Royal Christmas Message
(The first televised Christmas
Message, broadcast in 1957)
The Queen's Christmas Message
(also known as The King's Christmas Message in the reign of a male monarch,
formally as Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech, and informally as the Royal
Christmas Message) is a broadcast made by the sovereign of the Commonwealth
realms to the Commonwealth of Nations each Christmas. The tradition began in
1932 with a radio broadcast by King George V on the British Broadcasting
Corporation's Empire Service. Since 1952, the message has been read by
Elizabeth II; today, it is broadcast on television, radio, and the Internet via
various providers. It is usually broadcast at 15:00 GMT.
History
(George V giving the 1934 Royal
Christmas Message)
The idea for a Christmas message
from the sovereign to the British Empire was first proposed by the
"founding father" of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), John
Reith, in 1922 when he approached King George V about making a short broadcast
on the newly created radio service. The King declined, however, believing that
radio was mainly an entertainment. Reith
approached the King again ten years later, in 1932, as a way to inaugurate the
Empire Service (now the World Service) and the King finally agreed after being
encouraged to do so by Queen Mary and Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. That
year, George V read the first Royal Christmas Message; the King was originally
hesitant about using the relatively untested medium of radio, but was reassured
after a summertime visit to the BBC and agreed to carry out the concept and
read the speech from a temporary studio set up at Sandringham House. The
broadcast was introduced from Ilmington Manor by 65-year-old Walton Handy, a
local shepherd, with carols from the church choir and the bells ringing from
the town church, and reached an estimated 20 million people in Australia,
Canada, India, Kenya, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
While his brother, Edward VIII,
abdicated just before his first Christmas as king, George VI continued his
father's Christmas broadcasts; it was in his 1939 reading delivered in the
opening stages of the Second World War that he uttered the famous lines:
"I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year." For many
years, the King's speech came at the end of an hour-long broadcast of greeting
from various parts of the British Empire and Commonwealth which typically
included interviews with ordinary people of many occupations such as an
innkeeper in an English village, a miner in South Africa, and a lifeguard in
Australia with the King's speech serving as a bond tying the Commonwealth
together.
George's daughter and successor,
Elizabeth II, gave her first Christmas message to the Commonwealth of Nations
from her study at Sandringham House, at 3:07 PM on 25 December 1952, some 11
months after her father's death. Five years later, the tradition was first
broadcast on television and, from then until 1996, was produced by the BBC;
only in 1969 was no message given because a special documentary film, Royal
Family, had been made during the summer in connection with the investiture of
the Prince of Wales. It was therefore decided not to do a broadcast at
Christmas, but the Queen issued a written message instead. The Queen ended this
monopoly, however, announcing that the message would, from 1997, be produced
and broadcast alternately by the BBC and its main rival, Independent Television
News (ITN), with a biennial rotation. It was reported by The Daily Telegraph
that this decision was made after the BBC decided to screen an interview with
Diana, Princess of Wales, on its current affairs programme Panorama. This was denied by Buckingham Palace which
said the new arrangements "reflect the composition of the television and
radio industries today". Beginning in 2011, Sky News was added to the
rotation. Sky News recorded the Queen's Christmas message for Christmas 2012,
the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year, and for the first time it has been recorded
in 3D. Buckingham Palace are reported to have explained: "We wanted to do
something a bit different and special in this Jubilee year, so doing it for the
first time in 3D seemed a good thing, technology wise, to do."
The themes and direction of the
speech are decided by the Queen and the text is largely written by the Queen
herself, sometimes with assistance from Prince Philip and her staff. In recent
years, the speech has become more personal and religious in tone.
Broadcast
(British family watching Queen
Elizabeth II's Christmas message on 25 December 2020, during the COVID-19
pandemic.)
The message typically combines a
chronicle of that year's major events, with specific focus on the British
Empire originally and later the Commonwealth of Nations, with the sovereign's
own personal milestones and feelings on Christmas. It is one of the few
instances when the sovereign speaks publicly without advice from any ministers
of the Crown in any of the monarch's realms. Planning for each year's address
begins months earlier, when the monarch establishes a theme and appropriate
archival footage is collected and assembled; the actual speech is recorded a
few days prior to Christmas.
Timing:
On the internet, as in the
United Kingdom, broadcast of the Queen's Christmas message is embargoed
until 15:00 GMT on 25 December. New Zealand is the first country in the
Commonwealth to broadcast the message over the airwaves, at 18:06 local time
(5:06 am GMT) by Radio New Zealand on RNZ National, then again at 18:50 by
Television New Zealand on TVNZ1. In Australia the message is broadcast
by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at 15:20 local time (5:20 am to 8:20
am GMT, depending on the time zone).In Canada the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation broadcasts the message generally at noon local time on television
(3:30 pm to 8 pm GMT depending on the time zone), and at 14:50 local time on
CBC Radio One and CBC Music. Outside of the Commonwealth, C-SPAN in the United
States airs the Queen's Message at times that vary depending on the
network's schedule. No American radio station airs the broadcast, although some
areas bordering Canada can receive it via the CBC.
Messages
George V
1932 Written by Rudyard Kipling, the speech
touched on the advance of technology that permitted the King to deliver an
intimate message to all parts of the world, as well as mentioning the need for
work towards peace and counselling listeners to aim for "prosperity
without self-seeking." 1933 In his second Christmas address, George
V expressed his gratitude to his subjects for their Christmas greetings and
reassured listeners that "the past year has shown much progress towards
world recovery [from the Great Depression] and the setting in order of our
respective communities" and spoke of his "hope and confidence"
for the future. He also spoke of the improvements in worldwide communications
brought by technology and the benefits that brings in dealing with problems in
a timely fashion. 1934 King George V spoke of the British Empire as
being "bound to me and to one another by a spirit of one great
family" and of how he and Queen Mary were moved by the way "this
spirit was manifested" at the marriage that year of his son, the Duke of
Kent and Princess Marina. He added, in reference to the ongoing economic and
international political crises of the decade, that he wished this spirit within
the Empire would deepen and widen in response to a restless world adding that
"The clouds are lifting, but we have still our own anxieties to meet. I am
convinced that if we meet them in the spirit of one family we shall overcome
them." He also referred to the importance of the emerging Dominions within
the Empire asserting that "Through them the family has become a
commonwealth of free nations, and they have carried into their homes the
memories and traditions of the Mother Country." He also addressed the
growing demands for Indian independence by assuring the people of British India
"of my constant care, and I desire that they will all fully realise and
value their own place in the unity of the one family." 1935 The
speech mentioned the King's 25th anniversary of his accession to the throne and
his place as a personal link between his peoples, as well as the marriage of
his son, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and the death of his sister,
Princess Victoria. He also referred to his desire for peace and goodwill among
all nations saying this will also bring a solution to the Great Depression
economic troubles of the period. The King offered his sympathy to all those in
the Empire suffering personal distress and also called for hope and cheer
united by the bonds of service which would give people the resoluteness needed
to overcome their difficulties.
George VI
1936 No message was delivered. King Edward
VIII abdicated the throne, two weeks prior. 1937In his first broadcast
as king, the King recalled his father's broadcasts to the Empire and the
reverence listeners had for him. George VI said he could not aspire to replace
his father's broadcasts but that nevertheless, as this was his first Christmas
as King, he thanked the Empire for its support and loyalty during his first
year on the throne. He expressed his pledge to be worthy of his subjects'
support. Looking back on 1937, he noted the "shadows of enmity and of
fear" hanging over parts of the world but turned to the message of
Christmas, of peace and good will, and expressed hope that that spirit would
prevail and continue to be the keystone of people's lives. 1938 No message was delivered. 1939 Delivering
his message on the first Christmas of the Second World War the King spoke live
from Sandringham House to offer a message of reassurance. He spoke of Christmas
as a festival of peace and lamented that "it is the tragedy of this time
that there are powerful countries whose whole direction and policy are based on
aggression and the suppression of all that we hold dear for mankind." He
continued, saying: "It is this that has stirred our peoples and given them
a unity unknown in any previous war. We feel in our hearts that we are fighting
against wickedness, and this conviction will give us strength from day to day
to persevere until victory is assured." He spoke of his pride in the Royal
Navy's courage and devotion in its battles in the first months of the war as
well as the courage of the merchant marine. He also expressed thanks to the
British Expeditionary Force and other armies of the Empire saying that
"Their task is hard. They are waiting, and waiting is a trial of nerve and
discipline. But I know that when the moment comes for action they will prove
themselves worthy of the highest traditions of their great Service." He
referred to the nations and colonies of the Empire as a "Family of Nations
which is prepared to sacrifice everything that freedom of spirit may be saved
to the world" and referred to the assistance Britain has received from the
rest of the Empire. George VI referred to "the cause of Christian
civilisation" as what unites the Empire and its Allies, adding that
"On no other basis can a true civilisation be built." He concluded
with words of encouragement from the poem God Knows by Minnie Louise Haskins:
'I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, "Give me a light
that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied, "Go out
into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you
better than light, and safer than a known way."' 1940 King George
spoke of separation and unity: the sadness brought by separation during wartime
for members of the Armed Forces and their families and for British families
whose children were evacuated overseas to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, and the United States and the unity brought by facing common perils and
suffering at home and at the front by civilians and military alike and of the fellowship
springing up among the British people in the face of adversity and of his hopes
that this newfound spirit of unity a fellowship will continue into peacetime
and among all the nations of the world. 1941 The King focused on our
"one great family," stating: "[it is] in serving each other and
in sacrificing for our common good that we are finding our true life." He
spoke of "the men who in every part of the world are serving the Empire
and its cause with such valour and devotion by sea, land and in the air"
as well as the women "who at the call of duty have left their homes to
join the services, or to work in factory, hospital or field" and also
remembered the suffering of the wounded, bereaved and prisoners of war and his
confidence that the service and sacrifice of the British people for the sake of
the common good will win the war and a lasting peace and called on the people
to go into the coming year with courage, strength and good heart to overcome
the perils that lie ahead. 1942 The King spoke of the confidence given
him by recent Allied military victories and of the contributions by the United
States and the Soviet Union in the war against Nazi Germany as well as by
Americans and Australians in the Pacific Theatre against Japan. He also spoke
to the mobilization of the Indian people against the threat of Japanese
invasion and of other outposts of the British Empire, speaking directly to
British forces serving there referring to the "Commonwealth of Nations as
a "family circle, whose ties, precious in peaceful years, have been knit
even closer by danger." He also spoke to those who have lost loved ones or
been parted from them and of his and the Queen's feelings of sorrow, comfort,
and also pride. He referred as well to his visits across the country witnessing
the increase in agricultural production for the war effort and his thankfulness
to and admiration of those who work the land. He also spoke of the foreign
government leaders and officials who have sought refuge in Britain and called
on them to be welcomed in the spirit of brotherhood. 1943 On behalf of
himself and the Queen, King George sent greetings and good wishes to "each
one of you all the world over", to those serving in the military around
the world, those wounded lying in hospital, as well as civilians at work or at
home and remarked that the thoughts or all are in "distant places"
and their hearts are with the ones they love. The King also spoke of his thanks
for the victories of the past year and his thankfulness for the contribution of
the United States, the Soviet Union and China and of the unity of the
"United Nations" (the Allies) as well as his thoughts for France and
occupied lands. He also spoke of the spirit of the people saying "We know
that much hard working, and hard fighting – perhaps harder working and harder
fighting than ever before – are necessary for victory. We shall not rest from
our task until it is nobly ended." 1944 The King spoke of hope in
his message saying that "the lamps which the Germans had put out all over
Europe were being rekindled and were beginning to shine through the fog of
war." He added that "at this Christmas time we think proudly and
gratefully of our fighting men wherever they may be. May God bless and protect
them and bring them victory" adding as well his good wishes to the sick
and wounded in hospital and the medical staff caring for them, and of prisoners
of war and the relatives at home waiting for them to return. He also spoke of
the hard work and sacrifice of people throughout the Empire who have helped
bring victory nearer and of the goal of creating after the war "a world of
free men, untouched by tyranny." 1945 He said that although much of
great price had been given up to attain victory, that which had been saved was
beyond value and that the vision of world peace he had spoken of in previous
broadcasts during the war had become a reality. 1946 The King reviewed
the privations of the war years, the difficulties of postwar adjustment, and
added words of encouragement to his subjects, and advised patience saying
-"We cannot expect the world, so grievously wounded, to recover quickly,
but its convalescence can certainly be hastened by our continued endurance and
goodwill" adding that though the previous year due to shortages and the
burdens of post-war reconstruction had not been easy "Better days lie
ahead and our task is to mobilise the Christmas spirit and apply its power of
healing to our daily life." 1947 The
King stated that "the unity and steadfastness of the British Commonwealth
and Empire saved the liberties of the world" and called on listeners to
remember that and not to doubt their "power and will to win through"
in the face of post-war challenges and adversity. 1948 King George VI delivered his Christmas
message from Buckingham Palace for the first time as he was unable to travel
outside London, to his Sandringham retreat, due to ill health. He recalled that
the year had seen the silver anniversary of his marriage to his consort as well
as the birth of his grandson, Prince Charles. He also spoke of his illness and
his regret at having to cancel a planned tour of Australia and New Zealand as a
result. He referred to the "evolution" of the British Commonwealth
and his pride at its "widening the bounds of freedom wherever our people
live." 1949 The King reassured people of his recovery from illness
and expressed his gratitude to the United States of America for its sympathy
and help in Britain's effort towards recovery; at the time, Britain was the
largest beneficiary of the Marshall Plan. 1950 With the deepening Cold
War, the Korean War, Malayan Emergency as well as the risk posed by
thermonuclear weapons, the King spoke of "the grim shadow of war"
hanging over the world. He took as the theme of his message John Bunyan's
Pilgrim's Progress, its story of going forward, only to fall back while keeping
"our eyes fixed on the far-off, delectable mountains of peace and good will"
as took from the book the motto "Whatever comes or does not come. I'll not
be afraid" and the need for each individual to bear his burden, even if it
seems insurmountable. The King also expressed his wish for peace saying
"if our world is to survive in any sense that makes survival worthwhile,
it must learn to love and not to hate, and to create and not destroy"
warning that mankind must choose between these two paths. 1951 George VI's final
Christmas message was the only broadcast that he pre-recorded, as he had
recently undergone lung surgery. He spoke of his recovery and the goodwill
messages he had received: "From my peoples in these islands and in the
British Commonwealth and Empire – as well as from many other countries – this support
and sympathy has reached me and I thank you now from my heart..."
Elizabeth II
(Her 2020 Christmas Speech)
1952 In her first
Christmas message, from the same desk and chair used by her father and
grandfather before her, the Queen spoke of carrying on the tradition of
Christmas broadcasts passed on to her by George V and George VI and said she
would strive to carry on their work to unite the peoples of the Empire and
maintain their ideals and thanked her people for their loyalty and affection in
the first months of her reign. She also referred to the British Commonwealth
and Empire as an "immense union of nations" that was like a family
and which "can be a great power for good – a force which I believe can be
of immeasurable benefit to all humanity". This message, and the ones until
1957, were simulcast on television in sound only in the United Kingdom. 1953
This message was broadcast from Auckland, New Zealand, during the Queen and
Duke of Edinburgh's six-month royal tour of the Commonwealth and spoke of her
trip so far and what she hoped to learn and accomplish from the tour. The Queen
referred to the Crown as a "personal and loving bond" between herself
and her people and spoke of feeling at home in Auckland despite its distance
from London. She spoke of the Commonwealth as a "fellowship" which
bears no resemblance to the empires of the past and in which Britain is but an
equal partner. She finished the broadcast with a note of sympathy to those affected
by the Tangiwai disaster the night before. 1954 The Queen broadcast this
message from Sandringham House at the end of a year in which she and her
husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, had travelled around the world 1955 Broadcast
live from her study at Sandringham House, the Queen's theme was the
opportunities arising from membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. With the
launch of ITV in the UK, the sound-only television broadcast was simulcast on
both ITV and the BBC Television Service from this year on. 1956 The Duke
of Edinburgh spoke from HMY Britannia during a voyage around the Commonwealth
before the Queen made her speech live from Sandringham House in which she
referred to the Duke's message as the one that gave her and her children the
greatest joy listening to and wished him a good journey before expressing her
sadness at being separated from him. She also expressed her sympathies to those
who, unlike her, do not enjoy a united family or cannot be at home for
Christmas or who are alone or have been driven from home and asked listeners to
think especially of those who have been driven from their homelands by war or
violence, refugees, asking that they be given true refuge and, in a reference
to the story of Christ's birth, be given room at the inn. As in previous
messages, she compared the Commonwealth to a family in which, despite its
differences, "for the sake of ultimate harmony, the healing power of
tolerance, comradeship and love must be allowed to play its part." The
broadcast was criticised for the Queen's continued refusal to have it televised
and for having "too many ponderous platitudes written into it by her
officials" and for presenting "a false picture of the Commonwealth as
one big happy British family – all Anglo-Saxons under the skin." 1957
This year's message, read from the Long Library at Sandringham House, was the
first to be televised and was also the 25th anniversary of the first Christmas
broadcast on radio. The Queen noted the milestone and the advance of technology
that allowed her message to be viewed in her subjects' homes. She added that
while change might be bewildering, it is important to hold on to ageless ideals
and values such as the importance of religion, morality, honesty and
self-restraint and spoke of the need for courage to stand up for what is right,
true and honest. During this season freak radio conditions caused by sunspots
resulted in American police radio transmissions interfering with British
television broadcasts. One occasion of interference occurred during the Queen's
speech, causing listeners to hear an American police officer say, "Joe,
I'm gonna grab a quick coffee." 1958 The reading, coming from the
Long Library at Sandringham House, focused on the importance of spiritual and family
values and some of the journeys soon to be made around the Commonwealth by the
Queen and members of the Royal Family. The Queen also responded to requests
that her children be shown in the broadcast by saying that after a great deal
of thought she and her husband decided against it as they want their children
to grow up as naturally as possible. This was the final Christmas message to be
delivered live. 1959 The Queen
pre-recorded her Christmas message for the first time. The message was filmed
in Buckingham Palace a week prior to broadcast and lasted about one minute. It
conveyed the Queen's best wishes and her gratitude for the warm wishes she had
received. Being pre-recorded allowed the message to be shipped abroad in
advance and to be broadcast in Australia and New Zealand on Christmas Day for
the first time as time differences and the International Date Line meant that
many previous live broadcasts were actually heard on Boxing Day in Australia
and New Zealand. As a result of the success of the recording, all subsequent
Christmas messages have also been pre-recorded 1960 The Queen spoke from
Buckingham Palace and described an eventful year in which she gave birth to
Prince Andrew; her sister, Princess Margaret, married Anthony Armstrong-Jones;
and Nigeria gained its independence while remaining part of the Commonwealth.
The disasters to which The Queen alluded included that year's earthquake in
Morocco; the deaths of protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa; and an
explosion in Six Bells Colliery near Aberbeeg, Monmouthshire. 1961 he Queen reflected on her six-week tour of
India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Iran, as well as her visit to Vatican City. 1962
The speech from Buckingham Palace referred to recent successes in space,
including the launch of Telstar, which made it possible to broadcast
television, images, and news around the world almost instantly. 1963 The Queen reverted to a message delivered by
radio, as she was pregnant with her fourth child, Prince Edward. She spoke of
the importance of the campaign to free the world from hunger and the
Commonwealth's response and spoke of the hope and promise of the future and the
need for humanity to be ambitious for the achievement of what is good and
honourable. 1964 Elizabeth addressed the important role of the
Commonwealth in a year in which anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was jailed
in apartheid South Africa and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru died. 1965
The address from Buckingham Palace took as its theme the family, from the
individual unit to the family of man. 1966 The Queen spoke about the
increasingly prominent and important role played by women in society. 1967 Elizabeth spoke of Canada's
centenary of its confederation and her five weeks tour of the country to mark
the event, and also mentioned her knighting of Sir Francis Chichester. The
message, filmed at Buckingham Palace, was the first to be shown in colour. 1968 This year's Christmas message,
which came from Buckingham Palace and had a theme of brotherhood, included
mention of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. 1969
No Christmas address was given by the Queen, as Elizabeth felt that, between
the investiture of her son, Prince Charles, as Prince of Wales and the release
of the documentary Royal Family, she had had enough coverage on television;
concern expressed by the public prompted the Queen to issue a statement that assured
a return to tradition in 1970. The
sentiment was perhaps undermined when in place of the televised address, BBC1
& BBC2 simultaneously repeated The Royal Family film on Christmas Day. The Queen's written message acknowledged the
end of the 1960s and the decade's significance for being the time when men
first walked on the moon. She also stated that she was looking forward to her
visit the next year to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and northern Canada.
She also expressed her concern that "the lonely, the sick and the
elderly" all feel the warmth and companionship of Christmas. 1970 Once
again televised, the speech recounted some of the trips made by the Queen
during the year; it included film shot in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. 1971
Focusing on the theme of families, the television version showed Prince Andrew
and Prince Edward looking at a family photograph album. 1972 The
production included scenes from the celebration of the Queen's 25 years of
marriage to The Duke of Edinburgh and Elizabeth mentioned the violence in
Northern Ireland, as well as the preparations for Britain to join the European
Economic Community. 1973 Interspersed with footage of the Queen giving
her oration was film shot during the wedding of the Queen's daughter, Princess
Anne, to Captain Mark Phillips. 1974 In a more sombre tone, the
Christmas message alluded to problems such as the continuing violence in
Northern Ireland and the Middle East, that year's famine in Bangladesh, and the
floods in Brisbane, Australia. 1975 Broadcast from the gardens of
Buckingham Palace, it was the first time the message had been recorded
outdoors, and acknowledged a year of record inflation and unemployment in the
UK and worldwide. 1976 To mark the
United States Bicentennial, the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh undertook a
state visit to the United States of America; that visit, and the theme of
reconciliation after disagreements, formed the focus of the message. 1977 The
Queen recalled the year's celebrations for her Silver Jubilee, and expressed
hope for reconciliation in Northern Ireland, where she had visited in August
for the first time in 11 years. 1978 The future was the subject selected
by the Queen, with the broadcast including footage of her with her new
grandson, Peter Phillips, and Princess Anne, as well as recordings of earlier
broadcasts going back to George V. 1979 1979 was the Year of the Child,
and the Christmas message addressed the theme of children and young people. In
this broadcast, Ceefax was used for the first time providing subtitles for the
hard of hearing. 1980 The message, which attracted a record 28 million
viewers in the United Kingdom, reflected on celebrations for the 80th birthday
of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and addressed the theme of service in its
many forms. 1981 The speech was broadcast from the terrace behind
Buckingham Palace and marked the International Year of Disabled Persons. 1982 Marking the 50th anniversary of the first
Christmas message, the Queen delivered this year's at the library of Windsor
Castle, for the first time. The theme was "the sea", in a year in
which British troops fought in the Falklands War in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The birth and christening of the Queen's third grandchild Prince William. 1983
The Christmas message discussed new possibilities for co-operation within the
Commonwealth of Nations permitted by modern technologies. The Queen mentioned a
visit to Bangladesh and India that year, in which she met Indian Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi, invested Mother Teresa into the Order of Merit, and attended the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in New Delhi. 1984 The message
was the lessons which adults could learn from children, with film featuring the
christening of the Queen's fourth grandchild, Prince Harry. 1985 The
Queen spoke of the earthquake that struck Mexico City, the volcanic eruption in
Colombia, famine in Africa, and the Air India crash off the coast of Ireland,
though the message focused on the good news stories of the year, as the Queen
praised remarkable public achievements to footage of investitures and the
presentation of awards. 1986 David Attenborough, as he would until 1991,
produced the Christmas message broadcast, which in 1986 was filmed in the Royal
Mews at Buckingham Palace and stressed society's responsibility towards
children. 1987 The Queen mentioned the Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen,
Northern Ireland, and stressed the importance of tolerance and forgiveness. 1988
Along with added references to the Clapham Junction rail crash, the Lockerbie
disaster, and the Armenian earthquake that all occurred after the main
broadcast was recorded, the Queen reflected on three important anniversaries:
the 400th of the Spanish Armada, the 300th of the arrival in Britain of the
future William III and Mary II, and the 200th of the founding of Australia. 1989
The Queen read part of her Christmas speech from a podium on the stage at the
Royal Albert Hall, recorded at a special gala occasion held there, meaning
that, for the first time, an audience heard the speech prior to its
international airing. She also spoke to children at the end of the broadcast. 1990
Elizabeth paid tribute to the role of the armed services in the context of
imminent war in the Persian Gulf. 1991 The message reflected on the
enormous changes taking place across Eastern Europe and Russia, which included
the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the importance of democratic
traditions. 1992 The Christmas speech came one month after fire
destroyed part of Windsor Castle; the Queen addressed the importance of
personal fortitude, as embodied by members of the armed services undertaking
difficult peacekeeping duties, and Leonard Cheshire, who died that year. The
speech was leaked to The Sun prior to broadcast. This was the 60th anniversary
of the speech and the 40th year for the Queen. 1993 The Queen praised
the achievements of volunteers working for peace and the relief of others. 1994
Reflecting on past and present peace efforts, Elizabeth remarked on her
attendance at the ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Normandy
Landings and her state visit to Russia. 1995 Beginning with a reminder
of the 50th anniversary of VE-Day and VJ-Day, the Queen stated that remembrance
was an important part of life, and paid tribute to those who had served and
those who had not returned. She then turned to present-day conflicts, such as
the Bosnian War, in which Commonwealth forces were serving, to the full year of
peace in Northern Ireland, and referred to her Buckingham Palace invitation to
voluntary workers working throughout the world. The work of Sister Ethel, a nun
helping children in the townships of South Africa, was picked out by Elizabeth,
who ended by paying tribute to peacemakers throughout the world. 1996 The
Queen spoke of her trips to Poland, the Czech Republic, and Thailand, as well
as the visit to the UK by South African President Nelson Mandela, with an
overall theme of hope for the future. 1997 The first Christmas message
produced by Independent Television News, as well as the first to be published
on the Internet, and the 40th of the message on television, it opened with
contrasting pictures of Westminster Abbey, which the Queen reminded viewers had
that year been the scene of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as
the celebration of Elizabeth's golden wedding anniversary, speaking of the joy
of her married life. The Queen then reminded viewers of her trips to Canada,
India, and Pakistan, and of the return of Hong Kong to China, before paying
tribute to that year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. In conclusion,
the Queen welcomed the imminent devolution of power to Scotland and Wales, and
spoke of the benefits of being a United Kingdom. 1998 The message
focused on lessons that could be learnt by different generations from each
other, and the broadcast included film of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,
visiting the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, the Queen at Ypres and
in Paris, and the reception for the Prince of Wales' 50th birthday. 1999 The
Queen expressed her looking forward to the start of a new century and a new
millennium, as well as at the lessons of history. The broadcast, filmed in the
White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, featured footage of a reception for young
achievers at Holyrood Palace, and a reception for members of the emergency services
at Buckingham Palace. 2000 The Queen used her Christmas broadcast to
reflect on the true start of the new millennium and the role of faith in
communities. The broadcast included film of that year's visit to Australia. 2001
Elizabeth, in this speech which she described as "my 50th Christmas
message to you," (her 1969 message was in writing and not broadcast)
referred to the unusual number of trials and disasters that year, alluding to
the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and the 11 September attacks; viewers saw
the occasion when the American national anthem was played at the changing of
the guard. The Queen then spoke of the importance of faith when drawing
strength in troubled times, and paid tribute to those who work for others in
the community. 2002 In her 50th Christmas broadcast (which also marked
the 70th year of the royal holiday messages), the Queen spoke on the themes of
joy and sadness, reflecting on her "personal loss" following the deaths
of her sister, Princess Margaret, and mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,
that year in February and March respectively, and the comfort she received from
her faith and the tributes of others. Her message was delivered from the White
Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace, with photographs of the Queen Mother, King
George VI and Princess Margaret by her side. She recalled the joyous
celebration of her Golden Jubilee with excerpts being shown along with the
sombre Bali memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in London. She spoke of
reliance on the twin pillars of the "message of hope" in the
Christian gospel and the support of the public. 2003 The opening of this
message was recorded at the Household Cavalry barracks in Windsor. With many
members of Commonwealth armed forces on foreign deployments, the Queen
encouraged the audience, which included 10 million in the UK, to think of those
not with their families at Christmas, and paid tribute to the work they had
done to bring peace. She also spoke of the importance of teamwork and of what
she had learned when presenting the new Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for
Voluntary Service in the Community. 2004
Opening with footage of the Queen handing out presents to her own family, and
interlaced with coverage of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prince of
Wales attending various multicultural meetings, the Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh visiting a Sikh gurudwara and the Prince of Wales visiting a Muslim
school in east London, the theme of the message was cultural and religious
diversity and the benefits of tolerance. The message was warmly received by
leaders of Britain's Muslim and Sikh communities. In a break from tradition,
the Queen also sent a separate radio Christmas message to UK troops, which was
broadcast by the British Forces Broadcasting Service. 2005 The Queen
reflected on such tragedies as the Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the
earthquake in Kashmir, and the bombings in London; she praised as "quite
remarkable" the humanitarian responses from people of all faiths. 2006 The
speech, available for the first time for download as a podcast, was about the relationship between the
generations and how young and old could come together to strengthen their
communities, with strong references to the inclusion of Muslims and other
faiths into mainstream society. 2007 The 2007 message began with the
introductory remarks from the 1957 Christmas message shown on a television and
the Queen standing beside it. The theme centred on the family, including Jesus'
birth into a family under unfavourable circumstances, and the Queen spoke about
the common duty to care for the vulnerable in society. Footage of the Royal
Marines in the war in Afghanistan, as well as a military memorial, were shown,
accompanied by commentary about the work of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The
message ended with a black and white clip of "God Save the Queen"
from the original 1957 broadcast and an image of the British royal standard. 2008
The Queen acknowledged that concerns about the 2008 economic downturn as well
as violence around the world have made that year's Christmas "a more
sombre occasion for many" and called on people to show courage and not
accept defeat and instead struggle for a better future. She also reflected on
the 60th birthday of the Prince of Wales and his charitable works and paid
tribute to those who lead charitable lives in the service of others. This was
the first message broadcast in high-definition. 2009 The Queen reflected
on the role of Commonwealth armed forces serving in Afghanistan. 2010 The
Queen focused on the importance of the King James Bible (400 years old in 2011)
as a unifying force and of sport in building communities and creating harmony.
The Christmas message included footage of Prince William and Prince Harry
playing football with orphans in Lesotho. Rather than being recorded at
Buckingham Palace as is normally the case, for the first time the Christmas
message was filmed in Hampton Court Palace.
2011 Unity and hope in the face of adversity and the importance of
family were the themes of this year's broadcast with royal tours, the Wedding
of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the wedding of Zara Phillips and the
differences between the two, and the Commonwealth also being touched upon in
those two contexts, respectively. The message was recorded prior to the
hospitalisation of the Duke of Edinburgh for emergency heart surgery. This was
the first Christmas message produced by Sky News. 2012 Broadcast for the
first time in 3D. This message was the
60th that the Queen delivered to the nation and the Commonwealth, in
commemoration of her Diamond Jubilee, as well as of the 80th anniversary of the
Christmas messages. 2013 The theme was the importance of reflection in
general which segued into specific reflections on the 60th anniversary of the
Queen's coronation and the changes since then, the role of the Commonwealth
with reference to the upcoming 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the
recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013 in Sri Lanka with a clip
of the Prince of Wales' speech to Commonwealth leaders being included, and the
birth and christening of the Queen's third great-grandchild Prince George. 2014
The Queen spoke of the centenary of the outbreak of World War I and her visit
to a ceramic poppy memorial at the Tower of London to commemorate those who
lost their lives in the conflict. She recalled the Christmas truce of 1914, the
Northern Ireland peace process and the Scottish independence referendum as she
spoke of reconciliation and forgiveness. She also spoke of "the
selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help
victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal
risk". There was greater than usual anticipation surrounding the speech
due to rumours that the Queen would be announcing her abdication; however, she
made no such announcement. 2015 Addressing a year marked by disasters,
terrorist attacks, and a refugee crisis, the Queen encouraged her audience to
find hope in "moments of darkness" and quoted the Gospel of John in
saying 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it.' She also said that Christmas is a "time to remember all that we have
to be thankful for" and give thanks to "the people who bring love and
happiness into our own lives". The Queen also noted that 2015 was the 70th
anniversary of the end of World War II and thanked those who served in the
conflict. The Queen also noted the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree,
and how her great-great grandfather, Prince Albert, brought the tradition of a
Christmas tree with him from Germany to Britain. The Queen then noted the birth
of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, and that she would be the newest addition
of her family to help her decorate the Christmas tree. The Queen spoke about
the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, and acknowledged how Norway gives
London the tree as a gift for helping them in World War II. The message was
recorded in Buckingham Palace's 18th Century Room. 2016 The theme of the
speech was inspiration. The Queen praised the achievements of British Olympian
and Paralympian athletes at the Rio Olympic Games and reflected on the 60th
anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and the 40th anniversary of The
Prince's Trust and spoke of the inspiration provided by ordinary people who do
small but great things, saying that: "On our own, we cannot end wars or
wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of
goodness can be bigger than we imagine." 2017 The theme of the
speech was the home. The Queen paid tribute to the survivors of the London and
Manchester terrorist attacks and gave her thoughts and prayers to the victims
of the Grenfell Tower fire and those who lost so much in the disaster. She reflected on milestones in her own life,
including her 70th wedding anniversary and the Duke of Edinburgh's decision to
step aside from public duties. She said she looked forward to welcoming new
members into the Royal Family next year, a reference to the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge expecting their third child, and to Prince Harry's engagement to his
girlfriend, Meghan Markle. 2018 The
Queen noted the centenary of the Royal Air Force and the centenary of the
Armistice, and spoke of her father's participation at the Battle of Jutland.
She also referenced the birth of Prince Louis of Cambridge, the weddings of
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, as
well as the seventieth birthday celebrations for the Prince of Wales. She said
that faith, family, and friendship have been a source of continuous comfort and
reassurance for her. She recalled the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government
meeting in London and the 2018 Commonwealth Games and spoke of the goals of the
Commonwealth and its principles of mutual respect and cooperation. The Queen
said that peace and goodwill need to be heeded now as much as ever, and people
should respect each other even when they harbour deeply held differences. 2019
Speaking in Windsor Castle's Green Drawing Room, the Queen introduced her
message by saying how it is "small steps, not the giant leaps" that
bring lasting change in the world, referencing the fiftieth anniversary of the
Apollo 11 mission and Neil Armstrong's words upon setting foot on the Moon. She
then spoke of the commemoration that year of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day
landings in which former foes set aside their past differences to commemorate
the event together. While the Queen did not directly refer to the divisions in
2019 concerning debates around Brexit culminating in the general election, her
description of the year as "quite bumpy" was widely interpreted in
the media as being an indirect reference and her speaking of the importance of
reconciliation, saying, "small steps... can overcome long-held differences
and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding" was seen as
urging the British people to heal divisions among them. The Queen also noted
the birth of her great-grandson, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, and spoke of how
she has "been struck by how new generations have brought a similar sense
of purpose to issues such as protecting our environment and our climate." 2020
At the end of a year shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Queen spoke of her
great pride in the “quiet, indomitable” spirit of those who have “risen
magnificently” to the challenges of 2020, adding that “We need life to go on.”
Speaking of mutual assistance during the crisis, she said that “Remarkably, a
year that has necessarily kept people apart has, in many ways, brought us
closer.” To those who have suffered loss, she said “You are not alone, and let
me assure you of my thoughts and prayers.” She said what many people want
"for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand" - but
"even on the darkest nights there is hope in the new dawn". The Queen
singled out young people for their part in helping society during the crisis
and noted that 2020 was the bicentennial of the birth of Florence Nightingale
when voicing a “debt of gratitude” to nurses and frontline workers. She also
evoked the Parable of the Good Samaritan in praising countless people who have
helped strangers during the pandemic. In addition, she noted the centenary
commemorations of the entombment of the Unknown Warrior, who as a symbol of
“selfless duty and ultimate sacrifice” was, for her, a “source of enduring hope
in difficult and unpredictable times”. This was the first Christmas Speech to
be available to listen on Amazon Alexa devices. 2021 TBA
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