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.
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.
