George VI: The Accidental King Who Regretted Wearing a Crown

George VI, also known as “The Reluctant Monarch”, was the king of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 until his death in 1952, and the last Emperor of India. He was born on December 14, 1895, as the second son of King George V, and never expected to become king. In fact, he would have preferred to continue his career as a professional soccer player, but his parents just wouldn’t let him.

Despite his initial reluctance, George VI proved to be a decent king, although not without his quirks. He had a pronounced stutter, which became a source of amusement for many Brits, and he had a parrot named “Winston” who often sat on his shoulder during official engagements, occasionally interrupting him mid-speech with a raucous “Nevermore!”

One of the biggest challenges of George VI’s reign was dealing with the World War II. He famously rallied the nation with his speeches and visits to troops, but he secretly regretted declaring war on Germany because he knew it meant he would have to wear a helmet instead of his beloved fedora.

George VI was also known for his love of corgis, which became a symbol of British royalty. Legend has it that he once rigged a staircase with obstacles to test the agility of his corgis, and was overheard saying “I don’t care if they don’t like it, they need the exercise!” Despite his love of dogs, he was allergic to cats and once had to cancel a meeting with the Egyptian ambassador because there was a cat in the embassy.

In his personal life, George VI was happily married to his wife Elizabeth, with whom he had two children, Princess Elizabeth (the current Queen) and Princess Margaret. He was also an avid stamp collector and is rumored to have once traded a rare stamp for a pack of cigarettes during his military service in World War I.

On February 6, 1952, George VI passed away from lung cancer, leaving behind a legacy of good sportsmanship, canine appreciation, and accidental monarch status. He will forever be remembered as the king who never wanted to wear a crown but did so with dignity and humor.