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What: George V Silver Jubilee Address at Houses of Parliament
When: 1935
Where: Houses of Parliament, City of Westminster, London
Story: A photo of George V addressing the Houses of Parliament in 1935 during his Silver Jubilee year. He is Elizabeth II’s grandfather and the first monarch from the House of Windsor (changing the family name from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1917). The British Empire expanded to its maximum extend during his reign, due to Britain’s victory in World War I. However, his reign also coincided with the rise of Irish Republicanism, the Indian Independence Movement and the Great Depression.
I find the reigns of all three monarch’s featured in these Jubilee posts to be fascinating. During Victoria’s reign Britain became the world’s pre-eminent world power. This power would be challenged in World War 1 during George V’s reign. Ultimately, Britain came out of that conflict as an even larger world power, but one also in relative decline. Finally, during Elizabeth II’s reign you get full scale decolonization and the end of Empire. Interestingly, not only is 2012 the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth coming to the throne, but it also marks 175 years since Victoria assumed that same role.