King George VI Dies

This morning, news broke of the death of King George VI. Recently, the stresses of the war had increasingly taken a toll on the King's health, and eventually his heavy smoking and subsequent development of arteriosclerosis and Buerger's disease caused his daughter Elizabeth to already take over many of her father's royal duties. Now, Elizabeth will ascend to her father's throne, bearing the regnal name Elizabeth II. Though young, she has been prepared for this moment ever since her uncle's morganatic marriage made the future line of succession clear, and is expected to make a good Queen despite her age.