I'm sure this has been posted before, but here goes another one. During the Blitz of 1940, Buckingham Palace was struck by a bomb and George VI was nearly killed by the blast. Although he survived OTL, his wife Elisabeth remarked that she was glad they'd been hit because now they could look the East End in the face. But suppose that the king was killed? How would this affect the British war effort? Would his daughter be crowned and his wife serve as regent until she came of age or would his brother, the Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII) who'd abdicated return to claim the throne?
King George VI dies in the Blitz
- Thread starter cra0422
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Asami
Banned
Legally speaking, 14yo Princess Elizabeth would inherit the throne without question, she is the heir... Edward VIII had abdicated all rights in 1936 and was deeply unpopular for what was considered sympathy for the Nazis. Any restoration for him would be partnered with acts of treason (aka the Unmentionable Sea Mammal), not even Liz and her sister dying would give him the crown. It would just continue onward down the line of succession.
By 1940, After Elizabeth and her sister, the crown would default to Edward and Berties brother, Prince Henry.
Elizabeth II would have a regency for a couple years until she can be Queen in her own right.
By 1940, After Elizabeth and her sister, the crown would default to Edward and Berties brother, Prince Henry.
Elizabeth II would have a regency for a couple years until she can be Queen in her own right.
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Elizabeth would be Queen. IIRC, there would be a Regency until she turned 18 in 1944. No way she's leaving the UK under those circumstances and I doubt the Queen Mum would leave either.
Easy enough to construct a bunker complex somewhere to keep them safe. To do otherwise would be symbolically devastating.
They'd probably be relocated to the north, somewhere out of reach of large numbers of french based bombers but they won't leave. Meanwhile British anger will be a sight to see and we'll be even more determined to prosecute the war to the end than we were OTL. George might not have been ultra popular, but he was fairly well liked and seen as a step up from his brother, and now he's a martyr.
If eddie tries to take back the throne he'll probably be arrested, the government knew he was chummy with the Nazi's and they'll make sure the whole wolrd knows as well.
Elizebeth will take the title for longest reign (assuming she lives as long as otl) and most things probably happen the same except the British are a bit more angry this time. Oh and the bombdier on that heinkel had better hope he's never id'd or he'll be up on regicide charges if he survives the war.
If eddie tries to take back the throne he'll probably be arrested, the government knew he was chummy with the Nazi's and they'll make sure the whole wolrd knows as well.
Elizebeth will take the title for longest reign (assuming she lives as long as otl) and most things probably happen the same except the British are a bit more angry this time. Oh and the bombdier on that heinkel had better hope he's never id'd or he'll be up on regicide charges if he survives the war.
Asami
Banned
So we'd be celebrating her Platinum jubilee this year, and not in 2022.
Her silver jubilee would've been in 1970,
Golden in 1990,
Diamond in 2000.
I've often wondered if this could bring the US into the war early, or at least make it a lot easier for FDR to actively mobalise-the King dying would generate a lot of sympathy around the world, especially in the US imho.
As stated earlier, Elisabeth unquestionably becomes queen in 1940-though she'll need a regent until she turns 18. Edward VIII had taken himself out of the line of succession when he abdicated. I did see an article once (though can't remember where/when) and the author stated that in their opinion Edward VIII would have been Elisabeth's regent (based on having previous experience of the job), though personally I think that's highly unlikely at best.
As stated earlier, Elisabeth unquestionably becomes queen in 1940-though she'll need a regent until she turns 18. Edward VIII had taken himself out of the line of succession when he abdicated. I did see an article once (though can't remember where/when) and the author stated that in their opinion Edward VIII would have been Elisabeth's regent (based on having previous experience of the job), though personally I think that's highly unlikely at best.
The Regency Act (1937) made it so that the regent had to be the Heir presumptive.
So long as
over the age of 21,
a British subject domiciled in the United Kingdom, and
capable of succeeding to the Crown under the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701.
In which case there is no choice, Prince Henry becomes regent.
There's no way the new Queen Elizabeth, or the former one, now Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, are going to allow anybody to ship them off to Canada. Princess Margaret might well get sent over there, out of harm's way. Possibly with George, Duke of Kent (the fourth brother) as her minder/parental figure, if they're thinking total doomsday scenario.
On Henry as Regent: if you really want to throw a spanner in the works, he was in Belgium earlier in 1940 when the hotel he was staying in was bombed, with several casualties. On the way back to France, he was (lightly) wounded in a further bombing. Have him catch it in either of those raids, and then things are looking even more worrying for the royals.
On Henry as Regent: if you really want to throw a spanner in the works, he was in Belgium earlier in 1940 when the hotel he was staying in was bombed, with several casualties. On the way back to France, he was (lightly) wounded in a further bombing. Have him catch it in either of those raids, and then things are looking even more worrying for the royals.
I reckon if the need was there, they'd probably send them North to Scotland, it'd take the Germans actually threatening to overrun the country to make them leave.
shiftygiant
Gone Fishin'
The Royal Family's contribution to the war effort was that of building morale- seeing the Royal Family being bombed and take an active part in the war effort did incredible things for the nations psyche and helped build the sense that everyone, from the top to the bottom of the social ladder, were all in it together. Killing the King will put a dent into this morale and turn the people frantic against Germany, more so than IoTL. Yes, they are replaceable, but the same way a pet is; sure there's a new one, but the last ones death is going to hit you hard.
You're right, but I reckon the Queen and Queen Mother would fight as long as possible to stay in Buck House. Even leaving for Windsor would be resisted, never mind Balmoral.
yulzari's right though, there'd be very little concrete changes. Less bombs with 'for Coventry' chalked on the side, and more with 'for the King'. George VI probably becomes the most lionised king in a long time, and his daughter will share the credit with Churchill for the victory, when it happens five years later. Maybe the speech she gives on her ascension is remembered better than 'We shall fight them on the beaches' and 'the end of the beginning'? That's probably about it, though.
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Oh, there'd be some weeping and wailing. Possibly even gnashing of teeth, too. The morale hit will be nasty, but it'll harden resolve too. I don't think things will escalate that much, because I don't think there's much more we can throw at them. Yes, there's the potential for gas, but I don't think this would get that particularly horrific genie out of the bottle.
Today the queen marks 75 years on the throne, beating her grandmother's record by 12 years, and at 89, she is still looking strong.
If she can live to the age of 97, (with the knowledge that her mother lived to 101) Elizabeth would put her name down in history as the undisputed longest reigning monarch in the world, surpassing, King Sobhuza II of Swaziland's, 82 Years and 254 days.
If she achieves her mother's great age, then she would have reigned for 87 years, which would be a pretty hard record to beat.
If she can live to the age of 97, (with the knowledge that her mother lived to 101) Elizabeth would put her name down in history as the undisputed longest reigning monarch in the world, surpassing, King Sobhuza II of Swaziland's, 82 Years and 254 days.
If she achieves her mother's great age, then she would have reigned for 87 years, which would be a pretty hard record to beat.
Didn't they mostly stay at Windosr at night and come back to Buckingham for the day? Read that at some point, though can't be sure if it was true or related to a very bad part of the Blitz, when having the Royal Family around and the emergency services rushing to save them would be distracting.
Nick P
Donor
Sending the Royals to a country home out of harms way was planned as early as 1938 when the Government considered what to do if central London became untenable.
First the Government would move out to North London. Harrow, Wembley and Pinner would see a major takeover by relocated civil servants.
Then it would be out to the Western Counties between Bath and Birmingham. Royal Navy to Bath, RAF to Gloucester, Courts to Oxford and Winchester, etc.
The Royal Family were to have been sent to Madresfield Court near Worcester. This would have been out of range of German bombers, near the working Govt offices and the house has a moat which adds to the defences. Of interest is the very long and straight driveway which would suit a light transport plane for further evacuations...
http://burlingtonandbeyond.co.uk/wp/part-1/
Is there any chance that a relocation outside of Greater London could become permanent, at least for civil servants?
Nick P
Donor
To a great extent it did happen. Several government departments were relocated to large towns around the UK to spread the work, reduce local unemployment and reduce the risk of total loss if London were lost.
Most modern reports say that 75% of UK civil servants work outside London, this may include roles like Jobcentres, NHS management, National Park Authorities etc.
Newcastle = Works and Pensions.
Leeds = DHSS/DSS/DWP and Dept of Health
Swansea = DVLA (since 1965)
Cheltenham = GCHQ
NS&I = Blackpool, Glasgow, Durham
Seafish = Edinburgh and Grimsby
MoD Procurement = Bristol
A dig through this page https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations will reveal lots of Govt agencies that are based outside London!