The 1997 Broadcast

Location:  Windsor Castle

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  Speaking four months after the death of Diana, Princes of Wales shocked the world, and a month after her own Golden Wedding celebrations, the Queen speaks of the contrasting emotions of joy and sadness, and observes how the great church of Westminster Abbey was at the heart of both for her personally during the course of the year.  Her Majesty quotes the poet William Blake:

'Joy and woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the soul divine,
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.'

The Queen explains how the interweaving of 'joy and woe' had affected her personally in the previous months, first with the 'shock and sorrow' of Diana's death but later for her and Prince Philip the joy of their Golden Wedding.  Her Majesty also speaks of the happiness that emerged from the sadness of the 1992 fire at Windsor Castle following the completion of restoration work  and how sadness at the return of Hong Kong to China should be balanced by pride in the success of the 'partnership' with Britain.

Her Majesty's closing thoughts are with those who are 'alone, bereaved or suffering' at Christmas and quoting St. Paul speaks of the importance of kindness and consideration.

Commentary:  The 1997 broadcast was one of the most eagerly anticipated of Elizabeth II's Christmas messages.  Coming as it did only a few short months after Diana's death, viewers were keen to know what more the Queen would have to say about the extraordinary events of September, when for the first time in her reign she was subjected to press and public criticism.  Also, this was the first Broadcast produced by ITN, following the end of the BBC's long monopoly which had lasted since the very first Royal Christmas Message given by King George V in 1932:  observers were keen to know how ITN had approached this new responsibility.

Although in recent Broadcasts the Queen had only alluded to her family's troubles, it was inevitable that this year the subject of Diana's death would have to be tackled directly; the very first pictures we see are images from the funeral which had been watched by millions across the world.  Her Majesty is unstinting in her praise of Diana and the outpouring of public tributes and emotion, but the broadcast doesn't become a panegyric to the late princess; as always in her annual messages Elizabeth II is keen to adopt a gently optimistic tone, and other themes are given equal time here.  To be fair, it is difficult to say what further words of tribute the Queen could have added after heartfelt September broadcast.

In their first production, ITN go for what one might describe as a 'fairytale castle' effect, with the Queen seated behind a desk in the subtly lit White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle with a twinkling Christmas tree behind her.  This was the first time that the Broadcast had been filmed at Windsor for more than a decade.  The castle was now fully restored after the 1992 fire, and one of ITN's innovations is to show the Queen, briefly moved from her main position, addressing the camera to show the work that had been done.

As the World Wide Web grew in importance, this was the first Royal Christmas Message to be broadcast on the Internet.

This is a very good first production from ITN, 'safe', but with a few pleasing touches and innovations.  The BBC, still smarting after being 'sacked' as producer of the Broadcast, retaliated by refusing all help and advice to their competitors.  In the event, ITN did not need it.

  
Trivia:  At nine minutes and fifty-five seconds, this was reported to be the longest Royal Christmas Message to date.

Full text here