King George VI never sought the throne but was called upon to reign at a time of huge political turmoil that would result in war. His conduct in that difficult time earned him widespread respect. By the time he spoke on Christmas Day 1951, he was a hugely popular monarch. What would prove to be last Christmas Speech, in 1951, explored both his own personal health struggles and a change for his heir that would become part of history.

King George’s speech on Christmas Day 1951 was incredibly personal with updates on his health issues that he believed were resolving. He said ”I myself have every cause for deep thankfulness. For not only – by the Grace of God and through the faithful skill of my doctors, surgeons, and nurses – have I come through my illness, but I have learned once again that it is in bad times that we value most highly the support and sympathy of our friends.”

King George VI also spoke of a major tour that his heir, Princess Elizabeth, would now be taking on as his own health meant he had had to withdraw from the large scale visit set for the start of 1952. King George said ”It has been a great disappointment to the Queen and to myself that we have been compelled to give up for the second time the tour which we had planned for next year… I am very glad that our daughter, Princess Elizabeth, with her husband, will be able to visit these countries, and I know that their welcome there will be as warm as that which awaited us.”

It would be one of the final messages he delivered. George VI was last seen in public when he went to London Airport to wave off his daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Philip, as they headed for that tour. Days later, he died in his sleep and his throne passed, silently, to his heir who became Queen Elizabeth II.