George VI (1936–1952) – The Reluctant King Who Led Britain Through World War II

Who Was George VI?

George VI never expected to be king. Born Prince Albert and known as “Bertie,” he was the shy second son of George V. His confident older brother Edward was destined for the throne, leaving Bertie to enjoy a relatively private life with his wife Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret.

Then Edward VIII gave up the Crown to marry Wallis Simpson. Suddenly, in December 1936, Bertie was king. He chose the name George VI, partly to emphasise continuity with his respected father, George V, and restore confidence after the shock of the abdication.

He would need that steady image. Less than three years later, Britain was at war with Nazi Germany.

King George VI

The King Who Struggled to Speak

George had suffered from a serious stammer since childhood, which made public speaking extremely difficult—quite a problem when your job involves speaking to an entire nation.

He began working with Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, who used breathing exercises, repetition and other techniques to help him control his speech. Their relationship later inspired the film The King's Speech.

His greatest test came in September 1939, when Britain declared war on Germany. George had to speak by radio to millions of frightened people across Britain and the Empire. He didn't suddenly stop stammering. What made the moment powerful was that people knew how difficult speaking was for him—and watched him do it anyway.

George VI preparing for his speech

Why Did Britain Go to War With Hitler?

Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany had been aggressively expanding across Europe. Britain and France had tried to avoid another catastrophic European war, but Hitler continued taking territory. When Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, Britain demanded that German forces withdraw.

Hitler refused. On 3 September, Britain and France declared war on Germany.

George VI was the king, but importantly he didn't personally decide to go to war. Britain was a constitutional monarchy; decisions were made by the elected government.

George's role was different: to represent and encourage the country through what was coming.

The King, the Queen and the Blitz

In 1940, Germany began the Blitz, bombing London and other British cities. George and Queen Elizabeth remained in London during the working week rather than retreating permanently to safety. Their daughters stayed mainly at Windsor Castle, but the king and queen regularly visited bombed neighbourhoods, factories, hospitals and troops.

Then Buckingham Palace itself was bombed. After one attack, Queen Elizabeth famously said she was glad they had been bombed because “now I can look the East End in the face.” She meant that Londoners in the East End had suffered terribly from German bombing, and the Royal Family had now experienced an attack on their own home too—although, of course, under far more privileged circumstances.

The damaged palace became a powerful symbol: the bombs weren't avoiding the King either.

Buckingham Palace bombed during WW2

George VI and Winston Churchill

George initially had reservations about Winston Churchill, who became Prime Minister in May 1940, but the two developed a close wartime relationship.

They met privately for lunch almost every week, giving them an opportunity to discuss the war away from ministers and officials. Their jobs were very different. Churchill ran the government. George represented the nation. Churchill gave the great political speeches and made wartime decisions; George visited troops, factories and bombed communities and provided a sense of stability and continuity. Together they became two of the most recognisable faces of wartime Britain.

Winston and The King

VE Day – The Balcony Moment

On 8 May 1945, Nazi Germany's defeat was celebrated as Victory in Europe Day—VE Day. London erupted. Huge crowds packed The Mall and gathered outside Buckingham Palace demanding to see the Royal Family. George VI, Queen Elizabeth and their daughters Elizabeth and Margaret appeared repeatedly on the balcony. Winston Churchill joined them.

That evening, the two princesses were even allowed to leave the palace and mingle anonymously with the celebrating crowds. For the future Queen Elizabeth II, it became one of the most memorable nights of her life.

VW Day on Buckingham Palace Balcony

Britain Wins the War – But Loses an Empire

Britain emerged victorious from World War II, but the country was exhausted, heavily indebted and no longer able to maintain its enormous empire in the same way.

In 1947, India and Pakistan became independent. George had previously held the title Emperor of India. That title now disappeared. This was the beginning of a huge transformation. Many other colonies would become independent during the following decades, while the Commonwealth developed as a voluntary association of independent nations. George's daughter Elizabeth would inherit a very different world from the one his father George V had known.

The King's Health Fails

George had been a heavy smoker, and his health deteriorated badly after the war. In 1951 surgeons removed part of his left lung after discovering a malignant tumour. Despite being seriously ill, he continued trying to carry out royal duties.

In January 1952 he went to London Airport to say goodbye to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip as they departed on a Commonwealth tour. Photographs show an obviously frail king waving them goodbye. He would never see his daughter again.

On 6 February 1952, George VI died in his sleep at Sandringham. He was only 56.

Elizabeth was in Kenya when the news arrived. She had left Britain a princess. She would return Queen Elizabeth II.

Three Things to See

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of the best places to tell George VI's story. The palace was bombed several times during World War II, and George and Queen Elizabeth were present during some of the attacks. Then look at the famous balcony and imagine VE Day 1945, with enormous crowds filling The Mall while George, Elizabeth, their daughters and Churchill appeared to celebrate victory.

Churchill War Rooms

Walk down through St James's Park towards Whitehall and visit the Churchill War Rooms. This underground headquarters was where Churchill and his government directed much of Britain's war effort while German bombs fell on London above. George wasn't running the war from here, but visiting the rooms gives you an extraordinary sense of the world in which he was king.

St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

George VI is buried in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Today the family connection is particularly moving because his wife Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, daughter Princess Margaret and daughter Queen Elizabeth II are also buried there, with Prince Philip nearby. It brings several generations of the modern Royal Family together in one place.

Did You Know? – The Queen Refused to Leave Britain

During the war there were suggestions that Queen Elizabeth and the young princesses might be sent overseas for safety, particularly to Canada. The Queen refused. She famously explained that the children wouldn't leave without her, she wouldn't leave without the King, and the King would never leave Britain.

The princesses were instead moved to Windsor Castle, while George and Elizabeth remained based in London during the working week. That decision became enormously important to the Royal Family's wartime image: they were staying.

Young Princess Elizabeth with George VI

Historical Highlights

1895 – “Bertie” is born.

1923 – Marries Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

1926 – Their daughter Elizabeth is born.

1936 – Edward VIII abdicates and Bertie becomes George VI.

1937 – George and Elizabeth are crowned at Westminster Abbey.

1939 – Britain declares war on Nazi Germany.

1940 – The Blitz begins and Buckingham Palace is bombed.

1945 – Britain celebrates VE Day.

1947 – India and Pakistan become independent.

1952 – George VI dies and Elizabeth II becomes queen.

Imagine This...

It's May 1945 and The Mall is packed with thousands upon thousands of people. For almost six years Britain has endured rationing, separation, air-raid sirens and German bombs, and Buckingham Palace itself has been hit. Now George VI steps onto the palace balcony with Queen Elizabeth, their daughters and Winston Churchill as the crowds below erupt in celebration. Nine years earlier, this shy man with a painful stammer had been forced onto the throne because his brother walked away from it. He never wanted to be king, but when the country needed him he stayed, visited the bombed streets, supported the troops and became a reassuring symbol of national determination. The reluctant king had become the wartime king.

Guide's Insider Tip

When you're standing in The Mall looking towards Buckingham Palace, imagine it completely filled with people on VE Day in 1945. The Royal Family appeared on the balcony again and again because the crowds simply wouldn't leave.

Then walk through St James's Park towards the Churchill War Rooms. It's one of the best short walks in London for understanding the wartime monarchy: Buckingham Palace represents George VI and the public face of national unity, while beneath Whitehall you'll see where Churchill and his government were actually directing the war.

And if you visit Windsor Castle, don't miss St George's Chapel. George VI's burial place connects his story directly to the monarch most visitors remember personally: his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

What Happened Next?

When George VI died in February 1952, his 25-year-old daughter Elizabeth was staying at Treetops in Kenya during an overseas tour. She had climbed into the trees a princess. By the time the news of her father's death reached her, she was Queen Elizabeth II. George's reign had lasted only 15 years, but Britain had experienced an abdication crisis, World War II, the Blitz, victory and the beginning of the end of Empire.

Elizabeth would inherit a monarchy—and a country—changing at extraordinary speed.

She would reign for 70 years.