Letter reveals King’s thanks to voice coach
The valuable letter from King George VI to speech therapist Lionel Logue, right
A THANK- YOU letter from King George VI to his speech coach has come to light after 83 years.
The monarch, played by Oscarwinner Colin Firth in the acclaimed 2010 movie The King’s Speech, wrote five days after his Coronation to Lionel Logue, portrayed by actor Geoffrey Rush.
The King, who struggled with a stammer from childhood, tells his Australian therapist of his anxiety in the lead up to the occasion, made worse by a poor rehearsal, and his relief at the speech going well.
He then confides in Logue, who he had worked with for 11 years, that he would not have managed it without his expert supervision.
The letter, written by the Queen’s father on Windsor Castle stationery on May 17, 1937, was enclosed in a silver cigarette case bearing the royal cipher as a gift to: “My dear Logue.”
The letter stated: “The Queen and I have just viewed the film of our Coronation, and I could not wait to send you a few lines to thank you again for your hard work in helping me prepare for the great day.
“You know how anxious I was to get my responses right in the Abbey.
“The success was due to your expert supervision and unfailing patience with me over recent months.
I want you to know how grateful I am and I hope you will accept this gift.”
The speech therapist kept the fiveinch case and letter until his death in April 1953 aged 73, with his brother Herbert eventually handing the items to Australian jeweller Charles McGowan as he owed him £ 27.
A descendant of the McGowan family is selling the items, which are expected to fetch £ 4,000 at auction in Salisbury, Wilts, on April 29.
Rupert Slingsby, from auctioneers Woolley & Wallis, said: “The endearing friendship between the King and Lionel Logue is especially evident in this new letter.”
George VI died in February 1952 aged 56, 14 months before Logue.