Johnnie's brother George, known as "Georgie" within the family, is actually the fifth child of King George V and Queen Mary, who later became the Duke of Kent, not their second son, Albert, who became George VI. QM and KG had six children:
- Edward (b. 1894. Known as "David" within the family, but who became Edward VIII)
- Albert (b. 1895. Known as "Bertie" to his family, and who took the name of George VI because he wanted to signal his reign as a continuation of that of his father, George V. He was the stammerer, not his younger brother, "Georgie").
- Mary (b. 1897)
- Henry (b. 1900. Known as "Harry." Later Duke of Gloucester.)
- George (b. 1902. Known as "Georgie." Later Duke of Kent. He was the brother closest to Johnnie, and the one portrayed in this film).
- John (b. 1905. Known as "Johnnie").
The reason Bertie and David were not a huge part of this film was because this film was really about Johnnie and his world (albeit with an inexplicably large emphasis on the Imperial Family of Russia. Surely they in no way influenced Johnnie's life). The same goes for Johnnie's elder siblings: they didn't really affect their younger brother's life in any major way. David was 11 years older than Johnnie, while Bertie was 9 1/2 years older. Those two siblings have been given so much screen time in other films already anyway, that it would have taken away from Johnnie had they been included in this. In any case, during this time period, they were in their late teens and had their own duties to perform - Bertie even being present at the Battle of Jutland. I think it was right to not include much of them - but perhaps the filmmakers should have included a scene that included the entire family interacting with one another to clearly show the audience that there were indeed six children total, but also to clarify that the "Georgie" portrayed here is actually the future Duke of Kent, not his elder brother, "Bertie" (later George VI).
"My care is like my shadow in the sun, follows me flying, flies when I pursue it..."
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smcbee27
8 years ago
Well said and excellent clarification of the siblings. I had noticed a reviewer stating that George had a stutter all his life that should of been portrayed in the movie- wrong George! I am truly enjoying this "other side" of the family that is so often ignored and few know about. Even my tv listing stated the Prince had autism instead of epilepsy. I only wish the movie started earlier in his childhood. By a few years, only but a bit earlier. Excellent movie.
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