There were many reasons The King’s Speech could have been draped with discern, doubt and incredulity, as the cracks in the creaking NHS continued to deepen and wild election-based promises faded into insignificance. Yet, that address, even without Colin Firth’s involvement, instilled a surprising level of optimism. For the first time, it seemed genuinely plausible that the words broadcast across the country from the new monarch actually held some promise.