If you live in Britain, the Commonwealth, or quite frankly, are a dedicated royal watcher elsewhere, you will know about the royal Christmas broadcast. The tradition is nearly a century old now, and it is firmly entrenched in Christmas Day for many of us. However, while it appears to be a holiday mainstay, it has had some bumpy moments. With the big moment upon us soon within the week, I wanted to look at the history of the royal Christmas broadcast! I’ll be highlighting some of the bigger moments in its history, what to look out for, and where to find it now.
What is the Royal Christmas Broadcast?
In short, the Royal Christmas broadcast is a short message (typically lasting 2-5 minutes) from the British sovereign on Christmas Day. The message typically highlights themes of family, peace, and the holiday season, and also acknowledges current world events. For many people in Britain and the Commonwealth, listening/watching the broadcast is a big part of Christmas Day. (And that includes me!)
When did the Royal Christmas Broadcast start?
In 1922, the head of the newly-created British Broadcasting Corporation had asked King George V to make a short speech to be broadcast on the radio. The somewhat traditional king declined, as he felt that the radio was better suited for politics and entertainment rather than monarchy. (Ahem, monarchy is arguably political and apolitical in equal measures but I digress…) However, in 1932, he was approached again to give a Christmas broadcast to the empire, and George agree to do it after receiving encouragement from Queen Mary. And on every Christmas Day for the rest of his life, the King’s Christmas broadcast was included in the Empire Service. (Though he never got used to it, or enjoyed it…)
The First Royal Christmas Broadcast
The first royal Christmas broadcast was not the longest in its history. It was short and sweet, and highlighted this new (to the royals) medium of radio. While comparatively to what we see and hear now, it seems simple, it would have been quite novel and exciting to hear the voice of the king!
Through one of the marvels of modern Science, I am enabled, this Christmas Day, to speak to all my peoples throughout the Empire. I take it as a good omen that Wire less should have reached its present perfection at a time when the Empire has been linked in closer union. For it offers us immense possibilities to make that union closer still.
It may be that our future will lay upon us more than one stern test. Our past will have taught us how to meet it unshaken. For the present, the work to which we are all equally bound is to arrive at a reasoned tranquillity within our borders; to regain prosperity without self-seeking; and to carry with us those whom the burden of past years has disheartened or overborne.
My life’s aim has been to serve as I might, towards those ends. Your loyalty, your confidence in me has been my abundant reward.
I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all. To men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert, or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them: to those cut off from fuller life by blindness, sickness, or infirmity; and to those who are celebrating this day with their children and grand-children. To all to each I wish a Happy Christmas. God Bless you! (Tom Fleming, Voices Out of the Air: The Royal Christmas Broadcasts: 1932- 1981, p. 11)
George VI Takes Over
Obviously after King Edward VIII‘s abdication in December 1936, George VI took the throne. However, he became King just two weeks prior to Christmas Day, leaving little time. (It also might have seemed quite inappropriate when the nation was rather in shock.) So, there was no Christmas speech in 1936 but it resumed again in 1937. Understandably so, his first Christmas broadcast focused on his continuance of his father’s tradition- he specifically took the regnal name of George to provide continuity, so this was a smart move. However, it was the Second World War that really cemented the Royal Christmas Broadcast as a tradition.
George had served in the Royal Navy in his youth, and during WWII would wear his uniform of Admiral of the Fleet. He understood that the Christmas broadcast was a helpful PR tool. Not to mention that it could also serve as a source of comfort for the public. In the broadcast linked above, you can listen to his 1939 message to the Empire after the start of the war.
Queen Elizabeth II Embraces Technology
The current Queen is one of the most fascinating figures to me. When her reign started, the royal Christmas broadcast was shared via radio broadcast, and it is now broadcast on multiple platforms, and has even been captured in 3D (more on that below). For the first five years of her reign, the broadcast was done over the radio. However, in 1957, Elizabeth took part in the first royal Christmas message to be broadcast on television. (You can watch it above for yourself!) While The Queen isn’t known for being the most forward-thinking person (she really seems to enjoy what she knows), she took a big step with the move to television. And we have of course progressed past it!
Starting in 1960, the Christmas broadcast has been pre-recorded. While it is typically filmed at Buckingham Palace, it has also been filmed at Windsor Castle and at Sandringham. (Her father and grandfather both broadcast their messages from Sandringham.) In 2012, in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, the Christmas message was recorded in 3D. (Perhaps in 2022, there will be something even cooler for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee?)
Charles III’s First Christmas Broadcast
At the time of publishing (mid-December 2022), we have not seen the new king’s first Christmas broadcast. It has been confirmed that the new King and Queen will be continuing the British Royal Family’s tradition of celebrating Christmas at Sandringham. However, while I can guarantee the speech has been pre-recorded, we do not know where Charles will be recording it.
The late Queen recorded her Christmas message at several different places including Sandringham, Windsor Castle, and Buckingham Palace. It could be interesting to see one filmed at Clarence House, as Charles and Camilla will be living there for several more years while Buck House is undergoing refurbishments. However, His Majesty has been using Buck House for official engagements, so it would not be shocking if it were filmed there. (Windsor would be a shock, however- Charles has shown no interest in living there as monarch.)
If you want to know more about the Royal Christmas Broadcast, I chatted with Hazel from the London History Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FeCHccu98eHD5lLOAgNIR!
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Where Can I Find the Royal Christmas Broadcast?
If you want to watch the Royal Christmas broadcast, you can find it in several places. Firstly, you can find it on the Royal Family’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts. You can watch it on television, as well. In the UK, it alternates between the BBC, ITV, and Sky News. Here in Canada, it is broadcast by the CBC, and in other Commonwealth nations on their national broadcasters. (In the US, I believe it is aired on C-SPAN.
Were you familiar with the history of the Royal Christmas broadcast? And do you tune in?
Cheers,
The Historian
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