Christened: Albert Arthur Frederick George. Known to the Royal Family as Bertie; Was Prince Albert, Duke of York (1920-1936); Acceded as George VI following his brother's abdication on 11 Dec 1936. The reign of George VI was marked by the relinquishment of the title of Emperor of India, following the partition of India in 1947 into Pakistan and India. George VI had cancer of the lung (one lung had be removed). He died of cancer after a long illness. Bertie had a speech defect which made him stutter and stammer.