What was King George VI's illness?: The smoking-related health conditions of the British monarch

Oct 21, 2025 4 min read •

Health History Royal Family

King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, was a heavy smoker who faced significant health problems throughout his later life. His struggles, exacerbated by the stress of World War II, culminated in a diagnosis of lung cancer, prompting a closely guarded secret operation. This was just one part of what was King George VI's illness, and his death at 56 marked a profound turning point in British royal history.

Quick Summary

Chronic heavy smoking led to multiple serious health issues for King George VI, including Buerger's disease, arteriosclerosis, and lung cancer, for which he underwent lung removal surgery. He died suddenly in his sleep in 1952, with the official cause stated as coronary thrombosis, though modern analysis suggests it was a complication of his undiagnosed, widespread cancer.

Key Points

King George VI was a heavy smoker: His lifelong, heavy cigarette habit was the primary cause of his various illnesses and premature death at age 56.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer: A biopsy in 1951 confirmed a malignant tumor in his left lung, which was subsequently surgically removed.
The cancer diagnosis was hidden: The public, and even the king, were not told he had cancer, with the official announcement referring vaguely to “structural abnormalities” in his lung.
He also suffered from vascular disease: As a result of his smoking, the king had Buerger's disease and arteriosclerosis, requiring surgery on his leg in 1949.
The official cause of death was coronary thrombosis: While this was the immediate event, medical historians believe it was a complication related to his widespread cancer, which had likely spread to his other lung.
No autopsy was performed: The absence of a postmortem examination means the exact physiological cause of his sudden death remains a medical speculation.
His death brought his daughter to the throne: King George VI's passing led to his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, becoming Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 25.

The early struggles and impact of smoking

King George VI, known affectionately as Bertie, was not destined for the throne. He ascended following the abdication of his older brother, Edward VIII, in 1936. This unexpected burden, combined with the immense pressure of leading a nation through the Second World War, put immense strain on his health. The king was a lifelong heavy smoker, a habit he allegedly took up to cope with his chronic stress and severe stammer. It was this habit that ultimately dictated the course of his final years.

By 1948, his health was visibly deteriorating. He experienced significant leg pain, a symptom of serious vascular disease. His heavy smoking habit contributed to the development of Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) and arteriosclerosis. Buerger's disease is an inflammation and clotting in the blood vessels, particularly affecting the arms and legs, and is strongly linked to tobacco use. In March 1949, he underwent a right lumbar sympathectomy, a surgical procedure to improve circulation to his right leg, which had become so poor that amputation was considered.

The secret battle with lung cancer

In the summer of 1951, the king's cough and general weakness worsened. After a chest X-ray revealed a shadow on his left lung, a biopsy confirmed a malignant tumor—lung cancer. The diagnosis was kept a secret from the public, the medical profession, and even the king himself, with official bulletins referring to his ailment euphemistically as "structural abnormalities". The culture of the time was to protect the public from the perceived stigma and distress of a cancer diagnosis, especially when it concerned the head of state.

In September 1951, King George VI underwent a left total pneumonectomy, the surgical removal of his entire left lung, at Buckingham Palace. Although the surgery was deemed satisfactory, his speech became muted due to damage to the laryngeal nerve during the procedure. For a time, he seemed to be recovering, even making a final public appearance just days before his death. However, continued symptoms, including blood-tinged sputum, hinted that the cancer had already spread to his remaining lung.

Comparison of King George VI's major illnesses


Illness	Key Symptom	Medical Condition	Impact on Health
Early Vascular Issues	Pain in his right leg and foot	Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) and arteriosclerosis	Caused poor circulation, threatening amputation and requiring surgery in 1949.
Final Respiratory Illness	Persistent cough and blood-tinged sputum	Lung Cancer (Carcinoma)	Led to the removal of his left lung in 1951, weakened his health, and likely contributed to his sudden death.

The immediate cause of death: speculation vs. reality

On the morning of February 6, 1952, King George VI was found dead in his bed at Sandringham House. He was just 56 years old. The official cause of death was announced as a "coronary thrombosis," or a blockage of blood flow to the heart. While his doctors attributed it to his known history of vascular issues, many modern medical historians believe this diagnosis was a convenient and discreet explanation.

Potential causes of sudden death related to his condition:

Pulmonary Embolism: The king's cancer may have created a hypercoagulable state, where the blood clots more easily. A large clot could have formed and traveled to his remaining lung, causing a sudden, fatal pulmonary embolism.
Massive Hemorrhage: Given the likelihood that the cancer had metastasized, it could have eroded into a major blood vessel in his chest, causing a sudden and massive intra-thoracic hemorrhage.
Complication of Thrombosis: It is also plausible that the cancer's effects led to an unrelated or partially related coronary thrombosis, especially given his heavy smoking and existing cardiovascular risk factors.

Because no autopsy was performed, the precise cause of death remains a subject of medical speculation. However, the consensus is that the king's long history of heavy smoking directly led to his lung cancer and vascular disease, setting the stage for his premature death.

Conclusion

King George VI’s final illness was a combination of severe smoking-related health problems that included lung cancer, Buerger's disease, and arteriosclerosis. His official cause of death, coronary thrombosis, is now widely considered to have been a contributing factor or a discrete event within the broader context of a body ravaged by advanced lung cancer. His death at the young age of 56 underscored the severe consequences of heavy smoking, and the subsequent openness regarding royal health conditions, exemplified by King Charles III's later diagnosis, highlights a significant change in public and royal attitudes toward discussing illness. The story of King George VI's illness is not just a medical history but a reflection of a society where the truth about such conditions was a carefully guarded secret.

King George VI's Health: A Timeline of Decline

Late 1940s: King's health visibly declines, affected by the stress of WWII.
1948: Suffers from significant pain in his right leg and foot.
March 1949: Undergoes a right lumbar sympathectomy at Buckingham Palace for a circulatory blockage.
Summer 1951: Develops a persistent cough with blood-tinged sputum.
September 1951: Diagnosed with lung cancer after a chest X-ray and biopsy.
September 23, 1951: Has his entire left lung removed at Buckingham Palace.
December 1951: Delivers his recorded Christmas speech, with a husky, muted voice due to surgical nerve damage.
February 6, 1952: Found dead in his sleep at Sandringham House.

King George VI's illness: A legacy of silence and change

The secrecy surrounding King George VI’s illness reflects a stark contrast with today’s royal health disclosures. His battle with cancer and subsequent death acted as a powerful, albeit private, harbinger of the link between smoking and disease. While the full extent of his suffering was hidden from the public, his story is now a well-documented example of how health norms and attitudes towards illness have evolved. His premature passing brought his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, to the throne at a young age, marking the beginning of her historic seventy-year reign.

The illness and death of King George VI of England: a pathologist's reassessment

Frequently Asked Questions

King George VI's illnesses were primarily caused by his heavy smoking habit, which led to multiple severe conditions, including lung cancer, Buerger's disease, and arteriosclerosis.

The official cause of King George VI's death was a coronary thrombosis, or a blood clot in the heart. However, this diagnosis was based on speculation and most medical historians now believe he died from complications related to his lung cancer.

No, King George VI was not informed of his lung cancer diagnosis by his doctors. The condition was kept secret from him and the public, which was a common practice at the time.

In September 1951, King George VI underwent a left total pneumonectomy, an operation to remove his entire left lung, to treat the malignant tumor that had been discovered.

King George VI's heavy smoking contributed to his lung cancer and peripheral vascular diseases, including Buerger's disease and arteriosclerosis, which affected the circulation in his legs.

King George VI's deteriorating health and early death led to his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, ascending to the throne at a young age, becoming Queen Elizabeth II.

Buerger's disease, or thromboangiitis obliterans, is a disease that causes inflammation and clotting in the arteries and veins, typically affecting the limbs. King George VI was diagnosed with this disease in 1949.

References

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.