BBC Announcement of the death of King George VI (1952)

6 February 1952
On 6 February 1952, King George VI died peacefully in his sleep at Sandringham House. As the news of the King's death spread, all cinemas and theatres closed, and BBC programmes were cancelled except for news bulletins and essential shipping forecasts. Flags in every town were at half-mast, and sports fixtures were cancelled.
The BBC's John Snagge broke the news to radio listeners around the world.

[@richardelliott9486]

We had to hear the sad news that his daughter died today.

[@itzwolfie1073]

Atleast they are all together. King George VI The Queen mother Princess Margaret And our amazing Queen Elizabeth we had 😔

[@treehouseofcomics]

And prince Phillip and Princess Diana

[@televisionhallofclassics869]

And the grand father Geroge V

[@lukethomas.125]

@@treehouseofcomics They are all up there looking down up the now King Charles III

[@drcrisp8538]

70 years without her father. R.I.P Her Majesty

[@vinman9786]

So dignified back then.....everything said in a matter of fact way, yet with great sorrow

[@moboutmen]

God Rest the Queen.

[@a.a.1753]

God Save The King

[@jamesblogger2702]

We had to hear it. The Queen has died sadly. May you Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II.

[@Pikaling3408]

If the same formula was used in September then they would of said "This is BBC News from London. It is with the greatest sorrow that we make the following announcement. It was announced from Balmoral at 6:30 today, September 8th 2022 that the Queen passed peacefully away earlier this afternoon. The BBC offers profound sympathy to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family. BBC Television is broadcasting this special program reporting the death of Her Majesty the Queen."

[@eddytriana8060]

its always the same kid

[@altfactor]

I once read in a book about NBC's "Today Show" (which had gone on the air a few weeks earlier) that the news broke at 5:45 A.M. EST, and that the producers tossed out their planned program and devoted the entire two hours to coverage of the King's death, with audio reports via shortwave from London and file footage of the King. Supposedly, that broadcast was a major turning point for the show, given that the news broke long after the morning newspapers in the U.S. had been printed.

[@joshygoldiem_j2799]

1952, BBC terminates its programming. 2022, they reschedule their entire programming as soon as they've heard.

[@myamdane6895]

The show must go on!

[@delavalmilker]

Surprising that the BBC actually closed-down after this announcement.

[@MatthewOkot]

The start of Queen Elizabeth II's long reign. RIP Your Majesty.

[@altfactor]

Today, the death of a British monarch wouldn't mean the BBC would sign off except for shipping forecasts and newscasts. Instead, there would be non-stop news coverage through the funeral.

[@buttershy_]

and here we are

[@dylanwyatt-brown3624]

Wow yh not wrong at all lol

[@carlitoon9451]

my language arts teacher an hour and 30 minutes ago told us that the queen died we were all shocked

[@cameron8529]

wow. this was the very beginning of the queens long reign

[@ps4logic87]

He died so young :(

[@MrThorfan64]

56, but the pressures of a job he hadn't expected.

[@jonedson5910]

​@@MrThorfan64 well comparing to his daughter and even his grand son he was young.

[@MrThorfan64]

@@jonedson5910 Yes, he was young. His father lived to 70 and his elder brother to 77.

[@nicolelawless3199]

I know 😭

[@Keithbarber]

​@MrThorfan64 it should not be overlooked that his health was also greatly adversely affected by his heavy smoking

[@joedowling4444]

Today the queen died 💔

[@stateofvictory2779]

his daughter has died

[@-B-SaswataRoychoudhuryRKMV]

*his

[@123brownjames]

Initially I thought that when John Snagge said “Her Majesty the Queen”, he meant the King’s wife but I think he meant the new Queen Elizabeth II. Interesting that the Crown had changed hands already.

[@ReganProsser-wj9kt]

72 years today

[@jamesBFC1887]

0:33 I wonder if they meant the Queen mother (wife of King George VI) or the new Queen Elizabeth II

[@tracyhodgkins7516]

They would have meant the Queen. She became Queen the moment her father died.

[@chrismc410]

Probably both.

[@madabbafan]

As he said 'HM The Queen' then it would mean Elizabeth II. Elizabeth the Queen mother lost the definate article and became simply Queen Elizabeth.

[@chrismc410]

Well both the Queen and the Queen Mother would both be addressed and/or referred to as "Your Majesty/Her Majesty"