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Fact check: King George VI accidentally salutes the crowd

Checked on June 21, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, none of the sources contain any information about King George VI accidentally saluting the crowd [1] [2] [3]. Instead, all three sources focus on a completely different incident involving Nazi salute footage of the Queen as a child from 1933 [1] [2]. The sources discuss a controversy surrounding leaked film footage showing the Queen, then a child, performing a Nazi salute, and investigations into how this footage was obtained and published [1] [2]. The Royal Family expressed disappointment at the use of this footage [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement appears to be completely unsubstantiated by the available sources. The analyses reveal that the actual historical controversy involves:

  • The Queen's childhood Nazi salute footage from 1933, not King George VI [1] [2]
  • Questions about privacy breaches and how the footage was leaked to the media [1]
  • The Royal Family's official response expressing disappointment at the publication of the footage [2]
  • Potential involvement of the Queen's father in filming the original footage, though this appears to be speculative [3]

The sources suggest this incident raised important questions about royal privacy, historical context, and media responsibility rather than any accidental saluting by King George VI.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement appears to contain significant factual errors or complete misinformation. The claim about "King George VI accidentally salutes the crowd" is not supported by any of the analyzed sources [1] [2] [3]. This could represent:

  • Confusion between different royal family members and historical incidents
  • Misremembering or conflating the actual 1933 Nazi salute controversy involving the Queen as a child
  • Potential deliberate misinformation designed to create false historical narratives about the British Royal Family

The complete absence of any supporting evidence in the sources suggests this statement may be entirely fabricated or based on unreliable information.

Want to dive deeper?
What was the occasion when King George VI accidentally saluted the crowd?
How did the crowd react to King George VI's accidental salute?
What are some other notable gaffes made by British monarchs in public?
How did King George VI's accidental salute affect the public's perception of the monarchy?
Are there any other instances of King George VI's accidental salute being referenced in popular culture?