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King George VI: Difference between revisions
→The Health of King George VI
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In 1949, the King suffered an arterial blockage in his right leg, which was operated on in March 1949. | 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, | 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, 1951 was to remove his lung to free his bronchial tube. This series of operations occasioned intense public interest. <ref name="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"> http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/33370 </ref> | ||
King George VI slowly began to regain his strength, then quietly passed away in his sleep on February 8, 1952 as the result of a coronary thrombosis. | King George VI slowly began to regain his strength, then quietly passed away in his sleep on February 8, 1952 as the result of a coronary thrombosis. | ||