The 1995 Broadcast

Location:  Sandringham

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Speaking at the end of a year which had seen commemorations to mark the fiftieth anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day at the end of the Second World War, Elizabeth II highlights the role of peacemakers.  Her Majesty pays tribute to the veterans of that conflict, many of whom had been present at the various events during the year, and also praises those involved in the ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland.  The Queen also draws attention to the efforts of 'ordinary' men and women, such as missionary worker Sister Ethel, who she met in South Africa, in 'bringing peace to troubled lands', ending by recalling Christ's words, 'blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God'.

Commentary:  By the time the 1995 message was recorded the decision had already been taken to end the BBC's sixty-three year monopoly of the Christmas broadcast.  The fact that it was filmed in the shadow of the very public feuding between the Prince and Princess of Wales is far from coincidental (they would divorce the following year at the Queen's initiative, as advised in a letter to the couple a few days before the Message was broadcast).  The deciding factor had been the notorious Panorama interview between Princess Diana and the BBC's Martin Bashir, aired a month earlier on 20th November  to an audience of 23 million in Britain alone.  The interview had been conducted with almost conspiratorial secrecy with only a handful of people in the know.  In the hour-long interview the strained-looking Princess had talked candidly not only about her marriage and private life but also her doubts about her husband's suitability to reign.  The episode was highly embarrassing for the Palace and the Queen, who were informed about the programme only half an hour before the rest of the world knew.  It came at a time when the Palace had for a while been considering bringing ITV into production of the Christmas Broadcasts in an attempt to 'freshen up' the programme, but for years the BBC had thwarted ITV's desire to become involved, stressing their 'traditions of loyalty' (Lacey, Royal, 2002 edition).  To the Palace, who felt betrayed, this 'loyalty' did not seem to count for much now, and it seemed like a good time to end the BBC's monopoly.  The Palace denied that it was punishing the BBC for the Panorama interview, but were quite open that the decision had been 'accelerated' by the matter (Pimlott, The Queen, 1996).  Internal memoranda from the BBC reveal that the Corporation were convinced that the decision had been an act of revenge and that they had effectively been 'sacked' as producer of the Broadcast.

The formal announcement that, as of 1997 (preliminary work had already begun on the 1996 broadcast), the BBC would share production and costs of the Broadcast with ITV on a rotating two-yearly basis came in July 1996. If the general feeling in the upper echelons of the BBC was one of regret at the loss of the monopoly - for there may well have been those at the Corporation who were by no means sorry to see the end of the 'special relationship' (Hardman, Our Queen, 2011) - then they only had themselves to blame.

Elizabeth II was herself in no mood to make a soap opera of her Christmas message and studiously avoided any mention of her family's troubles.  That her quoting of the line from Scripture 'blessed are the peacemakers' could be interpreted as a tacit acknowledgement of her own supposed role in trying to mediate between her feuding son and daughter-in-law was a final cruel irony in a difficult year.

Upon viewing the 1995 production, one can sympathise with the desire of the Palace to freshen up the annual Broadcast.  Although filmed in the Long Library of Sandringham House (as the 1993 message had been two years earlier), little is done to take advantage of the surroundings:  the most we see of the room is a three-quarter length shot of the Queen seated alongside a table, in front of a window and with the obligatory Christmas tree behind.  Cosmetically, it could be almost be said that the main difference between this and the 1994 production is the colour of Her Majesty's dress.  There is also heavy use of stock footage, which although relevant to the Queen's text is at times dangerously close to becoming a distraction.

Note:  the wording of the officially released text of the 1995 message, available here, at times varies considerably from that of the television version, though the essence is the same.

Trivia:  The photograph at the Queen's side is of her as Princess Elizabeth with her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret, appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day.  Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who famously appeared on the balcony with the royal family on this occasion, is not seen in this particular photograph.

The 1996 Broadcast

Location:  Sandringham

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  'To look back is not necessarily to be nostalgic'.  So begins the Queen's 1996 address in a year in which Elizabeth II reached the age of seventy.  The message is essentially an explanation of her role as monarch, together with an expression of hope in the future.  With accompanying footage, the Queen explains some of the annual ceremonies and rituals of her year:  the Maundy Service on the Thursday before Easter, Trooping the Colour in June and the State Opening of Parliament;  with each an explanation of their roots in history and tradition and their relevance for today.  The Queen talks of her state visits abroad, including in 1996 Poland (by then democratic and emerging from Communist oppression) and receiving heads of state herself, including in the previous months the state visits of Nelson Mandela and the President of France.

On a more sombre note the Queen remembers families who have endured a difficult year and recalls the massacre of schoolchildren in Dunblane earlier in the year which had horrified the whole United Kingdom as well as the massacre in Port Arthur, Tasmania which had happened in April.  The Queen says that if we have faith in and follow the example of Jesus - 'the child born at Christmas' - then the New Year 'with all its challenges and chances, should hold no terrors for us, and we should be able to embark upon it undaunted.'

Commentary:  In addition to the chilly winter blasts from the North Sea, the winds of change were blowing across the Sandringham estate during Christmas 1996 and as she enjoyed the old festive traditions she had known since a child, one gets the impression that Elizabeth II sensed it.  For a start, there were the known changes;  this Broadcast was to see the end of the long BBC monopoly of the Royal Christmas Message which it had enjoyed since King George V first took to the microphone on Christmas Day 1932.  This would also mark the last of five consecutive Broadcasts from the Queen's Norfolk home, the 'birthplace' of the Christmas Message:  the five year Sandringham 'cycle' would prove to be a pleasant aberration.
Then there was the unknown:  all the opinion polls suggested that the long period of Conservative rule in the United Kingdom was coming to an end and that 'New' Labour, with its reformist constitutional and social agenda, was heading for a large majority at the general election the following year.  However, it was to be the completely unforeseen which shook the House of Windsor itself to its very foundations;  the Queen could scarcely have imagined that in only nine months time she would be broadcasting to her subjects again as the British Monarchy faced its biggest crisis since the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936.  More than anything it would be the death of Diana, Princess of Wales which would mean that things would never be the same again for Elizabeth II.

The essence of the Queen's message is clear:  this is what I do, this is what I have always done and - no matter what changes may be ahead - this is what I will continue to do.  Her Majesty is emphatic that continuity is important and that what she does is relevant;  it is steeped in history, yet it matters in the present and the future.

Despite Her Majesty's opening words, there is definitely a nostalgic air to the production.  Dispensing with the usual royal fanfare, the Broadcast begins with specially shot footage of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh walking through the grounds of Sandringham;  the accompanying music is the theme from the BBC's ground-breaking 1992 documentary Elizabeth R, a reminder to the viewer of the special relationship between monarch and national broadcaster (which, by the very presence of these opening shots, is implicitly acknowledged by both).

This production is more imaginative than the previous two 'samey' Broadcasts, with, in addition to the opening, the Drawing Room of Sandringham House getting some good exposure before Her Majesty walks on to the 'set':  the BBC were perhaps conscious of the official reason for ITV being brought in to the production, that the Palace wanted to try new ideas.  At the end of the programme the rousing vocal rendition of God Save the Queen heard in the 1994 broadcast is played, accompanied by montage footage of Elizabeth II's year.  The message to the viewer is "no hard feelings" between the BBC and the Palace.  The message to ITV, as they prepared to take over the responsibility for the next two years is "beat that!"

Trivia:  The Queen does not refer to her seventieth birthday, the celebrations of which had been, at her own request, low-key.  The day itself (21st April) had fallen on a Sunday and Her Majesty marked it quietly at Windsor.

Full text here

The 1997 Broadcast

Location:  Windsor Castle

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  Speaking four months after the death of Diana, Princes of Wales shocked the world, and a month after her own Golden Wedding celebrations, the Queen speaks of the contrasting emotions of joy and sadness, and observes how the great church of Westminster Abbey was at the heart of both for her personally during the course of the year.  Her Majesty quotes the poet William Blake:

'Joy and woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the soul divine,
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.'

The Queen explains how the interweaving of 'joy and woe' had affected her personally in the previous months, first with the 'shock and sorrow' of Diana's death but later for her and Prince Philip the joy of their Golden Wedding.  Her Majesty also speaks of the happiness that emerged from the sadness of the 1992 fire at Windsor Castle following the completion of restoration work  and how sadness at the return of Hong Kong to China should be balanced by pride in the success of the 'partnership' with Britain.

Her Majesty's closing thoughts are with those who are 'alone, bereaved or suffering' at Christmas and quoting St. Paul speaks of the importance of kindness and consideration.

Commentary:  The 1997 broadcast was one of the most eagerly anticipated of Elizabeth II's Christmas messages.  Coming as it did only a few short months after Diana's death, viewers were keen to know what more the Queen would have to say about the extraordinary events of September, when for the first time in her reign she was subjected to press and public criticism.  Also, this was the first Broadcast produced by ITN, following the end of the BBC's long monopoly which had lasted since the very first Royal Christmas Message given by King George V in 1932:  observers were keen to know how ITN had approached this new responsibility.

Although in recent Broadcasts the Queen had only alluded to her family's troubles, it was inevitable that this year the subject of Diana's death would have to be tackled directly; the very first pictures we see are images from the funeral which had been watched by millions across the world.  Her Majesty is unstinting in her praise of Diana and the outpouring of public tributes and emotion, but the broadcast doesn't become a panegyric to the late princess; as always in her annual messages Elizabeth II is keen to adopt a gently optimistic tone, and other themes are given equal time here.  To be fair, it is difficult to say what further words of tribute the Queen could have added after heartfelt September broadcast.

In their first production, ITN go for what one might describe as a 'fairytale castle' effect, with the Queen seated behind a desk in the subtly lit White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle with a twinkling Christmas tree behind her.  This was the first time that the Broadcast had been filmed at Windsor for more than a decade.  The castle was now fully restored after the 1992 fire, and one of ITN's innovations is to show the Queen, briefly moved from her main position, addressing the camera to show the work that had been done.

As the World Wide Web grew in importance, this was the first Royal Christmas Message to be broadcast on the Internet.

This is a very good first production from ITN, 'safe', but with a few pleasing touches and innovations.  The BBC, still smarting after being 'sacked' as producer of the Broadcast, retaliated by refusing all help and advice to their competitors.  In the event, ITN did not need it.

  
Trivia:  At nine minutes and fifty-five seconds, this was reported to be the longest Royal Christmas Message to date.

Full text here
 

The 1998 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  ITN

Theme:  Her Majesty speaks on the subject of understanding between the generations.  With a focus on the different generations of her own family, veterans of the First World War (which had ended eighty years earlier) and younger age groups, the Queen says that the generations can learn from each other.  No age group has a monopoly of wisdom, Elizabeth II states, but 'with age does come experience, and that can be a virtue if it is sensibly used'.

The Queen also praises those who do voluntary work in their local communities, 'unpaid and often unsung':  'To most of them, service is its own reward. Their "public life" is their church, their school, their sports club, their local council.'

Commentary:  Incredibly, it had been seven long years since the Christmas message had been filmed at Buckingham Palace, its 'default' home since pre-recording of the broadcasts  began in 1960.  A great deal of water had flowed under the bridge since 1991; much of it, as the Queen herself would no doubt acknowledge, bad.

1998 had been a more peaceful year for Elizabeth II after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales the previous year had rocked the British Monarchy to its foundations.  Lessons had been learnt, but Palace officials were still finding their way with regard to what kind of a Monarchy was required as the twenty-first century approached.  Some small modifications had been made concerning style and protocol, and the annual Christmas message was part of this.  As ITN embarked on their second production, it was decided that a more personal approach was in order. Consequently, we see an emphasis on the royals as a family;  the footage at the beginning of the broadcast of the Queen with her mother, husband, sister, and children decorating a Christmas tree at Buckingham Palace fits in happily with the 'generations' theme of the message.

The Queen speaks from the White Drawing Room, which although one of the grander state rooms of Buckingham Palace is here softly lit with Her Majesty seated next to a small table, accompanied by flowers, a Christmas tree and photographs of her grandchildren, thus giving the impression of a cosy home.  However, Elizabeth II is not seen speaking to camera as much as in previous broadcasts as the amount of footage of her and her family at work during the course of the year is greatly increased.  We also see film clips from the Queen Mother's ninety-eighth birthday celebrations and a reception to mark the fiftieth birthday of Prince Charles, as well as princes William and Harry at school and getting to grips with modern technology.

An odd 'quirk' of the production is that the Queen is seen briefly in the otherwise empty Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace, seemingly without a break in the narrative, introducing footage of an earlier reception  for nine hundred 'young achievers', before reverting to her original position.

Full text here

The 1999 Broadcast

Queen Elizabeth II recording the radio version of the 1999 broadcast at Buckingham Palace

Location:  Windsor Castle;  various

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:   

On the threshold of the Millennium, Her Majesty's theme is the inevitability of change and she attempts to harmonise the past, present and the future.  Drawing attention to the Queen Mother's ninety-ninth birthday earlier in the year, Elizabeth II contrasts the younger generation's view of the future as 'a source of excitement, hope and challenge' with the 'understandable anxiety' and fear of being 'left behind' of older people.  Quoting her first prime minister Winston Churchill, who said that 'the further backward you look, the further forward you can see', the Queen explains how the sweep of history can be seen in the present and future, citing devolution for Scotland and Wales and recalling opening the new Scottish Parliament in June.  History and a common past, the Queen says, are also important factors in the modern Commonwealth, helping to shape decisions for the future:  'To do this we need to draw from our history those constant and unchanging values which have stood the test of time and experience'.

Her Majesty recalls the 2,000 year old guiding Christian principle of 'love thy neighbour' and the importance of caring for others.  This, as much as 'gadgets' and technological development, is an important lesson for the future.

The Queen ends by saying she is looking forward to the new Millennium and wishes viewers a Merry Christmas  'and, in this year of all years, a very Happy New Year'.

Commentary:  

For those who recall the events of the Millennium, Christmas 1999 is probably the only time in our memories when Christmas was eclipsed by the New Year celebrations.  There had been some chatter speculating as to whether the Queen would actually deliver a New Year rather than Christmas message on this occasion, but ultimately tradition was maintained.  The style of the 1999 broadcast is, however, far from traditional.

The BBC had spent the previous two years sitting on their hands while ITN produced two well-regarded broadcasts in 1997 and 1998.  Now production had returned to the BBC, who had held the monopoly of this annual event for so long. With production back in their hands, the BBC were determined to do something new, innovative and memorable with the broadcast.  Their answer was to adopt a kind of 'video diary' approach which had been a popular television format in the 1990s.  Described by the Corporation as 'ground breaking', the Queen is seen speaking to the camera from various locations:  a reception for young achievers in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, a reception for members of the emergency services at Buckingham Palace and from her hotel window in Durban during her state visit to South Africa.  A special, freelance film crew had followed Her Majesty during the year to facilitate this innovation.  The 'book ends' of the broadcast are filmed in the ancient, reassuring surroundings of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the choristers sing the familiar carol 'Once In Royal David's City' at the beginning and 'God Save the Queen' at the end.  A high point of the broadcast is special footage of four generations of royalty, including Prince Charles and 17 year old Prince William, posing for photographs to mark the Queen Mother's ninety-ninth birthday.

'Gone are the days of a sombre-looking monarch delivering an address from behind a desk' the BBC proclaimed (invoking a cliché which is as false as it is disingenuous).  Well, not quite.  The overall effect of the 1999 broadcast is that it is so 'busy' it is almost chaotic.  The Queen pops up from place to place, while the viewer yearns for the measured, reflective "from my home to yours" single-take approach which is so much easier on the post-Christmas lunch digestion.  For all the talk of breaking new ground, this was thankfully a one-off, and in the far more traditional 2000 broadcast the BBC was back to its best.

Trivia:   

The significance of the change this particular year prompts the Queen to wish viewers a happy new year in addition to her traditional Christmas greeting, which is rare, if not unprecedented, in her annual address.  The unusual way in which Her Majesty wishes viewers a 'Happy Christmas' at the start of the broadcast did not set a precedent.

With a running time of twelve minutes, this is one of the longest of the Queen's annual broadcasts.

Full text here

The 2013 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  The theme of the 2013 message is reflection.  Her Majesty speaks of the importance of finding the right balance 'between action and reflection', remarking that Christmas is often a time to pause and take stock, whether it be contemplating our lives or a spiritual renewal of faith.  In a year which saw the sixtieth anniversary of her coronation, the Queen observes that she herself had cause to reflect on her vow of service.  However, the Queen states that reflection is not only about looking back, but also looking forward, and she looks ahead to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and also comments on the birth and christening of Prince George in 2013:  'Here at home my own family is a little larger this Christmas'.

Commentary:  After five long years, production returned to the BBC, who for sixty years had enjoyed the monopoly of the broadcast.  There is no attempt in the 2013 production to emulate Sky's visual spectacular of the previous year;  to try would probably have proved futile, given the 'one off' nature of the Diamond Jubilee year.  Instead, the BBC goes for a classic look, and for the first time since 2002 Her Majesty delivers her message from a seated position.   The Queen speaks from the Blue Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace, sitting in a chair at the side of a small table on which stands photographs of her parents, as well as  the 'four generations' photograph from Prince George's christening.

2013 witnessed the rare event of the birth of a direct heir to the British throne, and exclusive behind the scenes footage  from Prince George's christening is shown during the broadcast.

The broadcast ends with footage of the bands of the Coldstream and Irish guards playing the carol 'The First Nowell' in the quadrangle of Buckingham Palace.

Notes:

It is likely that, despite being stuffed with turkey, pudding and a glass or two of something slightly stronger than orange juice, the attention of millions of viewers was grabbed by Her Majesty's unlikely opening words 'I once knew someone who spent a year in a plaster cast'.  It has been speculated that the man she was talking about was former British prime minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home, a long-time friend of the royal family who had been a childhood friend of the Queen Mother.  As a young man, Home had been forced to spend a year in a full body cast as part of the gruelling treatment of the time for spinal tuberculosis.  Home later famously renounced his peerage to enable him to become prime minister in 1963 and, according to convention, become a member of the House of Commons.

Trivia: 

The yellow dress worn by Elizabeth II during the broadcast, designed by Angela Kelly, was previously worn by her at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.

The brooch Her Majesty wears was a gift from her parents, celebrating the birth of Prince Charles in 1948.

Full text here

The 2012 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  Sky

Theme:  The Queen reflects on a year of celebration, which included her Diamond Jubilee commemorations in June and the London Olympics later in the summer.  Her themes are fellowship, friendship, togetherness and the human spirit.  Her Majesty recalls the Jubilee river pageant on the Thames, where thousands of people enjoyed themselves, 'undaunted by the rain', watching numerous and diverse craft sail down the river.  The Queen observes that the same spirit was witnessed in the 'splendid summer of sport' which saw the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to London.  Elizabeth II also draws attention to volunteers, those in armed and emergency services away from their families at Christmas and those who have lost loved ones.  From a Christian perspective, the Queen comments on how 'togetherness' is at the heart of the Christmas story: ‘A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child.’

Commentary:  The 2012 broadcast is arguably the most visually beautifully of them all.  The Queen dazzles in a fine silk tulle dress by Angela Kelly, which gives an impression of shimmering diamonds.  She stands in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace, richly decorated with flowers and a Christmas tree; behind her the viewer can see through to the Music Room, and the Blue Drawing Room behind that.  The effect is truly stunning.  Also, the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace is featured twice during the broadcast:  at the start when the British Paraorchestra play God Save the Queen, and at the end when the Military Wives Choir sing In the Bleak Midwinter.  The latter is blended beautifully as the choir hum the melody to the sound of Her Majesty's closing words before singing the carol.

In another technological development, this was the first of Elizabeth II's Christmas messages to be filmed in 3D, and Her Majesty is shown in publicity material wearing 3D glasses watching the broadcast, which she is said to have described as 'absolutely lovely'.  Indeed it is, and in their second production Sky set a very high standard.

In a rare occurrence, the Queen made two television broadcasts during 2012.  Back in June she had filmed a brief message to thank those involved in the success of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Full text here