Must-watchInterwar · Film · 2010
The King's Speech
The stammering Duke of York, suddenly thrust onto the throne, turns to an unorthodox Australian speech therapist to find his voice as Britain heads for war.
Where it happened
Follow the story across 5 places.
Stop 1: Wembley Stadium, London
Before a silent stadium crowd, the Duke of York freezes at the microphone while closing the Empire Exhibition.
Stop 2: Harley Street, London
In Lionel Logue's shabby consulting room, the Duke reluctantly accepts a therapy built on equality, swearing and music.
Stop 3: Balmoral Castle
At a Highland house party hosted by the new king and Wallis Simpson, Bertie tries to confront his brother and loses his words.
Stop 4: Westminster Abbey, London
Rehearsing the coronation in the empty abbey, the king and his therapist have their fiercest argument.
Stop 5: Buckingham Palace, London
Key location
On the day war is declared, the king must speak live to the whole Empire, with Logue standing beside him.
What really happened
Prince Albert, Duke of York, had stammered since childhood. After a painful speech closing the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1925, he began treatment in October 1926 with Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist who remained his friend until Logue's death in 1953. In December 1936 his brother Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, and Albert was crowned George VI in Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937.
On 3 September 1939, the day Britain declared war on Germany, George VI broadcast to the Empire from Buckingham Palace with Logue at his side. The film compresses the timeline, since Logue's treatment had already helped the Duke long before the abdication, and it shows Winston Churchill as a firm ally of Albert, when in fact Churchill had supported Edward VIII during the crisis.
Where to watch
Checking streaming services…
Full details
- Original title
- The King's Speech
- Directed by
- Tom Hooper
- Countries
- United Kingdom
- Languages
- English
- Released
- 2010
- Period
- –
- Theaters of war
- Western Europe
- Themes
- Biography
- True story
- Home front
- Politics
