In 1932 , King George V delivered Britain ’s firstChristmas broadcast . His message of good cheer hit the air and actuate a young purple tradition that became a standard part ofChristmasfor Britain and beyond .
Queen Elizabeth IImade her own vacation story in 1957 . That twelvemonth — the twenty-fifth anniversary of her grandfather ’s first Christmas broadcast — the annual messageaired on televisionrather than radio . The transition from radio set to a televised broadcast mark a young era for the monarchy and made the institution seem more accessible and personal to its the great unwashed . you’re able to check the historical event in the video above .
For the first metre in chronicle , those who tuned into the program could both try and see the monarch . As Queen Elizabeth II put it :
“ It is inevitable that I should seem a rather remote soma to many of you . A successor to the magnate and Queens of story ; someone whose cheek may be familiar in newspapers and moving-picture show but who never really touch your personal life . But now at least for a few minutes I receive you to the peace of my own home . ”
The novel medium was a strike : The first televised Christmas program ushered in16.5 million viewersfrom Great Britain ( plus 9.5 million wireless attender ) , which was a larger audience than any other program had receive at that time .
There has only been one Christmaswithout a broadcast . In 1969 , pamphlets were distributed around the country witha messagefrom the queen because a documentary about theroyal familyhad air that summer . “ I have have a great number of kind letters and messages of regard and concern about this year ’s break with the usual broadcast at Christmas and I desire you all to know that my near wishes are no less warm and personal because they come to you in a unlike form , ” she wrote .
The upshot continues to hold significance today . Queen Elizabeth II , who died on September 8 , 2022 , deliveredher last vacation messagein 2021.King Charles IIIhas continue the imperial tradition since he ascend the potty ; you may view his 2023 Christmas broadcasthere .
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A variant of this story originally ran in 2022 ; it has been update for 2024 .
