King George VI

King George VI, 1937

National Portrait Gallery

Spending the evening watching The King's Speech.  Such courage!

On becoming a royal

King George VI; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

January 18, 1923

Three months before the wedding.  I wonder what all is going through their minds.  I know it took three proposals before she would agree to become his wife.  It wasn't him she objected to, it was being "afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak and act as I feel I really ought to."  Bertie, however, was insistent that he would marry no one else.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; King George VI

1923

He looks pleased, I think.

Growing older

King George VI, 1911

and

August 15, 1919

The Steps of the Throne

Seriously, that's the title of this picture. 

1901

Prince Edward, King George VI, and Princess Mary

 I wonder if the pout on Mary's face is because she's third.

I do love the smile on the future King's face though.  Prince Edward may want to practice keeping his kilt down.  (Evidently that wasn't a lesson he learned very well.)

No more dresses for me!

1900

Queen Victoria, Prince Henry, King George VI, Princess Mary, and Prince Edward.

Again, I am tickled by the expression on the Queen's face.  She seems to be trying to figure out how on earth this baby got on her lap. It's nice to see that the King is old enough for big boy pants too.

Great-Grandmama

1898

Queen Victoria, Princess Mary, King George VI and Prince Edward (yes, I know he was King Edward VIII but really, his reign was so short and inconsequential.)

Most pictures of Queen Victoria taken after Prince Albert's death depict her as being very solemn.  I love how this picture has her looking at the little princess with concern or curiosity.  It makes me wonder what Princess Mary was up to.

happy baby

Albert Frederick Arthur George

1896

Someday he'll become King George VI.

But on this day, he's a plump happy baby, the proverbial "spare" to the throne.  I wonder if he's smiling because at this point, he's just a normal little boy.