
When it comes to British royal history, King George V often stands out as a rather mysterious figure.
Before becoming king, he was known as Prince George, and he’s most remembered for leading Britain through much of World War I. It was during this turbulent time that he famously changed the royal family’s name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the more British-sounding Windsor. He also married Mary of Teck, who had previously been engaged to his late brother, Prince Albert.
Although his reign wasn’t especially long — from 1910 until his death in 1936 — King George V left a lasting impression on historians.
Much of this intrigue stems from his reported eccentricities behind closed doors. Rumors have long circulated about him having secret tattoos of tigers and dragons, an intense passion for stamp collecting, and — perhaps most surprisingly — a claimed psychic ability.
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King George V — the grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II and great-grandfather of King Charles III — was known for his fiery temper and intense speeches.
The Earl of Derby once shared a moment when the King told his six children: “My father was frightened of his mother; I was frightened of my father, and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me.”
According to long-standing royal gossip, during one of his heated outbursts, George V made a rather specific prediction about the monarchy’s future — one that turned out to be surprisingly accurate.
As reported by the Express, on one such occasion, the King harshly criticized his eldest son, Prince Edward, for being irresponsible and too distracted by women.
You remember Prince Edward — the future king who gave up the throne to marry American actress and twice-divorced Wallis Simpson?