King George VI passed away unexpectedly on February 6, 1952, following a reign marked by challenges and uncertainties.
His tenure on the throne began after his brother chose abdication in December 1936, leading to George becoming king out of a sense of duty rather than desire.
Initially, an official announcement attributed his death to coronary thrombosis; however, it’s well-known that the king battled long-standing health issues linked to heavy smoking, including lung cancer.
The somber statement released later disclosed that he was discovered lifeless in his bed at Sandringham House, Norfolk, stating, “The King was found dead in bed… A blood clot had stilled George VI’s valiant heart as he slept.”
Rumors suggest that George took up smoking as a teenager at around 16 years old, which led to a debilitating habit of consuming several packets of cigarettes daily for the next forty years.
This habit contributed significantly to his declining health, with noticeable deterioration occurring by 1948.
With persistent leg pain and a diagnosis of arteriosclerosis, he faced possible gangrene that could necessitate amputation of his leg.
In March of 1949, he underwent surgery, hoping to alleviate his ailments.
However, in May 1951, a troubling shadow was identified on his lung, leading to further examinations.
By September of that year, it was confirmed that a malignant tumor had developed.
A bulletin posted at Buckingham Palace characterized his postoperative recovery as “satisfactory,” despite the grim news about his lung condition.
Remarkably, the king was kept in the dark about the diagnosis, but he underwent surgery to remove his left lung in an effort to extend his life.
Following the operation, he appeared to improve, with many believing he had triumphed over his health battles.
Yet, fate had other plans, and he ultimately succumbed to his afflictions.
As death drew near, Prime Minister Winston Churchill reflected on the king’s remarkable composure.
He remarked in the House of Commons that “the King walked with death, as if death were a companion, an acquaintance whom he recognized and did not fear.”
This poignant observation speaks volumes about George VI’s character.
On the day of his passing, his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was thousands of miles away in Kenya when she received the heartbreaking news.
It was her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who gently delivered the devastating message to her, leading her into the garden for a private moment together as they walked in silence on the lawn.
In the wake of his death, the world mourned a king who had led with resilience despite his personal struggles with anxiety and health.
How it happened: the timeline
George VI had undergone lung surgery in September 1951, from which he never fully recovered.
On the evening of 5 February 1952, he had dinner with his family at Sandringham House in Norfolk and went to bed at 10:30 pm.
He died in his sleep early the next morning at the age of 56.
His valet found him at 7:30 am, and the news was relayed to Buckingham Palace by telephone using the code phrase “Hyde Park Corner” to keep it from switchboard operators.
The public announcement was delayed until 11:15 am, when BBC newsreader John Snagge began broadcasting with the words, “It is with the greatest sorrow that we make the following announcement…”
The bulletin was repeated every fifteen minutes seven times, after which the broadcast went silent for five hours.
Tributes included the tolling of the Great Tom bell at St Paul’s Cathedral every minute for two hours, as well as bells at Westminster Abbey.
At Windsor Castle, the Sebastopol Bell—a Crimean War trophy rung only upon the death of a monarch—was tolled 56 times, once for each year of the King’s life.
Royal funerals are organized by the Earl Marshal, a hereditary office then held by Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk.
His offices at St James’s Palace in London were being renovated at the time of the King’s death but were hurriedly restored and ready by 5:00 pm that day.
The House of Commons met at 11:58 am to express condolences before adjourning, pending the Accession Council’s formal recognition of the new monarch.
The council convened at 5:00 pm in the Entrée Room of St James’s Palace and confirmed Elizabeth II as George VI’s successor.
An official proclamation was read from the Proclamation Gallery at the palace, preceded by trumpets from the Life Guards and filmed by four television cameras.
High Sheriffs later read the proclamation at town and city halls across the country.
Thousands gathered in Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh for these ceremonies.
A period of national mourning followed. Rugby and hockey matches were postponed, but football games went ahead, beginning with the national anthem and the hymn “Abide with Me.”
Memorial services were held in churches throughout the UK and abroad, including in communist countries.
Public reaction was mixed: while many mourned, some expressed frustration.
Mass-Observation recorded a woman complaining about the gloom’s effect on the elderly and ill, and a fight broke out in a Notting Hill bar after a man made a blunt remark about the King’s mortality.
