THE KING’S SPEECH

Almost a century after a reluctant king’s first crackly radio broadcast, the royal Christmas message to the nation has become a well-established festive tradition

FELICITY DAY

It was never intended to become a permanent fixture of the festive season, and in fact, one or two monarchs have devoutly wished it wasn’t. But in the nine decades since the very first was broadcast, the sovereign’s Christmas speech has become an institution. For many millions of Britons, turning on the TV at 3pm in the gathering gloom of Christmas afternoon to watch it has become as indispensable a part of the big day as the stuffed turkey or piles of presents under the tree. King George V was the trailblazer, making the first seasonal speech over the radio on 25 December 1932, 22 years into his reign. “Through one of the marvels of modern Science, I am enabled, this Christmas Day, to speak to all my peoples throughout…

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Britain (Digital) - 1 Issue, Nov/Dec 2024

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