Her Majesty's Speech
The Independent Television network has given Britons a short preview of the content of this year's speech from Her Majesty. This year's speech is said to reflect upon the interrelation between the different generations and Her Majesty points to the teachings of "the great religions" which emphasise this same bridge.
Her Majesty's speech will be broadcast to all her subjects throughout the Commonwealth and British monarchs have been broadcasting to their people since 1932 when George V used his speech to inaugurate the wireless' 'Empire Service' (replaced in our own day by the BBC's 'World Service'). Every monarch since has continued this tradition, with the exception of Edward VIII. The speeches were often delivered from the comfort of Sandringham, but this year Her Majesty will deliver the (pre-recorded) speech from Southwark Cathedral, See of the lately infamous Bishop of Southwark.
The first speech given by Her Majesty was delivered from that same desk which her father and grandfather had used to speak to their peoples. In her first Christmas broadcast Her Majesty began with a charming remembrance of her father and expressed her own desire to serve the Empire;
"Each Christmas, at this time, my beloved father broadcast a message to his people in all parts of the world. Today I am doing this to you, who are now my people."
In recent years the Christmas broadcast has been an opportunity for Her Majesty to reflect upon recent events such as the deaths of the late Princess of Wales and The Princess Margaret, as well as the September 11th attacks. George VI, in 1939, used the speech to urge his people to be strong in the face of coming troubles and throughout the last war the Christmas speech was a great source of morale to troops at home and abroad, stationed in all parts of the world. Even in our own day when it seems sometimes that monarchists are outnumbered it is touching and comforting to know that throughout Britain, and the Commonwealth, families gather around to hear Her Majesty's address to us, who are her people.
1 comments:
Merry Christmas. We look forward to Her Majesty's first podcast.
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