What King George VI’s last Christmas in The Crown teaches us about life!

King George VI’s poignant final Christmas in The Crown reminds us that true happiness doesn't lie in grand ambitions but in the quiet, simple moments we share with our loved ones.

Like many, l too rush through my days, mentally ticking off all the big items from my to-do list to get closer to my ambitions in life. However, in that never-ending chase, I sometimes overlook the small things that fill me with immense joy and peace - baking with my family, showing up for a niece’s or nephew’s birthday lunch, or simply visiting an elderly relative who isn’t in the pink of their health. Sure, missing those moments aren't excatly an act of grand sacrifice, they’re just a part of life, something everyone navigates. Yet each time I let one slip by, a speck of guilt settles in. And it wasn't until I watched the episode of King George VI's (Jared Harris) final Christmas in Netflix's The Crown that I was hit by the realization of how uncertain life is, and if we don’t make space for the things and people we truly cherish, we risk letting them pass by.

The King, well aware that this is his final Christmas, spends the holiday in Sandringham House with the royal family. Despite his serious illness, he is shown savouring every moment - playing with his grandchildren, spending quality time with his daughters who will soon be burdened with the responsibility of one of the world’s toughest jobs, and delighting in the small, festive cheers around him. What begins as an intimate family gathering soon opens up when the local estate staff gather around the house and fill the room with a heartfelt carol. We are then shown a young child shyly handing him a paper crown, and in a beautiful display of thoughtfulness, the King immediately places it on his head, sparking laughter, cheers, and wide smiles all around. This scene is easily one of the most bittersweet moments of the symbolic realizations it offers. The paper crown serves as a sharp contrast between what the King wanted in life and what destiny had in store for him. The minutes he wore the humble gift offered him a temporary moment of simple joy as opposed to the burden of the duties, the illness, and the pressures of the war the real crown brought him, trapping him in a loop of unending responsibilities which weren’t his to perform in the first place. He steps forward and attempts to join the carolers, singing with them for a few minutes, however throughout the singing, his moist gaze are shown to be fixated on the one thing that matters to him the most - his family. 

Also Read: Why Claire Foy's Queen Elizabeth in 'The Crown' is a standout watch for every young career woman!

The King, the most powerful man in the Commonwealth, finds his greatest pleasure not in the vastness of his kingdom, his wealth, or achievements but in a simple Christmas carol, the smiling faces of his loved ones, and the sight and sound of his happy and healthy daughters. For him, the true measure of his success and legacy is the love he finds in the eyes and faces of his family, and not just the accomplishments of his throne.

That scene also brought back my own favorite memory of my grandfather, which wasn’t some lavish family vacation or a grand festive celebration but something far simpler - him driving me through the narrow lanes of Jaipur on those foggy, spine-chilling winter mornings in Rajasthan, just to buy me a steaming plate of my favorite local snacks and sweets. While we waited, he’d lean back in the driver’s seat and share interesting anecdotes from his army days. There were the moments that now make me realise the importance of cherishing everything that makes our time in this mortal world merrier, no matter how big or small they might be!

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