When it comes to British royal history, King George V often stands out as a rather mysterious figure.
Before becoming king, he was known as Prince George, and he’s most remembered for leading Britain through much of World War I. It was during this turbulent time that he famously changed the royal family’s name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the more British-sounding Windsor. He also married Mary of Teck, who had previously been engaged to his late brother, Prince Albert.
Although his reign wasn’t especially long — from 1910 until his death in 1936 — King George V left a lasting impression on historians.
Much of this intrigue stems from his reported eccentricities behind closed doors. Rumors have long circulated about him having secret tattoos of tigers and dragons, an intense passion for stamp collecting, and — perhaps most surprisingly — a claimed psychic ability.
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King George V — the grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II and great-grandfather of King Charles III — was known for his fiery temper and intense speeches.
The Earl of Derby once shared a moment when the King told his six children: “My father was frightened of his mother; I was frightened of my father, and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me.”
According to long-standing royal gossip, during one of his heated outbursts, George V made a rather specific prediction about the monarchy’s future — one that turned out to be surprisingly accurate.
As reported by the Express, on one such occasion, the King harshly criticized his eldest son, Prince Edward, for being irresponsible and too distracted by women.
You remember Prince Edward — the future king who gave up the throne to marry American actress and twice-divorced Wallis Simpson?
During a private outburst within the walls of Buckingham Palace, King George V reportedly said to those around him: “After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself within 12 months.”
However, in the years that followed, the King is believed to have grown closer to his eldest son, even though the Prince showed little sense of duty to the nation.
On another occasion, the King is said to have confessed: “I pray to God my eldest son will never marry and have children, and that nothing will come between Bertie and Lilibet and the throne.”
Sadly, royal followers know that King George V’s early fears proved true.
He passed away in 1936 at the age of 70, after suffering from complications related to wartime injuries, chronic bronchitis, and septicaemia.
Although Prince Edward initially promised to take on the role of king, he abdicated less than a year after his father’s death.
His decision came after announcing his intention to marry Wallis Simpson — a move that led to condemnation from both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the British cabinet, especially given his role as head of the Church of England.
As a result, he gave up the throne to his younger brother, who became King George VI, and went on to marry the actress.
That brother, King George VI, was Queen Elizabeth’s father — famously played by Colin Firth in the Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech.
He reigned until his early death from lung cancer in 1952 at the age of 56, after which Queen Elizabeth took the throne.