King George VI was the King who had the stutter depicted in the movie The King’s Speech and the father of Queen Elizabeth II who recently had her 90th birthday.

News from May 12, 1937, King George VI and Elizabeth’s coronation.

From The Tuscaloosa News in Alabama of May 12, 1937

Solemn Coronation Rites Followed By Heavy Rain

King and Queen Cheered By Millions During Long Procession; 7,500 See Abbey Ceremony

London, May 12, 1937

Exultant Britain crowned and consecrated its sovereign, George VI, and his radiant Elizabeth today and hailed them with the thunder of a million cheers and the glory of a valiant past.

Torrents of rain, threatened all day long, beat down on their triumphal, dazzling cavalcade at the end of the greatest day of splendor that England ever saw.

King and Queen Crowned

At the stroke of half-past twelve, the venerable hands of Cosmo Land, Archbishop of Canterbury, placed the great St. Edward’s crown upon the kingly brow, within the walls of Westminster Abbey, walls that looked down upon the 36th king they have seen so crowned.

Then followed the coronation of the Scottish queen.

Across the channel, in a Frerich chateau, a man and woman listened—Edward, once king, and Wallis Warfield, for whom he gave up this day. Their wedding, postponed by a disagreement between royal family and government in London town, may be in June.

King and queen mother want full recognition of Edward’s world-watched nuptials, it was hinted: government wants the wedding strictly private.

A million folk and more cheered and strained for a glimpse of king and queen as their majesties rode in a golden coach of state to the coronation in Westminster Abbey of the ruler of 500,000,000 souls.

Sudden downpoor afterwards

Hours later, when the king, anointed and crowed in his holy and imperial office, rode back to Buckingham Palace in a regal procession through densely thronged streets, a sudden downpour drenched his patiently waiting subjects.

But the dripping skies could not dampen their exultation. Cheers rose and echoed through the ancient streets, swelling to a crescendo as the carriages of royalty passed.

In the fourth glittering coach, the king; the queen!

A din burst around them, George, king-emperor of an empire no night can darken, solemn and stately, smiled and nodded. His queen fluttered a waving, jewelled hand from beneath her royal purple, ermine-trimmed cloak.

Spectator’s hung from streamered girders, perched on rooftops, and huddled against the rain in high tiers, soldly massed, of grandstands as the royal cavalcade passed.

The age-old pageantry, inside the hushed grey walls of the abbey came to its great climax as the venerable Archbishop of Canterbury, erect, solemn, held the crown with its five pounds of precious jewels at arms length over the king, then placed it carefully on George’s brow, turning it with care to be sure it sat properly on the head that will carry its responsibilities through life.

Scarcely an awkward moment marred the hallowed ceremonial. Only once was there a suggestion of a hitch, when the aged viscount falk-land appeared to stumble in his robes, paying homage with the peers at the king’s throne.

Come out! Come out!

Prolonged cheers that could, not be denied were answered soon after George returned to Buckingham Palace.

French windows over the main archway of the palace yard were flung open. A hush fell. Then the roar rose again as the king, leading his queen by the hand, stepped to the crimson-draped balcony.

Princess Elizabeth, 11-year-old heiress-presumptive to her father’s throne, peeped out from one of the balconies.

The delighted crowd caught a glimpse of her.

“Come out! Come out!” the cry arose.

But Elizabeth hurriedly fled inside, followed by the ceaseless refrain of the crowd.

Soon all the principal members of the royal family joined the king and queen, smiling and waving. But the crowd was not satisfied. Again and again after their majesties withdrew, the doors were flung open and they were called back to acknowledge their subjects’ homage.

The scene on the historic balcony was almost a family reunion as member after member of the royal household responded to the cheers.

After the king and queen, little Princess Elizabeth and her seven-year old sister, the beloved Princess Margaret Rose, were escorted out to stand beside their mother and father.

Queen Mother Mary, with the memory of her third coronation new in her mind, joined the new generations of the House of Windsor. The Duke of Kent, King George’s younger brother, and the Duchess of Kent appeared.

For five minutes, before the royal family vanished into the privacy of the palace, the sustained ovation was deafening.

RIBBON OF LOVE: 2nd edition – A Novel of Colonial America – the true story of religion in America –Inspired by true historical events, Mary and Henry Pattenden flee to colonial America to escape persecution – It is almost impossible to put the book down until completion. – Dr. Don P. Brandon, Retired Professor, Anderson University