The King’s Speech follows King of the United Kingdom, George VI in his time as the Duke of York, and then after his brother’s abdication, his ascension and early days of his reign as King of the United Kingdom. The film focuses mostly on his speech impediment and the various lengths he goes to cover up and suppress it. I found the film’s depiction of the monarch’s role in U.K. nationalism during the periods right before and during World War 2 to be interesting.

As the film points out, with even George himself saying it at one point, why does it matter if he is an effective speaker? The King had not held and significant power in the UK government for more than a century and was just a figure head by the time he ascended. It would make sense that the prime minster be the face of the nation during war time as they are the most powerful individual in the U.K., and not the king who might as well be a glorified celebrity. During a few points in the film George’s pedigree is symbolized and stated. In his first speech as king to his government officials, George stands in the great hall and looks upon all the portraits of the kings before him. Legendary figures who will be talked about in history books for many centuries to come, and there he stands there a stuttering man, holding the most legendary office in the kingdom. He feels he must hold himself to a higher standard as to him and many people, it is not the power of the crown that influences nationalism among the population as it does not have any, it is what the crown represents. It is not just an entity of power, but also an entity of the culture of the nation, and as its head him must fulfill his duty as the cultural leader of the UK, and rally them during wartime behind their nation.