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| Elizabeth II addresses the people of Canada on Dominion Day, 1959 |
Location: Buckingham Palace
Produced by: BBC
Theme:
With only weeks to go before giving birth to her third child, Elizabeth II records a short message conveying Christmas greetings to her listeners across the Commonwealth and thanking those who have sent good wishes following the news of her pregnancy.
Commentary:
At only around a minute's duration and a mere 127 words long, this is the shortest Christmas Broadcast of Elizabeth II's reign to date. The 1959 message may well have been forgotten among the scores of annual broadcasts the Queen has made, yet it set an important precedent: it was for the first time pre-recorded, and henceforth her Christmas broadcasts always would be.
As Christmas 1959 approached, Elizabeth II was heavily pregnant. The Queen saw the importance of the Christmas Day broadcast, which her father had made an annual ritual since the Second World War years. However, the Queen was reluctant to undergo the strain of a live broadcast, and a live television broadcast in particular, only weeks away from giving birth (Prince Andrew, her third child, would be born on 19th February,1960). It was decided that a short speech would be recorded at Buckingham Palace on 17th December, allowing Elizabeth II and her family a stress-free Christmas at Sandringham. As Ingrid Seward explains in The Queen's Speech (2015): 'Although it was not publicised how it was done, on a personal level it freed her from the anxieties that had marred her enjoyment of Christmas Day over the first eight years since her accession.' The change made, Elizabeth II would never again broadcast live on Christmas Day.
The message is essentially an expression of good wishes, including the traditional Christmas sentiments of peace and goodwill. It is interesting to note that in 1959 Elizabeth II felt it important to record a message, however brief; yet ten years later, in 1969, Her Majesty did not make a Christmas Broadcast at all.
Notes:
This was the second Royal Christmas Message to be recorded in advance. In 1951, George VI had pre-recorded his speech in stages due to his declining health. The King died on 6th February, 1952.
Elizabeth II did make a televised broadcast in 1959 - in July when she had addressed the Canadian people on Dominion Day (now Canada Day).
Full text here
The message is essentially an expression of good wishes, including the traditional Christmas sentiments of peace and goodwill. It is interesting to note that in 1959 Elizabeth II felt it important to record a message, however brief; yet ten years later, in 1969, Her Majesty did not make a Christmas Broadcast at all.
Notes:
This was the second Royal Christmas Message to be recorded in advance. In 1951, George VI had pre-recorded his speech in stages due to his declining health. The King died on 6th February, 1952.
Elizabeth II did make a televised broadcast in 1959 - in July when she had addressed the Canadian people on Dominion Day (now Canada Day).
Full text here
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