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King George V's reign began among a constitutional crisis (that had spilled over from the rule of Edward VII) in the House of Lords. The House was refusing to pass a Parliamentary bill limiting its powers (that of being able to veto a Bill from the Commons). The bill was finally passed in 1911, after the Liberal government obtained the King’s promises to create sufficient numbers of peers to overcome Conservative opposition. Three years later, in 1914, World War I broke out. The King made over 450 visits to troops and over 300 visits to hospitals visiting wounded servicemen; he pressed for the proper treatment of German prisoners-of-war and he pressed also for more humane treatment of conscientious objectors. However, in 1917, anti-German feeling led him to adopt the family name of Windsor (after the Castle of the same name). George readily accepted the first Labour government in 1924. Following the world slump of 1929, the King persuaded the Labour leader to head a National Government composed of all parties, which won the election of 1931. In 1935, the King celebrated his Silver Jubilee, an occasion of great public rejoicing. He died in 1936 and his son Edward VIII succeeded to the throne.
The Royal Collection © 2006
King George V's reign began among a constitutional crisis (that had spilled over from the rule of Edward VII) in the House of Lords. The House was refusing to pass a Parliamentary bill limiting its powers (that of being able to veto a Bill from the Commons). The bill was finally passed in 1911, after the Liberal government obtained the King’s promises to create sufficient numbers of peers to overcome Conservative opposition. Three years later, in 1914, World War I broke out. The King made over 450 visits to troops and over 300 visits to hospitals visiting wounded servicemen; he pressed for the proper treatment of German prisoners-of-war and he pressed also for more humane treatment of conscientious objectors. However, in 1917, anti-German feeling led him to adopt the family name of Windsor (after the Castle of the same name). George readily accepted the first Labour government in 1924. Following the world slump of 1929, the King persuaded the Labour leader to head a National Government composed of all parties, which won the election of 1931. In 1935, the King celebrated his Silver Jubilee, an occasion of great public rejoicing. He died in 1936 and his son Edward VIII succeeded to the throne.
The Royal Collection © 2006
Edward VIII was the first British monarch to be a qualified pilot. In fact, it was he who created The King’s Flight (now known as 32 (The Royal) Squadron), in 1936, to provide air transport for the Royal family’s official duties. He ruled from January – December, 1936 and was popular for his genuine care for the underprivileged. He is perhaps most remembered for having fallen in love with an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, and having married her after renouncing his claim to the British throne. On December 10, 1936, Edward gave Royal Assent to His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act, by which Edward VIII and any children he might have were excluded from succession to the throne. Edward was never crowned; his reign lasted only 325 days. His brother Albert became King, using his last name - George. In 1937, Edward was created Duke of Windsor and married Wallis Simpson in a ceremony in France. He died in 1972 and is buried at Windsor.
© Beaton/Camera Press
George VI became King following the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, in 1936. Shy and reserved by nature, he was nevertheless a deeply religious man and worked hard to fulfill his responsibilities. He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923. His greatest achievements came during the World War II; he remained steadfastly at Buckingham Palace despite the fact it was bombed nine times during the war. He continued his duties… the Royal couple visited the more severely bombed areas in East End and elsewhere in the country, gaining him great popularity. The King developed a close working relationship with his wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, as most of Europe fell to Nazi Germany. After lying in state at Westminster Hall, the King's funeral was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, where he lies buried. At the King's funeral, attached to the government's wreath, was a card on which Churchill had written the phrase inscribed on the Victoria Cross - 'For Valour'.
© Camera Press, London
The reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State for the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth Realms. Born in 1926, as the eldest daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, she was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. She received word on Feb. 6, 1952, of her father, King George VI’s death… and that she had now acceded to the throne. She was 25 at the time and in a remote part of Kenya. Her coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. The Queen is married to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and has four children and eight grandchildren.
Royal Collection
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, began her Diamond Jubilee celebrations with a 62-gun Royal Salute, on Accession Day, Feb. 6.
In honor of the past 60 years of her reign, let us remember the British monarchs who came before her and those who have ruled from the House of Windsor.
The House of Windsor came into being in 1917, when the name was adopted as the British Royal Family's official name by a proclamation of King George V, replacing the historic name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. It remains the family name of the current Royal Family.
Check out the slideshow for a quick history lesson: