The 1978 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Using previous Christmas broadcasts as a means of looking back to see forward, Elizabeth II talks on the subject of the future.  Her Majesty observes that faith in the future, beginning with the birth of Christ, is a recurring theme in Christmas broadcasts since King George V began the tradition in 1932.  The Queen turns to the younger generation and remarks that, despite problems and uncertainties, faith and confidence in the future, while following Christ's example, is as important now as it was in the past.

Commentary:  Unusually, this is in a sense a Christmas broadcast about Christmas broadcasts.  Despite there being no obvious anniversary relating to the annual tradition, its history is well show-cased in this Message.  Early in the Broadcast we hear audio clips from King George V's first Christmas broadcast in 1932; George VI's Christmas message at the beginning of the Second World War in 1939 and his Christmas Day broadcast at the end of the war in 1945; as well as Elizabeth II's own first Christmas message in 1952 and the first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957.

The arrangement of the Regency Room is almost exactly the same as the previous year.  On the table next to the Queen stand the original microphones used by George V in his first Christmas Day broadcast in 1932;  these are usually kept on display in the BBC's Broadcasting House.  The presence of a few cards on the table in the background add a festive touch.

Specially-shot footage of the Queen with her daughter Princess Anne and first grandchild Peter Phillips (who was born in November 1977) are shown in this production, chiming with the theme of the younger generation and the future.  Exclusive sequences featuring members of the royal family would become more common as the 1980s and 1990s progressed.

Trivia:

Since Princess Anne insisted that her children should not have royal titles, Elizabeth II's eldest grandchild was generally, in a formal context, referred to by the somewhat antiquated courtesy title of 'Master Peter Phillips' during his childhood.

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The 1979 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:   

 

In the International Year of the Child,  Elizabeth II speaks about the plight of children in the world, especially those in South East Asia where she highlights the work of her daughter Princess Anne as President of the Save the Children Fund as well as the volunteers who were helping children caught up in the conflict in Cambodia.  Her Majesty also stresses the importance and responsibility every generation faces of raising children in all walks of life:  'Children are born with a mixed package of emotions, talents and handicaps, but without knowledge or experience. As they grow up they have to learn to live with their parents and families; and they have to adjust to school, including the discovery of leisure activities and learning to handle their relationships with their contemporaries and with strangers.'

Commentary:   

 

Dressed in a warm, 'mustardy' gold, Queen Elizabeth II speaks from the sofa in a softly lit Regency Room.  At the end of the 1970s the Broadcast had moved away from the stereotype of a remote figure speaking from behind an enormous desk and the more 'homely' feel to the production was by now well established.  The Queen's camera style is also notably more relaxed and confident, perhaps a result of the reflective glow of the Silver Jubilee celebrations two years earlier, which had strengthened the bond between Monarch and subjects.

 

As God Save the Queen is played at the start of the programme, we see aerial footage of Buckingham Palace as the camera pans round the Palace, gardens and the Mall.  Such impressive scenes were increasingly routine as television production standards developed.  Also becoming more familiar by the end of the 1970s was the use of interspersed footage, sometimes specially shot, in the Broadcasts.  During this production we see an unprecedented amount of exclusive material:  the Queen talking to Commonwealth leaders at the Heads of Government meeting in Africa;  Prince Philip and Prince Andrew on the Africa trip discussing with children from the Commonwealth where they come from and their ambitions;  the Queen talking to schoolchildren in London about what the Commonwealth means to them; Princess Anne visiting refugee children in the Far East in her capacity of President of the Save The Children Fund;  the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arriving at a huge children's party in Hyde Park attended by 80,000 youngsters and finally more scenes of the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Andrew being welcomed and entertained by schoolchildren while in Africa. At the end of the Broadcast, aerial footage of Buckingham Palace is again played, with an echoed reprise in the background of the sound of the schoolchildren in Africa singing 'Sing Hosanna to the King of Kings'.

At a little over seventeen minutes in length, this is probably the longest of all Elizabeth II's Christmas Broadcasts.  The reason for this is almost entirely due to the large amount of interspersed footage of the Queen and members of her family, often seen in conversation with people in Britain and the Commonwealth (the bulk of which being filmed on their African tour).  These extended scenes account for more than half the programme.  Untypically long Christmas Broadcasts would almost always be due to a particular focus on the Commonwealth and foreign tours undertaken by the Queen, as could be seen again in years such as 1983 and 1999.

 

Notes:

In another technical milestone, this was the first Christmas Broadcast to include subtitles for the hard of hearing through the BBC's Ceefax teletext service.

1979 had seen tragedy for the royal family as Lord Louis Mountbatten, uncle of Prince Philip, had been murdered by the IRA on his boat while on holiday in Ireland in August.  Other members of Mountbatten's family had been killed and seriously injured in the bomb attack.  The royal family had been deeply affected by the event but the Queen, ever sensitive to political situations, made no mention of it in her speech.

The clichéd popular view of the Queen delivering her annual address from behind a large desk has, historically, actually been the exception rather than the rule.  If anything, the 'default' look is of Elizabeth II sitting alongside a small table, first seen in the very first televised Christmas message in 1957 and many times since.  Nevertheless, the image of the desk-bound monarch has persisted.  Ronnie Barker satirised the format (and even the Queen's speaking style) in the 1984 The Two Ronnies Christmas special, with his 'HM Quinn' Milkman's Speech.  In more recent years, the enduring stereotype has been parodied by, amongst others, the BBC's Dead Ringers comedy show and even the PG Tips 'Monkey'!

Elizabeth II would return to the theme of the work of Princess Anne and the Save the Children Fund ten years later in the 1989 broadcast. 

 

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The 1980 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Recalling the eightieth birthday of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the celebrations across Britain to mark the Windsor matriarch's longevity and devotion to duty, Elizabeth II reflects on the spirit of service.  Speaking of her mother, the Queen observes, 'The loyalty and affection, which so many people showed to my mother, reflected a feeling, expressed in many different ways, that she is a person who has given selfless service to the people of this country and of the Commonwealth.'  Her Majesty then pays tribute to those who unselfishly give service to their communities in various different and important ways, such as caring for the sick, through churches and religious communities and in government and security.  The Queen particularly remembers those who may not even realise they deserve thanks.

Commentary:  The first broadcast of a new decade and the newly octogenarian Queen Mother is very much the star of the show.  The production begins with images from the birthday celebrations of the royal family waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, then shortly after Her Majesty begins speaking extended footage is shown from the service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral which had taken place earlier in the day to mark the royal milestone.

The 1980s ultimately turned out to be a dramatic and fast-moving decade in terms of style, but there are no major innovations in this first production of the decade.  Producer Richard Cawston sticks with the cosy, lamp-lit 'sitting room' look to the Regency Room that he had developed over the course of the 1970s.  Visually, the look is very similar to the 1977 and 1978 productions, with Her Majesty sitting alongside a small table, with a lamp and flower arrangements in the background. 

However, Cawston's approach was popular.  In the United Kingdom, the 1980 Broadcast attracted an audience of 28 million, which remains a record to this day.  This was the golden age of television and Elizabeth II's annual message was an established part of it;  for many in Britain and the Commonwealth, Christmas Day without watching the Queen was unthinkable.

Trivia:

On the table next to the Queen is a photograph of the Queen Mother, along with pictures of Elizabeth II's two younger children, Prince Andrew and Prince  Edward, who during the course of the year had celebrated their twentieth and sixteenth birthdays respectively.

Although the oldest senior royal, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was not the oldest member of the royal family living at the time.  Queen Victoria's last surviving grandchild, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, died on 3rd January 1981 (a little over a week after the 1980 Message was broadcast) at the age of 97.  Princess Alice remains the longest lived Princess of the Blood Royal.

On publicity photographs from the 1980 production Elizabeth II's dress looks light blue, while on surviving film footage it appears pale green.  It seems likely that the photographs have aged better and that Her Majesty was indeed wearing blue.

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The 1981 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Elizabeth II begins by describing the 'joy' of 'a very special year for us', the marriage between her eldest son the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, which had proved to be the royal event of the year, if not the decade.  The Queen then moves on to the theme of courage, particularly the courage of disabled people, in what had been the International Year of Disabled People.  The Queen recalls a garden party at Buckingham Palace in the summer attended by three and a half thousand disabled people and their families as well as a more recent event in the same venue where other disabled people had been presented with the keys to special mobility-adapted cars.  Her Majesty goes on to praise the courage of the armed forces, police and emergency services as well as ordinary civilians who put their own lives at risk to help others.  The Queen concludes by observing that Christian faith can help sustain us in the 'courage of our convictions' and that on the Cross, Christ 'showed the supreme example of physical and moral courage.'

Commentary:  There is a serene contentment about Queen Elizabeth II in the 1981 Broadcast.  Her eldest son and heir Prince Charles had at last married his glamorous young princess and the future of the dynasty seemed secure.  The wedding in July had been the most extravagant royal 'spectacular' since the 1953 Coronation and it had worked;  a worldwide television audience of hundreds of millions had got caught up in the excitement.  The extravaganza had been the culmination of a period of less than five years which had also seen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977 and the Queen Mother's eightieth birthday in 1980.  If the Windsors had been thought by some to have become slightly dull and stodgy during the 1960s and 1970s, the royal family were now firmly back at the heart of public affection.  As Her Majesty closes the Broadcast with the words 'so to you all I say God bless you and a very happy Christmas', breaking into her warmest natural smile, one cannot doubt her sincerity.

 

No time is wasted in showcasing the new royal superstar.  The Princess of Wales is at the centre of the footage shown during the Broadcast of a reception held at Buckingham Palace for a disabled charity a few weeks earlier, where she is seen with other senior royals including the Queen and Prince Charles. Diana appears to be left pretty much to her own devices, which some may regard as the first wisps of the storm clouds which would gather a decade later already appearing on the horizon.

 

 

According to Majesty magazine editor and royal biographer Ingrid Seward, 'the Queen decided to put the garden party and disabled people at the centre of her speech, because at the time the event was hardly noticed by the media, as all they cared about that year was Charles and Diana.  She believed that the important work done by the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, which had helped to restore sight to a million people, needed her public support, and the Christmas address was one time when she could be sure of the uninterrupted attention of her nation' (Seward, The Queen's Speech, 2015).

This was the second time the Queen had broadcast her Message out of doors, speaking from the terrace of Buckingham Palace.  The dual purpose seems to have been to provide a change from the Regency Room as well as to link the narrative with the interspersed footage of the event which had been hosted in the same place.  It is certainly an improvement on the grim visual effect of 1975;  Her Majesty wears a bright pink coat and there is a cheerful blue sky behind her.

Trivia:

It could be argued that Elizabeth II displayed her own fine example of courage during 1981.  At Trooping The Colour in June, blank shots were fired at the Queen by a disturbed youth as she rode down the Mall to Horse Guards Parade.  The Queen immediately controlled and calmed her startled horse, Burmese, and continued with the procession undaunted.  

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The 1982 Broadcast

Location:  Windsor Castle

Produced by:  BBC

Theme: 

 

 In the year of the Falklands War, in which the Royal Navy (including the Queen's second son Prince Andrew) had played a vital role in transporting a large task force to the South Atlantic, Elizabeth II speaks from the Library of Windsor Castle on the historical theme of Britain and the sea.  Her Majesty sets the scene by explaining the Norman origins of the Castle and that she is speaking from a room once used by Queen Elizabeth I, before linking the Castle and its history with the sea, from William the Conqueror's invasion to the Tudor Queen Elizabeth and the Voyages of Discovery, which heralded the beginnings of modern trade and what ultimately became the present-day Commonwealth.  From Drake to Nelson and his 'band of brothers', the Queen considers the vital importance of 'control of the seas'.

Returning to the outgoing year, Elizabeth II pays tribute to the Armed Forces who had taken part in the liberation of the Falkland Islands and acknowledges the support of the Commonwealth.  On a less serious note, the Queen also commends the 'friendly rivalry' of the Commonwealth Games which had taken place in Brisbane earlier in the year.

Commentary:  

 

Initially, the Falklands crisis had been seen as a British foreign policy disaster, with Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington taking responsibility by resigning over the failure of the Foreign Office to anticipate the Argentinian invasion of the Islands.  However, following the victorious military campaign the mood turned to triumph, with a renewed sense of pride and patriotism sweeping across the nation as the Armed Forces returned home (some suggested that the landslide victory of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party in the general election of the following year was heavily influenced by this 'Falklands Factor').  Along with this sentiment came a rekindled interest in Britain's history;  it is no surprise therefore that Elizabeth II decided to explore these themes in her annual Message, not least because news pictures of the Queen welcoming her second son Prince Andrew home aboard his ship had been amongst the iconic images of the conflict.

1982 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the first Christmas broadcast and also thirty years since Elizabeth II's own first Christmas message.  Producer Richard Cawston sought inspiration for fresh ideas and the result was to bring something new out of something very old.  The ancient royal fortress of Windsor Castle had never been used as the setting of the Christmas Broadcast.  It is however, the place the Queen regards as 'home' (she says as much in the Message);  she spends her weekends there and as her family grew, it had for several years been the place where she spent Christmas (the traditional venue of Sandringham was becoming too cramped for Her Majesty's extended Christmas gatherings but would be returned to at the end of the decade).  Windsor was, therefore, perhaps a natural venue for the Broadcast.

The Queen appears particularly at ease as she speaks from her much-loved surroundings.The Royal Library is subtly lit for the Broadcast but the viewer does get a sense of the history and timelessness of the place.  

 

Sumptuous, lingering aerial images of the Castle are shown at the beginning of the programme and a shot of the Round Tower is seen at the end.  The only interspersed footage is of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, surrounded by excited crowds, at the Commonwealth Games at Brisbane earlier in the year.

Notes:  

The Royal Library of Windsor Castle remains a mysterious place to this day.  Not open to the public and rarely photographed, it was completed by King William IV in the 1830s using a gallery which was originally built for Queen Elizabeth I.  The Library forms part of the present Queen's private apartments and the 1982 Broadcast provides a rare opportunity to see it.

A few were clearly not caught up in the patriotic mood of 1982.  The Communist-supporting British daily newspaper the Morning Star complained that the Queen's talk of Nelson and Britain's military naval victories revived 'jingoism' and was a breach of her traditional political neutrality.  Aside from the fact that, as Head of the Armed Forces, Elizabeth II had long used her Christmas broadcasts to pay tribute to those involved in military combat, it is perhaps intriguing that a publication which objected to the concept of monarchy on principle should opine so passionately on the constitutional role of the Sovereign.

Earlier in the year,  Elizabeth II had welcomed Pope John Paul II on his visit to the United Kingdom, the first such visit from a reigning pontiff.  The Queen does not refer to the occasion in her text, but she wears the same dress she wore on that occasion, which may be a subtle acknowledgement of the historic meeting.

The Christmas Broadcast returned to Windsor in 1984, alternating with Buckingham Palace until producer Richard Cawston's death in 1986.  It is not known whether Cawston intended to continue alternating Buckingham Palace with Windsor Castle on an annual basis, but following his death the Broadcast would not return to Windsor until 1997 and thereafter (as of 2015) only twice. 

 

The Queen does not refer to the birth of Prince William, who had been born in June, during the Broadcast.

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The 1983 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:   

 

The Queen speaks on the subject of developments in technology and communications during the twentieth century and the possibilities these changes bring for co-operation between Commonwealth nations.  From air travel to satellite communications, Her Majesty discusses ways in which technological advances have changed the lives of almost everyone.  The Queen remarks that she had seen examples of this on her recent trip to India, but observes that a gap remains between 'rich and poor nations' which the Commonwealth tries to contribute to redressing.  Although the Queen speaks positively about technological developments, she cautions that what we communicate is more important than the methods of communication:  'Perhaps even more serious is the risk that this mastery of technology may blind us to the more fundamental needs of people. Electronics cannot create comradeship; computers cannot generate compassion; satellites cannot transmit tolerance.'

Commentary:  

 

Elizabeth II's Christmas Day speeches rarely cause controversy, but this was one occasion when Her Majesty's words did spark a debate.  Now a largely forgotten episode, it transpired that the Queen's 'rich and poor nations' theme caused concern to several voices on the British Right, emboldened by the fact that the British Conservative Party had won one of the largest Parliamentary majorities of the twentieth century earlier in the year.  It was thought by some that the implied notion that richer countries had a responsibility towards poorer ones came perilously close to endorsing the socialistic concept of the redistribution of wealth.  Chief protagonist in the unhappiness over the monarch's words was legendary standard-bearer of the British Right Enoch Powell, by 1983 exiled from the Conservative Party and sitting as a Member of Parliament for the Ulster Unionist Party.  Nevertheless, Powell retained a considerable amount of support among Conservatives, several of whom came to his defence when Powell criticised the speech's emphasis on Commonwealth countries at the expense of  'the great mass of her subjects'.  Powell accused government ministers of putting words into the sovereign's mouth, giving the suggestion 'that she has the interests and affairs of other countries in other continents as much or more at heart than those of her own people.'  Conservative MP John Stokes, meanwhile, expressed concern that footage was shown of the Queen apparently interviewing controversial Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi about technological development in an Indian election year.  Disagreements emerged amongst the conservative-leaning press;  the London Telegraph calling for a 'serious debate' over the Queen's role as head of the Commonwealth, with the Sunday Telegraph arguing that 'the more successfully she identifies with all the various Commonwealth cultures, creeds and political systems, the less complete could become her understanding of the British'.  The London Times feared that too independent an interpretation of the Queen's title of 'Head of the Commonwealth', without being subject to ministerial advice, could threaten the stability of the monarchy (Pimlott, The Queen, 1996).  On the other hand, the Daily Mail said that Powell had 'virtually accused the Queen of being unpatriotic', suggesting that Her Majesty did not need 'lectures in duty to Britain from anybody'.

It is worth remembering that despite Powell's criticism of unnamed ministers, the Christmas message is one of the few speeches that the Queen writes herself.  Also, the speech would, like all others, have been seen and approved by Downing Street beforehand - and the recently re-elected prime minister Margaret Thatcher hardly had a reputation as an enthusiastic supporter of the Commonwealth.  However, the protests over the 1983 message do raise the perennial question of how far the Queen's role as Head of the Commonwealth comes into conflict with her strictly apolitical position as a constitutional monarch.  Her Majesty's devotion to and affection for the Commonwealth are well known;  but while she may have idealistic visions of 'family', harmony, mutual understanding and tolerance, to others the Commonwealth is viewed with suspicion, as a hotbed of competing political interests.  Despite this passing furore, Elizabeth II has continued to highlight the Commonwealth in her Christmas addresses, even though it remains a little understood and perhaps largely unloved institution in the United Kingdom, where the majority of her subjects reside. Her Majesty has also continued to enjoy a reputation for studious political impartiality.

Production-wise, there is almost a spring-like look to this Broadcast.  In contrast to the lamp-lit Regency Room set-ups of the 1970s, the Queen, wearing cheery yellow, sits behind a desk in front of a window in broad daylight, with the Buckingham Palace terrace visible in the background.  For some reason, this year marks a temporary return to the Bow Room;  there is, however, no attempt to re-create the sumptuous, sitting room look of the 1960s and it is very much "no frills", in-front-of-a-window filming without wide-angle shots.  A few Christmas cards are strategically placed, adding a festive touch.

 

Impressive aerial footage of the Palace - apparently shot during the summer - is shown during the 'bookends' of the production: the camera pans from the rear of the Palace to the front at the beginning; the rear is seen again at the end.  Extensive use is made of exclusive footage of the Queen's foreign trips during the year.  Early in the programme, after showing viewers a model of s space shuttle, the Queen introduces specially-filmed images of she and the Duke of Edinburgh performing a simulated landing of a shuttle in Los Angeles during their North American tour in the spring.  'It was a great relief to find I hadn't crashed it!' Her Majesty jokes to the camera as we again see her seated in Buckingham Palace.  Later, there is a long segment of footage of the Queen and Prince Philip travelling in India the previous month, learning about how space technology was helping development particularly with regard to weather prediction and agriculture.  The Queen and Duke visit an Earth Station in New Delhi before the controversial scenes of Elizabeth II in extended conversation with Mrs Gandhi are shown at various intervals for the remainder of the Broadcast.

Notes:   

 

Perhaps more notorious than the broadcast Elizabeth II made in 1983 was the one which - thankfully - she did not.  Deep into the decades-long Cold War, a secret British government exercise codenamed Wintex-Cimex 83 drafted a hypothetical speech the Queen would deliver in the event of nuclear war between East and West.  In the imagined speech, which draws upon positive themes which often form part of her Christmas broadcasts, Elizabeth II attempts to give comfort and reassurance to those who may have survived the unprovoked attack on the United Kingdom.

 

In view of the large amount of footage shown from the Royal trip to India, at 16 minutes this is an unusually long production.

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The 1984 Broadcast

Location:  Windsor Castle

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Elizabeth II covers topics ranging from the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, to the Commonwealth, to one of her favourite themes over the years, encouraging understanding and mutual learning between the generations.  This latter subject is related to the birth and baptism of the Queen's fourth grandchild, Prince Harry, which had taken place during the year.  Her Majesty concentrates particularly on children and what adults, too, can learn from them: 'We could use some of that sturdy confidence and devastating honesty with which children rescue us from self-doubts and self-delusions. We could borrow that unstinting trust of the child in its parents for our dealings with each other. Above all, we must retain the child's readiness to forgive, with which we are all born and which it is all too easy to lose as we grow older.'

Commentary:   For anyone who has followed Elizabeth II's Christmas broadcasts throughout the years, the chances are that this is a particular favourite.  Visually, the effect is particularly impressive:  the Queen speaks from a desk in the Oak Room of Windsor Castle, with the iconic Round Tower seen through the window standing majestically in the background;  yet the presence of a poinsettia plant and a selection of Christmas cards give a homely feel.  This is Elizabeth II as a monarch and as a woman.

The highlight of this production, however, is the starring role taken by baby Prince Harry, which accounts for much of the later part of the programme.  Harry had been christened at Windsor Castle only a few days earlier, on 21st December.  In an unprecedented four-minute sequence we see specially-shot footage from the christening of the infant son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by a fantasia on the tune of the Christmas carol The First Nowell.  At the start of this sequence, Prince Charles and Princess Diana sit on a sofa with their two children, explaining to a restless two year old Prince William the history of the antique christening robe his baby brother is wearing.  We then see four generations of the royal family walking to the ceremony with a boisterous and lively Prince William, not yet displaying his characteristic shyness, at the head.  Then, afterwards, the Queen is shown explaining to her grandchildren why she has named a puppy 'Dash'.  'Does he bite?' three year old Zara (Princess Anne's daughter) asks.  'No, not yet' the Queen replies, 'but it might after it's finished with you.'  Hilariously, William and Zara then proceed to - literally - run rings around Princess Diana's grandmother Lady Fermoy and a somewhat bemused Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie.  The 84-year old Queen Mother remains majestic as always through all this chaos.

With the next generation of the dynasty safely in place, all was well with the House Of Windsor at the end of 1984; the troubles of the 1990s seemed a long way off.  Elizabeth II herself appears particularly contented and relaxed during this broadcast.  As the Queen signs off with the words 'God bless you and a very happy Christmas to you all - parents and children, grandchildren, and of course, great-grandchildren' Her Majesty breaks into a warm and natural smile which has echoes of her first televised Christmas message in 1957.

Although this was the second time in three years that Windsor Castle had served as the location of the Broadcast, it would be another thirteen long years before production returned here. After several turbulent years for the royal family and in the wake of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the situation was of course very different in 1997.

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The 1985 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Elizabeth II talks on the subject of news.  While acknowledging that there seems to have been much bad news in 1985 'with a constant stream of reports of plane crashes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and famine', the Queen reminds us that there is a considerable amount of good news amongst the bad: 'Just think of the quiet courage and dedication of the peace-keepers and the rescue workers and all those who work so hard to restore shattered lives and disrupted communities.'  Her Majesty recalls that she is in the fortunate position of being able to meet those who are being honoured for acts of bravery or service to their fellow citizens at Investitures at Buckingham Palace.  The Queen also speaks of good news in industry and commerce which helps generate prosperity.

Commentary:  Seldom have we seen a more 'the Queen at work' look to a Broadcast, with Her Majesty's desk in the Regency Room chaotically cluttered with files, telephones, a radio, the morning newspapers and of course her famous red boxes;  the desk itself is in its usual position and has not been moved as part of creating a convenient 'set' for the cameras.  It is almost as though Elizabeth II took ten minutes out of a particularly busy day to record her speech.  This 'you'll-have-to-take-me-as-you-find-me' look may not be the most aesthetically appealing, but it is probably as authentic as it gets with regard to what the proverbial fly on the wall would see on a normal working day while buzzing around Buckingham Palace.

The 'Queen at work' subtext is underscored with the use of special footage from a Buckingham Palace investiture.  Although primarily present as part of the 'good news' theme of the Message, these images also show Elizabeth II performing her duties as Monarch.  Footage of investitures was quite rare in 1985, since at that time such occasions were not routinely recorded as they are today.

This was to be the final Broadcast produced by Richard Cawston who, sadly, died in 1986.  Cawston's lasting achievement in his fifteen years in charge of production was to guide the Christmas Broadcast through the 'golden age' of television, working with Elizabeth II's slightly dry and camera-conscious broadcasting style to generate a warmth and intimacy between Monarch and viewer, ensuring that the young tradition of the televised Broadcast became an institution;  an established part of the Christmas Day ritual for the average family in the UK and many parts of the Commonwealth.

Trivia:  The aerial footage of Buckingham Palace seen as God Save The Queen is played at the start of the programme was clearly not filmed in December as the trees are still in full leaf.

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The 1986 Broadcast

Location:  Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:   Speaking from the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth II links a Christmas party held at the stables for the children of Palace staff with the story of the first Christmas, and the greater hardship faced by the Holy Family when the baby Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room at the Inn.

Her Majesty observes that despite the humble nature of his birth, Jesus  'was to have a profound influence on the course of history, and on the lives of generations of his followers.'  The Queen notes that although Jesus was fortunate to be born into a loving family, 'we must not forget that there are some children who are victims of ill treatment and neglect' and we should live according to God's message of love.

Commentary:  Following the death of Richard Cawston, Palace officials selected David (not yet Sir David) Attenborough to take over as producer of the Broadcast.  Although best known, of course, for his nature and wildlife documentaries over many decades, Attenbourough also had an experienced record as a producer and administrator for the BBC, rising to the level of controller of BBC Two and later director of programming.  Nevertheless, Attenborough states in his memoirs Life on Air that he was surprised to be asked to take over the Broadcast, but felt he could not refuse the insistent Palace.  Attenborough's approach would be to try new things without compromising the magic and mystique of monarchy:  'My view was that it was a mistake to try and get a chatty, domestic, I'm-just-an-ordinary-person kind of feel.  The whole point in having Royalty is that the Sovereign is not the same as other people...Equally, we ought to be a little more imaginative than simply to ask Her Majesty to sit behind an ormolu-decorated desk.  What we needed was an occasion where the Queen could be properly queenly' (Attenborough, Life On Air, 2002, p.313).

It did not take long for Attenborough to find an opportunity;  when he heard about an annual Christmas party the Queen gave in the Royal Mews for the children of Palace staff he seized upon the relevance of stables to the Christmas story.  The result was one of the most atmospheric and 'Christmassy' Broadcasts of Elizabeth II's reign.

The production begins with scenes of the Queen mingling with guests outside the stables as the children await the appearance of Father Christmas, who subsequently arrives on a horse-drawn sleigh accompanied by two pipers.  We then see Her Majesty inside the Mews talking to a group of children about some of the horses.  A group of carol singers process through the stables singing Away In A Manger before the camera cuts to the Queen who, standing in front of some horses, delivers her speech to camera.  The programme ends with the playing of God Save The Queen, moved from the beginning of the Broadcast to the end, as the Royal Standard flutters in the night breeze.

Trivia:

David Attenborough was pleased and relieved about how smoothly his first production had gone, only to be told by cameraman Philip Bonham Carter that the speech scene needed to be re-shot, thanks to an apparently ventriloquising horse standing behind Her Majesty:  'The Queen was talking to the camera when suddenly I noticed a horse directly behind her head which was curling its lip, showing its teeth and looking as though it was mimicking her words. It also looked as if it was nibbling her ear.' When she learned of why it had been necessary to record a second version, the amused monarch asked to see the original so she could 'share the joke' (Life On Air, p.314).

The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is a working stables dating back to 1825, which trains the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Beys horses used to pull the royal carriages.  It is also the place where State carriages (including the 1762 Gold State Coach used at coronations and jubilees) and vehicles are housed and maintained.

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The 1987 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  In the wake of the IRA-orchestrated bombings in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, on Remembrance Sunday 1987 in which eleven people lost their lives, Elizabeth II calls for peace, tolerance and understanding between communities and remembers the innocent victims of violence.  The Queen warns: 'It is only too easy for passionate loyalty to one's own country, race or religion, or even to one's favourite football club, to be corroded into intolerance, bigotry and ultimately into violence';  however, Her Majesty praises Gordon Wilson, who, after his daughter died in the Enniskillen attack, publicly displayed forgiveness towards her killers.  Elizabeth II cites the Commonwealth Day inter-faith Observance at Westminster Abbey, which she attends annually, as an encouraging 'symbol of mutual tolerance'.

In the year of her Ruby Wedding anniversary, Her Majesty also reflects on the passage of time and how age can bring the 'compensations' of experience.  She thanks those who sent good wishes but also alludes to some of the 'darker' letters in her postbag.

Commentary:  After the previous year's foray into the Royal Mews, the Broadcast returns to the more familiar surroundings of the Regency Room.  However, David Attenborough, in his second production, seems determined to put his stamp on the Broadcast and make things a little more - well - 'Christmassy'.  Incredibly, exactly thirty years after Elizabeth II's first televised broadcast, this was the first time that Her Majesty spoke with a Christmas tree in view. Form time to time a vase of Christmas roses or a smattering of cards were visible in previous broadcasts, but until this year a festive look was by no means the norm. This was the first of the cosy, festive corners created in the Regency Room, with subdued lighting and twinkling tree lights, which became the hallmark of the Attenborough productions and would be the 'default look' of the Broadcasts in subsequent years;  from this point on the Queen would always be accompanied by a Christmas tree.

A BBC investigation was launched after contents of the Christmas Message were leaked to the press for the first time in 1987.  It was erroneously reported by six newspapers that the Queen would use her speech to condemn the IRA for the first time, following the Enniskillen bombings.  In fact, Elizabeth II made no mention of the IRA; rather she made a generalised call to all sides for peace.  The leak was ultimately traced to then BBC Royal Correspondent Michael Cole who, thinking he was speaking off the record, discussed contents of the speech at a royal reporters' Christmas lunch.  Cole was subsequently moved from his post.  Cole told the 2015 BBC documentary Cue The Queen:  Celebrating The Christmas Speech, 'Tabloid newspapers can make a front page news story out of only one word;  it was to my profound and everlasting regret that they did.'

Trivia:

If there had been any doubt, it was confirmed in 2015 by former production assistant Carol Golder that the Christmas trees, decorations and even some of the cards on display during the Christmas broadcasts are not the Queen's personal ones but are provided by the production companies, even to the extent of borrowing the party decorations of television and radio personality Terry Wogan!

The photograph at the side of the Queen is of her, then Princess Elizabeth, with Prince Philip on their wedding day in 1947.

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The 1988 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  1988 had seen several notable centenary anniversaries and Elizabeth II reflects on some of those she had been involved in - the four hundredth anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, three hundred years since the 'Glorious Revolution' when William and Mary were invited to take the British throne as co-monarchs after the deposition of King James II and the year-long Bicentennial celebrations in Australia marking the country's two hundredth birthday.  Her Majesty also notes that Christmas is the time when the anniversary of the birth of Christ is remembered.

In an additional message, the Queen recalls three recent tragedies - the Lockerbie air disaster, the Clapham train accident and the Armenian earthquake.

Commentary: By the time of the Lockerbie bombing on 21st December, the Christmas Message had already been recorded.  However, this terrorist atrocity had shocked Britain and the world and it was inconceivable that the Queen would not make reference to it.  An unprecedented decision was taken to record a short audio message in which Her Majesty speaks of widespread 'shock and distress' over the Lockerbie crash and also two other disasters which had occurred in December, the Clapham Junction rail crash on 12th December which had left 35 dead and 500 injured, and the devastating earthquake in Armenia.  The recording, in which the Queen speaks calmly yet movingly, was released on Christmas Eve and broadcast again on Christmas Day after the main message.

The 1988 Bicentenary had inspired a year-long spectacle of pride, excitement and partying amongst the Australian people.  What was rather more of a surprise was how much the four hundredth anniversary of the defeat of Philip II's Armada had captured the public imagination in the United Kingdom, with beacons being lit up and down the country, countless school projects and television documentaries to celebrate the event.  It was therefore natural that Elizabeth II should concentrate on anniversaries in this broadcast.

By now, producer David Attenborough was establishing his cosy, 'Christmassy' corner in the Regency Room of Buckingham Palace. The soft lighting and presence of a Christmas tree are continued from the previous year;  The Queen, for her part, makes notable use of visual material to illustrate her speech, including early prints of Sidney Harbour and pointing out a beautiful Nativity scene from a medieval 'Book of Hours'.

Trivia:

During the recording of the 1988 message, producer David Attenborough 'vetoed'  the Queen's choice of the 'searing acid green dress' she was wearing because he believed it would clash with the wallpaper in the Regency Room.    Her Majesty complied, but was clearly unamused when she re-appeared in a more muted shade: “There is no pleasing you people from the media. I am told by one lot that I have to wear something colourful so I can be seen in a crowd – and then you come along and tell me I have to wear something pale and nondescript.”  When advised that the alternative was to re-paper the room, the horrified monarch replied, 'Re-paper the room!  Have you any idea how much that would cost?'  When assured that this was just a joke, the Queen's response was, 'in that case, it was a very bad one.'

Elizabeth II's slow transition to her natural hair colour, which would not be complete until the early 1990s, was by now becoming apparent.

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The 2015 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  As well as reflecting on the tradition of the Christmas tree as a symbol of light and goodwill, Elizabeth II also observes that there have been 'monents of darkness' in 2015 - an allusion to terrorist atrocities such as those in Paris and Tunisia - though she takes heart from words in the Gospel of John, 'The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it'.

Her Majesty also remarks upon celebrations earlier in the year commemorating seventy years since the end of the Second World War which honoured the remaining veterans of that conflict.

The Queen ends by reminding the viewer of Christ's unchanging message, 'not of revenge or violence', but that we should love one another; a message which should not discourage but inspire.

Commentary:  In 2015 Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history, surpassing Queen Victoria's record of 63 years and 216 days.  Her Majesty has remained modest about the achievement, not least because it was only made possible by the early death of her father, King George VI, and does not mention it in her message.  However, the Queen does make references to the birth of her youngest grandchild, Princess Charlotte - 'this year my family has a new member to join in the fun' - and her own forthcoming ninetieth birthday celebrations in 2016:  'I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice'.

A few days before broadcast it was reported that the 2015 message was set to be Elizabeth II most 'overtly Christian yet'.  While the speech does indeed have the strong Christian framework that has been particularly noticeable in recent years, it is arguable that it is still difficult to top Her Majesty's 2011 message for sheer evangelising zeal.

Production of the broadcast reverted to ITN for the first time since 2010.  The venue chosen is Buckingham Palace's 18th Century Room, the chief reception room of the Belgian Suite, where visiting heads of State stay at the Palace (an obvious choice for the second of ITN's back-to-back production in 2016 would be the Belgian Suite's Carnarvon Room).  The 'set' looks cosy and natural; quite a change from several years of the more grand state rooms being used.  The 'seated' set-up looks a considerable improvement on the previous two years, with the Queen appearing more relaxed and comfortable.  The Christmas tree, only introduced into the broadcasts by David Attenborough in the late 1980s, is particularly prominent in this production as the tradition forms part of Her Majesty's message;  at the start of the broadcast there are some close-up shots of the tree decorations before the camera cuts to the Queen.

The production begins with some sumptuous high definition pictures of the front of Buckingham Palace followed by a montage of stock footage from Elizabeth II's year, accompanied by a soulful rendition of God Save The Queen.  The broadcast ends with the choristers of the Chapel Royal, St. James' Palace singing the carol Away In A Manger in the 18th Century Room.

Trivia:  

Early reports stated that the Queen's Christmas message topped the Christmas Day television ratings in the UK for the second year running, with a combined BBC/ITV audience of 7.5 million.


The distinctive brooch Her Majesty wears during the broadcast is an art deco diamond and aquamarine piece previously owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

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The 1989 Broadcast

Location:  Royal Albert Hall, London

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  In a break with the traditional format, Her Majesty delivers her annual address to an invited audience at a Christmas concert for the Save The Children Fund in the Royal Albert Hall.  Her Majesty takes as her theme the plight of children and the environment, drawing attention to the fact that the future of both are intertwined.  The Queen cites environmental problems such as pollution and the 'greenhouse effect', but states that damage can be reduced if attitudes and behaviours change.  Elizabeth II also invokes Christ's message, "love thy neighbour as thyself" and maintains that the future will be better for today's children, as well as for the planet, if this message is heeded.

Commentary:  As 3pm came on Christmas Day 1989, I watched the television screen with horror as Elizabeth II strolled onto the stage of the Royal Albert Hall wearing a colourful dress which to me made her look like something closely resembling a harlequin:  what's going on?  is this how it is going to be from now on?  why isn't the Queen speaking from her desk at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle?  The important factor that makes the Christmas broadcasts so special and unique - the intimacy of the Queen speaking from her home to the viewer - was missing this year.  There is nothing 'special', I thought, about watching Elizabeth II give a speech to an assembled audience, since we see her do this on the television news regularly.

The 1989 broadcast is now more than a quarter of a century ago, and it can safely be described as a 'one off' and an historical curiosity;  it is therefore possible for traditionalists like me to consider its merits.

It had, in fact, been something of a 'cloak and dagger' operation, with the assembled gathering for the Christmas concert of the Save The Children Fund (of which her daughter, Princess Anne, was patron) having no idea that the Queen would actually speak, let alone give her Christmas message.  Elizabeth II had never before given her Christmas address in front of a public audience and in an attempt to maintain secrecy no reporters were allowed to the concert, only photographers. The Queen's aide Major Sir Michael Parker, who worked with David Attenborough on the production admitted to being 'petrified'; it was certainly a brave project given the partial leak of the Christmas message only two years earlier.

The experiment, however, has problems.   With an emphasis on child poverty and environmentalism (the 'greenhouse effect' was very much a current phrase in 1989), this is one of the most powerful Christmas speeches of the Queen's reign.  However, young children can have a tendency to fidget as well as be aware when they are on camera, and the background movement serves as a distraction that risks lessening the impact of Her Majesty's words.  In addition, with the Queen speaking to a large audience, there is the problem that this year the viewer does not feel that he or she is being addressed directly by the Monarch.

The true joy of this unique Broadcast is the final part.  After finishing her speech the Queen is led away from the stage by her daughter Princess Anne, with her seven-year-old (and somewhat camera-shy) grandson Prince William trailing behind, to a 'question-and-answer' session with some of the children.  It is well known that Elizabeth II does not give interviews, but this is one of the rare instances where she comes pretty close.  So good are some of the questions she is asked that Her Majesty sometimes appears awkward and occasionally a little bemused.  Some of the questions are obvious and predictable; but one is bound to wonder, did the children really come up with all of these questions?  Really?  Or was the influence of a slightly mischievous producer perhaps somewhere in the wings, making the most of this rare opportunity?  One gets the impression that the questions had genuinely not been previously agreed with the Queen.  Some examples:

Question:  'Do you like being the Queen?'
Queen: [cautiously] 'It's a very busy life...'

Question:  'What are you going to buy Prince William for Christmas?'
Queen:  'Well, I don't think I had better say it too loudly, because he might hear me, mightn't he?'

Question:  'Do you enjoy your job as the Queen?'
Queen:  'I find it very interesting, yes;  I've had lots of opportunities to meet people and visit countries.'

Question:  'Do you go to church at Christmas?'
Queen:  'Yes;  we go to church - all of us - on Christmas Day.  We sing some of the carols and Christmas hymns that everybody knows, which is very nice.'

And the final question, revealing Her Majesty's ever-present talent for a diplomatic response:  'Do you believe in Father Christmas?'
Queen:  'Do I believe in Father Christmas?  I like to believe in Father Christmas, yes.'

Trivia:

An amusing story has it that secrecy surrounding the copy of the speech was so tight that even Her Majesty's Private Secretary Sir William Heseltine was refused access to it by the stage manager shortly before it was required to be handed to the Queen.  The speech was eventually passed to Heseltine via royal events organiser Major Sir Michael Parker.

It is sometimes stated that this was the first Christmas message broadcast from a venue other than a royal residence.  While this is technically the case in the television age, it is often forgotten that Elizabeth II broadcast her 1953 radio message from Government House in Auckland, New Zealand;  the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were undertaking a six-month tour of the Commonwealth at the time.

With a running time of a little over eleven minutes, this is one of the longest Christmas broadcasts.  Only the 1999 production is a few seconds longer.

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