It would become one of the most important speeches of a reign and of a century. When King George VI addressed his people on Christmas Day 1939, the usual festivities were very far from his and their minds. Instead, in the first months of World War Two, King George spoke of the huge challenge faced by millions in words that are now part of history.
By Christmas Day 1939, Europe was four months…
For only the second time in history, a jubilee became the main focus of a Christmas speech. In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II’s 1977 royal Christmas broadcast was one of celebration and hope.Â
In 1977, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Silver Jubilee marking twenty five years…
The Christmas broadcast made by Queen Elizabeth II in one of her most difficult years
14th December 2024
Each year, the sovereign addresses the nation on Christmas day and touches upon different events and themes. In 1997, Queen Elizabeth II made one of her most difficult Christmas speeches after one of her most difficult years.
In August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales…
Norway's future queen joins important palace gathering for government ahead of Christmas
14th December 2024
Princess Ingrid-Alexandra of Norway has taken a break from her work at the Engineer Battalion to join her parents and grand-parents for a government lunch.
King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit hosted a Christmas lunch for the members of the government at the Royal Palace in Oslo after the weekly Council of State Meeting.Â
The King of Norway…
Infanta Sofia chooses symbolic outfit for first solo engagement
14th December 2024
Infanta Sofia of Spain visited an exhibition of work from the first annual photography competition to bear her name and made a strong and touching statement with her wardrobe choices for the day.Â
Sofia, 17, attended the temporary exhibition for the competition which…
Diamonds for a queen and steel for a princess on sparkling night for Sweden's royals
13th December 2024
King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden hosted the annual King’s Dinner for Nobel laureates at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Following a sparkling turn out of tiaras for the Nobel Prize ceremony the night before, the women of the Swedish Royal Family chose four…
King Felipe and Queen Letizia's State Visit to Italy mixes politics, degrees and glitz
13th December 2024
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have completed a high profile State Visit to Italy. And amidst the formal and constitutional events, there was glitz as they attended a gala dinner.
On the start of day one of the State Visit, the Spanish King and Queen accompanied PresidentSergio Mattarella to a wreath-laying ceremony at the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument.
A solemn wreath…
As we dive into different Royal Christmas Broadcasts each day in December, we are able to see both personal and public moments marked for the sovereign. Queen Elizabeth II marked moments of family joy and public loss in 2015.Â
The spring of 2015 had brought great family…
The king who was overwhelmed by emotion in a Christmas speech marking an historic year
12th December 2024
While the Royal Christmas Broadcast is a Christmas Day staple for many people now that it approaches its hundredth anniversary, at one point it was still very new. The first Monarch to speak was King George V, starting in 1932.
King George V had had to be convinced to…
Queen Letizia in all white for beginning of State Visit to Italy
11th December 2024
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have begun a December State Visit to Italy on Tuesday and the Spanish queen made a bold choice in her wardrobe for Rome, with a wintery look to begin.
While she wore dark neutrals to board the flight to Rome with a black wool coat and navy trousers, Queen Letizia made a 180° fashion flip to an entirely white ensemble during the flight.
The…
