British King George VI in Uniform, 1939-45

In 1909 [then Prince Albert] was a naval cadet at the Royal Naval College, and saw action during World War I at the Battle of Jutland. He transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal Air Force when it was established in 1918. As King George VI, during World War II he held the ranks of Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal, and Marshal of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and as such had a different uniform corresponding to each branch of service. Throughout the war, George and Elizabeth boosted morale by visiting bombed neighborhoods, munitions factories, and troops. George visited military forces abroad in France, North Africa, Normandy, and Italy. On these occasions the King always appeared in uniform. He is represented here in his naval dress.