Australia #21 (1914) – King George V

Description

Australia #21 (1914) – King George V

King George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) was born on June 3, 1865, and he reigned as the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 1910 until his death in 1936. He was a member of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha but changed the house name to the House of Windsor during World War I due to anti-German sentiments.

Here are some key points about King George V:

1. Ascension to the Throne: George V became king upon the death of his father, King Edward VII, on May 6, 1910.
2. World War I: His reign included the tumultuous period of World War I (1914-1918). He and his wife, Queen Mary, worked to maintain the morale of the British people during the war.
3. House of Windsor: In 1917, due to anti-German sentiments during World War I, King George V changed the royal family name from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor.
4. End of World War I: George V played a role in the end of World War I and attended the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
5. The Irish Free State: George V was the first monarch of the United Kingdom to see the Irish Free State established in 1922.
6. Great Depression: The latter part of his reign was marked by economic challenges, including the Great Depression of the 1930s.
7. Death: King George V died on January 20, 1936. His eldest son, who became King Edward VIII, succeeded him.
8. Legacy: King George V is often remembered as a stable and relatively quiet figure during a period of significant change and upheaval. The House of Windsor, established under his reign, continues to be the royal family’s name in the United Kingdom.

King George V and Queen Mary were the parents of six children, including King George VI and the Duke of Windsor (formerly King Edward VIII), who abdicated the throne.