This Day in History: 12 May 2020
12 May 1937
83 years ago, today, the coronation of George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, took place. This was one of the biggest events of the early television service and the first outside broadcast, using a mobile control van. The date had originally been chosen for Edward VIII before his abdication in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Staff working at the coronation started preparations at 4:00am, as guests began arriving two hours later. Eyewitnesses recalled that inside Westminster Abbey, colours were everywhere, with blue and gold hangings, as well as carpets and crimson robes. However, mishaps did occur, such as a bishop stepping on the King's train and another putting his thumb over the words of oath the King was about to read.
George became a very popular king throughout the British Empire, most notably winning the heart of the public during World War Two. He stayed at Buckingham Palace during the most intense months of the Blitz, where the palace was bombed more than twice. However, he still remained, and became a symbol of resistance and fighting spirit. He worked together with the wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to help defeat the Nazis. George also had a stutter, which made it very difficult for him to carry out the traditional public duties of a King, such as the requirement to make speeches. To overcome this, he sought the help of an Australian speech and language therapist, Lionel Logue. In 1952, George sadly died of lung cancer after being a heavy smoker throughout his life and was subsequently given a state funeral.
Want to find out more about the life and coronation of King George VI? Click here to find out more, or here for a video of the coronation. To find out more about the King's struggle with his speech difficulty, watch the 2010 historical drama 'The King's Speech', starring Colin Firth, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the role.
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