King George VI's Gate of the Year

Princess Elizabeth (Queen) with sister Margaret, 1939

King George VI's 1939 Christmas broadcast to the British Empire was a pivotal moment in history. During this broadcast, he quoted the famous lines from the poem "The Gate of the Year" by Minnie Louise Haskins. The poem, originally titled "God Knows," was published in 1908 and became widely known when King George VI used it in his Christmas broadcast. The poem's message of hope and guidance resonated with the British people, especially during the uncertain times of World War II. The lines were later engraved on the gates of the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, symbolizing the enduring spirit of the nation and the unwavering support of the King. 

 

It was Christmas, 1939, and Great Britain was at war with Nazi Germany. Like his father before him, King George VI would continue the holiday tradition of addressing the British Empire in a live radio message. That year, he would broadcast from the royal country house at Sandringham, where he and his family would spend Christmas. 

 

Taking a few deep breaths, he began to speak, slowly yet solidly. Measuring his words carefully, he spoke from the heart:

“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.”

Toward the end of his nine-minute broadcast, he said:

“I feel that we may all find a message of encouragement in the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you:”

He then read from a poem given to him by his 13-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth,

“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 better than light, and safer than a known way.’”*