KING EDWARD VIII
On January 20, 1936, King George V died
at Sandringham, and the Prince of Wales
became King Edward VIII. Protocol required
he attended a meeting of the Accession
Council in London within 24 hours of the
death. Train links from the royal estate to the
capital were poor so the new King was own
south, becoming the rst reigning British
monarch to travel by air.
On July 21,1936, Flt Lt Edward Fielden
AFC was promoted to Wing Commander and
performed the duties of captain of the newly
created King’s Flight. The current DH89
equipment was by then beginning to look
dated, and its replacement by an updated
aircraft type was considered.
Before a decision was reached, the
country was shaken by King Edward
VIII’s abdication, before his coronation, on
December 10, 1936. His brother Albert,
Duke of York ascended to the throne as King
George VI.
Evaluation of a new aircraft for the
King’s Flight continued in 1937, and after
modi cations, which included providing
space for a radio operator and his equipment,
Airspeed Envoy III G-AEXX was handed over
and the Dragon Rapide disposed of.http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 37Airspeed Envoy III G-AEXX was owned by The Air Ministry for use by the Prince of Wales
(later King George VI). It wears the Brigade of Guards colours, which were applied to each
successive aircraft he used. The Aviation Photo CompanyA BAe 146 of 32 (The Royal)
Squadron. Niall PatersonDe Havilland DH95 Flamingo G-AGCC was issued with the RAF serial R2766, but ew with its
civil registration applied over camou age markings during short service with the King’s Flight.
Key CollectionIn 1946 the King’s Flight was reconstituted with a eet of four Vickers Vikings, and the type was
used throughout a royal tour of South Africa in 1947. Key CollectionA nose detail shot of a Viking showing the royal insignia beneath the cockpit windows and the
Royal Standard ying from its mast above the ight deck. Key Collection36-40_raf_queens_flightDC.mfDC.indd 37 04/12/2017 13:20