Elizabeth II
Reign 6 February 1952 – present Coronation 2 June 1953 Predecessor George VI Heir apparent Charles, Prince of Wales.
Elizabeth unexpectedly propelled to the throne aged 26 by the death of her father, George VI.
Although Britain's realtive international importance has declined, the Queen has presided over an era of enormous cultural change forced to abandon the reserved and restrained image of the Royal Family to one where a closely managed relationship with the media has come to dominate. This is in part as a result of the press reaction following the death of Diana former wife of Prince Charles in 1997.
To date the Queen has seen 10 prime ministers, her first being Winston Churchill and most recently Gordon Brown.
George VI
Reign 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 Coronation 12 May 1937 Predecessor Edward VIII Successor Elizabeth II
The reluctant king who saw the monarchy past the Abdication and through the Second World war and subsequent end of Empire, George VI was a shy figure, preferring a quiet family life. Paradoxically, this made him an ideal figure to ease the royal family into the position it occupies today.
*Despite being left handed he was taught to write with his right.
George V
Reign 6 May 1910 – 20 January 1936 Coronation 22 June 1911 Predecessor Edward VII Successor Edward VIII
Arguably th first of the modern, 20th-Century World, George began the custom of broadcasting to the nation. During the First World War, he responded to anti-German sentiment by changing the name of the Royal GHouse from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. He travelled widely and was the first monarch to receive a Labour Prime Minister (Ramsey MacDonald).
Another royal smoker, his health suffered accordingly and led to illnesses. His reputed last words were "bugger Bognor" in reply to the suggestion of taking convalescence at the south coast resort.
*George V was related to many European monarchies and was fearful that he may meet the same fate as his first cousin the Russian Tsar Nicholas II who was murdered by his own people.
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom Edward as Prince of Wales, in Ottawa, Ontario, 1919 King of the United Kingdom (more...) Reign 20 January 1936 – 11 December 1936 (12 December 1936 in the Irish Free State) Predecessor George V Successor George VI
