George VI (1895-1952) was the king of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. Succeeding his brother Edward VIII, he took the throne on December 11, 1936, and was crowned on May 12, 1937. Before World War II, he supported Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's appeasement policy but later backed Winston Churchill's wartime leadership. During the war, George VI became a symbol of courage for the British people, refusing to relocate his family to Canada and visiting battle fronts. His struggle to overcome a severe stammer was portrayed in The King’s Speech (2010), highlighting his relationship with speech therapist Lionel Logue and his inspiring wartime radio address. Despite no longer being emperor of India, he was recognized as head of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1949. His reign saw the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth and Britain's transformation into a welfare state. George VI earned respect for his dedication to the role of a constitutional monarch.

When did George VI become king of the United Kingdom?

George VI became King of the United Kingdom on December 11, 1936, following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, causing a constitutional crisis. George VI officially proclaimed King the following day and was crowned on May 12, 1937. His reign was significant for the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations and Britain's postwar transformation into a welfare state. During World War II, he became a symbol of courage for the British people.

Why did George VI become king instead of his brother?

George VI became king because his older brother, Edward VIII , abdicated the throne on December 11, 1936. Edward's decision stemmed from his desire to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second. British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin made it clear that Edward could not marry Simpson and remain the monarch. The Church of England, of which the king was the head, and most politicians in Britain and the Commonwealth opposed the marriage. Edward VIII chose to renounce the throne to marry Wallis, leading to George VI's ascension.

How did George VI help the United Kingdom during World War II?

During World War II, King George VI became a symbol of courage for the British people. He chose to stay in the United Kingdom with his family during the Battle of Britain instead of moving to Canada for safety. He also visited troops on various battlefronts. Before the war, George VI supported Anglo-French unity and developed a close relationship with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Initially, he supported Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's "appeasement" policy towards Germany and Italy but later supported Winston Churchill's leadership. His efforts to overcome a severe stammer and deliver an inspiring radio address as Britain entered World War II further solidified his image as a determined leader.

What challenges did George VI face as king?

George VI faced numerous challenges as king, beginning with the abdication crisis of his brother, Edward VIII, which unexpectedly thrust him onto the throne. His reign was significantly shaped by World War II . He became a symbol of courage for the British people, refusing to relocate his family to Canada and visiting troops on the front lines. Beyond the war, George VI also had to manage the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations and the postwar transformation of Britain into a welfare state. Moreover, he struggled with a severe stammer, a challenge he worked to overcome throughout his life.

How did George VI’s reign influence the British monarchy after his death?

George VI 's reign significantly shaped the British monarchy, particularly after his death in 1952. His most important contribution was the acceleration of the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations . His death led to the accession of his daughter, Elizabeth II , who continued his legacy of adapting the monarchy to changing times. George VI's conduct during World War II, as a symbol of courage, also solidified the monarchy's role as a source of national unity.

George VI

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Queen Consort Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, King George VI, Princess Margaret, and Princess Elizabeth sit together in an open carriage, all wearing formal hats, in 1939.

Black-and-white portrait of the British royal family in 1951, with Prince Charles standing by a fountain, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Duke of Edinburgh, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Anne in a baby carriage.

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Quick Facts

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 (aged 56)

Title / Office:: king (1936-1952), United Kingdom

George VI

king of United Kingdom

Also known as: Albert Frederick Arthur George, Prince Albert, Duke of York(Show More)

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Top Questions

Who was George VI?
George VI (1895-1952) was the king of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. Succeeding his brother Edward VIII, he took the throne on December 11, 1936, and was crowned on May 12, 1937. Before World War II, he supported Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's appeasement policy but later backed Winston Churchill's wartime leadership.

During the war, George VI became a symbol of courage for the British people, refusing to relocate his family to Canada and visiting battle fronts. His struggle to overcome a severe stammer was portrayed in The King’s Speech (2010), highlighting his relationship with speech therapist Lionel Logue and his inspiring wartime radio address.

Despite no longer being emperor of India, he was recognized as head of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1949. His reign saw the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth and Britain's transformation into a welfare state. George VI earned respect for his dedication to the role of a constitutional monarch.
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1. George VI
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When did George VI become king of the United Kingdom?
George VI became King of the United Kingdom on December 11, 1936, following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, causing a constitutional crisis. George VI officially proclaimed King the following day and was crowned on May 12, 1937. His reign was significant for the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations and Britain's postwar transformation into a welfare state. During World War II, he became a symbol of courage for the British people.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why did George VI become king instead of his brother?
George VI became king because his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne on December 11, 1936. Edward's decision stemmed from his desire to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second.

British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin made it clear that Edward could not marry Simpson and remain the monarch. The Church of England, of which the king was the head, and most politicians in Britain and the Commonwealth opposed the marriage. Edward VIII chose to renounce the throne to marry Wallis, leading to George VI's ascension.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did George VI help the United Kingdom during World War II?
During World War II, King George VI became a symbol of courage for the British people. He chose to stay in the United Kingdom with his family during the Battle of Britain instead of moving to Canada for safety. He also visited troops on various battlefronts.

Before the war, George VI supported Anglo-French unity and developed a close relationship with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Initially, he supported Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's "appeasement" policy towards Germany and Italy but later supported Winston Churchill's leadership. His efforts to overcome a severe stammer and deliver an inspiring radio address as Britain entered World War II further solidified his image as a determined leader.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What challenges did George VI face as king?
George VI faced numerous challenges as king, beginning with the abdication crisis of his brother, Edward VIII, which unexpectedly thrust him onto the throne.

His reign was significantly shaped by World War II. He became a symbol of courage for the British people, refusing to relocate his family to Canada and visiting troops on the front lines.

Beyond the war, George VI also had to manage the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations and the postwar transformation of Britain into a welfare state. Moreover, he struggled with a severe stammer, a challenge he worked to overcome throughout his life.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did George VI’s reign influence the British monarchy after his death?
George VI's reign significantly shaped the British monarchy, particularly after his death in 1952. His most important contribution was the acceleration of the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations.

His death led to the accession of his daughter, Elizabeth II, who continued his legacy of adapting the monarchy to changing times. George VI's conduct during World War II, as a symbol of courage, also solidified the monarchy's role as a source of national unity.
6 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

George VI (born December 14, 1895, Sandringham, Norfolk, England—died February 6, 1952, Sandringham) was the king of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952.

The second son of the future king George V, the prince served in the Royal Navy (1913–17), the Royal Naval Air Service (1917–19), and the Royal Air Force (1919) and then attended Trinity College, Cambridge (1919–20). On June 3, 1920, he was created duke of York. He sponsored the annual Duke of York’s Camp (1921–39), at which equal numbers of public (private) school boys and boys from industrial areas spent a week together as his guests. On April 26, 1923, he married Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, youngest daughter of the 14th earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. They had two children: Princess Elizabeth (afterward Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret (later countess of Snowdon).

George VI

The duke of York assumed the throne on December 11, 1936, following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII; he was officially proclaimed king the following day. He took the name of George VI and was crowned on May 12, 1937. Before the outbreak of World War II, the king affirmed Anglo-French solidarity and formed a close friendship with U.S. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, but he supported Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s “appeasement” policy toward Germany and Italy. 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.

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles to the crowd from Buckingham Palace (London, England) balcony at the end of the Platinum Pageant in London on June 5, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. The curtain comes down on four days of momentous nationwide celebrations to honor Queen Elizabeth II's historic Platinum Jubilee with a day-long pageant lauding the 96 year old monarch's record seven decades on the throne. (British royalty)

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During the war, George became a powerful symbol of courage and fortitude for the British people. Rather than relocate his family to the safety of Canada, he remained in the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain. He also visited his armies on several battle fronts. Moreover, George provided a model of determination in his well-known struggle to overcome the severe stammer that had afflicted him since childhood. 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.

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. From 1948 on, the king’s health deteriorated, and he died a few months after undergoing an operation for lung cancer.

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. He earned respect by scrupulously observing the responsibilities and limitations of a constitutional monarch.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.

George VI

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