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Nostalgia

On This Day — May 12

Brian Crisp
May 12, 2026
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King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in the gardens at Windsor Castle, England, 8th July 1946. (Photo by Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

From royal celebrations to scientific breakthroughs and an important moment in Australian military history, May 12 has seen its fair share of memorable events.

1937: King George VI is crowned

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 12, 1937, following the abdication of King Edward VIII. George VI would later guide Britain and the Commonwealth through World War II and became an important figure in Australian history during the war years.

2008: A devastating earthquake strikes China

A massive earthquake measuring 7.9 struck Sichuan province in China on this day in 2008. More than 80,000 people were killed or missing, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 21st century.

Also born on this day

Florence Nightingale (1820), founder of modern nursing
Katharine Hepburn (1907)
Burt Bacharach (1928)

And finally…

May 12 is also celebrated internationally as International Nurses Day, held on the birthday of Florence Nightingale in recognition of the extraordinary contribution nurses make around the world every day.

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