King George IV (The Kingdom of the United States)

King George IV
George IV (George Henry William Robert born December 18, 1919) is King of the United States of America and the District of Columbia, as well as the other commonwealths and territories possessed by the United States of America.

In addition to the United States, he is also King of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, The United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, and Wake Island.

George became King-designate on July 30, 1959 upon the death of his mother, Queen Matilda. On July 31, 1959 the United States Congress officially nominated him as King-nominee and On November 3, 1959, his ascension to the throne was confirmed during a national referendum, where he received 89 percent support as the next King. His coronation took place on August 1, 1960.

He is currently the longest-reigning monarch of the US, surpassing the reign of his Great Uncle, George III, who reigned for 44 years.

Earl Life
George Henry William Robert was born at Dumbarton Oaks, home of the heir to the throne of the United States in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. on December 19, 1919. He was the second son of Princess Matilda, daughter of King Henry III, and HRH William, Duke of Abercromby. Several weeks earlier, letters patent had been issued so that the young prince would enjoy a royal and princely status he would not otherwise have been entitled to. Otherwise he would have been styled merely as the child of a duke.

On August 1, 1923 when young George was only three, his mother became Queen of the United States when his grandfather, King Henry III died at the Royal Palace at St. Matthew's Square.

As the second son of the new Queen, George did was not raised to become King. His older brother, Prince William, was the heir to the throne and was raised to eventually succeed his mother.

The two young princes were educated at home, under the supervision of their mother and father. Their governess was Elizabeth Yates. He would go on to study History at Harvard before enlisting in the U.S. Military Institute at West Point where he was trained to become an office in the U.S. Army.

Military Service
Upon the entry of the United States into World War II in December of 1941, both Prince William (now created Prince of Hawai'i) and Prince George (created Duke of Stratford) were called to service. Queen Matilda tried to intervene to prevent Prince William from having to see combat, but the Prince pleaded with his mother to allow him to serve (His father, the Duke of Abercromby, had seen combat with the U.S. Marine Corp during the First World War and the Prince wanted to emulate his father).

In July of 1943, Prince William was killed in combat during the Invasion of Sicily. Prince George, who was stationed in England and preparing to participate in the eventual D-Day operation of 1944, was recalled to the United States where he completed the remainder of his military service.

Marriage
On November 3, 1945 Prince George married Lady Margaret Reed Thompson-McCullough, the daughter of Earl and Lady McCullough. The two met in 1944 while he was stationed at the Pentagon and she was working as a clerk in the Office of the Secretary of War. As a wedding gift, Queen Matilda formally invested her second son as the Prince of Hawai'i, as well as Earl of Fremont, Duke of Richmond, Duke of San Germán, Marquees of Conneautt and First Lord of Manhattan, Prince and Great Chief of Alaska, all of the formal titles granted to the heir to the throne.

After the wedding, the new Prince and Princess of Hawai'i took up residence at Dumbarton Oaks Palace in Georgetown. On October 10, 1946 Princess Margaret gave birth to her first son, Prince James. The young prince was soon joined by two brothers and a sister, Princess Mary, born in 1948, Prince Thomas, born in 1952, and Prince Christopher, born in 1955.

Royal Duties
George made his first overseas visit in 1947, inspecting reconstrution efforts in Europe. Over the course of the next 12 years, he would become a global ambassador for the United States, visiting over 50 nations, including a historic visit to the Soviet Union in 1959 with Vice President Richard Nixon.

Succession
His mother's health had begun to generally decline, starting with the death of his father, the Duke of Abercromby in 1950. By early 1959, as the Queen neared her 70th birthday, it was becoming more likely that George would be succeeding his mother sooner, rather than later.

On July 30, 1959 while completing his visit to the Soviet Union, Prince George was notified by his Private Secretary, Sir William Weatherspoon, that Queen Matilda had died and that he was the King-designate.

George IV's Proclamation of Nomination was read at Smithsonian Castle, on Thursday, July 31, 1959. On November 3, 1959 (his 14th Wedding Anniversary), he was officially elected King of the United States during a national referendum, receiving 89 percent support from the people, one of the lowest in American History.

His State Coronation took place on Monday, August 1, 1960 at the United States Capital in Washington. The Crown of the Viceroy of the District of Columbia was presented by Robert E. McLaughlin, Presidents of the Board of Commissioners for the District of Columbia. The Orb of the New World was presented by Speaker of the House of Representatives Sam Rayburn, the Secpter of Liberty was presented by President of the Senate, Vice President Richard Nixon, and the Sword of Freedom and State Crown was President of the United States Dwight Eisenhower, Viscount Normandy.