EDWARD VII
King Edward VII took over the British throne after the death of Queen Victoria. He was a popular ruler who strengthened his country prior to World War I.
Synopsis
Edward VII, born in London on November 9, 1841, became king upon the death of his mother, Queen Victoria, in 1901. Edward VII strengthened England's ties with the rest of Europe, although his relationship with Germany's emperor—his nephew—was rocky. His reforms of the military and navy prepared them well for World War I.
Early Life
The eldest son of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, the future Edward VII was born Albert Edward on November 9, 1841. he was subjected to a strict regimen to prepare him for the throne. As was customary for members of British royalty,
Prince Edward attended Oxford and Cambridge universities and soon after declared his desire to pursue a career in the military. His mother vetoed that idea, hoping to keep him safe for the throne.
A Scandalous Adult Life
On March 10, 1863, Prince Edward married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The marriage, arranged by Edward's parents, produced six children, five of whom lived to adulthood. Before his marriage but after his engagement, Edward fell into a scandalous love affair with actress Nellie Clifton. So distraught was his father, Prince Albert, over the disgrace to the royal family, that he personally went to his son to reprimand him. The affair was ended, but two weeks later Albert fell ill and died of typhoid on December 4, 1861. Queen Victoria fell into a deep depression and blamed Edward for her husband's death, never to forgive him. Edward continued to have many affairs throughout his marriage. Actresses Sarah Bernhardt and Lillie Langtry, as well as Lady Randolph Churchill (Winston's mother) and Alice Keppel (great-grandmother of Camilla, wife of Charles, the current Prince of Wales) were among his many trysts.With Queen Victoria's retreat from public life, Edward was allowed to represent her at official state events, but not given any responsibility in political matters. He took his seat in the House of Lords as the Duke of Cornwall, but had few or no administrative duties. As a result, he spent much of his time on the London social scene, eating, drinking, gambling and acquiring a reputation as a playboy.
Crowned King, an Effective Leader Emerges
All this changed on January 22, 1901, when Queen Victoria died. Crowned King Edward VII in August 1902, Edward had been the longest heir apparent (59 years) in British history (that record has now been surpassed by Prince Charles.) Upon ascending the throne, he threw himself into his new role with energy and enthusiasm and restored the sparkle to the monarchy. His effusive personality and likable character soon won over much of the British population. Edward used his fluency in French and German to shuttle across Europe and meet with major heads of state. He helped negotiate the Triple Entente between Britain, France and Russia, which played an important role in World War I. Following the Boer War (1899-1902), he played an active role in reforming the military, pressing for an army medical service and the building of the modern Dreadnought battleships.
The Edwardian period (1901-1910) was seen as the golden age for the upper class in Britain. Though the rigid British class system held firm, rapid industrialization increased economic opportunity, creating conditions that allowed for more social mobility, and with it, more social change. There was a rise in socialism and attention to the plight of the poor as well as a push for women's voting rights. Domestically, Edward did not support women's suffrage nor attempts to redistribute wealth through taxes. Despite this, he was very popular with most of the British people.
A Constitutional Crisis Unresolved
By 1910, Edward VII's years of smoking 12 cigars and more than 20 cigarettes a day brought on a severe case of bronchitis. During an official event in France, he momentarily lost consciousness, and on April 27, 1910, he returned to London. His wife, Alexandra returned from Greece on May 5 and the next day called her children telling them their father was gravely ill. On May 10, Edward suffered a series of heart attacks and died. Edward VII was buried at Windsor Castle on May 20, 1910,
GEORGE V
Synopsis
King George V of Great Britain was born on June 3, 1865, the unpromising second son of Edward VII. Initially, he sought a career in the British Navy, but the untimely death of his brother, Albert, placed him on the throne. He became king in 1910 and played an active role supporting the troops
during World War I. , he won the loyalty of the middle class and many in Great Britain with his steadfast dedication to his country.
Early Life
George Frederick Ernest Albert of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was born on June 3, 1865. From 1910 to 1936, he oversaw tremendous transformation within the British Empire and the world. Starting a Career in the Navy As the second royal son, George wasn’t expected to take the throne.. In 1892, Albert suddenly died of influenza. George assumed the role of heir-apparent and left the Royal Navy. He was given the title Duke of York, along with an education in British politics, and became a member of the House of Lords.
In 1893, George married his German cousin (and his late brother’s fiancée), Princess Victoria Mary of Teck. During their marriage they had five sons: Prince Edward, Prince Albert, Prince George, Prince Henry, Prince John and a daughter, Princess Mary. Their youngest son, Prince John, was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child and was largely kept apart from the royal family. His condition deteriorated as he aged and he died after having a seizure when he was 13. George was a strict father with all his children, but was especially critical of his wayward son Edward, once saying he hoped his second son, Albert, would take the throne. His wish would be granted when Edward abdicated the throne in 1936 and Albert was crowned George VI.
Becoming King
On May 6, 1910, Edward VII died. When World War I broke out in July 1914, George V took great effort to personally support the troops, visiting the front and military hospitals many times. On one such visit, his horse rolled over him, fracturing his pelvis and giving him pain the rest of his life. In 1917, in response to deep anti-German sentiment in Britain, George V replaced his Germanic name with the name of Windsor (after the castle of the same name). That same year, he made the controversial decision to deny political asylum to his cousin and ally Tsar Nicholas II and his family, after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Vast Changes Within the Empire
The reign of George V saw many changes within the British Empire. Rebellion in Ireland in 1916 resulted in an independent Irish parliament and later a geographic division along religious lines. The post–World War I period also brought change to the empire itself as Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa demanded and received the right of self-governance and formed the Commonwealth of Nations in 1931.
Illness and Death
World War I also brought changes to George V’s health. After his serious fall from a horse in 1915, he experienced breathing problems. His heavy smoking didn’t help, and by 1925 he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. . He never fully recovered, and in his final year he was often administered oxygen. On the evening of January 15, 1936, George complained of a cold and retired to his bedroom. It was apparent he was gravely ill, and the doctor was summoned. The king slipped in and out of consciousness for five days. After receiving an injection of morphine and cocaine by the royal physician, he died on January 20, 1936.
Legacy
In 1935, King George V celebrated his Silver Jubilee, to much public rejoicing. He had become a popular king by cultivated good relationships with the Labour Party and unions during the economic depression of the 1930s. he was hardworking, deeply devoted to Great Britain and widely admired by the British people. He established a standard for British royalty that reflected the values and virtues of the upper middle class
EDWARD VIII
Born on June 23, 1894, Edward VIII was a popular member of the royal family and heir to the throne. In 1931, then known as the Prince of Wales, Edward met and fell in love with American socialite Wallis Simpson. After George V's death,
the prince became King Edward VIII. However, because his marriage to Simpson, an American divorcée, was forbidden,
Early Life
Edward VIII, who ruled the United Kingdom from January to December 1936, was born on June 23, 1894, in Richmond, London, England. The eldest son of George V, Edward studied at Osborne Naval College, the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and the University of Oxford's Magdalen College.
In 1911, after his father's ascension, Edward became the Prince of Wales. He joined the Royal Navy and then, following the start of World War I, enlisted in the army. His assignments to safe positions on the Italian front troubled him, causing him to announce,
"What difference does it make if I am killed? The king has three other sons. Upon his return to England, the young Prince Edward took up his official duties, and traveled throughout Britain and other parts of the world. Dashing and charming, he became known in the American press as the "arbiter of men's fashions, a fearless horseman, tireless dancer, idol of bachelors, dream of spinsters."
Involvement with Wallis Simpson
Prince Edward met the woman who would completely change his life in June of 1931. At a party hosted by Lady Furness, the prince was introduced to Wallis Simpson, a sophisticated, charming and charismatic American woman who had recently moved to London with her husband. She immediately captured the king's interest, and later captured his heart. By 1934, the two had undoubtedly become lovers. The monarchy was not pleased with the pairing, however, and refused to allow a marriage between the future king and an American divorcee.
Bahama Appointment
The couple lived in Paris, and spent most of their time shopping and partying with the international jet set. The duke made a couple of attempts to relinquish his political career, including a trip to Nazi Germany in October 1937, which only served to worsen his reputation as a supporter of Adolf Hitler. While taking refuge from Nazi forces in Lisbon in 1940, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor received word that the King had appointed the duke to be Governor and Commander of Chief of the Bahama Islands.
He and Simpson then returned to Paris, France, where Edward, Duke of Windsor, died on May 28, 1972.
GEORGE VI
George VI (December 14, 1895 to February 6, 1952), crowned as king of the United Kingdom in 1937, was an important symbolic leader for the British people during World War II. He supported Winston Churchill completely throughout the war and even visited armies on the battle fronts. He was succeeded by his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, after he died of lung cancer.
Get the Throne?
King George VI’s father, King George V, had reservations about his first son, Prince Edward (Duke of Windsor), taking the throne. He once said, "I pray God that my eldest son will never marry and that nothing will come between Bertie [Prince Albert] and Lilibet [Albert’s daughter] and the throne."
On January 20, 1936, King George V died, and Edward ascended to the throne as King Edward VIII. In less than a year, he abdicated his role to his brother, Prince Albert, who was crowned on May 12, 1937. Prince Albert took on the name George VI to emphasize continuity with his father and restore confidence in the monarchy.
Why Did Edward Give Up the Throne?
King George VI’s brother Edward gave up the throne so that he could marry his mistress, Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite.
King George VI’s Death
On the morning of February 6, 1952, George VI was discovered dead in bed at the age of 56. He previously suffered from lung cancer and had a lung removed; it was later determined that he had died of a coronary thrombosis.
How Old Was Elizabeth When She Became Queen?
After George VI's death, his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, took the throne, becoming Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 25. She was officially crowned at the age of 27. So as not to be confused with her daughter, King George VI’s widow, Queen Elizabeth, took on the name "Queen Mother."World War II
During World War II, the royal couple were resolved to stay in London at Buckingham Palace despite intense German bombing raids. King George and Queen Elizabeth undertook many morale-boosting visits to Britain’s bombed-out cities, touring hospitals and visiting with wounded troops.
In 1943 the king visited British troops in North Africa. King George VI later visited troops at Malta, bestowing on the entire island the honor of the George Cross, which he instituted to honor exceptional acts of bravery by civilians. In June 1944, 10 days after the D-Day invasion, the king visited the troops in Normandy. He suffered personal tragedy during the war when both his wife’s nephew and his youngest brother were killed.
King George VI and Winston Churchill
King George VI was not enamored with the selection of Winston Churchill as prime minister after Neville Chamberlain’s resignation. Nevertheless, focused on World War II, the two men quickly developed a strong working relationship and deep respect for each other.
During the victory celebration at the end of the war in Europe, the king invited Prime Minister Churchill to appear with him on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, just as he had done with Neville Chamberlain.
King George VI’s Health & Surgery
After World War II, the stress of war began to catch up with King George VI and his health began to deteriorate rapidly. Around this time, his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, the presumptive heir, began to take on some of his royal duties.
A planned tour of Australia and New Zealand was postponed after the king suffered an arterial blockage in 1949.In 1951, following years of heavy smoking, King George was diagnosed with lung cancer and arteriosclerosis. On September 23, 1951, his left lung was removed.
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