The Death of King George VI

I went to school on the school special bus as usual. When we all went into assembly we were told that the King had died peacefully in his sleep. We knew that he had not been well but it was assumed he was making a good recovery. We said prayers for his wife, Queen Elizabeth and their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

On the Friday evening of that week I went with friends to the Church youth club. By that time Princess Elizabeth had returned to England and had been proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II. Again we said prayers of thanksgiving for the life of the King and also for the new Queen Elizabeth. At the end we sang the National Anthem. It seemed very strange to sing ‘God Save the Queen’ instead of ‘God Save the King’.

Veronica Pillinger