King George V
(1865-1936), Reigned 1910-36Sitter in 488 portraits
As the second son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, George V had not expected to ascend to the throne. He enjoyed a long and successful career in the Navy before his accession in 1910. His conscientious and unpretentious approach to his duties provided stability during an unsettled period, which included the First World War and the Great Depression. In 1932, he became the first monarch to use the medium of radio to speak to the nation. He later described himself as 'a very ordinary sort of fellow'.
by Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate glass negative, 1875
NPG x96105
by Alexander Bassano
quarter-plate glass negative, 1875
NPG x96106
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale; Queen Alexandra; King George V
by James Russell & Sons
albumen cabinet card, August 1876
NPG x38387
Alexandra of Denmark with her children
by James Russell & Sons
albumen print, August 1876
NPG x136767
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale; Queen Alexandra; King George V
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1876
NPG x197960
'H.R.H. the Princess of Wales & Family'
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1876
NPG x197961
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale; Queen Alexandra; King George V
by W. & D. Downey
bromide print, (1876)
NPG x199273
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale; King George V
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, December 1877
NPG Ax46243
King George V when Prince George of Wales
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, December 1877
NPG x1510
Alexandra of Denmark and her children
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1879
NPG x20134
King Edward VII and his family
by James Russell & Sons
albumen cabinet card, September 1880
NPG x3766
King Edward VII and his family
by James Russell & Sons
albumen cabinet card, September 1884
NPG x32163
King Edward VII and his family
after James Russell & Sons
albumen carte-de-visite, (September 1884)
NPG x134616
by G. West & Son
albumen cabinet card, 1884
NPG Ax197506
King George V; Queen Alexandra; Princess Victoria of Wales
by Frederick William Ralph
albumen cabinet card, late 1880s
NPG x197449
Three eldest children of King Edward VII
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, late 1880s
NPG x197451
King George V; Princess Victoria of Wales
by Frederick Ralph
albumen cabinet card, 1888
NPG x197445
King Edward VII with his family
by Frederick Ralph
albumen cabinet card, 1888
NPG x197446
King Edward VII with his family
by Frederick Ralph
albumen print, 1888
NPG x196983
King Edward VII and his family
by Byrne & Co
albumen cabinet card, 1889
NPG x3804
by Frederick Ralph
glass lantern slide, 1889
NPG x131621
by Frederick Ralph
albumen cabinet card, 1889
NPG x197452
King George V when Prince George of Wales
by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG Ax14723
by Lafayette
bromide print, 1890s
NPG Ax29384
King George V when Prince George of Wales
by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x13204
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1891
NPG x32360
by Lafayette
bromide print, 1891
NPG Ax26425
by James Russell & Sons
carbon print, published 2 January 1892
NPG x31099
by James Russell & Sons
albumen cabinet card, 1892
NPG x3806
Maud, Queen of Norway; King George V
by Frederick William Ralph
albumen cabinet card, 1892
NPG x197450
The Duke and Duchess of York with their bridesmaids
by Lafayette
bromide proof print, 6 July 1893
NPG Ax26482
'The Duke and Duchess of York and Bridesmaids'
by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, 6 July 1893, published 1893
NPG Ax16180
by Lafayette
bromide print, 6 July 1893
NPG Ax26483
by W. & D. Downey
bromide print, 6 July 1893
NPG x20792
Victoria Melita, Grand Duchess of Russia; Queen Mary; King George V
by W. & D. Downey
bromide print, 6 July 1893
NPG x38434
'The Duke and Duchess of York and Bridesmaids'
by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, 6 July 1893
NPG x87212
by Walery
carbon print, 1893, published 1894
NPG x197328
The Duke and Duchess of York with their bridesmaids
by Lafayette
albumen cabinet card, 6 July 1893
NPG x197485
'The Only Authentic Photograph of Their Majesties King George and Queen Mary, Wedding Group'
by W. & D. Downey
bromide postcard print, 1910s (6 July 1893)
NPG x197486
Queen Alexandra with her family
by Unknown photographer
bromide postcard print, 1893-1898
NPG x193272
after Lafayette
bromide postcard print, 1910s (6 July 1893)
NPG x196933
by W. & D. Downey
bromide postcard print, published circa 1935 (6 July 1893)
NPG x196472
by Percy Lewis Pocock, for W. & D. Downey
bromide postcard print, 16 July 1894
NPG x128876
by Percy Lewis Pocock, for W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 16 July 1894
NPG x1574
by Percy Lewis Pocock, for W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 16 July 1894
NPG Ax5548
King George V; Queen Mary; Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1894
NPG x36201
King Edward VII and his family
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, circa 1895
NPG x129603
Royal Group including Queen Victoria, Edward, Duke of Windsor, Queen Mary and King George V
by Robert Milne
bromide print, September 1895
NPG x8484
by John Thomson
albumen cabinet card, 1896?
NPG Ax5557
by Robert Johnson
coloured bromide print, circa 1897
NPG x20000
by Lafayette
bromide print, 1897
NPG Ax26431
by Lafayette
bromide print, 1897
NPG Ax29376
by Lafayette
bromide print, 1897
NPG Ax29377
by Lafayette
bromide print, 1897
NPG Ax36385
by Lafayette, photogravure by Walker & Boutall
photogravure, 2 July 1897; published 1899
NPG Ax41005
by James Charles Dinham
bromide print, 1897
NPG x136890
Queen Mary and King George V at Ugbrooke Park, Devon
by James Charles Dinham
bromide print, 1897
NPG x136892
by Lafayette, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, (2 July 1897)
NPG x193278
after Lafayette
bromide postcard print, 1910s (1897)
NPG x196915
Related People
- Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (grandfather)
- Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (brother)
- Queen Alexandra (mother)
- Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy (granddaughter)
- Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse (aunt)
- King Edward VII (father)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII) (son)
- Queen Elizabeth II (granddaughter)
- King George VI (son)
- Prince George, Duke of Kent (son)
- George Henry Hubert Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (grandson)
- Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (son)
- Prince John (son)
- Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent (grandson)
- Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife (sister)
- Princess Margaret (granddaughter)
- Queen Mary (wife)
- Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood (daughter)
- Maud, Queen of Norway (sister)
- Prince Michael of Kent (grandson)
- Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (grandson)
- Queen Victoria (grandmother)
- Princess Victoria of Wales (sister)
- Prince William of Gloucester (grandson)
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