The Secret Struggles of King George VI: A Royal Temper and a Corgi
ROYAL SHOCKER: King George VI's FURIOUS Temper Revealed - He Allegedly Kicked a Corgi Across a Room!
In a stunning revelation, a royal insider has spilled the beans on King George VI's notoriously bad temper - and it's nothing short of shocking! According to Hugo Vickers, who wrote a biography of the Queen Mother, His Majesty was known to lose his cool in a major way during his battle with ill health.
It seems that the King's Hanoverian temper got the better of him while he was recovering from an arterial blockage in his right leg back in 1949. Vickers claims that George's temper remained a problem throughout his recovery, and things got so bad that he allegedly kicked a Corgi across the room at Windsor Castle!
But wait, it gets even juicier! The King's surgeon, James Learmonth, had advised him to "reduce the tempo of his life" since thrombosis could occur if he was stressed either psychologically or physically. But did George listen? Of course not! He remained a "difficult patient" and proved hard to keep "amused and occupied". Poor Corgi!
And who helped calm down this royal rage? None other than the Queen herself, Elizabeth! She nursed her husband throughout his health battle by taking on much of the burden of royal engagements while he recovered. And when George got worked up, she was there to soothe him with a gentle touch and some clever psychological tricks.
'During one of the King's "gnashes" Queen Elizabeth held the King's arm high, appearing to take his pulse, and saying "tick, tick, tick" to lighten the moment,' Vickers wrote. Talk about a royal intervention!
But George's health crisis was far from over. His physicians faced the daunting task of making him cut down on cigarettes - he was a lifelong smoker who allegedly went through 50 cigarettes a day! That's eight hours a day spent puffing away, folks! No wonder his habit took a toll on his body, leading to a swift deterioration in his health in the final years of his reign.
By May 1951, the King was well enough to open the Festival of Britain, but afterwards he was forced to take an extended leave of absence. This led to the cancellation of an official visit from the King of Norway just hours before he had been due to meet George.
And then came the shocking diagnosis - in September that year, he had his left lung removed for "structural abnormalities". But we know better - it was actually due to cancer! The King's doctors kept this diagnosis both from the public and the monarch himself. Talk about a cover-up!
Although he seemed to be recovering from the procedure, the King died suddenly from a coronary thrombosis - or blood clot in an artery - five months later, in February 1952. His death was a shock to the public and the Royal Family.
The King's last public appearance was when he waved off his eldest daughter at London Airport on January 31, 1952 as she and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, set off on what was intended as a lengthy Commonwealth tour. Joined by his wife and their younger daughter, Princess Margaret, the Royal Family said their goodbyes on the Tarmac before gathering on a rooftop to watch the plane take off.
Just six days later, George passed away in his sleep. News of her father's death reached Elizabeth while she was on safari in Kenya - and she had to rush back to London to assume the throne at just 25 years old!
The unexpected nature of the King's death meant Elizabeth didn't have a change of black clothes to mark his passing. And that led Queen Elizabeth II to add a new royal protocol: royals must always travel with a change of black clothes in the event of such a tragedy.
As we remember the life and reign of King George VI, it's hard not to be fascinated by this complex and intriguing figure. From his unexpected ascension to the throne after Edward VIII's abdication to his bravery during World War II, George VI was a monarch who won the hearts of the British people.
And now, we can add "Corgi kicker" to his royal résumé!
