King George VI

George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) became King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions on December 11, 1936 after his older brother, Edward VIII abdicated the throne. His Majesty George VI reigned as king through WWII, and is known for boosting national moral by refusing to leave London for safer lodging. In the years after WWII his health began to deteriorate, perhaps due to a combination of stress and excessive smoking. William Branham's Version of the Events A close friend of King George VI's personal secretary was in attendance at William Branham's meetings in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was during these meetings that this friend witnessed the healing of a man who had been bedridden with multiple sclerosis for 10 years. King George VI apparently learned about William Branham through this secretary, who relayed to him this story. In the late 1940s, William Branham was shocked to received a cablegram from King George VI that said: "Brother Branham, I understand through my secretary that one of his friends was healed of multiple sclerosis. I desire of you to come pray for me, that our Lord Jesus will heal me." Feeling it was not the Lord's will to travel to England at that time, William Branham replied that he would not be able to come, but would pray for the King from America, which he did. A while later, a second cablegram arrived from King George VI, again requesting William Branham to come and pray for him. In early April 1950, while en-route to a campaign in Finland, William Branham was able to finally meet and pray for King George VI in person. The Health of King George VI The King had suffered from a duodenal ulcer, for which he had an operation in November 1917. In retelling how he prayed for King George VI, William Branham stated numerous times that King George VI contacted him because he was also afflicted with multiple sclerosis. The only public evidence of King George VI having multiple sclerosis was his deteriorating health, and reports that during his 1947 trip to South Africa he looked sickly and slurred his words (although King George VI stuttered as a young man). The slurring of words was attributed (and likely properly so) to his heavy drinking. In 1948 the public was advised that King George VI had a form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) called Buerger's Disease, after which the King severely reduced his public appearances. Certain nerves to his legs were also severed in order to free him of some pain in standing. In 1949, the King suffered an arterial blockage in his right leg, which was operated on in March 1949. The king opened the Festival of Britain from the steps of St Paul's on May 3 1950, but at subsequent public events that month, it was clear that he was not well. His condition deteriorated and on September 16, 1951, an exploratory operation showed he had cancer of the lung. He was not told of this conclusion, and believed the operation performed by Mr Price Thomas on September 23, 1051 was to remove his lung to free his bronchial tube. This series of operations was far more public than George V's somewhat similar illness in 1928–9, and occasioned intense public interest. King George VI slowly regained his strength, then quietly passed away in his sleep on February 8, 1952 as the result of a coronary thrombosis. Concerns with William Branham's story It is unlikely that, if it had occurred, the public would have been aware the King George VI met with a faith healer. There are certainly no public records of any such visit. William Branham's indicates that his personal records contained a letter of thanks from King George VI for his prayers. It is surprising that, given the amount of questions that have arisen on this website and others about the credibility of William Branham, the Branham family has not come forward with evidence such as this letter. The lack of any evidence does raise significant question as to whether there was a visit. While the public was informed of the King's health problems, there has never been any indication from any source that the King suffered from multiple sclerosis. Depending on which sources are given the most credibility, different people may arrive at different conclusions as to which disease William Branham actually prayed for. However, in the end that issue has little relevance. What is striking is that William Branham pronounced the king Quotes THE.CHURCH.OF.THE.LIVING.GOD ERIE.PA 51-0727 And then King George of England, you all know of him cablegraming me twice to come pray for him. When a man over here at Ft. Wayne was healed with multiple sclerosis, was a friend to his private secretary--been a bed patient ten years. I couldn't go at that time, but I know I'd be in England soon, so I just had prayer for the King. THE.PRINCIPLES.OF.DIVINE.HEALING JEFF.IN 51-0923 And I was called to King George of England, to pray for him with those multiple sclerosis. I understand by the radio today, that he's got some kind of a lung trouble now. TESTIMONY WEST.PALM.BEACH.FL 53-1129E And he was a friend to the king's private secretary, and through there King George of England sent word to me. I have his statements and have his letters of his fields and every... To come pray for him of multiple sclerosis, and so I couldn't go up that time. So I just wired back and told the king that I would pray for him here, that God would hear here just the same as he would over there. And so, then another telegram come through and wanted me to come on over immediately. Later when I went to England, over there, to see him, and the Lord healed him. He was--couldn't even stand up over five minutes at a time, and he... I believe the second day he played eighteen holes of golf, and never was bothered with it no more until the very day he died. LAW CHICAGO.IL 55-0115 And it was through this healing of this man out of the wheelchair, that I was called to pray for King George of England, which he was a--a friend to his private secretary that sent for, pray for him. And the king was healed with multiple sclerosis. And he could only, I believe stand up so long at a time, or something. I don't remember. I've got it in writing at home with his seal on it. THE.GOOD.SHEPHERD.OF.THE.SHEEP PHOENIX.AZ 57-0308 King George had stomach trouble, and he had multiple sclerosis. That's the one that sent for me to pray for him. And the Lord healed him of it. JESUS.OF.NAZARETH.PASSETH.BY CONCORD.NH 58-0524 King George of England with multiple sclerosis, when I went over and prayed for him. Couldn't even set but just a few minutes at a time. Next day, played twenty-eight holes of golf. WHY BLOOMINGTON.IL 61-0413 And as you know that when I went there and prayed for King George when he had multiple sclerosis and he was healed instantly; the next day he played eighteen holes of golf, and he couldn't even set up for just a few minutes at a time. A.DOOR.IN.A.DOOR TUCSON.AZ 63-0223 Some time ago the King George that I had the privilege of praying for, as you know, that had the multiple sclerosis. The Lord healed him. A.PARADOX TAMPA.FL 64-0418B King George, who I had the privilege of praying for, you know, when he was healed with the multiple sclerosis. DOORS.IN.DOOR FLAGSTAFF.AZ 65-0206 Thinking about how little and insignificant, seeing that many of my Canadian friends sitting here. I remember I was in Canada when the King George... The one I had the privilege of going praying for, when he was healed, with that multiple sclerosis; he was suffering that day, from the sclerosis, and also he had a stomach trouble, an ulcer; as many of you Canadians know, and Americans, also. Footnotes Navigation Home Our Podcast The List of Problems Life Story Prophecies & Visions Seven Seals Was William Branham Honest? Doctrines Church Ages Jesus Languages Videos Print Resources Help! Facebook Contact Us