I'm reading Eisenhower's Book
Crusade in Europe, and he gives the impression that the King may have said he wanted to do this in order to convince Churchill
not to go.
A number of people appealed to me for permission to go aboard the supporting naval ships in order to witness the attack. Every member of a staff can always develop a dozen arguments why he, in particular, should accompany an expedition rather than remain at the only point, the center of communications, where he can be useful. Permission was denied to all except those with specific military responsibility, and, of course, the allotted quotas of press and radio representatives.
Among those who were refused permission was the Prime Minister. His request was undoubtedly inspred as much by his natural instincts as a warrior as by his impatience at the prospect of sitting quietly back in London to await reports. I argued, however, that the chance of his becoming an accidental casualty was too important from the standpoint of the whole war effort and I refused his request. He replied, with complete accuracy, that while I was in sole command of the operation by virtue of authority delegated to me by both governments, such authority did not include administrative control over the British organization. He said, "Since this is true it is not part of your responsibility, my dear General, to determine the exact composition of any ship's campany in His Majesty's Fleet. This being true," he rather slyly continued, "by shipping myself as a bona fide member of a ship's complement it would be beyond your authority to prevent my going."
All of this I had ruefully to concede, but I forcefully pointed out that he was adding to my personal burdens in this thwarting of my instructions. Even, however, while I was acknowledging defeat in the matter, aid came from an unexpected source. I later heard that the King had learned of the Prime Minister's intention and, while not presuming to interfere with the decision reached by Mr. Churchill, he sent word that if the Primer Minister felt it necessary to go on the expedition he, the King, felt it to be equally his duty and privilege to participate at the head of his troops. This instantly placed a different light on the matter and I heard no more of it.
http://www.amazon.com/Crusade-Europ...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295305264&sr=1-1
I'm really enjoying this book, by the way.