George V

    

George V
King of the United Kingdom Head of the Commonwealth
King of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms
Reign	June 23, 2001–present
Coronation	January 27, 2002
Predecessor	Richard IV
Heir apparent	Edward, Prince of Wales
Prime Ministers	Douglas Walker (2001–2010) Paul Grove (2010–2015) Malcolm Vance (2015–2019) Clive Spencer (2019– )
Born	(1956-07-21) July 21, 1956 Buckingham Palace, London, England
Consort	Alice Seymour
Issue	Edward, Prince of Wales Prince Charles, Duke of York Princess Victoria Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge Prince Alexander, Duke of Edinburgh
Names George Edward Albert Richard
Royal house	London
Father	Richard IV
Mother	Countess Margaret of Courtenay
Religion	Protestant (Anglican)

George V (George Edward Albert Richard; born July 21, 1956) is the King of the United Kingdom and 13 Commonwealth realms.

George was born at the Buckingham Palace as the first son of King Richard IV and his consort, Queen Margaret, making him the heir apparent upon birth. He received the title Prince of Wales in 1966, at the age of ten. He received an investiture ceremony in Cardiff, Wales in 1976. He was educated at Lambrook and Eton College. Like many other members of the royal family, George pursued a military career before inheriting the throne. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1978 and served as a British Army officer in the Royal Artillery. George spent time stationed overseas in Cyprus, Patagonia, and Hong Kong. After his father granted his request to serve in combat zones, he was deployed to Iraq as an advisor to the Royal Iraqi Army during the War in the Levant, being part of the British Training Mission to Iraq. In his spare time, he undertook duties on the behalf of his father and became a patron of over four hundred charities. In 1983, George married Lady Alice Seymour. The couple have four children.

George became king upon the death of his father on 23 June 2001 at the age of forty-five. Along with the throne of the United Kingdom, George succeeded to the thrones of 12 other Commonwealth realms across the globe. His coronation was attended by thousands of foreign dignitaries. George has presided over important political, cultural, and diplomatic events, including British involvement in the 2004 invasion of Syria and subsequent civil war, the 9/9 bombings in 2008, the Global Recession of 2009, the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2014, and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. During his reign, support for the monarchy has remained consistent, as does his personal popularity and the popularity of the royal family.

Early life, education, and family

George Edward Albert Richard was born on 12 July 1956 at Buckingham Palace to King Richard IV and Queen Margaret de Courtenay. He was the first child of the royal couple, and as he was born two years into the reign of his father, he was made the heir apparent to the British throne upon birth. His parents went on two have three children after him: Alexandra (born 1958), William (born 1962), and Charlotte (born 1966). His birth was announced on 14 July 1956 and he was christened at the St. Paul's Cathedral. As a titled member of the royal family, George rarely uses his surname of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Upon becoming the heir apparent, George assumed the title of Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. As a member of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, he automatically became a Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and became in line to head the senior branch of the family. He would not be made Prince of Wales, the traditional title of the heir apparent to the British throne, until his tenth birthday in 1966.

When George was the age of five, a governess was appointed to oversee his education at Buckingham Palace. There was considerable speculation as to whether George would further his education at the palace or branch out into local private colleges, as there were various security concerns regarding his safety due to the tense geopolitical climate of the time. His father decided to allow George to be educated outside of the palace, and in 1964 George began classes at Lambrook School. At Lambrook, George excelled in extracurricular activities such as fencing, football, swimming, and rugby, though received mediocre grades, particularly in mathematics. In a 2000 authorized biography by John Fitzroy Stevenson, George's parents were described as emotionally supportive of George throughout his educational career, seeking to accommodate his lack of scholastic skills.

In 1969, George began classes at Eton College, becoming the first royal to attend the school since he his uncle, Prince Leopold. He served as a full-time boarding student, residing in the Westbury House. At Eton, George continued to excel in physical activities and improved his overall grade point average. According to the 2000 biography, George was given two options by his parents following Eton: continue his studies at university or enter service in the British Armed Forces. George opted to choose the latter, owing to his athletic abilities and his fascination with British military history.

He was admitted into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1978 and later served in the British Army, becoming a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on January 16, 1982. George was promoted to lieutenant in May 1984. While in service, George was stationed at British military bases in Cyprus, Patagonia, and Hong Kong. After pressuring his father and the government, he was granted permission to serve in active combat zones, serving as a military advisor to the Royal Iraqi Armed Forces during the War in the Levant. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed in early 1988 that George had served in Basra Governorate from 1985 to 1987, where he participated in training and advising Iraqi troops. He visited the front line along the Syrian border on several occasions, but as with the rest of the British advisers, was not authorized to directly participate in combat. He left active service in 1989, though continued to involve himself in the army in advisory roles until his succession to the throne in 2001. At the 1999 Birthday Honors he was given an honorary promotion to the rank of general.

Prince of Wales

The King as a British Army officer at the UK Ministry of Defence.

George was created Prince of Wales, the traditional title of the heir apparent to the British throne, and the Earl of Chester on 12 July 1966, his tenth birthday. However, his investiture ceremony was not held until 1 October 1976, when George was twenty. His investiture was the first investiture ceremony televised in British history. As the Prince of Wales, George was entitled to a seat in the House of Lords, though never formally took his seat.

Following the completion of his active military service in 1989, George began to take on more duties as the heir apparent, organizing charitable donations under the Prince's Charity Association. He became the patron of over four hundred charities from 1989 to 2001, primarily charities regarding children's healthcare and veteran recovery. In 1991, he participated in Race for Britain, a charity triathlon. He continued to participate in the triathlon every year until 2001.

Bachelorhood and marriage

In his youth, George was called "handsome" by his grandmother, Dowager Queen Margaretha, and "a dashing young sport" by his aunt, Princess Victoria. Despite these descriptions, George was reserved and shy, and did not actively seek romantic relationships in his teenage and early adult years. He was reportedly in a relationship with Sarah Carnegie, the daughter of the Duke of Fife, from 1973 to 1975, though according to royal insiders of the time the experiences discouraged George from seeking another relationship for sometime.

George first met Lady Alice Seymour while attending a party hosted by his friend and Seymour's cousin, Richard Seymour, Baron Seymour in 1980. Afterwards from 1980 to 1983, the two met frequently and had begun a serious romantic relationship. It was reported that George's parents were enthusiastic about relationship, though his mother reportedly wished he had found someone of higher noble standing. Their relationship was formally made public in 1982, after images released by tabloids showed George and Alice together on vacation in Cyprus. George proposed to Alice on 13 May 1983 at Balmoral Castle and their wedding was held on 18 August of the same year.

In 1984, the couple announced the birth of their first child, Edward. They went on two have three more children: Charles (born 1989), Victoria Augusta (born 1991), and Alexander (born 1994). The strong relationship between George and Alice has been noted throughout their marriage, especially during the self-described Decennium horribilis, in which some of his siblings were engaged in public divorces and extramarital affairs.

Official duties

During his time as the Prince of Wales, George engaged in activities as a representative of his father, the royal family, and the United Kingdom as a whole. George undertook his first engagement as Prince of Wales in 1976, short following his investiture ceremony, where he attended a charity garden party held at the Clarence House. During his tenure as the Prince of Wales, George attended over four hundred events as a representative of his father, primarily diplomatic ceremonies, royal coronations or investitures, and state funerals. He most notably attended the state funeral of Louis III of Sierra, the first member of the British royal family to attend the funeral of the Sierran monarch, who historical had claimed the British throne through Jacobite succession.

While Prince of Wales, George and his family's primary residence was Kensington Palace in London. They shared the palace with George's uncle, Prince Leopold, from 1984 to 1999. George made it a point to be connected to Wales during his tenure as the heir apparent, and spent most summer holidays in the Welsh countryside. He also learnt the Welsh language, which had seen a resurgence alongside Welsh nationalism in the late 1960s and required his children to also learn the language. George was described by Welsh nationalist leader Rhys Morgan Scone as the "first genuine Prince of Wales" in over a thousand years, and George's involvement with Wales was credited with the partial subsiding of Welsh nationalism by the 1990s.

George was the target of three assassination attempts during his tenure as the Prince of Wales. The first attempt took place in 1984, when convicted robber Andrew Boone Townley fired a shot with a .22 rifle towards George during his visit to Eureka. The shot missed George and instead struck a bystander in the leg. The second attempt was in 1993, in which Sara Paulson, a thirty-year old woman with mental health issues, attempted to forcibly enter Kensington Palace in order to assassinate George. After being arrested, Paulson claimed that George was planning on murdering his father and seizing the throne, and that the King had telepathically ordered her to kill the Prince of Wales. The third attempt was in 2000, when Gerald Castello, a self-described conspiracy theorist and Sierran national, attempted to rush George while he gave a graduation speech at the University of Cambridge. Like Paulson, Castello had been diagnosed with multiple mental health problems and believed that George would cause a second Great War. George has forgave each of his attempted assassins.

In 1999, George and Alice attended the funeral of Henry VI of France in lieu of his father, who had been secretly hospitalized for heart-related problems. His attendance at the funeral of Henry VI was considered historic, as he was the first British royal to attend the funeral of the French monarch. Historically, the monarchies of both countries had been at odds with each other, and George's attendance was considered a "significant moment" in Anglo-French relations.

Beginning in 1999, George began attending the State Opening of Parliament as the representative of his father, who was unable to attend due to growing health problems, and delivered the King's Speech. His final act as the Prince of Wales was attending the opening of the Welsh Senedd, then referred to as the National Assembly, in 2001. There he delivered a speech in which he praised the Welsh culture and people.

Reign

See also: Coronation of George V and Queen Alice

Accession and coronation

George acceded to the British throne upon the death of his father from heart failure on 23 June 2001. He was the fourth-longest serving heir apparent to the British throne, following his regnal namesake George IV. George gave his first speech in the capacity of monarch on 24 June, in which he professed his "profound sadness" at the passing of his father and a "sense of honor" to have received the support of the British people and appointed his son, Edward as the Prince of Wales. On the same day, George was publicly proclaimed as George V by the Ascension Council, whose ceremony was televised for the first time in history.

There was considerable speculation on whether George would have a coronation ceremony or not. While the British monarchy has always engaged in coronation ceremonies for newly ascended monarchs, in recent years other European monarchies had abandoned coronations all together in favor of the less-grand and less-expensive investiture ceremonies. Along with that, the last coronation ceremony took place in 1955, forty-six years ago from that point, and represented a different era of British monarchy. Despite the speculation, it was confirmed on 2 August 2001 that George would have coronation ceremony sometime in early 2002.

George and Alice were crowned King and Queen on 2 August 2001 in a coronation ceremony held at Westminster Abbey. George's coronation was unique in that it included representatives and officials from each of the Commonwealth of Nations and reigning monarchs of foreign countries were also in attendance. Archbishop Simon Cantwell presided over the coronation in his final act as the Archbishop of Cantebury. He died two days following the coronation.

War on Terror

George V in uniform while visiting British ISAF troops in Syria.

Much of George V's reign has been shadowed by British involvement in the global war against terrorism. The United Kingdom first became involved in the war against terror in 2004, when the country became involved in the 2004 invasion of Syria. The invasion was prompted by allegations that the Syrian government had facilitated and harbored the terrorist groups responsible for the September 11 attacks in 2001 and various other terrorist actions across the world. As a constitutional monarch, George had no say in the decision for British involvement in the war against terror, instead emerging as a national figurehead in the midst of wartime and openly supporting British troops deployed to the Middle East.

In 2008, George emerged as a figure of national unity following the 9/9 bombings, a series of coordinated suicide bombings that took place in the London Underground transportation system. In an address to the nation, George called for a national resolve in "these trying and difficult times", and referred to the bombers as "gutless, lifeless monsters" who "mistake terrorism for heroism and dedication to a misguided cause". George gave assent to the National Security Act in 2008 and the Global Terrorism Act in 2010 in response to the attacks, calling for more security against future terrorist threats.

During the Syrian Civil War, George made several unannounced visits to British and ISAF military bases, some of which were located near the frontlines of the conflict. His visits to these bases were to directly observe the British Armed Forces as commander-in-chief, inspect the wellness of British soldiers deployed to Syria, and to inspire and improve morale. It was reported that George provided advise to British military commanders and strategists during these visits, using his experiences during his time as a military advisor to Iraq during the War in the Levant. His visits to Syria came to halt in 2014, as the tide of the war was turning against the ISAF-Syrian Republican force and was deemed to much of a security risk for the British sovereign.

In the United Kingdom, George continued to support the armed forces through charity events held at Buckingham Palace and other royal sites. In the wake of the Anglo-American withdrawal from Syria and the subsequent Ba'athist victory in the war, George expressed his sadness in the result of the war in a written statement released by Buckingham Palace, and urged the government to "show compassion" to Syrian refugees.

Domestic developments

During his reign, George has overseen a number of domestic developments within the United Kingdom, including cultural and political changes, societal shifts, and economic developments. In 2004, George granted royal assent to the Venus Project Act, which established the Venus Project, a government-funded enviromental conservation research project aimed at developing ways to reduce carbon emissions produced by the United Kingdom. The project's headquarters, the Venus Labs at Oxford, was personally opened by George at an inaugural event.

In 2007, George granted royal assent to the Free Union Equality Act, which legalized civil unions between same-sex couples in the United Kingdom. He received criticism from conservative clergyman of the Church of England, who believed that as the supreme governor of the churd he had a "moral right" to deny the bill royal assent. In 2014, George granted royal assent to the United Kingdom Same-Sex Marriage Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom and instituted protections for same-sex couples. In 2018, he granted royal assent to the Protection from Hate Act, which established same-sex couples as a class protected by hate crime laws.

In 2009, the Great Recession hit the United Kingdom, causing a recession and widespread economic uncertainty. During the recession, George was both praised and criticized for his role during the recession, being praised for his status as a national figurehead of unity and stability while being criticized for his lack of response to the crisis and the royal family's wealthy lifestyle. In 2010, George granted royal assent to various pieces of legislation, which helped slow economic decline in the United Kingdom. The Great Recession in the United Kingdom ended in late 2010, though its effects have still been felt today.

George has presided over several shifts of public opinion, interest, and support in a wide array of topics. Since acceding to the throne, George has seen both a decline in Welsh nationalism, the result of continued devolution and the preservation of Welsh cultural identity, and a rise in Scottish nationalism, the result of controversial government practices and action that contrast with Scottish public opinion. He has presided over a decline in support for the European Community, especially following the EC's response to the European migrant crisis and response to the Great Recession. Since TBD, the United Kingdom has seen an influx of over TBD million migrants and refugees from the Middle East and parts of the Global South. Since 2017, George has presided over a decline in religiosity in the United Kingdom, specifically in England, which he reacted to with a call for reform within the Church of England in 2018 to better attract younger Britons.

COVID-19 pandemic

As king, George presided over the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first case of the COVID-19 virus was first identified in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2020. On 13 March 2020, George used his royal prerogative to declare the COVID-19 pandemic as a national emergency, and granted royal assent to various acts passed by the government aimed at prevent the further spread of the virus. Some of these acts include the National Emergency In Relation to COVID-19 Act, the Lockdown Preventative Measures Act, and the Public Closure Act. George, Queen Alice, and Prince Alexander and his family remained at Buckingham Palace during the initial lockdowns of the pandemic, with George communicating to the public through virtual appearances.

The confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus in Buckingham Palace was first reported on 14 June 2020, in which a staff member was hospitalized after feeling the symptoms of the virus. On the 20 June it was confirmed that George and Alice had contracted the virus after coming into contact with the staff member days prior. Preventative measures were put in place at the palace to prevent the spread of the virus to other members of the royal family, and the king and queen were isolated to a certain part of the palace until they recovered. There was speculation as to whether George was recovering from the virus, with some media tabloids circulating rumors that the king was dying from the virus. These rumors were put to rest on 1 July, when Buckingham Palace announced the king and queen had made a full recovery. George made his first appearance post-COVID infection on 3 July during a live Zoom charity conference call, in which he joked that he was "very much still alive".

George and the royal family resumed their public duties after the lifting of the first lockdown order in July of 2020, though were forced to the return to virtual appearances after another lockdown was instituted by the government in response to a surge of cases in October. George fully resumed his public duties in August of 2021, after lockdowns were lifted for the last time. His first public appearance following the end of the national emergency was in 30 August 2021, where he visited first responders at St. Thomas Hospital and praised them for their effectiveness in combating the virus.

Contemporary

In December of 2021, George attended the funeral of his aunt, Princess Victoria, Countess of Snowden, which was held at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Victoria was the last living child of Albert III and had a close relationship with George. In September of 2022, George was present at the funeral of his father-in-law, Lord Anthony Seymour.

In October of 2022, George engaged in his first international trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, attending the 2022 Point Dana summit in the Kingdom of Sierra. In March of 2023, George and Alice engaged in a tour of Manitoba, visiting the major cities of Toscouné and Fort-des-Prairies. In July of 2023, George and Alice engaged in a state visit to France, where they were received by Jean IV, took a tour of the Palace of Versailles and other historic French structures, and attended a session of the National Assembly as invited guests. George is the second British monarch to visit contemporary France, following his father.

In July of 2023, Prince Edward opened the 2023 Commonwealth Games in Eureka as a representative of his father. It was announced prior to the start of the games that George would not be able to attend the games after he was showing symptoms of COVID-19. Days following the opening of the games, George was cleared of any COVID-19 symptoms.

Titles, styles, and honors

Titles and styles

George holds many titles and honorary military positions in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations, and uses unique styles in the Commonwealth, such as King of Saint Lucia and of His other Realms and Territories in Saint Lucia, etc. In the Isle of Man, which is part of the United Kingdom as a Crown Dependency, he is known as the Lord of Mann. George is also styled Defender of the Faith as part of his role as the head of the Church of England.

Arms

As Prince of Wales, George used the arms of the United Kingdom differenced with a white label and an inescutcheon of the Principality of Wales, surmounted by the heir apparent's crown. When George became king, he inherited the royal coats of arms of the United Kingdom and of Manitoba.

Coat of arms as Prince of Wales (1966–2001)

Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom

Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland

Royal coat of arms of Manitoba

Banners, flags, and standards

As heir apparent

The banners used by George as Prince of Wales varied depending upon location. His personal standard for the United Kingdom was the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom differenced as in his arms, with a label of three points argent and the escutcheon of the arms of the Principality of Wales in the centre. It was used outside Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and Manitoba, and throughout the entire United Kingdom when George was acting in an official capacity associated with the British Armed Forces.

The personal flag for use in Wales was based upon the Royal Badge of Wales. In Scotland, the personal banner used between 1966 and 2001 was based upon three ancient Scottish titles: Duke of Rothesay (heir apparent to the King of Scots), High Steward of Scotland, and Lord of the Isles. In Cornwall, the banner was the arms of the Duke of Cornwall.

In 2011, the Manitoban Heraldic Authority introduced a personal heraldic banner for the Prince of Wales for Manitoba, consisting of the shield of the Royal Coat of Arms of Manitoba defaced with both a blue roundel of the Prince of Wales's feathers surrounded by a wreath of gold maple leaves and a white label of three points.

Banners of arms

Royal standard of the Prince of Wales for the United Kingdom

Standard for Wales

Standard for Scotland

Banner of arms of the Duke of Cornwall

Royal standard of the Prince of Wales for Manitoba

As sovereign

The royal standard of the United Kingdom is used to represent the King in the United Kingdom and on official visits overseas, except in Manitoba. It is the royal arms in banner form undifferentiated, having been used by successive British monarchs since 1702. The royal standard of Manitoba is used by the King in Manitoba and while acting on behalf of Manitoba overseas. It is the escutcheon of the Royal Coat of Arms of Manitoba in banner form undifferentiated.

Royal Standards

United Kingdom (outside Scotland)

Scotland

Manitoba

Issue

Name	Birth	Marriage	Children
Edward, Prince of Wales	(1984-12-21) 21 December 1984	Sophie Grosvenor	2
Prince Charles, Duke of York	(1989-04-05) 5 April 1989	Hannah Carter-Cosgrove	1
Princess Victoria Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge	(1991-10-08) 8 October 1991	Gerard Hamiliton	2
Prince Alexander, Duke of Edinburgh	(1994-06-12) 12 June 1994	None	None

See also

Regnal titles
Preceded by Richard IV	King of the United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Manitoba, Patagonia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu 2001–present	Incumbent
Royal titles
Preceded by Vacant Title last held by Richard (IV)	Prince of Wales 1966–2001	Succeeded by The Prince Edward
Preceded by Vacant Title last held by Richard (IV)	Duke of Cornwall Duke of Rothesay 1966–2001	Succeeded by The Prince Edward
Honorary titles
Preceded by Richard IV	Head of the Commonwealth 2001–present	Incumbent
Military offices
Preceded by Vacant	Colonel-in-chief of the Territorial Army 1989–present	Incumbent
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by None	Precedence HM The King	Succeeded by The Prince of Wales

This page uses material from the Wikipedia page Charles III, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors).