Read PEOPLE's exclusive excerpt from royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith's new book, George VI and Elizabeth ... during the Second World War, King George and his wife Elizabeth and their children ...

George VI's reign, supported by his wife ... young, almost boyish. He calmly took his place near his own Chair of Estate. (The service lasted two and a half hours and the king's most difficult ...

Duke of York (the future King George VI), wed the Hon Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on 26 April 1923 (after asking her three times to be his wife), the ceremony was more low key than those of previous future ...

On the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in December 1936 he was proclaimed King and took one of his middle names, George, on succeeding to the throne. The coronation of George VI and Queen ...