It would become one of the most important speeches of a reign and of a century. When King George VI addressed his people on Christmas Day 1939, the usual festivities were very far from his and their minds. Instead, in the first months of World War Two, King George spoke of the huge challenge faced by millions in words that are now part of history.
By Christmas Day 1939, Europe was four months into the Second World War after Germany invaded Poland on 1 September. King George VI shared a lengthy message where he acknowledged the political difficulties of Europe. The king said ”… true peace is in the hearts of men, and it is the tragedy of this time that there are powerful countries whose whole direction and policy are based on aggression and the suppression of all that we hold dear… ”
His thoughts were with all those who had been called to fight in recent months. George VI said ”… to all who are preparing themselves to serve their country, on sea or land or in the air, I send my greeting at this time. The men and women of our far-flung Empire working in their several vocations… prepared to sacrifice everything that freedom of spirit may be saved to the world. ”
As his speech drew to a close, His Majesty also looked toward an unknown future with some of the most famous words in royal history ”A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings us continued struggle we shall remain undaunted.”
And then he chose to quote a poem that had been suggested to him by his wife, Queen Elizabeth, and his elder daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II, never far from her sister, Princess Margaret. The verse, by Minnie Louise Haskins, is called ”The Gate of the Year”. King George spoke its words that still echo today:
”’I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year. “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. “ And he replied. “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
He ended this historic broadcast with one simple line ”May that Almighty hand guide and uphold us all.”
