The visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to the United States in June 1939 was an historic event – the first ever visit by a reigning British monarch to the United States. It also took place on the eve of the Second World War – a war that seemed almost inevitable by the summer of 1939. The visit was generally regarded at the time as a huge success that strengthened relations between Britain and the United States at a vital time. The talk examines the details of the royal visit and the roles and personalities of the main participants – not only Franklin Roosevelt and George VI but also Mackenzie King, the Canadian Prime Minister, who accompanied the royal couple during their visit. In addition, it explains the international context of the visit and the attitude towards it of hostile powers, especially Germany and Italy. Finally, it discusses the significance of the royal visit for the origins of the so-called Anglo-American ‘special relationship’ before – rather than after – Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940.
Dr Tony McCulloch is a professor of American history and politics at University College London who specializes in transatlantic relations. He obtained his BA Honours degree in History from the University of London and his PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Oxford. He has taught at Middlesex University, Hertfordshire University and Canterbury Christ Church University, where he was Head of History and American Studies. For the last 12 years he has worked at the UCL Institute of the Americas. He has also held the positions of Secretary of the Transatlantic Studies Association and President of the Canadian Studies Association. He has written extensively on Anglo-American relations and his most recent book is Tacit Alliance: Franklin Roosevelt and the Anglo-American ‘special relationship’ before Churchill, 1937-39, published by Edinburgh University Press in 2022.
