King George VI (1895 - 1952)
The royal family (Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and King George VI) wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
The King, Queen, their daughters and Prime Minister Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after Britain's victory in World War Two
The King's funeral procession
February 15th 1952: Funeral of King George VI
On this day in 1952, the funeral of the British King George VI took place. Prince Albert was never expected to become King, but was thrust into the role upon the abdication of his older brother Edward VIII in 1936, who abandoned the throne in order to marry his divorced lover Wallis Simpson. Despite his ill-preparedness, and the fact that he suffered from a stammer which made public speaking difficult, King George VI (the name he adopted upon accession) is often regarded as one of the greatest British monarchs. Coming to the throne just before the beginning of the Second World War, he found himself reigning as King during one of the most horrific and devastating wars Britain has ever experienced. George has been widely praised by historians for his morale boosting influence during the war. However, the war was not the only monumental event that took place during the reign of George VI; it was under his rule that the British Empire mostly dissolved, with independence movements in India and Ireland leading to a transition from empire to Commonwealth. The King died on February 6th 1952 at Sandringham House, Norfolk, aged 56, and was succeeded by his daughter Elizabeth. The princess was visiting Kenya when the news of her father’s death reached her, and she immediately returned to Britain to be crowned Elizabeth II; she remains on the throne to this day. Her father lay in state at Westminster Hall and on February 15th a funeral procession was held and the King was buried in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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