THE KING SPEAKS TO COMMONWEALTH

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25996, 27 December 1949, Page 5

THE KING SPEAKS TO COMMONWEALTH

Christmas Broadcast From Sandringham REFERENCE TO RECOVERY FROM ILLNESS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 25. His Majesty the King, sitting alone at a desk in his panelled study at Sandringham, took his traditional place in the Christ-' ~ mas activities of the Commonwealth, when he broadcast to millions of British people and their friends throughout the world. His Majesty said: “Each year I value more highly the opportunity of this message that I am able to give you on Christmas Day. In no other way would it be possible for me to be in such direct personal touch with the many friends to whom I am speaking. “I told you a year ago of the volume of sympathy with me in my illness that came from every part of the world. Those good wishes, I am thankful to say, have been largely fulfilled, so that I am now able to undertake many public duties which, under my doctors’ orders, I was for a while obliged to forgo. “Once more I would say how touched and encouraged I have been by the affectionate concern of millions in these islands and far outside them. “The Queen and I would like to share our Christmas joy with you all, wherever you may be listening to me now. May this season and the New Year that is to follow bring you real happiness.”

His Majesty spoke of the family side of Christmas. He continued: “To us older ones, the happiness of young people is one of the chief sources of delight, and if we can carry this spirit of Christmas along with us through 1950 it will not only make life easier for those round us, but we shall be giving strength to that wider family of the whole British Commonwealth which depends for its own vitality upon the health of all its members.”

Gratitude for U.S. Aid His Majesty expressed gratitude to the United States for its sympathy and help. “Without this understanding help, we couldWiot have made the progress towards recovery that has already been achieved, out none of us can be- satisfied till we are again standing upright, supporting our own weight, and we have a Jong wav to go before we do that. It is bound to be a tough business." His Majesty continued; “My peoples indeed are part of something much bigger than ourselves—the family of all human kind. Science has taught us—a lesson enforced by the tragic experience of the two World Wars—how close the several parts of this family are to one another, and how quickly the good fortune or ill fortune of one is felt by the others. e “Many of you will feel, as I do, that the troubles of these times are greater than can be resolved by human wisdom alone. To-day*, to a world distracted, anxious and uncertain, comes once again the good news of Christmas Day in its wonaer of God’s power and love, reaching out to help to save men from failure and. frustration. “May we win for ourselves this strength to serve others by constant faithfulness to His purpose, and be ‘true to the kindred points of heaven

and home.’ •• [The quotation is from Wordworth’s “To A skylark.”] The happiest family touches in the King’s broadcast—a reference to the oldest and youngest members of the Royal Family (Queen Mary, aged 82, and Prince Charles, aged 13 months), and the final Christmas wishes from Their Majesties—were added by His Majesty not long before he went on the air. The King broadcast after the Royal Family’s Christmas luncheon. Earlier the Royal Family attended the morning service at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Sandringham.