Location: Buckingham Palace
Produced by: BBC
Theme: Elizabeth II recalls the Silver Jubilee celebrations of 1977, reflecting on the many events of the year which she and countless others had taken part in, as well as the large-scale tour of Britain and Commonwealth countries which she and the Duke of Edinburgh had undertaken during the year. Recalling her hopes of reconciliation the previous year, Her Majesty thanks her people for their response, commenting that it had not been an 'impossible dream', and expresses her desire for reconciliation in Northern Ireland, which she had visited during her Jubilee tour. The Queen observes of the Jubilee year that 'the great resurgence of community spirit which has marked the
celebrations has shown the value of the Christian ideal of loving our
neighbours. If we can keep this spirit alive, life will become better
for all of us.'
Commentary: The Silver Jubilee year of 1977 was a happy, successful and extremely busy one for Elizabeth II. British Prime Minister James Callaghan had decided that a national celebration was needed to detract from the economic woes of the time and the result was the biggest royal event since the Queen's Coronation in 1953 and the first royal jubilee since the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. The centrepiece of the events had been a long weekend in June when the Queen had lit the first of a chain of beacons across the United Kingdom the evening before a a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on 7th June preceded by a spectacular procession through the crowd-lined streets of London where the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were driven in the Gold State Coach, the first time it had been used since the Coronation. During the year, the Queen and Duke also embarked on an extensive tour of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, the like of which has not been seen in a single year before or since. However, it is the images of thousands of street parties which took place up and down the United Kingdom during the Bank Holiday weekend, where millions of ordinary Britons (including this blogger, then a pre-school child!) took part in the national jamboree, which endure in the popular memory.
In the speech, in what would become a familiar tone for her Christmas messages in jubilee and major birthday years, Elizabeth II places the emphasis on how such celebrations bring out the best in others, rather than concentrating on herself, referring to the 'community spirit' which was evident during the year.
Building on the new look to the Regency Room 'set' which was introduced the previous year, the Queen, dressed in pale blue, sits alongside a small table in a setting which would essentially remain the same for the next few years. In a new festive touch, Her Majesty is surrounded by a number of Christmas cards; the first time that cards had been seen in vision since the earliest live television broadcasts from Sandringham. Photography follows the tested format of slowly zooming in on the Queen as she speaks before the camera pans out again to the long shot at the close.
Trivia:
The 'icing on the cake' for the Queen in her Silver Jubilee year was that she became a grandmother for the first time. Princess Anne gave birth to a son, Peter Phillips, in November; young Peter would feature in the next year's Broadcast.
In addition to the Christmas broadcast, the Queen, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Prince Charles, took part in the major BBC documentary Royal Heritage, broadcast to coincide with the Jubilee year. The series was an exploration of the history of the monarchy presented by Sir Huw Wheldon. Senior members of the royal family were interviewed or did presentations concerning their particular experiences or interests. Particularly noteworthy was a presentation by Elizabeth II about the history of the Imperial State Crown.
Full text here
Commentary: The Silver Jubilee year of 1977 was a happy, successful and extremely busy one for Elizabeth II. British Prime Minister James Callaghan had decided that a national celebration was needed to detract from the economic woes of the time and the result was the biggest royal event since the Queen's Coronation in 1953 and the first royal jubilee since the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. The centrepiece of the events had been a long weekend in June when the Queen had lit the first of a chain of beacons across the United Kingdom the evening before a a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on 7th June preceded by a spectacular procession through the crowd-lined streets of London where the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were driven in the Gold State Coach, the first time it had been used since the Coronation. During the year, the Queen and Duke also embarked on an extensive tour of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, the like of which has not been seen in a single year before or since. However, it is the images of thousands of street parties which took place up and down the United Kingdom during the Bank Holiday weekend, where millions of ordinary Britons (including this blogger, then a pre-school child!) took part in the national jamboree, which endure in the popular memory.
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| Elizabeth II greets crowds on Jubilee Day, 1977 |
In the speech, in what would become a familiar tone for her Christmas messages in jubilee and major birthday years, Elizabeth II places the emphasis on how such celebrations bring out the best in others, rather than concentrating on herself, referring to the 'community spirit' which was evident during the year.
Building on the new look to the Regency Room 'set' which was introduced the previous year, the Queen, dressed in pale blue, sits alongside a small table in a setting which would essentially remain the same for the next few years. In a new festive touch, Her Majesty is surrounded by a number of Christmas cards; the first time that cards had been seen in vision since the earliest live television broadcasts from Sandringham. Photography follows the tested format of slowly zooming in on the Queen as she speaks before the camera pans out again to the long shot at the close.
Trivia:
The 'icing on the cake' for the Queen in her Silver Jubilee year was that she became a grandmother for the first time. Princess Anne gave birth to a son, Peter Phillips, in November; young Peter would feature in the next year's Broadcast.
In addition to the Christmas broadcast, the Queen, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Prince Charles, took part in the major BBC documentary Royal Heritage, broadcast to coincide with the Jubilee year. The series was an exploration of the history of the monarchy presented by Sir Huw Wheldon. Senior members of the royal family were interviewed or did presentations concerning their particular experiences or interests. Particularly noteworthy was a presentation by Elizabeth II about the history of the Imperial State Crown.
Full text here
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