The 1999 Broadcast

Queen Elizabeth II recording the radio version of the 1999 broadcast at Buckingham Palace

Location:  Windsor Castle;  various

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:   

On the threshold of the Millennium, Her Majesty's theme is the inevitability of change and she attempts to harmonise the past, present and the future.  Drawing attention to the Queen Mother's ninety-ninth birthday earlier in the year, Elizabeth II contrasts the younger generation's view of the future as 'a source of excitement, hope and challenge' with the 'understandable anxiety' and fear of being 'left behind' of older people.  Quoting her first prime minister Winston Churchill, who said that 'the further backward you look, the further forward you can see', the Queen explains how the sweep of history can be seen in the present and future, citing devolution for Scotland and Wales and recalling opening the new Scottish Parliament in June.  History and a common past, the Queen says, are also important factors in the modern Commonwealth, helping to shape decisions for the future:  'To do this we need to draw from our history those constant and unchanging values which have stood the test of time and experience'.

Her Majesty recalls the 2,000 year old guiding Christian principle of 'love thy neighbour' and the importance of caring for others.  This, as much as 'gadgets' and technological development, is an important lesson for the future.

The Queen ends by saying she is looking forward to the new Millennium and wishes viewers a Merry Christmas  'and, in this year of all years, a very Happy New Year'.

Commentary:  

For those who recall the events of the Millennium, Christmas 1999 is probably the only time in our memories when Christmas was eclipsed by the New Year celebrations.  There had been some chatter speculating as to whether the Queen would actually deliver a New Year rather than Christmas message on this occasion, but ultimately tradition was maintained.  The style of the 1999 broadcast is, however, far from traditional.

The BBC had spent the previous two years sitting on their hands while ITN produced two well-regarded broadcasts in 1997 and 1998.  Now production had returned to the BBC, who had held the monopoly of this annual event for so long. With production back in their hands, the BBC were determined to do something new, innovative and memorable with the broadcast.  Their answer was to adopt a kind of 'video diary' approach which had been a popular television format in the 1990s.  Described by the Corporation as 'ground breaking', the Queen is seen speaking to the camera from various locations:  a reception for young achievers in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, a reception for members of the emergency services at Buckingham Palace and from her hotel window in Durban during her state visit to South Africa.  A special, freelance film crew had followed Her Majesty during the year to facilitate this innovation.  The 'book ends' of the broadcast are filmed in the ancient, reassuring surroundings of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the choristers sing the familiar carol 'Once In Royal David's City' at the beginning and 'God Save the Queen' at the end.  A high point of the broadcast is special footage of four generations of royalty, including Prince Charles and 17 year old Prince William, posing for photographs to mark the Queen Mother's ninety-ninth birthday.

'Gone are the days of a sombre-looking monarch delivering an address from behind a desk' the BBC proclaimed (invoking a cliché which is as false as it is disingenuous).  Well, not quite.  The overall effect of the 1999 broadcast is that it is so 'busy' it is almost chaotic.  The Queen pops up from place to place, while the viewer yearns for the measured, reflective "from my home to yours" single-take approach which is so much easier on the post-Christmas lunch digestion.  For all the talk of breaking new ground, this was thankfully a one-off, and in the far more traditional 2000 broadcast the BBC was back to its best.

Trivia:   

The significance of the change this particular year prompts the Queen to wish viewers a happy new year in addition to her traditional Christmas greeting, which is rare, if not unprecedented, in her annual address.  The unusual way in which Her Majesty wishes viewers a 'Happy Christmas' at the start of the broadcast did not set a precedent.

With a running time of twelve minutes, this is one of the longest of the Queen's annual broadcasts.

Full text here