HistoryHistory

King George VI's Winnipeg Speech

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth undertook a month-long tour of Canada in May and June of 1939, visiting every province, the Dominion of Newfoundland, and they also spent a few days in the United States. The tour was more ambitious than any of the previous Canadian tours. But the King’s speech on May 24th, 1939 from Government House in Winnipeg was a historic occasion. The King and…
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British RoyalsHistoryHistory

'Once more a supreme test has to be faced': George VI's words on D-Day

As D-Day took place, King George VI spoke to the people of Britain and the Empire it still retained. His speech was set to inspire, to comfort and to look to the future with determination as World War Two entered a new phase, one which he himself referred to as ‘a fight to win the final victory for the good cause’. As tens of thousands of troops prepared to battle to free Europe from…
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FeaturesHistory

Royal Pictures from History: first sight of Elizabeth II as Queen

In this occasional series, looking at famous royal images from history, Royal Central goes back to 1952 and the moment the world first saw Elizabeth II after her sudden accession to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI. The Image:Queen Elizabeth II, February 7th 1952, London Airport Embed from Getty Images The Story Elizabeth had left London Airport a week…
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British RoyalsPrincess Anne and FamilyQueen Elizabeth II

Princess Anne gives rare insight into how George VI’s death impacted The Queen

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne has granted a rare interview to reporter George Alagiah as part of the BBC’s programme The Queen: Her Commonwealth Story which aired this week in the UK. The documentary charted the evolution of Her Majesty’s visits to the Commonwealth countries from her first “tour of the nations” through to the visits of the 1970s where the “walkabout” was born. Sir…
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