George VI

George VI (1895-1952), the second son of George V, became king in December 1936, after his elder brother, Edward VIII, abdicated. George VI studied under private tutors, then went to Osborne and Dartmouth naval schools. He served in World War I and was with the Grand Fleet in the Battle of Jutland. In 1918, he joined the Royal Flying Corps and became a wing commander. He studied at Cambridge University in 1919. In 1920, he became Duke of York. In 1923, he married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-...), a daughter of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret Rose.

King George and Queen Elizabeth toured Canada and South Africa, and became the first British monarchs to visit North America. During World War II (1939-1945), the royal family endeared itself to the people by sharing dangers and hardships with them. After the war, a national health service and nationalization of the Bank of England and the coal and steel industries were introduced.

India became an independent dominion in 1947, and the words Emperor of India were dropped from the king's title. George was succeeded by his elder daughter, Elizabeth II.