The 1982 Broadcast

Location:  Windsor Castle

Produced by:  BBC

Theme: 

 

 In the year of the Falklands War, in which the Royal Navy (including the Queen's second son Prince Andrew) had played a vital role in transporting a large task force to the South Atlantic, Elizabeth II speaks from the Library of Windsor Castle on the historical theme of Britain and the sea.  Her Majesty sets the scene by explaining the Norman origins of the Castle and that she is speaking from a room once used by Queen Elizabeth I, before linking the Castle and its history with the sea, from William the Conqueror's invasion to the Tudor Queen Elizabeth and the Voyages of Discovery, which heralded the beginnings of modern trade and what ultimately became the present-day Commonwealth.  From Drake to Nelson and his 'band of brothers', the Queen considers the vital importance of 'control of the seas'.

Returning to the outgoing year, Elizabeth II pays tribute to the Armed Forces who had taken part in the liberation of the Falkland Islands and acknowledges the support of the Commonwealth.  On a less serious note, the Queen also commends the 'friendly rivalry' of the Commonwealth Games which had taken place in Brisbane earlier in the year.

Commentary:  

 

Initially, the Falklands crisis had been seen as a British foreign policy disaster, with Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington taking responsibility by resigning over the failure of the Foreign Office to anticipate the Argentinian invasion of the Islands.  However, following the victorious military campaign the mood turned to triumph, with a renewed sense of pride and patriotism sweeping across the nation as the Armed Forces returned home (some suggested that the landslide victory of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party in the general election of the following year was heavily influenced by this 'Falklands Factor').  Along with this sentiment came a rekindled interest in Britain's history;  it is no surprise therefore that Elizabeth II decided to explore these themes in her annual Message, not least because news pictures of the Queen welcoming her second son Prince Andrew home aboard his ship had been amongst the iconic images of the conflict.

1982 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the first Christmas broadcast and also thirty years since Elizabeth II's own first Christmas message.  Producer Richard Cawston sought inspiration for fresh ideas and the result was to bring something new out of something very old.  The ancient royal fortress of Windsor Castle had never been used as the setting of the Christmas Broadcast.  It is however, the place the Queen regards as 'home' (she says as much in the Message);  she spends her weekends there and as her family grew, it had for several years been the place where she spent Christmas (the traditional venue of Sandringham was becoming too cramped for Her Majesty's extended Christmas gatherings but would be returned to at the end of the decade).  Windsor was, therefore, perhaps a natural venue for the Broadcast.

The Queen appears particularly at ease as she speaks from her much-loved surroundings.The Royal Library is subtly lit for the Broadcast but the viewer does get a sense of the history and timelessness of the place.  

 

Sumptuous, lingering aerial images of the Castle are shown at the beginning of the programme and a shot of the Round Tower is seen at the end.  The only interspersed footage is of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, surrounded by excited crowds, at the Commonwealth Games at Brisbane earlier in the year.

Notes:  

The Royal Library of Windsor Castle remains a mysterious place to this day.  Not open to the public and rarely photographed, it was completed by King William IV in the 1830s using a gallery which was originally built for Queen Elizabeth I.  The Library forms part of the present Queen's private apartments and the 1982 Broadcast provides a rare opportunity to see it.

A few were clearly not caught up in the patriotic mood of 1982.  The Communist-supporting British daily newspaper the Morning Star complained that the Queen's talk of Nelson and Britain's military naval victories revived 'jingoism' and was a breach of her traditional political neutrality.  Aside from the fact that, as Head of the Armed Forces, Elizabeth II had long used her Christmas broadcasts to pay tribute to those involved in military combat, it is perhaps intriguing that a publication which objected to the concept of monarchy on principle should opine so passionately on the constitutional role of the Sovereign.

Earlier in the year,  Elizabeth II had welcomed Pope John Paul II on his visit to the United Kingdom, the first such visit from a reigning pontiff.  The Queen does not refer to the occasion in her text, but she wears the same dress she wore on that occasion, which may be a subtle acknowledgement of the historic meeting.

The Christmas Broadcast returned to Windsor in 1984, alternating with Buckingham Palace until producer Richard Cawston's death in 1986.  It is not known whether Cawston intended to continue alternating Buckingham Palace with Windsor Castle on an annual basis, but following his death the Broadcast would not return to Windsor until 1997 and thereafter (as of 2015) only twice. 

 

The Queen does not refer to the birth of Prince William, who had been born in June, during the Broadcast.

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The 1983 Broadcast

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.

 

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.

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The 1984 Broadcast

Location:  Windsor Castle

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Elizabeth II covers topics ranging from the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, to the Commonwealth, to one of her favourite themes over the years, encouraging understanding and mutual learning between the generations.  This latter subject is related to the birth and baptism of the Queen's fourth grandchild, Prince Harry, which had taken place during the year.  Her Majesty concentrates particularly on children and what adults, too, can learn from them: 'We could use some of that sturdy confidence and devastating honesty with which children rescue us from self-doubts and self-delusions. We could borrow that unstinting trust of the child in its parents for our dealings with each other. Above all, we must retain the child's readiness to forgive, with which we are all born and which it is all too easy to lose as we grow older.'

Commentary:   For anyone who has followed Elizabeth II's Christmas broadcasts throughout the years, the chances are that this is a particular favourite.  Visually, the effect is particularly impressive:  the Queen speaks from a desk in the Oak Room of Windsor Castle, with the iconic Round Tower seen through the window standing majestically in the background;  yet the presence of a poinsettia plant and a selection of Christmas cards give a homely feel.  This is Elizabeth II as a monarch and as a woman.

The highlight of this production, however, is the starring role taken by baby Prince Harry, which accounts for much of the later part of the programme.  Harry had been christened at Windsor Castle only a few days earlier, on 21st December.  In an unprecedented four-minute sequence we see specially-shot footage from the christening of the infant son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by a fantasia on the tune of the Christmas carol The First Nowell.  At the start of this sequence, Prince Charles and Princess Diana sit on a sofa with their two children, explaining to a restless two year old Prince William the history of the antique christening robe his baby brother is wearing.  We then see four generations of the royal family walking to the ceremony with a boisterous and lively Prince William, not yet displaying his characteristic shyness, at the head.  Then, afterwards, the Queen is shown explaining to her grandchildren why she has named a puppy 'Dash'.  'Does he bite?' three year old Zara (Princess Anne's daughter) asks.  'No, not yet' the Queen replies, 'but it might after it's finished with you.'  Hilariously, William and Zara then proceed to - literally - run rings around Princess Diana's grandmother Lady Fermoy and a somewhat bemused Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie.  The 84-year old Queen Mother remains majestic as always through all this chaos.

With the next generation of the dynasty safely in place, all was well with the House Of Windsor at the end of 1984; the troubles of the 1990s seemed a long way off.  Elizabeth II herself appears particularly contented and relaxed during this broadcast.  As the Queen signs off with the words 'God bless you and a very happy Christmas to you all - parents and children, grandchildren, and of course, great-grandchildren' Her Majesty breaks into a warm and natural smile which has echoes of her first televised Christmas message in 1957.

Although this was the second time in three years that Windsor Castle had served as the location of the Broadcast, it would be another thirteen long years before production returned here. After several turbulent years for the royal family and in the wake of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the situation was of course very different in 1997.

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The 1985 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  Elizabeth II talks on the subject of news.  While acknowledging that there seems to have been much bad news in 1985 'with a constant stream of reports of plane crashes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and famine', the Queen reminds us that there is a considerable amount of good news amongst the bad: 'Just think of the quiet courage and dedication of the peace-keepers and the rescue workers and all those who work so hard to restore shattered lives and disrupted communities.'  Her Majesty recalls that she is in the fortunate position of being able to meet those who are being honoured for acts of bravery or service to their fellow citizens at Investitures at Buckingham Palace.  The Queen also speaks of good news in industry and commerce which helps generate prosperity.

Commentary:  Seldom have we seen a more 'the Queen at work' look to a Broadcast, with Her Majesty's desk in the Regency Room chaotically cluttered with files, telephones, a radio, the morning newspapers and of course her famous red boxes;  the desk itself is in its usual position and has not been moved as part of creating a convenient 'set' for the cameras.  It is almost as though Elizabeth II took ten minutes out of a particularly busy day to record her speech.  This 'you'll-have-to-take-me-as-you-find-me' look may not be the most aesthetically appealing, but it is probably as authentic as it gets with regard to what the proverbial fly on the wall would see on a normal working day while buzzing around Buckingham Palace.

The 'Queen at work' subtext is underscored with the use of special footage from a Buckingham Palace investiture.  Although primarily present as part of the 'good news' theme of the Message, these images also show Elizabeth II performing her duties as Monarch.  Footage of investitures was quite rare in 1985, since at that time such occasions were not routinely recorded as they are today.

This was to be the final Broadcast produced by Richard Cawston who, sadly, died in 1986.  Cawston's lasting achievement in his fifteen years in charge of production was to guide the Christmas Broadcast through the 'golden age' of television, working with Elizabeth II's slightly dry and camera-conscious broadcasting style to generate a warmth and intimacy between Monarch and viewer, ensuring that the young tradition of the televised Broadcast became an institution;  an established part of the Christmas Day ritual for the average family in the UK and many parts of the Commonwealth.

Trivia:  The aerial footage of Buckingham Palace seen as God Save The Queen is played at the start of the programme was clearly not filmed in December as the trees are still in full leaf.

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The 1986 Broadcast

Location:  Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:   Speaking from the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth II links a Christmas party held at the stables for the children of Palace staff with the story of the first Christmas, and the greater hardship faced by the Holy Family when the baby Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room at the Inn.

Her Majesty observes that despite the humble nature of his birth, Jesus  'was to have a profound influence on the course of history, and on the lives of generations of his followers.'  The Queen notes that although Jesus was fortunate to be born into a loving family, 'we must not forget that there are some children who are victims of ill treatment and neglect' and we should live according to God's message of love.

Commentary:  Following the death of Richard Cawston, Palace officials selected David (not yet Sir David) Attenborough to take over as producer of the Broadcast.  Although best known, of course, for his nature and wildlife documentaries over many decades, Attenbourough also had an experienced record as a producer and administrator for the BBC, rising to the level of controller of BBC Two and later director of programming.  Nevertheless, Attenborough states in his memoirs Life on Air that he was surprised to be asked to take over the Broadcast, but felt he could not refuse the insistent Palace.  Attenborough's approach would be to try new things without compromising the magic and mystique of monarchy:  'My view was that it was a mistake to try and get a chatty, domestic, I'm-just-an-ordinary-person kind of feel.  The whole point in having Royalty is that the Sovereign is not the same as other people...Equally, we ought to be a little more imaginative than simply to ask Her Majesty to sit behind an ormolu-decorated desk.  What we needed was an occasion where the Queen could be properly queenly' (Attenborough, Life On Air, 2002, p.313).

It did not take long for Attenborough to find an opportunity;  when he heard about an annual Christmas party the Queen gave in the Royal Mews for the children of Palace staff he seized upon the relevance of stables to the Christmas story.  The result was one of the most atmospheric and 'Christmassy' Broadcasts of Elizabeth II's reign.

The production begins with scenes of the Queen mingling with guests outside the stables as the children await the appearance of Father Christmas, who subsequently arrives on a horse-drawn sleigh accompanied by two pipers.  We then see Her Majesty inside the Mews talking to a group of children about some of the horses.  A group of carol singers process through the stables singing Away In A Manger before the camera cuts to the Queen who, standing in front of some horses, delivers her speech to camera.  The programme ends with the playing of God Save The Queen, moved from the beginning of the Broadcast to the end, as the Royal Standard flutters in the night breeze.

Trivia:

David Attenborough was pleased and relieved about how smoothly his first production had gone, only to be told by cameraman Philip Bonham Carter that the speech scene needed to be re-shot, thanks to an apparently ventriloquising horse standing behind Her Majesty:  'The Queen was talking to the camera when suddenly I noticed a horse directly behind her head which was curling its lip, showing its teeth and looking as though it was mimicking her words. It also looked as if it was nibbling her ear.' When she learned of why it had been necessary to record a second version, the amused monarch asked to see the original so she could 'share the joke' (Life On Air, p.314).

The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is a working stables dating back to 1825, which trains the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Beys horses used to pull the royal carriages.  It is also the place where State carriages (including the 1762 Gold State Coach used at coronations and jubilees) and vehicles are housed and maintained.

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The 1987 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  In the wake of the IRA-orchestrated bombings in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, on Remembrance Sunday 1987 in which eleven people lost their lives, Elizabeth II calls for peace, tolerance and understanding between communities and remembers the innocent victims of violence.  The Queen warns: 'It is only too easy for passionate loyalty to one's own country, race or religion, or even to one's favourite football club, to be corroded into intolerance, bigotry and ultimately into violence';  however, Her Majesty praises Gordon Wilson, who, after his daughter died in the Enniskillen attack, publicly displayed forgiveness towards her killers.  Elizabeth II cites the Commonwealth Day inter-faith Observance at Westminster Abbey, which she attends annually, as an encouraging 'symbol of mutual tolerance'.

In the year of her Ruby Wedding anniversary, Her Majesty also reflects on the passage of time and how age can bring the 'compensations' of experience.  She thanks those who sent good wishes but also alludes to some of the 'darker' letters in her postbag.

Commentary:  After the previous year's foray into the Royal Mews, the Broadcast returns to the more familiar surroundings of the Regency Room.  However, David Attenborough, in his second production, seems determined to put his stamp on the Broadcast and make things a little more - well - 'Christmassy'.  Incredibly, exactly thirty years after Elizabeth II's first televised broadcast, this was the first time that Her Majesty spoke with a Christmas tree in view. Form time to time a vase of Christmas roses or a smattering of cards were visible in previous broadcasts, but until this year a festive look was by no means the norm. This was the first of the cosy, festive corners created in the Regency Room, with subdued lighting and twinkling tree lights, which became the hallmark of the Attenborough productions and would be the 'default look' of the Broadcasts in subsequent years;  from this point on the Queen would always be accompanied by a Christmas tree.

A BBC investigation was launched after contents of the Christmas Message were leaked to the press for the first time in 1987.  It was erroneously reported by six newspapers that the Queen would use her speech to condemn the IRA for the first time, following the Enniskillen bombings.  In fact, Elizabeth II made no mention of the IRA; rather she made a generalised call to all sides for peace.  The leak was ultimately traced to then BBC Royal Correspondent Michael Cole who, thinking he was speaking off the record, discussed contents of the speech at a royal reporters' Christmas lunch.  Cole was subsequently moved from his post.  Cole told the 2015 BBC documentary Cue The Queen:  Celebrating The Christmas Speech, 'Tabloid newspapers can make a front page news story out of only one word;  it was to my profound and everlasting regret that they did.'

Trivia:

If there had been any doubt, it was confirmed in 2015 by former production assistant Carol Golder that the Christmas trees, decorations and even some of the cards on display during the Christmas broadcasts are not the Queen's personal ones but are provided by the production companies, even to the extent of borrowing the party decorations of television and radio personality Terry Wogan!

The photograph at the side of the Queen is of her, then Princess Elizabeth, with Prince Philip on their wedding day in 1947.

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The 1988 Broadcast

Location:  Buckingham Palace

Produced by:  BBC

Theme:  1988 had seen several notable centenary anniversaries and Elizabeth II reflects on some of those she had been involved in - the four hundredth anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, three hundred years since the 'Glorious Revolution' when William and Mary were invited to take the British throne as co-monarchs after the deposition of King James II and the year-long Bicentennial celebrations in Australia marking the country's two hundredth birthday.  Her Majesty also notes that Christmas is the time when the anniversary of the birth of Christ is remembered.

In an additional message, the Queen recalls three recent tragedies - the Lockerbie air disaster, the Clapham train accident and the Armenian earthquake.

Commentary: By the time of the Lockerbie bombing on 21st December, the Christmas Message had already been recorded.  However, this terrorist atrocity had shocked Britain and the world and it was inconceivable that the Queen would not make reference to it.  An unprecedented decision was taken to record a short audio message in which Her Majesty speaks of widespread 'shock and distress' over the Lockerbie crash and also two other disasters which had occurred in December, the Clapham Junction rail crash on 12th December which had left 35 dead and 500 injured, and the devastating earthquake in Armenia.  The recording, in which the Queen speaks calmly yet movingly, was released on Christmas Eve and broadcast again on Christmas Day after the main message.

The 1988 Bicentenary had inspired a year-long spectacle of pride, excitement and partying amongst the Australian people.  What was rather more of a surprise was how much the four hundredth anniversary of the defeat of Philip II's Armada had captured the public imagination in the United Kingdom, with beacons being lit up and down the country, countless school projects and television documentaries to celebrate the event.  It was therefore natural that Elizabeth II should concentrate on anniversaries in this broadcast.

By now, producer David Attenborough was establishing his cosy, 'Christmassy' corner in the Regency Room of Buckingham Palace. The soft lighting and presence of a Christmas tree are continued from the previous year;  The Queen, for her part, makes notable use of visual material to illustrate her speech, including early prints of Sidney Harbour and pointing out a beautiful Nativity scene from a medieval 'Book of Hours'.

Trivia:

During the recording of the 1988 message, producer David Attenborough 'vetoed'  the Queen's choice of the 'searing acid green dress' she was wearing because he believed it would clash with the wallpaper in the Regency Room.    Her Majesty complied, but was clearly unamused when she re-appeared in a more muted shade: “There is no pleasing you people from the media. I am told by one lot that I have to wear something colourful so I can be seen in a crowd – and then you come along and tell me I have to wear something pale and nondescript.”  When advised that the alternative was to re-paper the room, the horrified monarch replied, 'Re-paper the room!  Have you any idea how much that would cost?'  When assured that this was just a joke, the Queen's response was, 'in that case, it was a very bad one.'

Elizabeth II's slow transition to her natural hair colour, which would not be complete until the early 1990s, was by now becoming apparent.

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