"The completely divergent opinions of Hitler between the two kings—one former, one present—is astonishing. While George saw Hitler’s Germany as an aggressor nation with whom England could not at that time discuss peace, Edward continued to admire not only Germany, but its Fuhrer as well. In the face of what was happening to Germany’s neighbors—and to his own country—it is puzzling that Edward had not changed his opinion of Adolf Hitler, an opinion that could have been very dangerous if held by the King of England. George VI, on the other hand, recognized the danger posed by Hitler and was determined to stand against him. He turned his full attention to the dire situation in Britain: the war, the blitz, and the morale of his subjects. Britain was under siege. German bombers raided nightly, destroying entire blocks of major cities. Rationing was in full effect. Shortages of sugar, butter, meat, coffee, tea—all the staples of life—made everyday cooking difficult. Clothing was rationed. Gasoline was almost impossible to come by. Even coal for stoves was not readily available. Every day, the citizens of Britain became a bit more threadbare, a bit hungrier, and a bit colder.


Families made brave, but heartbreaking, decisions to evacuate their children to places in the country where they might be safer from the nightly bombings. The British had two sources of inspiration to carry them through these dark days. They had a prime minister—Winston Churchill—whose words filled them with resolve, and they had a king—George VI—whose actions inspired them all to endure and prevail.


George, a man who had lived his life in the shadow of his glamorous and popular brother, now stepped out into the light and began to shine as an inspiration to his people. George and his wife were devoted to each other and to their country. The British people knew that their king and queen could have fled to safety, as so many others in their position could—and would—have done. But they stayed in London, living each day side-by-side with their countrymen. During the six years that Britain fought against the German war machine, the king and queen stayed with their people. They shared all the ordeals that their subjects endured. Their food and clothing were rationed, and even though their home was Buckingham Palace, they spent many nights underground in the air raid shelter. They even experienced the bombing of their home and they used this experience to bond them even more closely to their subjects "