Autographs of Royals...

Part 6: 1910-today (Kings George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Queen Elizabeth II)

Edward VII was followed by his son King George V. (1865-1936) in 1910. Like his father before him (who, against his mother´s wish, had decided to use "Edward" instead of his first but more German-like name "Albert" after his father, Prince Albert), George tried to keep the distance from his German roots, especially when the first World War (1914-18) broke out: He adopted the name "Windsor" in 1917. Before that, the family was called (if at all) "Saxe-Coburg-Gotha". By the way, it was King George V. who originated the famous Christmas Day broadcasts to the nation on BBC in 1932. The signatures on the right, as well as the photo on the left show King George V. toward the end of his reign.

When King George V died in early1936, the British monarchy had the most difficult problem since 1649 (when King Charles I had lost his head): George´s eldest son, Edward (1894-1972), was in love with a twice-divorced American woman, and, instead of remaining Edward VIII, he decided to abdicate the throne, marry her and become Edward, Duke of Windsor. After almost a year of unstableness, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin was able to "save the King" and the monarchy: The second son was crowned as King George VI in late 1936.

On the left, you can see a signed bookplate "Edward" (The Duke of Windsor wrote a book in 1951, "A King´s Story"), on the right, Edward´s signature on a document from 1918 (as "Edward P", Prince of Wales then) and a photograph of the Duke of Windsor.

King George VI (1895-1952) was unprepared to become King (being the second-born) when he followed his brother Edward in December 1936. But with the help of his family he tried his best and enjoyed an enormous popularity, especially when he and his wife Elizabeth (born in 1900, "Queen Mum") chose to remain in London among their citizens during the German air-bombings in the second World War. On the left, you can see his signature (1949, on an appointment).

When he died in February 1952, his daughter became Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth (born in 1926) has a difficult task in times of a changing conscience. Most of her subjects still love Crown and Queen, but they wish to be closer to their Royals instead of seeing them as a kind of a distant "semi-God". To master this task will be the most difficult challenge in the future. On the left, you can see the signature of Queen Elizabeth II, from a personalized Christmas card (not to me, unfortunately). Compare this one with the signature of Queen Elizabeth I at the beginning of this section: How times and hand-writings have changed...

If you meet Her Royal Majesty in public, ask for an autograph (but don´t expect much...)!

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