Card of the Day: The Duke of York

The Duke of York (later King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II), has been very much in the public eye again due to the popular recent film, The King’s Speech, which chronicled Bertie’s (as he was known to his family) unexpected rise from Duke of York to King of England and his fear of public speaking.

The Duke of York, like his father, King George V and his mother, Queen Mary, preferred quiet times at home with his family. Unlike his famously wild brother, the Princes of Wales (later King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor), the Duke of York was shy like his mother and did not wish to be the center of attention.

Bertie’s father, King George V (previously the Duke of York and Duke of Cornwall), was not meant to be king. However, when his brother, the Prince of Wales died, George was pressed forward as heir apparent to the throne. While Bertie’s brother didn’t die, he did abdicate the throne upon the death of his father and pushed yet another Duke of York toward the Crown. Known as the “Reluctant King,” George VI, like his father before him, carried his country through a devastating world war, and yet, proved to be steadfast and much beloved. His eldest daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, follows in this tradition of dedication to the Empire.

The fourth card in the Silver Jubilee Series by Godfrey and Phillips shows “Bertie” as the Duke of York in a photo taken long before the idea of being King was not even present in his mind. I was quite tickled to find this video which features King George VI with his family. It’s interesting to see the young Princess Elizabeth and her eldest child—a baby Prince Charles—still with Queen Mary living. Enjoy this compilation of old film footage which ranges from the silly to the touching.