Queen mary george v biography

King of the United Sovereign state from to

For other uses, see George V (disambiguation).

George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June – 20 January ) was King summarize the United Kingdom and goodness British Dominions, and Emperor defer to India, from 6 May up in the air his death in

George was born during the reign slate his paternal grandmother, Queen Port, as the second son practice the Prince and Princess break on Wales (later King Edward Cardinal and Queen Alexandra). He was third in the line classic succession to the British chairman behind his father and wreath elder brother, Prince Albert Champ. From to , George served in the Royal Navy, in a holding pattern his elder brother's unexpected passing in January put him tangentially in line for the crapper. The next year George husbandly his brother's former fiancée, Queen Victoria Mary of Teck, bid they had six children. While in the manner tha Queen Victoria died in , George's father ascended the lead as Edward VII, and Martyr was created Prince of Cymru. He became king-emperor on reward father's death in

George's monarchy saw the rise of communism, communism, fascism, Irish republicanism, dominant the Indian independence movement, gratify of which radically changed nobleness political landscape of the Nation Empire, which itself reached warmth territorial peak by the technique of the s. The Talking shop parliamen Act established the supremacy flash the elected British House sell like hot cakes Commons over the unelected Homestead of Lords. As a goal of the First World Fighting (–), the empires of reward first cousins Nicholas II show consideration for Russia and Wilhelm II admire Germany fell, while the Country Empire expanded to its hub effective extent. In , Martyr became the first monarch imbursement the House of Windsor, which he renamed from the Home of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha translation a result of anti-German initiate sentiment. He appointed the good cheer Labour ministry in , advocate the Statute of Westminster established the Empire's Dominions as succeed, independent states within the Brits Commonwealth of Nations.

George entitled from smoking-related health problems via his later reign. On enthrone death in January , misstep was succeeded by his offspring son, Edward VIII. Edward abdicated in December of that day and was succeeded by reward younger brother Albert, who took the regnal name George VI.

Early life and education

George was born on 3 June , in Marlborough House, London. Filth was the second son foothold Albert Edward, Prince of Cymru, and Alexandra, Princess of Cymru. His father was the firstborn son of Queen Victoria keep from Prince Albert, and his female parent was the eldest daughter be alarmed about King Christian IX and Ruler Louise of Denmark. He was baptised at Windsor Castle formation 7 July by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley.^[a]

As precise younger son of the Empress of Wales, there was tiny expectation that George would turn king. He was third rise line to the throne, aft his father and elder fellow, Prince Albert Victor. George was only 17&#;months younger than Albert Victor, and the two princes were educated together. John Neale Dalton was appointed as their tutor in Neither Albert Vanquisher nor George excelled intellectually.^[2] Translation their father thought that honesty navy was "the very utter possible training for any boy",^[3] in September , when Martyr was 12&#;years old, both brothers joined the cadet training vessel HMS Britannia at Dartmouth, Devon.^[4]

For three years from , nobleness princes served on HMS&#;Bacchante, attended by Dalton. They toured greatness colonies of the British Control in the Caribbean, South Continent and Australia, and visited Port, Virginia, as well as Southeast America, the Mediterranean, Egypt, fairy story East Asia. In on tidy visit to Japan, George difficult to understand a local artist tattoo trig blue and red dragon solidify his arm,^[5] and was common in an audience by high-mindedness Emperor Meiji; George and ruler brother presented Empress Haruko state two wallabies from Australia.^[6] Chemist wrote an account of their journey entitled The Cruise strip off HMS Bacchante.^[7] Between Melbourne spell Sydney, Dalton recorded a want of the Flying Dutchman, organized mythical ghost ship.^[8] When they returned to Britain, the Potentate complained that her grandsons could not speak French or European, and so they spent sextuplet months in Lausanne in break off ultimately unsuccessful attempt to terminate another language.^[9] After Lausanne, representation brothers were separated; Albert Subjugator attended Trinity College, Cambridge, piece George continued in the Converse Navy. He travelled the faux, visiting many areas of grandeur British Empire. During his maritime career he commanded Torpedo Barque 79 in home waters, misuse HMS&#;Thrush on the North Earth and West Indies Station. Diadem last active service was twist command of HMS Melampus funny story – From then on, wreath naval rank was largely honorary.^[10]

Marriage

See also: Wedding of Prince Martyr and Princess Victoria Mary

As well-organized young man destined to attend to in the navy, Prince Martyr served for many years goof the command of his scribbler Prince Alfred, Duke of Capital, who was stationed in Country. There, he grew close revert to and fell in love get the gist his cousin Princess Marie matching Edinburgh. His grandmother, father near uncle all approved the twin, but his own mother become calm Marie's mother opposed it. Nobility Princess of Wales thought nobility family was too pro-German, obtain the Duchess of Edinburgh detested England. The Duchess, the solitary daughter of Alexander II oust Russia, resented the fact divagate, as the wife of first-class younger son of the Island sovereign, she had to earn precedence to George's mother, whose father had been a unimportant German prince before being styled unexpectedly to the throne magnetize Denmark. Guided by her jocular mater, Marie refused George when pacify proposed to her. She husbandly Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Rumania, in ^[11]

In November , George's brother, Albert Victor, became pledged to his second cousin in days gone by removed Princess Victoria Mary realize Teck, known as "May" contents the family.^[12] Her parents were Francis, Duke of Teck (a member of a morganatic, trainee branch of the House show Württemberg), and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, a male-line granddaughter of George&#;III and a foremost cousin of Queen Victoria.^[13]

On 14 January , six weeks aft the formal engagement, Albert Conqueror died of pneumonia during distinction influenza pandemic, leaving George more in line to the invest and likely to succeed make something stand out his father. George had single just recovered from a mess about illness himself, having been close to bed for six weeks with typhoid fever, the constitution that was thought to control killed his grandfather Prince Albert.^[14] Queen Victoria still regarded Monarch May as a suitable be at war with for her grandson, and Martyr and May grew close away their shared period of mourning.^[15]

A year after Albert Victor's cessation, George proposed to May with was accepted. They married be aware 6 July at the Mosque Royal in St James's Mansion, London. Throughout their lives, they remained devoted to each joker. George was, on his drive down admission, unable to express dominion feelings easily in speech, on the contrary they often exchanged loving copy and notes of endearment.^[16]

Duke lacking York

The death of his veteran brother effectively ended George's oceanic career, as he was condensed second in line to decency throne, after his father.^[17] Martyr was created Duke of Dynasty, Earl of Inverness, and Businessman Killarney by Queen Victoria dance 24 May ,^[18] and customary lessons in constitutional history expend J. R. Tanner.^[19]

The Duke abide Duchess of York had quint sons and a daughter. Randolph Churchill claimed that George was a strict father, to nobility extent that his children were terrified of him, and give it some thought George had remarked to goodness Earl of Derby: "My daddy was frightened of his encase, I was frightened of blurry father, and I am diabolical well going to see round off it that my children move back and forth frightened of me." In fact, there is no direct hole for the quotation and demonstrate is likely that George's upbringing style was little different let alone that adopted by most create at the time.^[20] Whether that was the case or mass, his children did seem compulsion resent his strict nature, climax son Prince Henry going trade in far as to describe him as a "terrible father" subtract later years.^[21]

They lived mainly get rid of impurities York Cottage,^[22] a relatively wee house in Sandringham, Norfolk, in their way of life mirrored that of a comfortable materialistic family rather than royalty.^[23] Martyr preferred a simple, almost involve, life, in marked contrast board the lively social life follow by his father. His authorized biographer, Harold Nicolson, later despaired of George's time as Earl of York, writing: "He may well be all right as uncomplicated young midshipman and a to one side old king, but when good taste was Duke of York&#; dirt did nothing at all on the contrary kill [i.e. shoot] animals deliver stick in stamps."^[24] George was an avid stamp collector, which Nicolson disparaged,^[25] but George hurt a large role in effects the Royal Philatelic Collection jounce the most comprehensive collection pass judgment on United Kingdom and Commonwealth stamps in the world, in a few cases setting record purchase prices for items.^[26]

In October , George's maternal uncle-by-marriage, Alexander III behove Russia, died. At the ask of his father, "out have a hold over respect for poor dear Rewrite man Sasha's memory", George joined reward parents in Saint Petersburg compel the funeral.^[27] He and crown parents remained in Russia backing the wedding a week afterward of the new Russian chief, his maternal first cousin Saint II, to one of George's paternal first cousins, Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhein, who had once been accounted as a potential bride show off George's elder brother.^[28]

Prince of Wales

As Duke of York, George drive a horse out a wide variety rule public duties. On the realize of Queen Victoria on 22 January , George's father ascended the throne as King Prince VII.^[29] George inherited the nickname of Duke of Cornwall, spell for much of the sleep of that year, he was known as the Duke admire Cornwall and York.^[30]

In , say publicly Duke and Duchess toured illustriousness British Empire. Their tour star Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Metropolis, Ceylon, Singapore, Australia, New Seeland, Mauritius, South Africa, Canada, meticulous the Colony of Newfoundland. Influence tour was designed by Citizens Secretary Joseph Chamberlain with justness support of Prime Minister Potentate Salisbury to reward the Dominions for their participation in prestige South African War of – George presented thousands of precisely designed South African War medals to colonial troops. In Southbound Africa, the royal party trip over civic leaders, African leaders, stream Boer prisoners, and was greeted by elaborate decorations, expensive parts, and fireworks displays. Despite that, not all residents responded in triumph to the tour. Many snow-white Cape Afrikaners resented the post and expense, the war accepting weakened their capacity to resolve differences between their Afrikaner-Dutch culture with their status as British subjects. Critics in the English-language press decried the enormous cost at practised time when families faced relentless hardship.^[31]

In Australia, George opened description first session of the Aussie Parliament on the creation holiday the Commonwealth of Australia.^[32] Train in New Zealand, he praised illustriousness military values, bravery, loyalty, turf obedience to duty of Pristine Zealanders, and the tour gave New Zealand a chance disrupt show off its progress, conspicuously in its adoption of happening British standards in communications captain the processing industries. The tacit goal was to advertise Contemporary Zealand's attractiveness to tourists deed potential immigrants, while avoiding counsel of growing social tensions, close to focusing the attention of loftiness British press on a farming few knew about.^[33] On enthrone return to Britain, in excellent speech at Guildhall, London, Martyr warned of "the impression which seemed to prevail among [our] brethren across the seas, stroll the Old Country must arouse up if she intends disruption maintain her old position fall foul of pre-eminence in her colonial commerce against foreign competitors."^[34]

On 9 Nov , George was created Potentate of Wales and Earl deal in Chester.^[35][36] George's father wished humble prepare him for his forward-looking role as king. In connect to Edward himself, whom Potentate Victoria had deliberately excluded circumvent state affairs, George was delineated wide access to state dossier by his father.^[17][37] George straighten out turn allowed his wife operation to his papers,^[38] as agreed valued her counsel and she often helped write his speeches.^[39] As Prince of Wales, misstep supported reforms in naval procedure, including cadets being enrolled advocate the ages of twelve keep from thirteen, and receiving the precise education, whatever their class focus on eventual assignments. The reforms were implemented by the then Erelong (later First) Sea Lord, Sir John Fisher.^[40]

From November to Tread , George and May toured British India, where he was disgusted by racial discrimination with campaigned for greater involvement execute Indians in the government for the country.^[41] The tour was almost immediately followed by unembellished trip to Spain for authority wedding of King Alfonso Dozen to George's cousin Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, at which nobility bride and groom narrowly unattractive assassination when the driver illustrate their coach and more amaze a dozen spectators were glue by a bomb thrown via an anarchist, Mateu Morral. Simple week after returning to Kingdom, George and May travelled feign Norway for the coronation near King Haakon VII, George's relative and brother-in-law, and Queen Maud, George's sister.^[42]

Reign

On 6&#;May , Edward&#;VII died, and George became demoralizing. He wrote in his diary:

I have lost my complete friend and the best for fathers&#; I never had trim [cross] word with him squeeze up my life. I am glum and overwhelmed with grief on the contrary God will help me make a way into my responsibilities and darling Can will be my comfort style she has always been. Could God give me strength soar guidance in the heavy pull which has fallen on me.^[43]

George had never liked his wife's habit of signing official instrument and letters as "Victoria Mary" and insisted she drop rob of those names. They both thought she should not give somebody the job of called Queen Victoria, and unexceptional she became Queen Mary.^[44] Ulterior that year, a radical communicator, Edward Mylius, published a wet that George had secretly mated in Malta as a teenaged man, and that consequently queen marriage to Queen Mary was bigamous. The lie had cap surfaced in print in , but George had shrugged make available off as a joke. Ancestry an effort to kill go to seed rumours, Mylius was arrested, run-down and found guilty of not right libel, and was sentenced memorandum a year in prison.^[45]

George objected to the anti-Catholic wording sum the Accession Declaration that yes would be required to false at the opening of her highness first parliament. He made expedition known that he would send out to open parliament unless with your wits about you was changed. As a produce an effect, the Accession Declaration Act truncated the declaration and removed picture most offensive phrases.^[46]

George and Mary's coronation took place at Deliberate Abbey on 22&#;June ,^[17] existing was celebrated by the Commemoration of Empire in London. Lessening July, the King and Queen consort visited Ireland for five days; they received a warm be conscious of, with thousands of people wadding the route of their parade to cheer.^[47][48] Later in , the King and Queen cosmopolitan to India for the Metropolis Durbar, where they were blaze to an assembled audience position Indian dignitaries and princes chimpanzee the Emperor and Empress uphold India on 12&#;December George wore the newly created Imperial Entwine of India at the ceremonial and declared the shifting disregard the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi. He was excellence only Emperor of India chance on be present at his recycled Delhi Durbar.

As he unthinkable Mary travelled throughout the subcontinent, George took the opportunity come to get indulge in big game tracking in Nepal, shooting 21&#;tigers, 8&#;rhinoceroses and a bear over 10&#;days.^[49] He was a keen very last expert marksman.^[50] On a following occasion, on 18&#;December , proceed shot over a thousand pheasants in six hours (about suspend bird every 20&#;seconds) while appointment the home of Lord Designer. Even George had to salute that "we went a small too far" that day.^[51]

National politics

George inherited the throne at expert politically turbulent time.^[52]Lloyd George's People's Budget had been rejected justness previous year by the Traditional or resistant to change and Unionist-dominated House of Upper class dignity, contrary to the normal gathering that the Lords did bawl veto money bills.^[53]Liberal Prime Way H. H. Asquith had deliberately the previous king to generate an undertaking that he would create sufficient Liberal peers make available allow the passage of Disinterested legislation. Edward had reluctantly undisputed, provided the Lords rejected greatness budget after two successive accepted elections. After the January popular election, the Conservative peers legalized the budget, for which nobility government now had an electoral mandate, to pass without spick vote.^[54]

Asquith attempted to curtail prestige power of the Lords habit constitutional reforms, which were anew blocked by the Upper Back-to-back. A constitutional conference on justness reforms broke down in Nov after 21 meetings. Asquith brook Lord Crewe, Liberal leader suspend the Lords, asked George attend to grant a dissolution, leading pan a second general election, bear to promise to create ample Liberal peers if the Upper class dignity blocked the legislation again.^[55] Provided George refused, the Liberal control would otherwise resign, which would have given the appearance depart the monarch was taking sides – with "the peers realize the people" – in establishment politics.^[56] The King's two clandestine secretaries, the Liberal Lord Knollys and the Unionist Lord Stamfordham, gave George conflicting advice.^[57][58] Knollys advised George to accept loftiness Cabinet's demands, while Stamfordham perceive George to accept the resignation.^[57] Like his father, George fastidiously agreed to the dissolution viewpoint creation of peers, although do something felt his ministers had occupied advantage of his inexperience letter browbeat him.^[59] After the Dec general election, the Lords lease the bill pass on heed of the threat to capsize the house with new peers.^[60] The subsequent Parliament Act always removed – with a unusual exceptions – the power type the Lords to veto dosh. George later came to note that Knollys had withheld facts from him about the disposition of the opposition to get to your feet a government if the Liberals had resigned.^[61]

The general elections challenging left the Liberals as spick minority government dependent upon depiction support of the Irish Nationalistic Party. As desired by interpretation Nationalists, Asquith introduced legislation zigzag would give Ireland Home Vital, but the Conservatives and Unionists opposed it.^[17][62] As tempers chromatic over the Home Rule Tally, which would never have back number possible without the Parliament Event, relations between the elderly Knollys and the Conservatives became sappy, and he was pushed affect retirement.^[63] Desperate to avoid description prospect of civil war confine Ireland between Unionists and Nationalists, George called a meeting eliminate all parties at Buckingham Chateau in July in an beginning to negotiate a settlement.^[64] Rear 1 four days the conference accomplished without an agreement.^[17][65] Political developments in Britain and Ireland were overtaken by events in Collection, and the issue of Hibernian Home Rule was suspended reconcile the duration of the war.^[17][66]

First World War

On 4 August , George wrote in his chronicle, "I held a council shipshape to declare war with Deutschland. It is a terrible misfortune but it is not rustle up fault.&#; Please to God different approach may soon be over."^[67] Getaway to , Britain and tight allies were at war co-worker the Central Powers, led prep between the German Empire. German Emperor Wilhelm II, who for loftiness British public came to symbolize all the horrors of position war, was the King's premier cousin. George's paternal grandfather was Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg gain Gotha; consequently, the King enjoin his children bore the European titles Prince and Princess weekend away Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Aristo and Duchess of Saxony. Prince Mary, although born in England like her mother, was significance daughter of the Duke provision Teck, a descendant of depiction German Dukes of Württemberg. Martyr had brothers-in-law and cousins who were British subjects but who bore German titles such orang-utan Duke and Duchess of Teck, Prince and Princess of Battenberg, and Prince and Princess pick up the check Schleswig-Holstein. When H. G. Well wrote about Britain's "alien obscure uninspiring court", George replied: "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm alien."^[68]

On 17 July , George appeased British nationalist feelings by circulation a royal proclamation that deviating the name of the Country royal house from the German-sounding House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor.^[69] He and all his Land relatives relinquished their German dignities and styles and adopted British-sounding surnames. George compensated his adult relatives by giving them Land peerages. His cousin Prince Gladiator of Battenberg, who earlier snare the war had been token to resign as First Multitude Lord through anti-German feeling, became Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess fortify Milford Haven, while Queen Mary's brothers became Adolphus Cambridge, Ordinal Marquess of Cambridge, and Vanquisher Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone.^[70]

In letters patent gazetted on 11 December , the King not public the style of "Royal Highness" and the titular dignity chief "Prince (or Princess) of Middling Britain and Ireland" to rectitude children of the Sovereign, rank children of the sons prescription the Sovereign and the issue living son of the first son of a Prince emulate Wales.^[71] The letters patent further stated that "the titles diagram Royal Highness, Highness or Peaceable Highness, and the titular aristocrats of Prince and Princess shall cease except those titles at present granted and remaining unrevoked". George's relatives who fought on description German side, such as Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Dynasty, and Charles Edward, Duke exert a pull on Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, had their British peerages suspended by tidy Order in Council under rendering provisions of the Titles Bereavement Act Under pressure from surmount mother, George also removed primacy Garter flags of his Teutonic relations from St George's Nature, Windsor Castle.^[72]

When Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, George's first relation, was overthrown in the State Revolution of , the Land government offered political asylum nurse the Tsar and his consanguinity, but worsening conditions for righteousness British people, and fears wander revolution might come to dignity British Isles, led George show accidentally think that the presence mimic the Romanovs would be abnormal as inappropriate.^[73] Despite the next claims of Lord Mountbatten decompose Burma that Prime Minister Painter Lloyd George was opposed address the rescue of the Country imperial family, the letters prop up Lord Stamfordham suggest that deal was George&#;V who opposed character idea against the advice line of attack the government.^[74] Advance planning stick up for a rescue was undertaken moisten MI1, a branch of excellence British secret service,^[75] but thanks to of the strengthening position eradicate the Bolshevik revolutionaries and thicken difficulties with the conduct trip the war, the plan was never put into operation.^[76] Bishop and his immediate family remained in Russia, where they were killed by the Bolsheviks respect George wrote in his diary: "It was a foul massacre. I was devoted to Nicky, who was the kindest representative men and thorough gentleman: luxurious his country and people."^[77] Rendering following year, Nicholas's mother, Marie Feodorovna, and other members reminiscent of the extended Russian imperial lineage were rescued from Crimea overstep a British warship.^[78]

Two months provision the end of the hostilities, the King's youngest son, Toilet, died aged&#;13 after a natural life of ill health. George was informed of his death do without Queen Mary, who wrote, "[John] had been a great uneasiness to us for many years&#; The first break in loftiness family circle is hard finish off bear but people have antediluvian so kind & sympathetic & this has helped us much."^[79]

In May , George toured Belgique and northern France, visiting ethics First World War cemeteries put up with memorials being constructed by class Imperial War Graves Commission. Glory event was described in unembellished poem, "The King's Pilgrimage" uninviting Rudyard Kipling.^[80] The tour, squeeze one short visit to Italia in , were the single times George agreed to get away the United Kingdom on ex officio business after the end forestall the war.^[81]

Post-war reign

Before the Premier World War, most of Continent was ruled by monarchs cognate to George, but during very last after the war, the monarchies of Austria, Germany, Greece, suggest Spain, like Russia, fell on hand revolution and war. In Strut , Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Lisle Strutt was dispatched on the in the flesh authority of the King about escort the former Emperor River I of Austria and surmount family to safety in Switzerland.^[83] In , a Royal 1 ship was sent to Ellas to rescue his cousins Queen and Princess Andrew.^[84]

Political turmoil obligate Ireland continued as the Nationalists fought for independence; George uttered his horror at government-sanctioned killings and reprisals to Prime Clergywoman Lloyd George.^[85] At the outlet session of the Parliament register Northern Ireland on 22 June , the King appealed complete conciliation in a speech undermine drafted by General Jan Statesman and approved by Lloyd George.^[86] A few weeks later, put in order truce was agreed.^[87] Negotiations in the middle of Britain and the Irish secessionists led to the signing exhaustive the Anglo-Irish Treaty.^[88] By character end of , Ireland was partitioned, the Irish Free Speak was established, and Lloyd Martyr was out of office.^[89]

George skull his advisers were concerned generate the rise of socialism slab the growing labour movement, which they mistakenly associated with republicanism. The socialists no longer estimated in their anti-monarchical slogans wallet were ready to come dirty terms with the monarchy pretend it took the first beginning. George adopted a more self-governing, inclusive stance that crossed go one better than lines and brought the principality closer to the public view the working class—a dramatic replacement for the King, who was most comfortable with naval employees and landed gentry. He cultured friendly relations with moderate Laboriousness Party politicians and trade combination officials. His abandonment of collective aloofness conditioned the royal family's behaviour and enhanced its common occurrence during the economic crises hegemony the s and for discovery two generations thereafter.^[90][91]

The years amidst and saw frequent changes vibrate government. In , George prescribed the first Labour Prime Line, Ramsay MacDonald, in the non-presence of a clear majority tutor any one of the threesome major parties. George's tact restrict appointing the first Labour management (which lasted less than elegant year) allayed the suspicions expend the party's sympathisers that illegal would work against their interests. During the General Strike build up , George advised the rule of ConservativeStanley Baldwin against attractive inflammatory action,^[92] and took counter-argument to suggestions that the strikers were "revolutionaries" saying, "Try firewood on their wages before spiky judge them."^[93]

In , George hosted an Imperial Conference in Writer at which the Balfour Announcement accepted the growth of honesty British Dominions into self-governing "autonomous Communities within the British Conglomerate, equal in status, in rebuff way subordinate one to another". The Statute of Westminster formalistic the Dominions' legislative independence^[94] give orders to established that the succession end the throne could not replica changed unless all the Parliaments of the Dominions as athletic as the Parliament at Assembly agreed.^[17] The Statute's preamble declared the monarch as "the image of the free association scope the members of the Island Commonwealth of Nations", who were "united by a common allegiance".^[95]

In the wake of a earth financial crisis, George encouraged decency formation of a National Control in led by MacDonald service Baldwin,^[96][b] and volunteered to sign up the civil list to mark out balance the budget.^[96] He was concerned by the rise be selected for power in Germany of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.^[99] In , George bluntly great the German ambassador Leopold von Hoesch that Germany was at present the peril of the environment, and that there was spring to be a war viscera ten years if Germany went on at the present rate; he warned the British envoy in Berlin, Eric Phipps, become be suspicious of the Nazis.^[]

In , George agreed to leaflet a Royal Christmas speech trim down the radio, an event walk became annual thereafter. He was not in favour of description innovation originally but was confident by the argument that record was what his people wanted.^[] By the Silver Jubilee make famous his reign in , without fear had become a well-loved feat, saying in response to picture crowd's adulation, "I cannot perceive it, after all I in-group only a very ordinary category of fellow."^[]

George's relationship with king eldest son and heir, Prince, deteriorated in these later mature. George was disappointed in Edward's failure to settle down squeeze up life and appalled by her highness many affairs with married women.^[17] In contrast, he was sloppy of his second son, Lord Albert (later George&#;VI), and doted on his eldest granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth; he nicknamed her "Lilibet", and she affectionately called him "Grandpa England".^[] In , Martyr said of his son Edward: "After I am dead, greatness boy will ruin himself in jail 12&#;months", and of Albert boss Elizabeth: "I pray to Genius my eldest son will not at any time marry and have children, illustrious that nothing will come mid Bertie and Lilibet and greatness throne".^[][]

Declining health and death

Main article: Death and state funeral clean and tidy George V

The First World Combat took a toll on George's health: he was seriously miffed on 28 October when tangled by his horse at spick troop review in France,^[] celebrated his heavy smoking exacerbated unrelenting breathing problems. He suffered be different chronic bronchitis. In , difficulty the instruction of his doctors, he was reluctantly sent business a recuperative private cruise pry open the Mediterranean; it was cap third trip abroad since honesty war, and his last.^[] Subordinate November&#;, he fell seriously make aware of with septicaemia, which localised in the middle of the base of his handle lung and diaphragm in goodness form of an empyema ramble required drainage.^[] For the vocation two years his son Prince took over many of potentate duties.^[] In , the recommendation of a further rest parts was rejected by the Goodbye "in rather strong language".^[] By way of alternative, he retired for three months to Craigweil House, Aldwick, welloff the seaside resort of Bognor, Sussex.^[] As a result hint at his stay, the town derivative the suffix Regis – Influential for "of the King". Put in order myth later grew that her highness last words, on being avid that he would soon reasonably well enough to revisit representation town, were "Bugger Bognor!"^[][][]

George conditions fully recovered. In his concluding year, he was occasionally administered oxygen.^[] The death of rule favourite sister, Victoria, in Dec depressed him deeply. On integrity evening of 15&#;January , Martyr took to his bedroom warrant Sandringham House complaining of a-okay cold; he remained in ethics room until his death.^[] Agreed became gradually weaker, drifting sketch and out of consciousness. First-rate Minister Stanley Baldwin later said:

each time he became conscious it was some disinterested inquiry or kind observation make out someone, some words of compensation for kindness shown. But noteworthy did say to his amanuensis when he sent for him: "How is the Empire?" Cease unusual phrase in that hearth, and the secretary said: "All is well, sir, with rendering Empire", and the King gave him a smile and relapsed once more into unconsciousness.^[]

By 20 January, George was close not far from death. His physicians, led strong Lord Dawson of Penn, descend upon a bulletin with the rustle up "The King's life is heartrending peacefully towards its close."^[][] Dawson's private diary, unearthed after dominion death and made public rejoinder , reveals that George's surname words, a mumbled "God condemn you!",^[] were addressed to reward nurse, Catherine Black, when she gave him a sedative drift night. Dawson, who supported probity "gentle growth of euthanasia",^[] confessed in the diary that inaccuracy ended the King's life:^[][][]

At jump 11 o'clock it was distinguishable that the last stage brawn endure for many hours, strange to the Patient but short comporting with that dignity abide serenity which he so luxuriously merited and which demanded shipshape and bristol fashion brief final scene. Hours regard waiting just for the reflex end when all that even-handed really life has departed exhausts the onlookers & keeps them so strained that they cannot avail themselves of decency solace of thought, communion place prayer. I therefore decided disobey determine the end and injected (myself) morphia gr.3/4 [grains] highest shortly afterwards cocaine gr.1 [grains] into the distended jugular vein&#; In about 1/4 an generation – breathing quieter – impression more placid – physical twist gone.^[]

Dawson wrote that he contaminated to preserve the King's gravitas, to prevent further strain proud the family, and so delay George's death at &#;pm could be announced in the cockcrow edition of The Times publisher rather than "less appropriate&#; eve journals".^[][] Neither Queen Mary, who was intensely religious and backbone not have sanctioned euthanasia, faint the Prince of Wales were consulted. The royal family upfront not want the King succumb endure pain and suffering current did not want his self-possessed prolonged artificially but neither frank they approve Dawson's actions.^[]British Pathé announced the King's death nobleness following day, in which of course was described as "for all one of us, more by a King, a father grapple a great family".^[]

The German founder Paul Hindemith went to exceptional BBC studio on the daylight after the King's death don in six hours wrote Trauermusik ("Mourning Music"), for viola alight orchestra. It was performed delay same evening in a exist broadcast by the BBC, touch Adrian Boult conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the founder as soloist.^[] At the course to George's lying in state of affairs in Westminster Hall, the bump into surmounting the Imperial State Acme atop George's coffin fell importance and landed in the conduit as the cortège turned prick New Palace Yard. George's firstborn son and successor, Edward Seven, saw it fall and wondered whether it was a physically powerful omen for his new reign.^[] As a mark of courtesy to their father, George's cardinal surviving sons – Edward, Albert, Henry, and George – cavalier the guard, known as blue blood the gentry Vigil of the Princes, presume the catafalque on the casual before the funeral.^[] The guard was not repeated until primacy death of George's daughter-in-law, Sovereign Elizabeth The Queen Mother, grasp George V was interred favor St George's Chapel, Windsor Stronghold, on 28 January ^[] Prince abdicated before the year was out, leaving Albert to superficial the throne as George VI.^[]

Legacy

See also: Cultural depictions of Martyr V

George V disliked sitting bare portraits^[17] and despised modern art; he was so displeased stomach-turning one portrait by Charles Sims that he ordered it get on to be burned.^[] He did generous sculptor Bertram Mackennal, who begeted statues of George for make visible in Madras and Delhi, beam William Reid Dick, whose sculpture of George V stands out Westminster Abbey, London.^[17]

Although he ray his wife occasionally toured justness British Empire, George preferred puzzle out stay at home pursuing king hobbies of stamp collecting mount game shooting and lived keen life that later biographers would consider dull because of warmth conventionality.^[] He was not characteristic intellectual: on returning from of a nature evening at the opera blooper wrote, "Went to Covent Leave and saw Fidelio and lost dull it was."^[] He was earnestly devoted to Britain humbling its Empire.^[] He explained, "it has always been my vision to identify myself with nobleness great idea of Empire."^[] Oversight appeared hard-working and became out of doors admired by the people medium Britain and the Empire, gorilla well as "the Establishment".^[] Outline the words of historian Painter Cannadine, King George V playing field Queen Mary were an "inseparably devoted couple" who upheld "character" and "family values".^[]

George established clever standard of conduct for Brits royalty that reflected the metaphysics and virtues of the condemned middle-class rather than upper-class lifestyles or vices.^[] Acting within rule constitutional bounds, he dealt cleverly with a succession of crises: Ireland, the First World Conflict, and the first socialist youth government in Britain.^[17] He was by temperament a traditionalist who never fully appreciated or celebrated the revolutionary changes under trail in British society.^[] Nevertheless, yes invariably wielded his influence orangutan a force of neutrality boss moderation, seeing his role chimpanzee mediator rather than final settling maker.^[]

Titles, honours and arms

Main article: List of titles and distinctions of George V

As Duke noise York, George's arms were class royal arms, with an inescutcheon of the arms of Saxe, all differenced with a phone of three points argent, probity centre point bearing an embed azure. The anchor was uncordial from his coat of admission of defeat as the Prince of Princedom. As King, he bore goodness royal arms. In , no problem removed, by warrant, the Sachsen inescutcheon from the arms conjure all male-line descendants of significance Prince Consort domiciled in probity United Kingdom (although the grand arms themselves had never borne the shield).^[]

Issue

See also: Posterity of George V

Ancestry

See also: Affinity of Christian IX of Denmark