List of titles and honours of King George VI
King George VI received numerous decorations and honorary appointments, both during and before his time as monarch of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. Each is listed below; where two dates are shown, the first indicated the date of receiving the award or title, and the second indicates the date of its loss or renunciation.
Royal titles and styles
| Styles of George VI | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Sir |
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- 14 December 1895 – 17 July 1917: His Highness Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke in Saxony
United Kingdom
- 14 December 1895 – 28 May 1898: His Highness Prince Albert of York
- 28 May 1898 – 22 January 1901: His Royal Highness Prince Albert of York
- 22 January 1901 – 9 November 1901: His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Cornwall and York
- 9 November 1901 – 6 May 1910: His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Wales
- 6 May 1910 – 3 June 1920: His Royal Highness The Prince Albert
- 3 June 1920 – 11 December 1936: His Royal Highness The Duke of York
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: His Majesty The King
- 11 December 1936 – 14 August 1947 (for British India): His Imperial Majesty The King–Emperor
Isle of Man
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Lord of Mann
Until 28 May 1898, George was styled His Highness by virtue of both his British and Saxon titles. After his elevation in Britain to Royal Highness that style masked his lower Saxon style. From his brother's ascension to the throne, on 20 January 1936, until his own accession, on 11 December 1936, Prince Albert held the style and title of His Royal Highness The Prince Albert, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killarney.
George's official style and title in full was: His Majesty George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India (in Latin: George VI, Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae, Hiberniae et terrarum transmarinarum quae in ditione sunt Britannica Rex, Fidei Defensor, Indiae Imperator.
He held many other positions, but these did not form part of his formal title, e.g. Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order, Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Sovereign of the Order of British India, Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of Burma, Sovereign of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King Edward VII, Sovereign of the Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour, Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order, Sovereign of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
After India gained full legal independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, George's title was altered to suit the dissolution of his position as Emperor of India, becoming George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith (in Latin: George VI, Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae, Hiberniae et terrarum transmarinarum quae in ditione sunt Britannica Rex, Fidei Defensor). For a period in May 1929, George was also entitled to be called His Grace The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Military, naval, and air force ranks
Canada
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Army
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Air Force
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy
- United Kingdom
- 15 September 1913 – 1916: Midshipman, HMS Collingwood
- 15 May 1916 – 1918: Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy[1]
- 1916 – 1918: Acting Lieutenant, HMS Collingwood
- 1918 – 31 December 1920: Lieutenant, Royal Navy
- 29 December 1918 – 1919: Captain and Staff Officer (3rd Class, Air), Royal Air Force[2]
- 1 August – 1 November 1919: Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force[3]
- 1 November 1919 – 1 June 1920: Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force[4]
- 31 December 1920 – 1925: Commander, Royal Navy[5]
- 1 June 1920 – 30 June 1921: Wing Commander, Royal Air Force[6]
- 30 June 1921 – 3 June 1932: Group Captain, Royal Air Force[7]
- 1925 – 1932: Captain, Royal Navy
- 1932 – 1936: Rear-Admiral, Royal Navy
- 3 June 1932 – 1 January 1936: Air Vice-Marshal, Royal Air Force[8]
- 1936 – 1936: Vice-Admiral, Royal Navy
- 1 January – 21 January 1936: Air Marshal, Royal Air Force[9]
- 1936 – 11 December 1936: Admiral, Royal Navy
- 21 January – 11 December 1936: Air Chief Marshal, Royal Air Force[10]
- 1936 – 11 December 1936: General, British Army
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Admiral of the Fleet, Royal Navy
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Marshal of the Royal Air Force
- 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952: Field Marshal, British Army
British Commonwealth honours
- Appointments
| Country | Date | Appointment | Post-nominal letters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 England | 14 December 1916 – 11 December 1936 | Royal Knight | of the Most Noble Order of the Garter | KG |
| 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign | |||
| British Commonwealth | 1 January 1921 – 11 December 1936 | Knight Grand Cross | of the Royal Victorian Order | GCVO |
| 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign | |||
 Scotland | 24 April 1923 – 11 December 1936 | Knight | of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle | KT |
| 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign | |||
| United Kingdom | 25 June 1925 – 11 December 1936 | Lord of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council | PC | |
| British Commonwealth | 12 June 1926 – 11 December 1936 | Knight Grand Cross | of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem | GCStJ |
| 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign | |||
| United Kingdom | 22 December 1926 – 11 December 1936 | Knight Grand Cross | of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George | GCMG |
| 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign | |||
| Northern Ireland | 7 March 1936 – 11 December 1936 | Knight | of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick | KP |
| 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign | |||
| British Commonwealth | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Order of Merit | ||
| British Commonwealth | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Order of Mercy | ||
 British India | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India | ||
| British India | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire | ||
| British India | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Order of British India | ||
| British India | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit | ||
| British India | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India | ||
| United Kingdom | 20 May 1940 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Order of Burma | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King Edward VII | ||
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King George V | ||
| United Kingdom | 1937 – 6 February 1952 | Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King George VI | ||
- Medals and decorations
| Country | Date | Decoration | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Commonwealth | 3 June 1927 | Royal Victorian Chain | |
| British Commonwealth | 1919 | 1914 Star | |
| British Commonwealth | 1919 | British War Medal | |
| British Commonwealth | 1919 | Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches | |
| British Commonwealth | 1897 | Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal | |
| British Commonwealth | 1902 | King Edward VII Coronation Medal | |
| British Commonwealth | 1911 | King George V Coronation Medal | |
| British Commonwealth | 1935 | King George V Silver Jubilee Medal | |
| Canada | 1951 | Canadian Forces Decoration | CD |
Foreign honours
- Appointments
| Country | Date | Appointment | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|---|
 Russia | 3 June 1917 – 7 November 1917 | Knight Fourth Class with Swords of the Order of Saint Vladimir | |
_crowned.svg.png){kind=small} Italy | 11 August 1917 – 2 June 1946 | Knight of the Military Order of Savoy | |
 France | 1917 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Legion of Honour | |
 Yugoslavia | 1918 – 2 December 1945 | Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Belgium | 22 November 1918 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Persia | 31 October 1919 – 1925 | Member Second Class of the Imperial Order of the Agdas | |
 Romania | 18 October 1922 – 10 September 1944 | Knight of the Order of Carol I | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Ethiopia | 9 July 1924 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cross of the Star of Ethiopia | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Egypt | 4 July 1927 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cordon of the Order of Muhammad 'Ali | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Afghanistan | 13 March 1928 – 6 February 1952 | Member First Class of the Order of the Supreme Sun | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Iraq | 20 June 1933 – 6 February 1952 | Member First Class of the Order of the Two Rivers | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Greece | 7 October 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer | GCR |
| Greece | 7 October 1936 – 6 February 1952 | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix | GCP |
 Nepal | 29 April 1937 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cross of the Order of the Ojaswi Rajanya | |
 Sweden | 11 May 1937 – 6 February 1952 | Knight of the Order of the Seraphim | |
 Monaco | 11 May 1937 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Charles | |
 Japan | 29 June 1937 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum | |
 Thailand | 1 February 1938 – 6 February 1952 | Knight of the Order of Maha Chakri | |
 Bulgaria | 1938 – 30 December 1947 | Knight of the Order of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius | |
| Greece | 7 November 1938 – 6 February 1952 | Member of Order of Saints George and Constantine, with collar | MSGC |
 Portugal | 4 May 1939 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cross of the Order of Christ | GCC |
| Portugal | 4 May 1939 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cross of the Order of Aviz | GCA |
| Portugal | 4 May 1939 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Collar with Riband of the Order of Saint James of the Sword | GColSE |
| Yugoslavia | 19 July 1939 – 2 December 1945 | Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Kara George | |
| Iraq | 10 November 1943 – 6 February 1952 | Member of the Grand Order of the Hashimites | |
 United States | 1945 – 6 February 1952 | Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit | |
 Netherlands | 1 July 1946 – 6 February 1952 | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of William | |
| Nepal | 24 September 1946 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Cordon of the Order of the Ojaswi Rajanya | |
 Jordan | 18 August 1949 – 6 February 1952 | Collar of the Order of Hussein ibn 'Ali | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Iran | 21 July 1948 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Collar of the Order of Pahlavi | |
 Denmark | 24 October 1948 – 6 February 1952 | Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog | |
| France | 5 April 1960 (posthumous) | Member of the Ordre de la Libération |
Honorary military appointments
Australia
- 1937 – 1952: Colonel-in-Chief of the Australian Infantry Corps
1939 – 1952: Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force
- Canada
- 1938 – 1952: Colonel-in-Chief of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars
|Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery |Colonel-in-Chief |1938–1952 |Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers |Colonel-in-Chief |1938–1952 |Royal 22e Régiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1938–1952 |The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) |Colonel-in-Chief |1938–1952 |The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa |Colonel-in-Chief |1938–1952 |The Winnipeg Grenadiers |Colonel-in-Chief |1938–1952 |The Newfoundland Heavy Regiment |Honorary Colonel |1940–1952 |Royal Canadian Army Cadets |Colonel-in-Chief |1942–1952
.svg.png){kind=small}
|Royal Canadian Sea Cadets |Admiral |1947–1952
Canadian Army
|The Canadian Grenadier Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
Canadian Army
|The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada |Colonel-in-Chief |1951–1952
|Sea Corps |Admiral |1951–1952
|Air Training Corps |Air Commodore-in-Chief |1951–1952
.svg.png){kind=small}
Royal Canadian Air Force
|Royal Air Force Regiment |Air Commodore-in-Chief |1951–1952
Canadian Army
|Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery |Captain General |1952
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Ceylon
Ceylon Defence Force |Ceylon Light Infantry |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
- Denmark
|Danish Army |General |1927–1952
|Danish Navy |Admiral |1948–1952
Ghana
|Royal West African Frontier Force |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
India
|The Royal Regiment of Indian Artillery |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1950
Indian Army
|Skinner's Horse (1st Duke of York's Own) |Colonel-in-Chief |1937–1950
Indian Army
|16th Light Cavalry |Colonel-in-Chief |1937–1950
Indian Army
|Corps of Royal Indian Engineers |Colonel-in-Chief |1938–1950
Malta
.svg.png){kind=small}
|Royal Malta Artillery |Colonel-in-Chief |1942–1952
- Nepal
| |Honorary Commanding General |1946–1952
New Zealand
|Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
New Zealand Army
|Royal New Zealand Artillery |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
New Zealand Army
|The Auckland Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
Pakistan
|13th Frontier Force Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
|1st Punjab Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1937–1950
Rhodesia
.svg.png){kind=small}
Rhodesian Army
|The Northern Rhodesia Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1939–1952
Rhodesian Army
|The Royal Rhodesia Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
.svg.png){kind=small}
|The Royal Natal Carbineers |Colonel-in-Chief |1937–1952
South African Army
|Imperial Light Horse |Colonel-in-Chief |1937–1952
South African Army
|The Transvaal Scottish |Colonel-in-Chief |1937–1952
South African Army
|King's African Rifles |Colonel-in-Chief |1937–1952
South African Army
|The Kaffrarian Rifles |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
- United Kingdom
|4th Bn, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |Honorary Colonel |1920–1952
British Army
|11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars |Colonel-in-Chief |1920–1952
British Army
|The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) |Colonel-in-Chief |1921–1952
British Army
|Royal Army Ordnance Corps |Colonel-in-Chief |1921–1952
British Army
|The East Yorkshire Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1922–1935
British Army
|The Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince Albert's Own) |Colonel-in-Chief |1926–1952
British Army
|Scots Guards |Colonel |1932–1936
British Army
|The Duke of York's Own |Colonel-in-Chief |1935–1952
British Army
|The Life Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Royal Horse Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|1st The Royal Dragoons |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|The Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Royal Regiment of Artillery |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Honourable Artillery Company |Captain General |1936–1952
British Army
|Corps of Royal Engineers |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Grenadier Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Coldstream Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Scots Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Irish Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Welsh Guards |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|The Royal Welch Fusiliers |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Royal Marines |Captain General |1936–1952
British Army
|The King's Royal Rifle Corps |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Royal Tank Corps |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|Officers Training Corps |Colonel-in-Chief |1936–1952
British Army
|The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) |Colonel-in-Chief |1939.06.08
British Army
|Army Cadet Force |Colonel-in-Chief |1942–1952
British Army
|4th/5th Bn, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |Honorary Colonel |1947–1952
British Army
|The Royal Berkshire Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
British Army
|The Royal Norfolk Regiment |Colonel-in-Chief |1947–1952
British Army
|Royal Armoured Corps |Captain General |1947–1952
British Army
|Combined Cadet Force |Captain General |1949–1952
British Army
|University Training Corps |Colonel-in-Chief |1949–1952
Freedom of the City
- Commonwealth realms
- 28 October 1919: London [11]
-
1924: Derry [12] - 26 October 1926: Glasgow [13]
- 29 August 1928: Glasgow [14]
- 10 August 1935: Perth [15]
Honorific eponyms
See also
- Style of the British Sovereign
- Title and style of the Canadian monarch
- List of titles and honours of Queen Elizabeth II
- List of titles and honours of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- List of titles and honours of Charles, Prince of Wales
- List of titles and honours of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
- List of titles and honours of Mary of Teck
- List of titles and honours of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29583. p. 4852. 16 May 1916. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31131. p. 906. 17 January 1919. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31486. p. 9867. 1 August 1919. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31663. p. 14703. 28 November 1919. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32178. p. 10. 1 January 1921. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31929. p. 6189. 4 June 1920. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32376. p. 5245. 1 July 1921. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33831. p. 3582. 31 May 1932. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34238. p. 15. 31 December 1935. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34256. p. 1057. 18 February 1936. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
- ↑ https://books.google.ca/books?id=xJ_3AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=George+VI+Freedom+of+the+City+of+London&source=bl&ots=TN10vm6LX3&sig=vPa9fDtvJsOnZ6V8-L_h91dqI1E&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAGoVChMIiJXA0MWfyAIVxxU-Ch0C7wEj#v=onepage&q=George%20VI%20Freedom%20of%20the%20City%20of%20London&f=false
- ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/freedom-of-city-was-last-granted-in-1963-1.266230
- ↑ http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/?articleid=3564
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_hJkAAAAIBAJ&pg=4933,6957607&hl=en
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=91VRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LjQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4077,1637261&hl=en