Location: Sandringham
Produced by: BBC
Theme:
After her infamous (and self-described) annus horribilis of 1992, Her Majesty returned to more general themes in this message. After a personal reference to her surroundings of the Long Library and its historical associations with her family, the Queen turns to the topic of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of the First World War; reflecting on how in the modern 'global village', unlike the 1914-1918 conflict, the horrors of war are brought to us via television news. However, Her Majesty observes that the pictures can also bring better news such as the peace processes in Northern Ireland and the Middle East which were much reported on in 1993. The Queen goes on to praise those involved in international charity work for the benefit of others and ends by recalling the message of hope embodied by the Christ Child.
Commentary:
In this, the second of Philip Gilbert's five Sandringham productions, the Long Library at Sandringham House is well showcased. There are lingering wide-angle shots of the festively bedecked library at the start of the broadcast, while Her Majesty moves slowly from place to place during the early part of her speech. This was the first time that the Library had been used as the location of the Christmas Message since Elizabeth II's first two televised broadcasts of 1957 and 1958. In those days, of course, the speech was delivered 'live' and in black and white; there had been obvious advances in television technology in the intervening thirty-five years.
As the tone of the Message moves from the old to contemporary issues of the day, the production lapses into untypical gimmickry. The Queen stands alongside a strategically placed television set, on which is shown a montage of topical news footage; usually Her Majesty would be allowed to simply refer to news events while speaking to the camera without recourse to such novelties. By the end of the footage, Elizabeth II is seen in a more traditional position, seated behind a large desk, from where she completes the remainder of her speech.
Notes:
The large book open in front of the Queen is something of a mystery: at times Her Majesty appears to be quoting from the King James Bible, but towards the end of her Message - from the same page - she reads part of a verse from the carol O Little Town Of Bethlehem!
In this year, Britain's Channel 4 broadcast its first Alternative Christmas Message timed, perhaps disingenuously, to clash directly with Elizabeth II's speech. First featuring (rather cornily) the flamboyant writer Quentin Crisp, the programme has subsequently become something of a subversive tradition on the network, often featuring either eccentric celebrities or controversial public figures.
Elizabeth II has not varied her hairstyle much since her coronation in 1953, but is seen sporting untypically 'big' hair in this broadcast.
Full text here
As the tone of the Message moves from the old to contemporary issues of the day, the production lapses into untypical gimmickry. The Queen stands alongside a strategically placed television set, on which is shown a montage of topical news footage; usually Her Majesty would be allowed to simply refer to news events while speaking to the camera without recourse to such novelties. By the end of the footage, Elizabeth II is seen in a more traditional position, seated behind a large desk, from where she completes the remainder of her speech.
Notes:
The large book open in front of the Queen is something of a mystery: at times Her Majesty appears to be quoting from the King James Bible, but towards the end of her Message - from the same page - she reads part of a verse from the carol O Little Town Of Bethlehem!
In this year, Britain's Channel 4 broadcast its first Alternative Christmas Message timed, perhaps disingenuously, to clash directly with Elizabeth II's speech. First featuring (rather cornily) the flamboyant writer Quentin Crisp, the programme has subsequently become something of a subversive tradition on the network, often featuring either eccentric celebrities or controversial public figures.
Elizabeth II has not varied her hairstyle much since her coronation in 1953, but is seen sporting untypically 'big' hair in this broadcast.
Full text here
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