. His paternal grandfather was still the Prince of Wales at the time of his birth. His eldest son, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, had been second in line for the throne. However the elder Prince reportedly died of pneumonia on 14 January 1892. The Duke of York replaced him as second in line for the throne. On June 23, 1894, the Duke and Duchess of York had their first son Edward who was third in line for the throne. The future George VI was thus fourth in line for the throne since birth. As a great grandson of Queen Victoria and the deceased Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in the male line, he was styled His Highness Prince Albert of York from his birth. In 1898, Queen Victoria passed letters patent which granted the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, the style Royal Highness. Thus Albert was then styled His Royal Highness Prince Albert of York. Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901. The Prince of Wales succeeded her as King Edward VII. The Duke of York became the new Prince of Wales. Prince Edward was then second in line for the throne. Prince Albert was now third in line. He was still in the Navy when Edward VII died on 6 May 1910. His father became King George V. Prince Edward was created Prince of Wales on 2 June, 1910. Albert was now second in line for the throne. In 1920, Prince Albert was created Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killarney. He then began to take on royal duties, representing his father, King George V. He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the youngest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore on April 26, 1923 in Westminster Abbey. On January 20, 1936, King George V died and Prince Edward ascended the throne as Edward VIII. As he had no children, Albert was now the heir presumptive to the throne until the unmarried Edward VIII had any legitimate children. However, Edward VIII abdicated the throne on December 11, 1936, in order to marry his love, Wallis Warfield Simpson. Thus Albert was now king and chose to take the name George to become King George VI. George VI's coronation took place on May 12, 1937. He was most famous for his role in World War II as a symbolic leader for the British Empire's fight against Nazi Germany. George VI was the last Emperor of India (until 1947), the last King of Ireland (until 1949) and the last King of Pakistan (until 1952). HM Queen Elizabeth 1900-2002 Her Majesty was born on 4 Aug 1900, the daughter of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Lady Strathmore, in London. I have identified the following children. |
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