Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George, styled commonly as HRH The Duke of York, (14 December, 1895 – 6 February, 1952) was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, and brother of Edward, Prince of Wales.
Background
Albert was born during the reign of his great-grandmother Queen Victoria. His birthday marked the anniversary of the death of his great-grandfather, Prince Albert, for whom he was named.
He suffered from ill health in his youth, which included chronic stomach problems, knock knees and being forced to write with his right hand when he was naturally left-handed. He suffered from a stammer which lasted for many years.
He became a naval cadet and served during the Great War, in which his fellow officers codenamed him "Mr. Johnson".
Afterwards, he courted Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, youngest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. She rejected him twice before agreeing to marry him. Together they had two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth II) and Margaret.
After his elder brother King Edward VIII abdicated, Albert succeeded to the throne. He chose the regnal name of King George VI, in memory of his father.
Notes
- The duke served onboard the HMS Collingwood during the Battle of Jutland, in which Charles Blake and Lord Gillingham also fought (onboard HMS Iron Duke).
- While it is fairly well known that Albert was naturally left-handed, less well known is that his wife, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was also left-handed.
- The Duke, like his grandfather, King Edward VII, was named Albert and known as "Bertie" within the family, and they each chose a different regal name when coming to the throne.
Behind the scenes
- Prince Albert's role in Downton Abbey is reduced to a background part, with no lines. He stands by Queen Mary during Lady Rose's presentation to society at Buckingham Palace.
- Downton cast members Iain Glen and Charles Edwards both portrayed King George VI respectively in the television drama Into the Storm and a theater adaptation of the film The King's Speech.
Appearances
| Appearances and Mentions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 4 | Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Christmas Special Appears |