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George VI took over much earlier than had been anticipated when his older brother, Edward abdicated so that he could marry Mrs Simpson. George was temperamentally much better suited to the service and role required of a monarch. He supported his Ministers even in the darkest days of the Second World War and did much to promote the idea that everyone in the nation had to play their part. He was active in visiting troops and factories and encouraged his family to be seen to be active in serving the nation.
After the war, George had to appoint Attlee to become his prime-minister after Labour won a landslide victory. George in no way undermined the left wing government and went out of his way to support his ministers despite the reservations of much of the more conservative establishment. He would also see the loss of the 'Jewel in the Crown' of the Empire; India. As such, George would lose the right to call himself 'Emperor' and had to return to being just a 'King'.
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