General Chat

Dear All

Hello

On this day, 6 February 1952, King George VI died in his sleep
at Sandringham House. He was 56.

The Prime Minister Winston Churchill said

"We cannot at this moment do more than record the spontaneous expression of grief".

The House of Commons was suspended as a mark of respect.

As the news of the King's death spread, all cinemas and theatres closed, and BBC programmes were cancelled except for news bulletins. Flags in every town were at half-mast, and sports fixtures were cancelled.

A crowd began to gather outside Buckingham Palace during the afternoon, as diplomats from around the world arrived in official cars to write their condolences in the visitors' book.

By 9-00pm, the police had to press the growing number of mourners back from the gates and on to the pavement. Despite the bitter cold and rain, the silent, weeping crowd stayed until long after it grew dark.

The news was greeted with shock and grief throughout the world.
In the United States, President Truman, in a formal statement from the White House, paid tribute to the King.

He said, "He shared to the end of his reign all the hardships and austerities which evil days imposed on the brave British people".

"In return, he received from the people of the whole Commonwealth a love and devotion which went beyond the usual relationship of a King and his subjects."

Both the US Senate and the House of Representatives voted to adjourn out of regard for the dead King.


The funeral of King George VI took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 15 February 1952, after a lying in state at Westminster Hall.


His daughter Princess Elizabeth, who was at the Royal hunting lodge in Kenya on 6 February, immediately became Queen at the tender age of 25.


Take gentle care
Very best wishes
xx

How many of you rememebr this day?


I was in my first year at grammar school

I can remember that we were called out of class into an Assembly in the School Hall


The first year's were all in the balcony, and we filed in and down the steps in a pretty quiet mood. This was all so strange, we'd already had Morning Assembly, and we'd never before had a second Assembly


Then the announcement was made

"The King is dead. Long live the Queen"


I think almost everyone burst into tears ............... and a general air of disbelief.


This just could not be happening.





sylvia

My late Uncle went to see the lying in state of the King and wrote about his experiences. I posted the transcript on Chat a some months ago and have bumped it for anyone who missed it before.

Yes I remember it. I was in school when it was announced. It was a sad day.
Then we had a Queen,who was so young. People were talking about an Elizabethan Age .
She might have been young but she has been a good queen, she has never put a foot wrong.
Long may she reign.

Yes I remember the day well. We were all ushered into school assembly and the headmistress told us the sad news.
Many of us cried,he was a popular King.

I agree with you Leni, Elizabeth II has been a good Queen,her father would have been proud.

I believe that the announcement of his death was made late in order that the news wasn't printed in the Evening Standard which was classed as an inferior paper but with this marvellous internet I have found a copy of the front page that same day. The head line read The King is Dead and went on to say that the announcement was given at 10 45 from Sandringham saying that the King had died early in the morning. Perhaps it was true that they did try to prevent the news getting out too soon but obviously the Evening Standard must have 'stop the press' and got their news up to date.-jle

Remember it well. The king of England was a real somebody in the world, and we all then looked up to him; his wife and delightful daughters.

Remember having to get used to singing "God save the Queen".

If only we could have the best of the old with the best of the new.

Happy days

I remember that day. I was working in a bank in New Zealand and the manager came into the office in the morning and said that the king had died and we had to close the doors and balance up then go home. Luckily by the 6th of the month not much business was happening, I was a ledgerkeeper and we had almost finished posting our ledgers so we finished off then another girl and I rode our bikes two miles to the beach and went swimming. It was a very warm humid sort of day. All the shops in our town closed their doors as well. I have remembered that day ever since. Feb 6th is also Waitangi Day when N.Z. became a proper colony and signed a Treaty with the Maoris and granted them full rights and priveleges as British citizens.

I remember being at home with my mother and the Insurance man calling for the weekly payment and telling us the news, they both seemed to be quiet. I didn't understand fully what it meant but I certainly remember the year later when there was a Coronation. That time seemed magical to me and I wanted everything ,including my Sunday best, in red, white and blue.-j