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George VI

Also known as Bertie (nickname)

York Cottage, 14 Dec 1895 – Sandringham House, 6 Feb 1952

30 facts3 sources

Animated by AI

About George VI

George VI: Marriage, Abdication, and the Crown

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records George VI’s birth in 1895 at York Cottage and his death in 1952 at Sandringham House. He was the son of George V and Mary of Teck. 1234

In 1923, Prince Albert, Duke of York, married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The abdication of Edward VIII in 1936 preceded George VI’s reign as monarch of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. Their coronation took place in 1937. 5678

George VI also held the title of Emperor of India from 1936 to 1948. The summary identifies him as the last Emperor of India, with the title formally relinquished in 1948, and as the first Head of the Commonwealth following the London Declaration of 1949. His death was followed by a state funeral in 1952. 91011

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born14 Dec 1895, York Cottagenot verified1 source
  • TitleDuke of York, 1920–1936or emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • Titleemperor, 1936–1937or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • Titlemonarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • Titlemonarch of Canada, 1936–1952or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • TitleMonarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • TitleEmperor of India, 1936–1948or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • Titlemonarch of Australia, 1942–1952or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of India, 1947–1950or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • Titlemonarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • Titlemonarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950 · monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952not verified1 source
  • Titlemonarch of the Dominion of Ceylon, 1948–1952or Duke of York, 1920–1936 · emperor, 1936–1937 · Emperor of India, 1936–1948 · Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952 · monarch of Canada, 1936–1952 · monarch of the Union of South Africa, 1936–1952 · monarch of Australia, 1942–1952 · monarch of New Zealand, 1947–1952 · monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan, 1947–1952 · King of India, 1947–1950not verified1 source
  • Event1939 royal tour of Canadaor wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · the Blitz · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventDeath and state funeral of George VIor wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canadanot verified1 source
  • EventThe Blitzor wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventLondon Declarationor wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventVictory in Europe Dayor wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Munich agreement · London Declaration · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventMunich agreementor wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventWorld War IIor wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventWedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923or abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventAbdication of Edward VIII, 1936or wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937 · World War II · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • EventCoronation of George VI and Elizabeth, 1937or wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923 · abdication of Edward VIII, 1936 · World War II · Munich agreement · Victory in Europe Day · London Declaration · the Blitz · 1939 royal tour of Canada · death and state funeral of George VInot verified1 source
  • Died6 Feb 1952, Sandringham Housenot verified1 source
  • FatherGeorge Vnot verified1 source
  • MotherMary of Tecknot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 14 Dec 1895

    Born in York Cottage

  2. 1920–1936

    Duke of York

  3. 1923

    Wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

  4. 1926–1930

    2 children are born

  5. 1936

    Abdication of Edward VIII

  6. 1936–1937

    Emperor

  7. 1936–1952

    Monarch of the Union of South Africa

  8. 1936–1952

    Monarch of Canada

  9. 1936–1952

    Monarch of the United Kingdom

  10. 1936–1948

    Emperor of India

  11. 1937

    Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth

  12. 1942–1952

    Monarch of Australia

  13. 1947–1950

    King of India

  14. 1947–1952

    Monarch of the Dominion of Pakistan

  15. 1947–1952

    Monarch of New Zealand

  16. 1948–1952

    Monarch of the Dominion of Ceylon

  17. 6 Feb 1952

    Dies in Sandringham House, aged 56

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around York Cottage.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1890s · George VI is born in York Cottage

In the news1897

1897 Marconi receives patent for radio communications

Guglielmo Marconi received the first patent for radio communications in 1897.

Getting around

Dramatic increases in travel speed by rail

Rail travel speeds significantly outperformed earlier coaches, with journeys that took 20 hours by stagecoach in 1830 taking only five hours by train by the early 20th century. For example, in 1872, a 220-mile trip to Scotland via train and carriage took over 9.5 hours, averaging about 23 miles per hour.

At the table

Stretching food resources

Poor families sometimes substituted butter with treacle, while tea was used in nearly every household, with families often re-using tea leaves until all flavor was extracted.

The “Russian flu”. A flu pandemic travelled the world by rail and steamship in a few months, killing about a million people.Around the world · 1889–1890

The “Russian flu”. A flu pandemic travelled the world by rail and steamship in a few months, killing about a million people.

Unknown · CC BY 4.0

What people wore

Sunday Best as a Status Symbol

Ordinary working-class men and women maintained a Sunday best outfit, often a three-piece suit for men, to symbolize respectability and celebrate the weekly day of rest.

Music

Paying for Dance at Festivals

At late nineteenth-century festivals, musicians often used a dancing booth with a box for money, where dancers would pay a fee to participate in the festivities. Collecting these fees became more difficult when round dances and waltzes replaced older country dances.

Daily life

Lighting was primarily gas or oil

Most homes relied on gas lamps, oil lamps, or candles for light, as electricity remained a rare luxury for most families during this period.