King George V

George Frederick Ernest Albert was the second son of the future King Edward VII, born at Marlborough House (London) on 3 June 1865. In this position, he was able to pursue a naval career, as his prospects of following his father were very slim (his older brother seemed to be healthy). This career brought him a "down-to-Earth"-manner which endeared him to his subjects like few other Monarchs before him. In 1892, his elder brother died unexpectedly, and he became next in line after his father. He married his late brother´s fiancée, cousin Princess Mary of Teck, in 1893. After his father died in 1910, he became King George V. In 1911, he was the first (and only) King-Emperor who visited India. During the first World War (1914-18), he changed the name of the Royals from "Saxe-Coburg-Gotha" (after his grandfather Prince Albert) to "Windsor". He also adapted the German family-names of the related British noble families in response to anti-German feeling (i.e. "Battenberg" became "Mountbatten"). The famous Christmas-speeches via BBC-radio were introduced during his reign, in 1932. King George V died on 20 January 1936.

His signature as "George R I" on a document (1923), which allowed the marriage of his son, the future King George VI.