The name George, chosen by Prince William and Kate for their first son, has a rich tradition in the British royal family with six former sovereigns sharing the name.
George, a fourth century Christian martyr, is also the patron saint of England and represents honour, bravery and gallantry. According to legend, he rescued a virgin from the claws of a dragon.
It is the third most popular name for a British sovereign, after Henry and Edward. Both of those names were shared by eight kings.
George, which was the 12th most popular name for baby boys in England and Wales in 2011, derives from the ancient Greek word for farmer and was widely predicted.
Here are the six kings named George who have ruled over Britain:
- George I (1714-1727): First king of the House of Hanover, he acceded to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland in 1714 despite only being 52nd in line. He claimed the throne as he was Queen Anne's closest living Protestant relative, Britain having passed the 1701 Act of Settlement which prohibited Catholics from inheriting the British throne.
Despite being born in Germany and having little command of English, he oversaw a period of great stability for Britain.
- George II (1727-1760): Son of George I, he is the last king of Britain to have entered battle alongside his troops, fighting against the French in the 1743 battle of Dettingen in Germany.
- George III (1760-1820): Grandson of George II, he is the third monarch from the House of Hanover and the first to be born in England and speak the language fluently. During his reign, Britain lost the United States, which declared its independence in 1776. George III holds the record for the longest life and reign of any British male sovereign, but had to cede de facto control of the throne to his son in 1811 due to recurrent, and eventually permanent, madness. His problems became the subject of the 1994 film "The Madness of King George".
- George IV (1820-1830): Son of George III, this art collector and bon viveur commissioned the extravagant Indian-themed royal pavillion in Brighton, southern England. He enjoyed a colourful private life, secretly and illegally marrying a Catholic woman before wedding a Protestant, whom he tried in vain to divorce.
- George V (1910-1936): During World War I, the emperor-king visited his troops on more than 450 occasions. Due to anti-German sentiment, he abandoned the historic family name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and adopted Windsor, the name of the castle to the west of London and the current name of the royal family. During his reign, Ireland became independent. George V began the tradition of addressing the nation at Christmas, via radio.
- George VI (1936-1952): The beloved father of the current monarch Queen Elizabeth II. He came to the throne in 1936, after his brother Edward VIII abdicated in order to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. His real name was Albert, but he chose the name George VI on becoming king in honour of his father and to send a signal of stability following the chaos sparked by his brother. He suffered from a severe stutter. Actor Colin Firth portrayed George VI in the multi-Oscar-winning 2010 film "The King's Speech".
AFP
Wed Jul 24 2013
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.
NFOF will be operational in November 2024 with funding of RM1 bil
PM Anwar Ibrahim said NFOF will support venture capital fund managers to invest in startup companies with RM300 million set aside for 2025.
Minimum wage to increase to RM1,700 effective Feb 1, 2025
The Progressive Wage Policy would be fully enforced next year with an allocation of RM200 million, benefiting 50,000 workers.
Bursa Malaysia ends higher on Budget 2025 optimism
The benchmark index, which opened 1.85 points higher at 1,643.29, moved between 1,641.71 and 1,649.31 throughout the trading session.
Five important aspects relating to people’s lives in Budget 2025 - PM
The focus is on driving the MADANI Economy, speeding reforms, cutting red tape, raising wages, and tackling the cost of living.
Economic outlook: Govt plans to leverage, expand existing city transit system
The expansion aims to provide a more efficient and reliable public transportation network, reduce congestion, and improve accessibility.
Economic outlook: Budget 2025 to lay foundation for a digital-driven economy
The report said Budget 2025 will entail efforts to position Kuala Lumpur as a top 20 global startup hub by 2030 through the KL20 initiative.
Economic outlook: Corruption and lack of accountability hinder economic progress
Special Cabinet Committee on National governance is established to curb corruption, law reforms to modernise outdate regulations, MoF said.
National Wages Consultative Council will be strengthened
The govt will also incentivise hiring women returning from career breaks, offer job matching and improve care services facilities.
Economic outlook: Ensuring 11 years of compulsory education for all children
Budget 2025 will continue prioritising upskilling and retraining initiatives to equip workers with the latest skill sets necessary.
Consolidated public sector projected to record lower surplus of RM41.7 bil 2024
The MoF said the consolidated general government revenue is estimated to increase slightly to RM384.7 billion in 2024.
PM announces substantial Budget 2025 hastening Malaysia to become Asian economic powerhouse
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it would create jobs and also tackle financial leakages to enhance public spending efficiency.