KING'S BROADCAST TO COMMONWEALTH

Northern Advocate, 27 December 1949, Page 3

KING'S BROADCAST TO COMMONWEALTH

LONDON, Mon.—The King, sitting alone at a desk in his panelled study at Sandringham, took his traditional place in the Christmas celebrations of the Commonwealth when he broadcast to millions of British people and their friends throughout the world.

“Each year,” said Tlis Majesty, “I value more highly the opportunity of this message that i am able to give to 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.”

Grateful reference was made by His Majesty to the sympathy and hejp given to Britain by the United States. His remarks, it is stated, have been very much appreciated in America.

Majesties—were added by the King shortly before be went on the air. He broadcast after the Royal Family’s Christmas luncheon, and reports from many parts of the world

"I told you a year ago of the volume of sympathy with me in my illness that had come from every part of the world, - ’ said His Majesty. “Those good wishes, I am thankful to say, have been largely fulfilled, so that I am now able to undertake many public duties that, under doctors’ orders, I was for a while obliged to forgo. “Once more 1 would say how touched I have been by the affectionate concern of millions in these islands and far outside them. FAMILY FESTIVAL “Most of us make Christmas a family festival, and about this family side of Christmas I want to say something today. “Here at Sandringham the Queen and I are very glad to have with us both the oldest member and the youngest member of our family, and we 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 read happiness.”

indicate that the reception was very good. Earlier the Royal Family attended I morning service at the Sandringham Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Speaking of the way in which people tried to make Christmas Day a happy day for the children. His Majesty said: "To us older ones, the happiness of younge 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 TO U.S. His Majesty said that Britain was deeply grateful to her friends in the United States for their sympathy and help. “Without that understanding help we could not have made the progress toward recovery that has already been achieved,” 1 he said, “but none of us can be satisfied until we are again standing upright and supporting our own weight, and we have a long way to go before we can do that. It is bound to be a tough business. “My peoples, indeed, are a part of something much bigger than themselves—a family of all the human kind- “ Science has taught us—a lesson enforced by the tragic experience of two world -wars—how close the several parts of the family are to one another, and how quickly good fortune or ill fortune of one is felt by tire others.” “If, therefore, they were convinced that the democratic way of life gave to free men the greatest degree of human happiness and the best security against tyranny, they must spare no effort to make that way of life vigorous and strong, both now and in the years to come. The responsibility with all was very great. DIVINE POWER “Many of you,” His Majesty added, “will feel as I do, that the troubles of these times are greater than can be solved by human wisdom alone, and today, to a world distracted aDd anxious and uncertain, com.es -once again the good news of Christmas Day in its wonder of God’s power and love reaching out to help and 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.’ "Once again the Queen and I wish you a very happy Christmas, and God bless you all.” The qutation at the end of His Majesty’s message is from Wordsworth’s poem, “To a Skylark”:— Type of the wise who soar, but never roam, True to the kindred points of Heaven and home. The happiest family touches in the broadcast—the 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