A newly discovered picture of King Edward VIII, who abdicated in 1936, shows the portrait was reused -- after careful "editing" by artist Albert H Collings -- to show his successor, King George VI.
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
A newly discovered picture of King Edward VIII, who abdicated in 1936, shows the portrait was reused -- after careful "editing" by artist Albert H Collings -- to show his successor, King George VI.
Illustrated London News/Mary Evans Picture Library
The painting was commissioned for a coronation issue of "The Illustrated London News," which was never released. A proof copy of the publication -- thought to be the only one in existence -- was recently rediscovered.
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
The painting was commissioned for a coronation issue of "The Illustrated London News," which was never released. A proof copy of the publication -- thought to be the only one in existence -- was recently rediscovered.
The periodical contains "historical" paintings of the coronation itself, which never took place.
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
The periodical contains "historical" paintings of the coronation itself, which never took place.
It also includes details of the "Line of Succession" showing Edward VIII as King.
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
It also includes details of the "Line of Succession" showing Edward VIII as King.
But notes by editor Sir Bruce Ingram -- written just a week before the King stepped down -- include revisions to be made to the coronation edition "if Ed. VIII abdicates".
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
But notes by editor Sir Bruce Ingram -- written just a week before the King stepped down -- include revisions to be made to the coronation edition "if Ed. VIII abdicates".
The portrait of Edward VIII was not the only item from the coronation issue to be "recycled" -- a lengthy tribute to the monarch was used in a special "abdication and accession" edition of the magazine.
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
The portrait of Edward VIII was not the only item from the coronation issue to be "recycled" -- a lengthy tribute to the monarch was used in a special "abdication and accession" edition of the magazine.
Edward VIII was named the Duke of Windsor when he abdicated in order to continue his relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. The couple married in France the following year.
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
Edward VIII was named the Duke of Windsor when he abdicated in order to continue his relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. The couple married in France the following year.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
George VI, whose struggles with a stammer in the early days of his reign were chronicled in hit movie "The King's Speech," was crowned on 12 September 1937.
King airbrushed out of coronation portrait —
George VI, whose struggles with a stammer in the early days of his reign were chronicled in hit movie "The King's Speech," was crowned on 12 September 1937.