ESCUELA SUPERIOR DE ADMINISTRACIÓN PÚBLICA

ENGLISH WORKSHOP
NAME: María Fernanda Cuevas Villamil DATE: 16/06/2021

READ AND DO THE EXERCISES BELOW.

George VI of England

George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British
Commonwealth for over fifteen years since assuming throne in December 1936 till
his death in February 1952. He was the last Emperor of India and became the first
Head of the Commonwealth. As the second child of King George V, he was an
unlikely candidate for the throne, and inherited it after his elder brother, King
Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry his mistress Wallis Simpson.
According to a letter George VI wrote to his brother following the abdication
crisis, he had reluctantly assumed "a rocking throne" and tried "to make it steady
again". Despite enduring the Second World War during his reign, and his personal
shortcomings, he was able to restore the people's faith in the monarchy with
courage and determination. After his health issues cut his reign short, his elder
daughter, Princess Elizabeth, assumed the throne as Elizabeth II.

Childhood and Early Life

George VI was born on December 14, 1895, at York Cottage, on the Sandringham
Estate in Norfolk, UK, to Prince George, Duke of York (later King George V) and
Duchess of York (later Queen Mary). Born on the 34th death anniversary of his great-
grandfather, Albert, Prince Consort, he was baptized as 'Albert Frederick Arthur
George', and was commonly known as 'Bertie' among friends and family.

Second child of his parents, he had an elder brother, Edward VIII; one younger sister,
Mary, Princess Royal; and three younger brothers, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester;
Prince George, Duke of Kent; and Prince John. He was fourth in the line of ascension
for the throne, after his grand-father, father, and elder brother.

Described as a frail child, he suffered from ill health, especially chronic stomach
problems, was easily frightened and prone to tears, and had developed a stammer that
troubled him even after he ascended the throne. He had knock knees, for which he
was forced to wear painful corrective splints, and despite being naturally left-handed,
he was also forced to write with his right hand.

Reign As King
While George VI was second in the line of ascension after his elder brother Edward at
the time of his father's death on January 20, 1936, King George V wanted 'Bertie' to
inherit the throne. Many close to King Edward disapproved of his womanizing and
reckless behavior, and after he decided to marry twice divorced American socialite
Wallis Simpson, it was clear that he would have to abdicate the throne.

After Edward's abdication on December 11, 1936, Albert reluctantly took the throne
assuming the reign name 'George VI' with the hope of restoring confidence in the
monarchy following the tumultuous events since his father's death. His coronation
occurred at Westminster Abbey on the same day his elder bother's coronation was
supposed to take place, May 12, 1937, with his mother, Queen Mary, in attendance to
show her support.

With his early reign overshadowed by the impending Second World War, he took two
overseas trips to France and to North America to gain strategic advantage. During his
visit to Canada and the US with the Queen in May and June 1939, he gave Royal Assent
to nine parliamentary bills and ratified two international treaties with the Great Seal
of Canada. During the trip to America, he stayed with the US President Franklin D.
Roosevelt at the White House and at his private estate at Hyde Park, New York. On the
trip, he developed a deep friendship with Roosevelt. While the tour was a major
political success, helping in building the alliance for the coming war, the common
people also welcomed the royal couple with great enthusiasm.

After the Second World War broke out, the King and the Queen decided to stay in
London, sharing the same fate as the civilians, and were also subject to rationing
restrictions. Despite narrowly escaping death during German bombings on September
13, 1939, they continued to visit bomb sites, munitions factories, and troops to
provide moral support.

He was against the appointment of Winston Churchill as Prime Minister in 1940, but
later developed close friendship with him, and regularly lunched together while
discussing the War. During the Victory in Europe Day celebrations, he invited
Churchill to appear with the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to
greet the public.

The last Emperor of India, he became the King of India and King of Pakistan, after the
two countries became independent in August 1947. He eventually ceased to be the
King of India when it became a republic in 1950 but remained King of Pakistan till his
death.

Death
George VI suffered from several illnesses, including arteriosclerosis and Buerger's
disease, and was treated with a right lumbar sympathectomy in March 1949 for an
arterial blockage in his right leg. He also developed lung cancer due to heavy smoking,
and had his left lung removed in September 1951 after a malignant tumor was found.

On February 6, 1952, he was found dead in bed at Sandringham House in Norfolk. He

died of coronary thrombosis, in his sleep. His coffin rested in St. Mary Magdalene
Church, Sandringham for two days before lying in state at Westminster Hall from
February 11.

Adapted from: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/george-vi-8452.php

Read the following questions and answer them.

1. When was he born?

R// George VI was born on December 14, 1895, at York Cottage, on the
Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, UK.
2. Why is his name, “Albert”?
R//Because he was born on the 34th death anniversary of his great-
grandfather, Albert, Prince Consort.
3. What was his nickname?
R// His nickname was Berti.
4. How many brothers and sisters did he have?
R// He had an elder brother, Edward VIII; one younger sister, Mary, Princess
Royal; and three younger brothers, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester; Prince
George, Duke of Kent; and Prince John.
5. How was his childhood?
R// His parents were not present in his childhood, so he was afraid child, he
suffered from ill health, especially chronic stomach problems as his nanny did
not feed him and was very cruel to him, he was easily frightened and prone to
tears, he had developed a stammer. He had knock knees, for which he was
forced to wear painful corrective splints, and despite being naturally left-
handed, he was also forced to write with his right hand.
6. What were the possible causes of his stammbling condition?
R// Traumas caused by his childhood.
7. What were his routines to solve his problem?
R// It was with his Australian psychologist who helped him with his problem,
he prescribed vocal exercises for one hour a daily through muscle therapy and
relaxation. When he stammered, he said insults or sang for greater fluency.
8. When was he coronated?
 R// His coronation occurred at Westminster Abbey on May 12, 1937, with his
mother, Queen Mary.
9. What political events did he have to face?
R// The Second World War, and the dissolution of the British empire with the
first head of the commonwealth of nations.
10. Why was he an important King?
R// He became a symbol of national resistance because he was the
representative of his nation in the middle of the Second World War, despite his
difficulty to speak.
11. When did he die?
R// On February 6, 1952, he was found dead in bed at Sandringham House in
Norfolk. He died of coronary thrombosis, in his sleep.
12. Do you like the film? Give three(3) reasons.
R// If I liked the movie because:
• I managed to feel admiration and respect for some characters, for
example, Bertie's wife played by Helena Bonham Carter who, through her
character, showed unconditional support to her husband King George VI,
which made me connect more with the film and with this character.
• The social and historical background in which this story unfolds, as it
deals with interesting topics such as the life of royalty, touching in depth
the problem of one of its members. This generates a strong commotion
because the protagonist manages to face it despite the events that have
been presented at his time (World War II)
• It generated in me feelings of shock as it was developing the movie, for
example in the scene where the king had to read the speech, I felt the
anguish that at any moment I could fail. However, when he succeeded, he
seemed to me very admirable and exemplary, leaving me a life lesson and
teaching.