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Workmen putting the finishing touches to a plaque of Queen Mary on the first-class deck of the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, during construction at the shipyard of John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland, March 1936. The plaque was the work of Kathleen Scott. // x

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U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (seated in front row, third from left), attends the Queen’s Club Championships tennis tournament at the Queen’s Club in London. Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, is seated front, second from left. // June 24, 1939

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Hacking in Windsor, 1923

The Royal family were spending Easter at Windsor Castle. On Saturday, the menfolk went riding in Windsor Great Park.

King George V (left) with his sons all in a line: the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, Prince Henry and Prince George.

This was the Easter right before Bertie’s wedding. Elizabeth was with her family in Hertfordshire, and he was with his at Windsor.

When they parted for Easter weekend, Bertie wrote:

“I shall always be thinking of you & shall miss you terribly during these days darling, & I do hope you will miss me too…Only 4 more weeks darling, & then we can take a rest away from everybody & everything. I wonder how you are looking forward to that time. I know I am very much indeed & I hope you are too…. This is the last time I shall be without you my little angel, & I think it is one too many.”

But, after Easter, Elizabeth was to spend a few days at Windsor Castle with the royal family.

On Easter Sunday, Bertie wrote to Elizabeth:

“Another 2 days to go before I shall see you & it seems like years to me. My mother wanted you to stay here till the Monday but I told her you had so much to do Saturday morning in London. Do say you have if she asks you & do let’s go to St. Paul’s Walden for the weekend as here there is no rest & the day is so marked out into minutes for this thing & the other, which is always such a bore…. My father & mother can never understand that we are young & want to get some more exercise than a mere walk in the grounds of the Castle every day.”

The problem with his parents’ court life, he continued, was that:

“there is never the question of being asked what you want to do; it is always orders. Life is not as easy as it should be but the change is coming & you my little darling I hope are going to help me with this change. You must take them in hand & teach them how they should do these things."

Oh you crazy kids! 🥰

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Princess Anne at Burghley Horse Trials in 1974

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Polo at Springfield, near Rugby. The player nearest the ball, the Duke of York (future King George VI).

c. 1922

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Portrait of Princess Margaret drawn by her aunt, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, 1951.

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PRINCE ALBERT WINS HIS WINGS

In 1918, Prince Albert went to Cranwell and was given a desk job (1). He was "penguin," without wings.

When he flew to France in October in a Handley Page bomber (5), it was not in the pilot's cockpit but in the gunner's.

More pilots were killed in training than in action. The King decided his son would not learn to fly.

Prince Albert decided he would.

He did, in 1919, in an Avro 504 J biplane (2).

He motored over from Buckingham Palace to Croydon and went through the same training as any other pilot (4).

In due course he became Marshal of the R.A.F. But the uniform he was most proud of was his uniform of I9I9 (3). It had two rings— and wings.

Bertie in RAF uniform, in 1923 and later as King in 1942.

🫡 🫡

Text and numbered photographs from:

The Authentic Pictorial Record of KING GEORGE VI  A tribute to a great and good Man who was also a King By Arthur Groom Published by Pitkins in association with The Daily Graphic

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So deeply shocked & grieved to learn of this great tragedy. I send you my truly heartfelt sympathy, & the assurance of my thoughts & prayers in this moment of sorrow.

June 6, 1968 telegram from Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to Rose Kennedy after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy

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Viscountess Joan Moore and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, at Sledmere House in Yorkshire, May 1948

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85th birthday card to Queen Mary from the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own), 1952. // British Museum

The card features a 1927 photograph of Queen Mary with her granddaughter Princess Elizabeth, who had recently ascended the throne as Queen Elizabeth II.

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Royal favorite: A set of building blocks featuring photos of members of the Royal Family was a favorite toy of a young Prince Charles (now King Charles III)

And just look at that handsome Grandpapa! 🥰

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The King chatting with a pilot fighter during ww2 - 1940s

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Prince George, Duke of Kent, c. 1930s

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In March of 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth hosted French President and Madame Lebrun on a State Visit to Britain. Here, the Lebruns make an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the King & Queen and Princesses Elizabeth & Margaret, after arriving at the Palace by open landau in a grand procession.

British Pathe

Can we just take a moment to talk about how incredibly delicious Bertie looks in that sumptuous bespoke Guards winter coat? Ooh-la-la!!!

Nobody wore a uniform better, IMHO! 😍

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Just Bertie, handsoming up the place...

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Iconic Princess Margaret ✨

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Elizabeth smiling at Bertie during their visit to Inverness in 1948, at The Lord Roberts Memorial Center.

(Particularly loving this uniform!)

Bertie looking dapper as he inspects the Highlanders on Academy Street.

An estimated 80,000 people packed into Inverness to welcome King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in June 1948.

It was the first time the couple, accompanied by Princess Margaret, had visited the Highland capital since their coronation.

The Royal Procession of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth traveling along Ness Walk, opposite Inverness Castle. [source]