King George VI Christmas Message from the Throne

Today I am sharing a little piece of normal, everyday history. That is, a one-of-a-kind handstitched copy of the message from the throne that King George VI delivered in his 1939 Christmas broadcast to the British Empire.

The text reads, "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."

This poem was written by Minnie Louise Haskins in 1908 but became known to the public in 1939 after King George VI quoted it. Princess Elizabeth, 13 at the time, discovered the poem and presented it to her father for his use. 

The poem went on to become inspirational and was widely circulated at the beginning of the Second World War. 

The poem was popular enough with the Queen Mother to have taken comfort from it throughout her life and she even had it engraved on stone plaques for the gates of the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The poem even appears in the final minutes of the 1940 MGM movie The Mortal Storm. 

The inspiration for this post is a framed cross stitch that was available in my eBay store. Unfortunately, it has been sold but you can check out some other great Royal Family-themed items by clicking right here. 

Please be sure to subscribe to my blog and come back soon because you never know what treasures I might have in store for you!

Brenda

Quick Links:

Discover the royal family themed collectibles in my eBay store.

31 DAYS OF COFFEE MUGS: Emma Bridgewater Diamond Jubilee Mugs

This Emma Bridgewater mug is another darling piece in the line that celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012. It measures 3.5 inches in height and holds 10.5 ounces of your favorite hot beverage. You can click here to see what mugs from this series are currently available from eBay.

The product line, however, included other attractive pieces like a teapot, a dish cloth, a plate and an apron.

I am a tea drinker -- I always put tea in my coffee mugs and I would really put this beautiful Emma Bridgewater Diamond Jubilee teapot to good use. It is also made in Emma Bridgewater's factory from English earthenware. It measures 8 inches tall and holds 4 cups of tea, brewed exactly as you like it, of course.

One review that I read was from a buyer who says that she purchased this teapot for her 88 year old mother who is British. She says that her mother loved the sentiment "Steadfast and True" that is written on the teapot as well as the fact that this teapot celebrates the Queen and her Diamond Jubilee. The teapot now resides in the center of her mother's treasured display!

When I first wrote this page, these pieces were available on Amazon. However, when I was looking today I discovered that there are not many of these items available there anymore. You can, however, find them on eBay by clicking right here. 

Any of the pieces in this set would make a wonderful gift idea for someone who follows the life of Britain's Royal Family and who has a royal memorabilia collection. I would love to own them all and I do not have a Royal Family collection. How about you? Are you a fan? Of the Queen and her family? Of Emma Bridgewater?

You never know
what mugs I might
have in store for you!
Brenda

This post previously published elsewhere by the author in 2012.