historysquee: Royal Christmas Message The Royal Christmas Message, which depending on the monarch i

historysquee:

Royal Christmas Message

The Royal Christmas Message, which depending on the monarch is either called the Kings Christmas Message or the Queens Christmas Message, is a tradition started by George V in 1932. The head of the BBC suggested the idea, to help launch the World Service on the radio, and George V eventually agreed. The first message was heard by around 20 million people across the Commonwealth. George VI carried on the tradition and his daughter, Elizabeth II continues it today. Elizabeth II gave the first televised message in 1957. 

The message generally follows a theme and talks about events that have happened in that year, with regards to the Commonwealth, and discusses the monarch’s own personal feelings for the year. There have been several times when the tradition has not gone ahead. One example was due to Edward VIII’s abdication just weeks before Christmas and another was in 1969, when the Queen delivered a written message instead. The message is pre-recorded a couple of days before Christmas and is now aired in the UK at 3 pm on Christmas Day.