George VI
George VI, also known as Bertie, was the King of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952. Originally the Duke of York, he succeeded his elder brother, Edward VIII, after Edward's abdication on 10 December 1936. George VI was succeeded by his daughter, Elizabeth II, in 1952.
Biography
Early life
When the Doctor found that Edward VII had disappeared along with Balmoral Castle in 1902, he warned that the future of the royal family, along with the rest of history, was threatened. He said that, along with the rest of his successors, there would be no George VI. (PROSE: Revenge of the Judoon)
In 1936, while his elder brother reigned as King Edward VIII, "Bertie" was the Duke of York. (PROSE: Players)
Ascension
After Edward VIII's abdication on 10 December 1936, the Duke of York ascended to the throne as George VI. Lady Jennifer Buckingham described "Bertie" as a "terribly sweet" yet a "so shy, poor man." She attributed this to having being overshadowed by his elder brother all his life as well as his stammer, which she anticipated would hinder his capability to manage public speeches. The Sixth Doctor suggested that he would "rise to the occasion", which Buckingham concurred with, suggesting that the "very practical and sensible" Elizabeth would be able to build up his confidence. (PROSE: Players)
The Ninth Doctor was photographed at the coronation; this evidence lead Daniel Roberts to be sceptical of the claims that people were seeing the Doctor in the 21st century, as documented on the whoisdoctorwho.co.uk website, as, by Daniel's workings out, would make the Doctor over a hundred years old, which he believed was "impossible". (PROSE: Have You Seen This Man?)
Framed photographs of George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth were present in the Cabinet War Rooms. (TV: Victory of the Daleks, The Pandorica Opens)
Death
George VI died on 6 February 1952. He was succeeded by his daughter, Elizabeth II. (PROSE: A History of Humankind)
Behind the scenes
- He was played by James Wilby in Bertie and Elizabeth, Iain Glen in Into the Storm, Samuel West in Hyde Park on Hudson and James Purefoy in Churchill.
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