The Second World War was the major defining event of King George VI’s reign and as such, several of his Royal Christmas Broadcasts dealt with the war. In 1943, he once again focused on the dedication, faith, and resiliency of both service members and civilians across the Commonwealth.
While there was a long way to go, the Allied Forces saw several shifts in 1943 with key victories. However, the King recognised that far more would be needed to win the war, saying ”Since I last spoke to you may things have changed. But the spirit of our people has not changed. As we were not downcast by defeat, we are not unduly exalted by victory… We know that much hard working and hard fighting… are necessary for victory. We shall not rest from our task until it is nobly ended. ”
King George was a dedicated war-time sovereign and not only chose to remain in London with continual bombings, but also went to the front lines to visit troops. In June 1943, he visited the Eighth Army in Tripoli, a British field army based in the Middle East and Africa. He reminisced on the hope his visit inspired in his Christmas address, noting ”… there is springing up in every country fresh hope that out of comradeship in sacrifice shall come power to restore, and power to build anew. I saw proof of this when I visited North Africa in the summer. I saw many thousands of men of the United Nations, united in action, in heart and mind and purpose. ”
