The Dukes of Edinburgh, Gloucester, Windsor and Kent march during the funeral procession of King George VI // 15 FEBRUARY 1952
‘It was a long walk to Paddington, past the Cenotaph, along the Mall, where Queen Mary watched the procession pass from her balcony at Marlborough House, past what was left of 145 Piccadilly, the King’s home before his accession, and up Park Lane to Paddington. The Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Windsor wore naval uniform, the Duke of Gloucester a military greatcoat, and I wore an overcoat and top hat. I was only sixteen.’
- THE DUKE OF KENT (A Royal Life, 2022)
ABOVE: The Duke of Kent shares his recollections of the funeral in the 2016 documentary ‘Elizabeth at 90 - A Family Tribute’
The newsreel he watches in the clip - ‘The Last Journey’ - can be viewed HERE
“Has there been a more despicable royal in modern history than king Edward VIII? He thought his youngest sick brother prince John was an animal and mocked his death. He was a white supremacist who dehumanized other races. He had nazi beliefs, liked Hitler and wanted to use nazi influence to get the throne back. He caused too much stress to his father and his brother, hastening their demise. He wrecked other people's marriages by having affairs with married women. There was nothing redemptive about him” - Submitted by Anonymous
King George V and The Prince of Wales, 13 March 1914
On this day in 1936, King George V died at Sandringham House aged 70.
His eldest son, Edward, then ascended the throne to become Edward VIII and reigned for 326 days, making him the shortest reigning British Monarch to date. He abdicated on 10 December of the same year and was succeeded by his younger brother Prince Albert, Duke of York, who took the reign name George VI.
King Edward VII Royal Bluthner Piano Exhibited in Paris Exhibition 1900
An 1899, Bluthner grand piano with a rosewood case, decorated with Art Nouveau and Empire style elements. It was showcased at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Piano bought by King Edward VII & Queen Alexander, residing at the Ballroom in Malborough House. It was sold in 1936 to Major Maconochie in Bath. This piano is in great original condition having only had two previous owners.
King Edward VIII was still alive at the coronations of his son and grandson (Edward IX and X). In to avoid confusion, people would refer to them as “Ed,” “Edd,” and “Eddy.”
A newborn Mary Princess Royal (later Countess of Harewood) with her older brothers Prince David (King Edward VIII) and Prince Albert “Bertie” (King George VI), 1897
“I am 1000% sure that everything the Duke of Windsor did was an act of rebellion against his father. It’s public knowledge that George V was a terrible parent, and keeping in mind that David where the first: the heir, he probably got the worst treatment. So it’s very possible that if George v were a good father then Edward may have ruled and everything would be different.” - Submitted by Anonymous