Everything was about to change

Everything was about to change
HISTORIA/SHUTTERSTOCK

Pictured with two of her Corgis in 1936, Princess Elizabeth likely has little awareness of the constitutional crisis brewing as a result of King Edward VIII’s romance with the still-married, once-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. Her divorce, among other things, made her an inappropriate king’s “consort,” but Edward declared his intention to marry her and make her his queen. By the end of 1936, Edward would abdicate after learning the British people wouldn’t be able to support their King’s marriage to a divorcee, leaving Elizabeth’s father, Bertie, as King (King George VI) and Elizabeth as the presumptive heir. One thing that hasn’t changed, even today? Elizabeth’s love of Corgis.

Here are 13 royal family scandals that shocked the world.

Advertisement

A newly crowned King and his family

A newly crowned King and his family
HISTORIA/SHUTTERSTOCK

This photo was taken on the balcony of Buckingham Palace just after the coronation of King George VI on May 12, 1937. From left to right, we see the new Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, the Dowager Queen Mary, Princess Margaret, and the newly crowned King.

New King, Queen and heir presumptive

New King, Queen and heir presumptive
GLASSHOUSE IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK

When this photo was taken in 1937, King George VI had just recently ascended the throne. Princess Elizabeth was now the heir presumptive. That isn’t the same thing as an heir apparent; there was still the theoretical possibility that the King would father a male child and, in those days, a younger brother would have taken Elizabeth’s place in the line of succession. This rule, known as “male primogeniture,” ended during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

The future Queen and her sister at play

The future Queen and her sister at play
HISTORIA/SHUTTERSTOCK

Princess Margaret famously expressed her “sympathy” for what lay ahead of her dear older sister.

Here are 19 rarely seen photos of royal siblings.

A day at the theatre

A day at the theatre
AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

King George VI, accompanied by his wife, Queen Elizabeth, and their daughter, Princess Elizabeth, arrive at the Coliseum Theatre in London for a charity matinee on March 27, 1938.

Not the cheap seats

Not the cheap seats
AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Elizabeth are seen attending the theatre on March 27, 1939, to benefit The King George VI Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses.

The royal wave

The royal wave
AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

On June 22, 1939, the royal family, having just returned from their royal Canadian tour, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

A visit to Dartmouth Naval College

A visit to Dartmouth Naval College
UNCREDITED/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

In this photo, taken during a July 1939 visit to Dartmouth Naval College, Princess Elizabeth plants a tree while her father looks on and holds the hand of Elizabeth’s younger sister, Princess Margaret.

A photo of the King taking a photo

A photo of the King taking a photo
AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

At an August 1939 event at Abergeldie Castle, which is not far from Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, King George VI, wearing a kilt, holds a camera to his face. He was an avid photographer, a hobby Queen Elizabeth II adopted.

Here are 14 more hidden talents of the royal family.

Elizabeth as a lover of animals

Elizabeth as a lover of animals
HISTORIA/SHUTTERSTOCK

Queen Elizabeth II was one of, if not the, most famous animal lovers in the world. Here she’s seen in 1939 feeding one of the elephants at the London Zoo. Later in life, Elizabeth received one as a gift from the President of Cameroon in 1972.

Discover 14 of Queen Elizabeth II’s guilty pleasures.

Never miss a deal again - sign up now!

Connect with us: