The 2000 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  After a year of events, celebrations and millennium projects, Elizabeth II takes the new millennium to its roots: it marks the birth of Jesus Christ two thousand years ago.  The Queen reflects on Christ's life and ministry, and how still today there still reminders of his life and impact everywhere, such as cathedrals and abbeys and Church music.  The measure of Christ's impact, the Queen suggests, is seen in the good works done daily throughout the centuries by those who seek to follow his example.

Commentary:  After the hype of the unusual 'ground-beaking' 1999 broadcast, in many ways the 2000 broadcast is reassuringly traditional. The 'sofa set' looks pleasing and cosy, and has an appealling informal feel about it which makes a refreshing change from the desks and tables of the preceding years. The Queen speaks from the Spanish Room in the Belgian Suite of Buckingham Palace, and from the moment she begins her speech she is uninterrupted by film footage for the first time in several years.

However, the production is in many ways idiosyncratic.  Although the Queen speaks with the camera's full attention, it is almost five minutes into the broadcast before we actually see or hear Her Majesty deliver her address.  The first part of the programme consists of footage of the royal year, shown chronologically in 'diary format':  January-December.  Much of this segment, including some moments exclusive to the broadcast, is interesting:  there is a conversation between Her Majesty and the then Archbishops of Canterbury and York about Elizabeth II's visit to Rome earlier in the year; there are a number of clips of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Australia (including an amusing moment when the Queen visits a school and a child asks whether she brought her crown: 'No I didn't', Her Majesty replies, 'well, I can't get it out of the Tower of London!').

Presumably a decision was taken to keep the two sections separate, as they did not blend together naturally.  That is probably sensible as far as it goes, but then the gimmicks start.  The two segments are linked by the Queen switching off a television when the outgoing (and by then beleaguered) US president Bill Clinton appears:  the aim is presumably to give the impression that the Queen had been watching, and it looks just as unconvincing as when something similar had been attempted in the 1993 broadcast.  Worse than this, however, is the idea of having the Queen deliver her speech from three different positions without the usual subtle tactic of editing in footage to ease the transformations. Her Majesty goes in turns from window, to fireplace, to sofa, pausing briefly from her speech each time.  The Queen performs this curious manoeuvring with impeccable elegance, but it still looks odd.  Surely it would have been better to do the whole speech from the same position, with a combination of wide-angles, close-ups and panning to relieve the monotony.

Trivia:

Sofas were 'in' at the turn of the millennium - after all, this was the era of 'sofa government'.  The idea of the Queen delivering her message from a sofa was not new (she had given her annual address from this very sofa on a number of occasions in the 1970s), but she had not done so for many years. 

Curiously, the one hundredth birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, perhaps the major royal event of 2000, are not mentioned by the Queen.  However, clips from the event are shown during the footage segment, and it should be recalled that Her Majesty did refer to her mother's ninety-ninth birthday celebrations in the previous broadcast.

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The 2001 Broadcast

Location: Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  Christmas 2001 took place in the shadow of the events of 11th September, and the world was still stunned by the chilling new form of terrorism which had emerged that day.  It had also been a year in which Britain and other parts of the globe had been at the mercy of forces of nature.  Elizabeth II's message therefore takes on a serious tone as she reflects on disasters, both natural and man-made. Her Majesty recalls the floods and foot-and-mouth outbreak in sheep and cattle that had hit the UK, as well as droughts and famine elsewhere.  However, the Queen points out that it was the intentionally destructive atrocities in the United States in September that appalled people most.  The Queen observes that it is at times of tragedy (as well as at times of celebration) that we look to the Church to bring us together as a nation , and she talks of the importance of faith in sustaining us.  On a positive note, the Queen reflects on the unifying importance of communities in giving help, support and a sense of belonging in difficult times.

Commentary:  ITN resumed production on what the Queen herself observed was her fiftieth Christmas message.  However, in many respects the broadcast is visually so similar to the BBC's production of the previous year that one could be forgiven for assuming that it was made by the same team.  The broadcast maintains the good elements of the 2000 production, but thankfully does not repeat some of the quirkier gimmickry.  Her Majesty begins her speech while standing at a window, and is later seated on a sofa, just as a year earlier.  This transition tastefully occurs while footage is being shown of the memorial services for the victims of the 11th September atrocities which the Queen attended, at St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.  The room used has a cosy quality which allows for a pleasant 'at home with the Queen' effect, and is not one of the grander state rooms of Buckingham Palace - the sofa looks decidedly more 'Ikea' than 'Regency'!  This is a rarely seen room at the Palace and the publicity of the time did not appear to identify it, but looking at its location with regard to the window, it looks as though it forms part of the guest suite on the iconic East Wing.  A nice touch is a neatly-stacked dish of chocolate truffles on the table at the side of the sofa.  One can imagine Elizabeth II putting her feet up here, watching television or doing the crossword, even if in reality she does not!

The choice of this room, overlooking the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, was presumably made to allow for the most pleasing aspect of the broadcast.  At the start, a band of guardsmen play God Save the Queen on the forecourt, and as the music closes the Queen, who appears to have been watching, turns away from the window and looks towards the camera.

The broadcast ends with images of people singing Christmas carols to the Queen, followed by footage of the royal family at work over the past year accompanied by the carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Trivia:  While this is, as the Queen states, her fiftieth Christmas message, it is only her forty-ninth broadcast.  The 1969 Christmas message was issued in written form, as the behind-the-scenes documentary Royal Family was already being shown on Christmas Day.

The Queen does not mention that she is about to embark upon her Golden Jubilee year, although it is acknowledged by one of the carollers at the end of the broadcast who offers the group's good wishes.

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The 2002 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  'As I look back over these past twelve months, I know that it has been about as full a year as I can remember.'  So begins Elizabeth II's speech at the end of her Golden Jubilee year, and her words are no exaggeration.  The early part of 2002 had seen the Queen's sad double bereavement - the deaths of her sister, Princess Margaret, in February, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, in March.  In a way, however, the departure of the older generation of the royal family cleared the stage for the Queen, and in June Her Majesty became the object of an outpouring of affection during the extraordinary long weekend that marked the Golden Jubilee festivities, which was followed by a busy nationwide tour.

The contrasting emotions Elizabeth II had experienced during the year sets the tone for one of the most personal Christmas messages of her reign.  In many ways the speech echoes the 'silken twine' theme of the 1997 broadcast - contrasting joy with sadness.  The Queen pays tribute to her late mother and sister, and thanks members of the public whose support and 'generous tributes' had sustained her in her grief.  She moves on to talk about the joy of the Golden Jubilee celebrations and the importance of anniversaries in our lives; but more than just a celebration, the Golden Jubilee brought a sense of pride, belonging and shared common heritage which was 'more lasting and profound'.

The closing words of the broadcast give an illuminating insight into what may be the personal philosophy of Queen Elizabeth II, as she speaks of the guiding light of her own Christian faith:

'Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God'.

The Queen and Prince Philip ride in the Gold State Coach, June 2002

Commentary:  Surrounded by photographs of her parents and her sister, and wearing the Centenary Rose brooch which she had given her mother as a gift for her one hundredth birthday in 2000, Elizabeth II was now the last survivor of the family that her father, George VI, called 'We Four'.  Although Her Majesty seems a slightly more fragile figure than she had done the previous Christmas, it is clear that she had been deeply moved by the love of so many of her people during the triumphant Golden Jubilee celebrations:  life went on, and her reign went on.

The mood is set well at the start of the broadcast:  first we see joyous reminders of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, including the Queen in the magnificent Gold State Coach, accompanied by Handel's glorious coronation anthem 'Zadoc the Priest', followed by images of the sombre pageantry of the Queen Mother's funeral.  The Queen is filmed seated at a table in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace, a similar set-up to the broadcasts of 1997 and 1998, after the 'sofa Queen' of the previous two years.  The only major innovation is that the camera zooms in to a somewhat alarming close-up of Her Majesty during the closing moments of the speech.  This effect has not been seen before or since, so one can imagine that words were said quietly in private later!

In a major departure from tradition, for the first time trailers, including the theme of the message and short extracts from it, were given to media organisations for use in news bulletins prior to transmission.  It was thought that in a year when there was more than the usual interest in the Message, and in an age of falling television audiences, that this would be a good way of publicising the broadcast.  This has become the usual practice in subsequent years.  Previously, the contents of the Christmas broadcast had been handled with great secrecy until transmission.

This was the second time that Elizabeth II had addressed the nation in 2002.  The Queen had made a short broadcast in April on the eve of the Queen Mother's funeral, in which she paid tribute to her mother and thanked the public for their support.

Trivia:

Despite the anticipation and interest ahead of the 2002 Christmas broadcast, it appears that - unusually - no accompanying publicity photograph was released.  Instead a 'semi-official' (but rather grainy looking) screen capture was hastily issued.

As of 2012, this is the last time that the Queen delivered her Message from a seated position.

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The 2003 Broadcast

Location:  Combermere Barracks, Windsor

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  In the year of the Iraq War, a conflict which was ultimately far more lengthy and complicated than many had anticipated, the task of Armed Forces takes centre stage in the Queen's broadcast.  By Christmas of 2003 it was evident that although removal of Saddam Hussein had been relatively straightforward, British troops together with their American allies were now involved in a lengthy and bloody battle for the 'peace'.  Her Majesty recalls the bravery, dedication and achievements of those serving in the struggle to build 'a lasting peace in trouble spots across the globe'.  The Queen also speaks of the pain of separation between servicemen and women and their families, felt particularly keenly at Christmastime.

Commentary:  Throughout her reign Elizabeth II has displayed a  deep commitment to he role as head of the Armed Forces.  Given the undeniable and long-standing bond between the Queen and her troops, the choice of a barracks near her beloved Windsor home was fitting.  It was promoted at the time as being the first time that the Message had been filmed at a location other than one of the royal residences (while it could be argued that this is true in terms of the address in its traditional format, it should be noted that the highly unusual 1989 broadcast was filmed entirely at the Royal Albert Hall.  Also, the 1953 radio broadcast came live from Government House in Auckland, New Zealand, during the Queen and Prince Philip's tour of the Commonwealth).

The production begins with the Household Cavalry band playing 'God Save the Queen', which is then played over film footage of Her Majesty arriving by car at Combermere Barracks. For the first part of her address the Queen is filmed standing amongst armoured vehicles, which gives a striking and dramatic effect.  Her Majesty's words are interspersed with footage of her chatting with servicemen and women at the Barracks.  For the latter part of the speech the Queen speaks from the more familiar setting of a sitting room as she recites the prayer of Jesuit founder Ignatius Loyola, 'Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest'.

Following the recording, the Queen stayed briefly in hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove cartilage from her left knee, and also had a number of benign skin lesions (which are visible during the Broadcast) removed from her face.  Her Majesty had recovered sufficiently to attend church at Sandringham on Christmas Day.

In a further technological innovation, the broadcast was made available by telephone, with a unique number opened for the two weeks following transmission.

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The 2011 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Procuced by:  Sky

Theme:  The Queen speaks of courage and hope in adversity, recalling the natural disasters in Australia and New Zealand, and the tragedy which struck a Welsh mining community. Her Majesty highlights the importance of family, communities and friendship in the support and rebuilding process.  The Queen remarks that the marriages of two of her grandchildren have reminded her and Prince Philip of the importance of family.  In a strong message of Christian hope, the Queen explains that finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas, as Jesus was born into a fearful world, and the angels appeared to shepherds who were afraid, yet brought joyful news: 'God sent into the world a unique person - neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive', she says.

Commentary:  It is well-known that Queen Elizabeth II is a deeply committed Christian, and she almost always makes references to her own faith in her Christmas broadcasts.  Nevertheless, the 2011 broadcast is the most robustly Christian in tone we have seen for decades: 'It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord', she says at the end of her message.  So resounding is this tone, that some commentators have argued that in concentrating on the supporting themes of the speech, media organisations such as the BBC have, deliberately or otherwise, missed the point.

It had been announced in January 2011 that Sky News would join the BBC and ITN in producing the Christmas broadcast on a two-yearly rota basis, beginning with the 2011 broadcast.  Despite the fact that Sky is a subscription broadcaster, and owned by News Corporation, which with embarrassing timing would be hit by scandal during the course of the year, it produces a high quality news service which rivals the BBC, and it would have been difficult for Palace officials to turn down its request to become involved.  Whatever  discussions and disagreements might have taken place during the planning stages remain firmly hidden behind the scenes, but what emerged was a largely traditional format, based on the 2007 'template' for recent broadcasts (indeed, the 1844 Room in Buckingham Palace is used here for the first time since 2007).  The only 'innovation' looks more of a gimmick:  The Queen is filmed at various intervals by a second camera, while looking at the main camera.  This technique is common in television news, but it seems odd to see the Queen given the appearance of a newsreader returning to deliver the headlines at the top of the hour!  In general, however, this is a good first production by Sky.

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The 2004 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  The overriding message is the importance of understanding and tolerance between religions and cultures.  Elizabeth II explains how her own Christian beliefs have helped her appreciate this through the parable of the Good Samaritan.  The Queen's address culminates with an anecdote about a visitor to Britain travelling on the London Underground who, upon witnessing children from diverse ethnic backgrounds getting on and off at various stops during his journey, is impressed at how well they get along and how at ease they are with each other.

Commentary:  Viewed only a few years after its original broadcast, the 2004 message can look surprisingly political.  The Queen appears to embrace the virtues of multiculturalism and immigration with enthusiasm (although neither term is directly used), issues which were shortly to become open to widespread debate in the United Kingdom for the first time in decades.  It should be pointed out, however, that the Queen here is only reflecting what had been the consensus of the political mainstream since the 1970s, and it was difficult to foresee the sea-change in mainstream opinion which would begin within a year.  The 7th July London bombings which occurred within a few months of the 2004 Christmas message were carried out by British-born terrorists, which led many in the political and media spheres to question whether enough was being done in British Muslim communities to promote integration and tackle 'home grown' extremism.  In February 2011 British Prime Minister David Cameron declared state multiculturalism a failure, something which would have been unthinkable in December 2004.  Meanwhile, higher than expected levels of immigration from the European Union from 2005 onwards, mainly from white Eastern Europeans, enabled sections of the press to draw a distinction between the thorny issues of immigration and race. 

As was the norm by 2004, the broadcast is interspersed with unique footage of the royal family during the year.  At the start we see the Queen handing out presents to family members in Buckingham Palace, most notably her (then) youngest grandchild, Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of Earl and Countess Of Wessex, who was then just over a year old.  The camera then cuts to the Queen walking briskly to her position in front of the camera in the Yellow Drawing Room. Other footage shown includes the Queen at a Sikh temple and the Prince of Wales visiting a Muslim faith school, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh's work with the ARC.

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The 2005 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  After a year which included several notable disasters and tragedies, both man-made and natural,  beginning - as she states - with the Boxing Day tsunami the day after her 2004 Message was broadcast, the Queen's tone is in turn melancholy and hopeful. Elizabeth II refers to Hurricane Katrina, and also the 'vicious'  earthquakes which hit Pakistan and India.  The Queen then turns to the London bombings of 7th July: 'As if these disasters were not bad enough, I have sometimes thought that humanity seemed to have turned on itself, with wars, civil disturbances and acts of brutal terrorism', she laments.  The Queen says: 'This last year has reminded us that this world is not always an easy or a safe place to live in, but it is the only place we have.' However, on an optimistic note the Queen goes on to reflect how these disasters brought out the humanitarian instincts of people, who responded quickly with both financial and practical assistance.  Her Majesty observes that helping others is not a virtue unique to Christianity, although the world will be a better place if people try - sometimes with difficulty - to accept Christ's teaching.
  
Commentary:  In what has become something of a feature of ITN-produced Christmas broadcasts, the Queen speaks from two different settings within the same venue. This approach allows for breaks during filming, which while being perhaps less tiring for the Queen than filming in one long take as she prepared to enter her eighties, is also less monotonous for the viewer.  At the start of the broadcast, Her Majesty is seen walking down a corridor of Buckingham Palace, chatting with choristers from the Chapel Royal.  As the choirboys walk on (we presume to the Chapel), the Queen stops and begins her speech.  She concludes her address inside the Chapel, standing in front of a painting of the Madonna and Child, a reminder of the Christmas story.  The choristers sing the first verse of the carol 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' before Her Majesty's closing words.  In a pleasing final touch, the choirboys reprise the final line of the carol as she finishes speaking.

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