William VI of the United Kingdom: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 11:08, 6 December 2020

William VI
Medium
Reign11 June, 1985 - 13 October, 2017
Coronation25 August, 1985
PredecessorCharles III
SuccessorAlexandra
BornWilliam Edward Charles
(1950-12-17)17 December 1950
Balmoral Castle, Scotland
Died13 October 2017(2017-10-13) (aged 66)
Buckingham Palace, London
Burial20 October 2017
Westminster Abbey, London
SpouseConnie Nielsen
(1989 - 1993, engaged)
Issue
Full name
William Edward Charles
HouseHanover
FatherCharles III
MotherLauren Bacall
ReligionProtestant
Military service
Branch/service
Years of service1979-1983 (active service)
RankCaptain
Battles/warsThe Troubles
Falklands War
Multinational Force in Lebanon

William VI (William Edward Charles; 17 December, 1950 - 13 October, 2017) was King of the United Kingdom from 1985 to 2017. He is known for his moderate approach towards the royal institution and has been credited for the success of several treaties between the United Kingdom and its respective allies in the wake of the end of the Cold War. He is also the father of the current Queen Alexandra.

Early Life

William was born on the 17th of December, 1950 to the then Charles, Prince of Wales and American actress Lauren Bacall. In heavy contrast to his predecessors, he was the first royal ever to be born of a mother who was neither royal nor British by original nationality or by ancestral meanings, which generated a degree of controversy and interest surrounding the young prince. Following his baptism, he was formally given the name William Edward Charles, which alluded to that of his deceased uncle, his grandfather and his father, then a Prince of Wales.

On July 7th, 1951, he was subsequently made Prince of Wales following the death of his grandfather, as his father instead ascended to the throne as sovereign under the regnal name of Charles III.

Prince of Wales

As the Prince of Wales, William frequently traveled alongside his parents in their state visits to allied countries, and as he was only a young child, extreme levels of security were a priority for whenever the young William would come along with his parents in their overseas trips. However, following an assassination attempt in 1953, the royal family withdrew to Canada where this time, he was allowed to freely interact with the common people to a certain extent. Like his grandfather, William greatly enjoyed the Canadian scenery, frequently indulging himself in physical activities, namely hunting and others.

Following their subsequent return to Britain, the royal family's standings had gradually improved, with the public showing a sizable amount of approval for their formerly resented king and queen.

Marriage

As William's parents had chosen a rather informal and morganatic approach to marriage, prospects of the young William in exemplifying his parents were largely encouraged. Consequently, William frequently indulged himself in events concerning the country's nobility and celebrity circles. Rumours of his alleged relationships with several prominent women became a common theme for local tabloids, but at the same time, neither were officially confirmed. However, from 1979 to 1985, the prince was in a lengthy relationship with Austrian-American actress Sybil Danning. The couple later peacefully separated over issues concerning work and residence. However, Danning herself briefly attended William's coronation ceremony on that very year.

In 1989, the royal palace announced the surprise engagement between William and a young Danish actress by the name of Connie Nielsen. Following the announcement, Nielsen and William began to appear together in public, with Nielsen herself frequently accompanying the king on both his local and state visits. Three years later, the couple officially broke off their engagement, albeit in a peaceful manner. Regardless, both William and Nielsen remained close partners in the aftermath of their separation, with Nielsen herself being made a viscountess on the same year, alongside a British citizenship before subsequently marrying William's brother of the same name three years later. At the same time, the end of their engagement raised concerns over the question of William's successor. Compounding this was William's own age, in which he was already in his 40's.

In the months following his separation, William was first introduced to the Norwegian princess Märtha Louise, who is almost 20 years his junior during a state visit to Norway. Throughout the following months, the two decided to pursue a relationship, albeit in a private manner before they were officially wed in 1995. Though their marriage were partially received with despair as it was hoped that William was to marry a commoner, the wedding was greatly received and publicised by both the British and Norwegian medias. After only a few months into their marriage, their first child, the current Queen Alexandra was born.

Despite the glaring age difference, the couple enjoyed a well-built marriage in which throughout the succeeding years, they received the birth of their twin sons and an another daughter.

Personal Information

Titles & Honours

  • 17 December 1950 - 7 July 1951 His Royal Highness Prince William of Cambridge
  • 7 July 1951 - 11 June 1985 His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
  • 11 June 1985 - 13 October 2017 His Majesty The King

Honours

Ancestry

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