http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/6/newsid_2711000/2711265.stm
BBC
ON THIS DAY 6 February
1952: King George VI dies in his sleep
His Majesty, King George VI, has died peacefully in his sleep at Sandringham House.
The official announcement from Sandringham, given at 1045 GMT, said the King retired in his usual health, but passed away in his sleep and was found dead in bed at 0730 GMT by a servant.
He was 56, and was known to have been suffering from a worsening lung condition.
Princess Elizabeth, who is at the Royal hunting lodge in Kenya, immediately becomes Queen at the age of 25.
She has been informed of her father's death, and is preparing to return to London, but a thunderstorm has delayed the departure of her plane.
She is expected back tomorrow afternoon, when she will take the Royal Oath which will seal her accession to the throne.
We cannot at this moment do more than record the spontaneous expression of grief
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
The cabinet met this morning as soon as the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was informed of the news, to discuss the constitutional implications.
The House of Commons has also been suspended as a mark of respect.
Before MPs adjourned, Prime Minister Winston Churchill offered their condolences, saying, "We cannot at this moment do more than record the spontaneous expression of grief."
He is due to make a broadcast to the nation at 2100 GMT tomorrow.
As the news of the King's death spread, all cinemas and theatres closed, and BBC programmes were cancelled except for news bulletins. Flags in every town were at half-mast, and sports fixtures were cancelled.
A crowd began to gather outside Buckingham Palace during the afternoon, as diplomats from around the world arrived in official cars to write their condolences in the visitors' book.
By 2100 GMT the police had to press the growing number of mourners back from the gates and on to the pavement. Despite the bitter cold and rain, the silent, weeping crowd stayed until long after it grew dark.
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: posted by H.V.O.M at 1:53 PM Saturday, September 24, 2005
Epilogue: Last Day
After some delay, I am finally down to my last couple hours in this place. They have a new place for me to go, but my condition is only a tiny degree removed from being on the street, with its danger and privacy and frustration. A long time ago, in another life, I once felt resentment for those that would not speak out but now I understand why they would not and I can't really blame them because they were obviously smart enough to know that doing so would only lead them to this point I am at now. I certainly couldn't blame the ones with kids to support, with nothing really to lose myself in terms of that kind of responsibility, I don't even really think of the risks, although up to this point, I have never really lost so badly as now, I have never lost so much. I wonder if I will be alive this time next week, or even this time tomorrow. When I would wake each day and wonder if today would be the last, will today be the last. It used to be a question, not so much wondering if it would be the last, but a question of what I would use that day to accomplish. But now, it is just a matter of surviving, because I still expect it to turn around at some point. At some point, one day, it will turn around and start getting better but for now it just keeps getting worse.
[JOURNAL ARCHIVE 24 September 2005 excerpt ends]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990
1990
December 22
The first constitution of the Republic of Croatia is adopted.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3166.htm
U.S. Department of State
Background Note: Croatia
Official Name: Republic of Croatia
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution: Adopted December 22, 1990.
- posted by H.V.O.M - Kerry Wayne Burgess 4:44 PM Pacific Time USA Saturday 09 June 2012
