This week in royal history: King George VI becomes first British monarch to ... trends now

This week in royal history saw not one but two first-time overseas visits by British monarchs. 

The one that is better remembered began on June 7, 1939, when King George VI visited the United States accompanied by his wife Queen Elizabeth. 

The royal couple were warmly welcomed by hundreds of thousands of royal fans and met US President Franklin Roosevelt, who put on a hot dog picnic at his country home. 

That visit came more than three decades after George's grandfather, Edward VII, went to Russia for the first time in 1908, where he had a summit with his nephew, Tsar Nicholas II. 

Exactly 50 years later, on June 9, 1958, Queen Elizabeth II opened a newly revamped Gatwick Airport.

King George VI becomes first British monarch to visit the USA - June 7, 1939

On June 7, 1939, King George VI, with his wife Queen Elizabeth, became the first British monarch to visit the United States.

More than a century on from when Britain had given up its American colonies under George III, George VI arrived with feelings of goodwill.

The visit, which came immediately after the King and Queen's tour of Canada, kicked off with a dinner in full view of the iconic Niagara Falls at the General Brock Hotel.

The following day, there was a majestic banquet at the White House hosted by the Franklin Roosevelt, who was coming towards the end of his second term as US President. 

The President honoured the King at the banquet, saying: 'In the life of a nation, as in that of an individual, there are occasions which stand out in high relief.

'Such an occasion is the present one, when the entire United States is welcoming on its soil the King and Queen of Great Britain, our neighbour, Canada, and all the far-flung British Commonwealth of Nations.

'It is an occasion for festivities, and it is also fitting that we give thanks for the bonds of friendship that link our two peoples...'

Responding, the King said: 'The visit which the Queen and I are paying to you today is something which has been in our minds for many weeks and, if we have had our moments of anxiety, they have served to make us realise how intensely we have been looking forward to the present occasion.

'From Canada, which we have just left and whither we shall soon return, I bring you to-day warm greetings of a neighbour and a trusted friend.' 

The King and the President also had a private discussion, as more than 1million people who had flocked to Washington to get a glimpse of the monarch packed the streets.  

Later in the five-day visit, the King laid a wreath at the tomb of George Washington, the first president of the United States. 

The official purpose of the trip was to increase popular support for the provision of US aid to the UK in the event of war with Nazi Germany, which came less than three months later. 

The historic visit also included a reception at the US Capitol, where the King and Queen were greeted by members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

As they were leaving, more than 3,000 guests hailed them with a round of applause.  

On the final day of the King's US stay, he swam with President Roosevelt at his country home, where hot dogs were served at a sunny picnic.

King Edward VII visits Tsar Nicholas II in Russia - June 9, 1908

On June 9, 1908, King Edward VII became the first British monarch to visit Russia.

Meeting his nephew Tsar Nicholas II at Reval (now Tallinn in Estonia), the King and his wife Queen Alexandra arrived on the royal yacht, the Victoria and Albert. 

The visit was seen as confirmation of the Angl-Russian Entente of 1907, which saw the two countries settle their colonial disputes and effectively sealed the alignment of Great Britain, Russia and France against Germany  ahead of the First World War. 

Edward's meeting with his nephew also smoothed relations after the infamous Dogger Bank incident, in which the Russian navy attacked British fishing boats, killing three sailors.