The twenty-five eventful years covered by the reign of His Majesty King George V will rank among the most momentous and fecund epochs in history. The changes, political, social, scientific and other which have taken place during that quarter of a century have profoundly affected the destiny, not only of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, but of the whole world. Of these changes, none is more significant than the growth in power and prestige of the British Crown. This is one of the results of the intense loyalty and affection which King George managed to inspire among all classes of his subjects. The familiar phrase about the British Constitution being "broad based upon the people’s will" has now given a new and deeper meaning in regard to the Throne. The popular imagination was deeply stirred during King George’s reign by the spectacle of a man of royal blood, occupying the highest position in the State and the Empire, devoting himself with untiring zeal to the public service in a way that no previous Monarch had ever done.

The extent to which King George transformed the relationship between Crown and People may be judged by a comparison of the present position with that which exists in the reigns of Queen Victoria and Edward VII. Both of those sovereigns, though they were widely loved and respected, and made each in their own way a solid contribution towards the establishment of the Monarchy in the hearts of the peoples of the Empire, nevertheless remained, so far as the masses were concerned, somewhat remote and august figures. They were never fortunate enough to achieve that intimate personal touch with their subjects fl all classes, at home and overseas, which King George attained. While maintaining all the best traditions of his exalted office he yet contrived to make even the humblest folk feel that he was a man as well as a King, able to understand and sympathise with them in the ordinary details of their daily lives, and ready to extend to them a friendly and a helping hand whenever it was within his power.

The great secret of King George's universal popularity was his typical British quality of mind and character. Cosmopolitanism was quite foreign to his taste, and none of his subjects had a firmer conviction than he had in favour of his own country and its habits and customs. He embodies in a high degree those attributes which have always characterised the typical English country gentleman. He was strongly devoted to the public service – a virtue for which the English country gentleman has always been noted – and he was intensely attached to the pursuits of the countryside, and especially to sport. Behind the simplicity and candour of his character there were many unusual gifts which were exceedingly useful to him in the discharge of complicated and delicate State duties which almost daily fell to his lot. He was painstaking and methodical, and was ever unmindful of his own inclination to seek fresh air and exercise when State papers had to be read and digested, or urgent official business to be transacted. He possessed great tact and was a shrewd judge of human nature. Throughout his reign he was most careful to follow consistently the lines laid down by modern Constitutional practice in regard to the exercise of the Sovereign’s functions. At the same time, he demonstrated on more than one occasion that it is quite possible for the British Crown, while in no way infringing strict Commonwealth limits, to exercise considerable influence on important matters affecting the public good.

It was characteristic of King George that he found his greatest happiness in his own family circle. He was a model husband and father, and Queen Mary and he will always be remembered as generous and kindly hosts by those who were privileged to enjoy their hospitality. Whenever he could spare the time away from London, King George found great pleasure in his visits to Windsor, Sandringham anti Balmoral. He was particularly fond of Sandringham, where he had played and romped as a boy, and where some of his pleasantest hunts hours of ease had been spent. It was perhaps fitting, and in accordance with his own wish that he should die in this beloved spot, so redolent with happy memories. It was at Sandringham in the nineties that King George laid the foundations of the great reputation which he achieved in after years as a trained as well as a natural shot. Sir George Arthur, in his interesting biography of Ring George, says that the opportunities in Norfolk for shooting were slender and a drawback, if not a danger, to riding to hounds was to be found in the innumerable rabbit holes with which the county was pock-marked. But for a long time the birthday parties at Sandringham would always be wound up with a meet of the West Norfolk hounds at "The Hall"; the Prince, Princess and their family would invariable take part in the proceedings – the Princess, mounted on her favourite mare, Viva, and always led by Sir Dighton Probyn, proving that she was a bold and skilful horsewoman. For a considerable time Prince George took every chance of going out with the hounds, and at one moment, Sir George Arthur says, he was even keener than his elder brother. In later years, for some reason, King George retire altogether from the hunting field, and would only be seen mounted either on a shooting pony, a faultless hack, of a perfectly trained charger.

Though King George was an excellent horseman he was a far better shot. Sir George Arthur says that in the early part of the century Lord de Grey was said to stand out by himself as a shot, while immediately behind him would lie the Prince of Wales, Lord Walsingham, the Hon. Henry Stonor and Mr Archibald Stuart-Wortley. A few years ago King George was generally acknowledged to be one of the six best shots in the country, which, considering the number of fine shots at that time, was indeed a high honour. Even after his serious illness in 1928 King George still indulged in his favourite sport whenever opportunity offered. He was especially good at high pheasants in a strong wind.

All through his reign King George was a strong supporter of racing, both on the course and as a breeder. Unfortunately he did not achieve the same success with his horses as his father had done. His training as a sailor gave King George a great love for the sea and he never lost his fondness for sailing as a sport. In fact, he was largely instrumental in reviving yachting as a sport, and he was Patron of the Yacht Racing Association, Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron and Patron of many Royal Yacht clubs. There were few great sporting events of the year which the King did not at one time or other grace with his presence. He was at one time a regular visitor in summer to Lords cricket ground and the tennis tournament at Wimbledon; while in winter he frequently went to the Rugby football matches at Twickenham and to the F.A. Cup finals at Wembley. Some years ago he showed his interest in Services sport by attending the matches for the Army Association Football Cup at Aldershot.

In the sphere of politics King George’s reign opened with a serious crisis in regard to the Parliament Bill, and it fell to him to take the momentous step of assenting to the creation of peers, if necessary, to pass the measure into law. After the Unionist leaders had been received by the King Lord Lansdowne advised his followers to give way "as they were no longer free agents." In the division on the Bill Lord Lansdowne and some 240 peers abstained from voting and the resolution for accepting the original Bill, with one or two minor concessions, was carried by a majority of 17. It is difficult at this instance of time to realise the intensity of political passion which was aroused over this constitutional crisis, and the dangerous situation which might have arisen if King George had not been prepared to exercise his royal prerogative. Scarcely was this political storm over than another arose over Mr. Asquith's Home Rule Bill. Altercations in the House of Commons, the Curragh incident, and the landing of arms by the Ulster Volunteers, were steps on the road to what promised to be a hopeless deadlock. Public opinion was suddenly startled by the announcement in The Times that the King had summoned a Conference of each of the four parties to the controversy under the chairmanship of the Speaker to meet at Buckingham Palace. The Conference was opened by King George, whose speech was couched in grave terms. He spoke of "the cry of civil war being on the lips of the most responsible and sober-minded of the people." The Conference after four meetings failed to secure any agreement.

This was the moment when this country, in common with the great pact of Europe, and eventually most of the world, was suddenly plunged into war. King George right up to the last strove manfully to secure peace and sent personal appeals to the Emperor William and the Tsar. Once the die was cast and war became inevitable, however the King took on the Allied cause with all the zeal and energy of which he was capable. Never for a moment was the great struggle out of his thoughts. His visits to the Grand Fleet and the Army, in France were a great source of encouragement to those who were fighting our battles. On one occasion when he was in France the King’s horse, frightened by the cheers of the men, reared twice, slipped on the greasy road and fell upon the King, pinning him down. His Majesty was severely bruised and suffered much pain, but no bones were broken. In the dark and uncertain days towards the end of the War the King continued to express the determination of the whole Empire to continue its resistance. Naturally in the great and historic scenes in London and in France which followed the Armistice the King occupied the foremost place. On Armistice Day the King, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family were given a tremendous ovation by huge crowds which had gathered in tumultuous joy in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace.

In the Royal Gallery at Westminster King George with Lords and Commons and distinguished representatives from the Dominions and India around him delivered a long speech paying warm tribute to the work of the Forces and their commanders, to the assistance given by the Dominions and India, and to the efforts of the Allies. His text was a call for the creation of a better Britain and for the preservation of the spirit of comradeship which had been so prominent a feature of the war years. Nor did His Majesty let matters rest there. Whenever occasion arose in the early years after the War he expressed again and again his desire that all classes should do their duty and perform their part in the great work of reconstruction.

The King had a strong personal wish to see and improvement made in the housing of the people, and in order to acquaint himself at first had with conditions in the industrial areas he visited Sheffield, Birmingham and Leicester, accompanied by the Queen. The King was confronted with a new and uncharted political situation when the First Labour Government assumed office under Mr. Ramsay MacDonald in 1924. In some quarters there was some curiosity as to what King George would do. As was to be expected, however, he adhered rigidly to his Constitutional position and gave his full confidence and support to his new Ministers so long as they retained a majority in the House of Commons. After the defeat of the Labour Government, and the return of a Conservative majority with Mr. Baldwin at their head, growing industrial unrest in the country gave fresh grounds for apprehension. Events culminated in the General Strike. This unfortunate occurrence – the most menacing to the country since the conclusion of the Great War – must have given many anxious hours to King George. But once more he threw his whole weight on to the side of national conciliation, and as soon as the strike was over he made a splendid appeal for the elimination of bitterness and for a national effort to repair the mischief.

Part 2.