The 1998 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  Her Majesty speaks on the subject of understanding between the generations.  With a focus on the different generations of her own family, veterans of the First World War (which had ended eighty years earlier) and younger age groups, the Queen says that the generations can learn from each other.  No age group has a monopoly of wisdom, Elizabeth II states, but 'with age does come experience, and that can be a virtue if it is sensibly used'.

The Queen also praises those who do voluntary work in their local communities, 'unpaid and often unsung':  'To most of them, service is its own reward. Their "public life" is their church, their school, their sports club, their local council.'

Commentary:  Incredibly, it had been seven long years since the Christmas message had been filmed at Buckingham Palace, its 'default' home since pre-recording of the broadcasts  began in 1960.  A great deal of water had flowed under the bridge since 1991; much of it, as the Queen herself would no doubt acknowledge, bad.

1998 had been a more peaceful year for Elizabeth II after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales the previous year had rocked the British Monarchy to its foundations.  Lessons had been learnt, but Palace officials were still finding their way with regard to what kind of a Monarchy was required as the twenty-first century approached.  Some small modifications had been made concerning style and protocol, and the annual Christmas message was part of this.  As ITN embarked on their second production, it was decided that a more personal approach was in order. Consequently, we see an emphasis on the royals as a family;  the footage at the beginning of the broadcast of the Queen with her mother, husband, sister, and children decorating a Christmas tree at Buckingham Palace fits in happily with the 'generations' theme of the message.

The Queen speaks from the White Drawing Room, which although one of the grander state rooms of Buckingham Palace is here softly lit with Her Majesty seated next to a small table, accompanied by flowers, a Christmas tree and photographs of her grandchildren, thus giving the impression of a cosy home.  However, Elizabeth II is not seen speaking to camera as much as in previous broadcasts as the amount of footage of her and her family at work during the course of the year is greatly increased.  We also see film clips from the Queen Mother's ninety-eighth birthday celebrations and a reception to mark the fiftieth birthday of Prince Charles, as well as princes William and Harry at school and getting to grips with modern technology.

An odd 'quirk' of the production is that the Queen is seen briefly in the otherwise empty Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace, seemingly without a break in the narrative, introducing footage of an earlier reception  for nine hundred 'young achievers', before reverting to her original position.

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