Features

King George V's most intimate Christmas speech

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22nd December 2024
As we explore a different Royal Christmas Broadcast each day from 1 to 24 December, we are able to see both personal, family moments and public events marked. In 1934, King George V added a real family touch to his Christmas speech, only the third he had ever made.  On 29 November 1934, Prince George, Duke of Kent, married Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark in the society event of the…
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Features

A Christmas message filled with hope

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20th December 2024
The Second World War was the major defining event of King George VI’s reign and as such, several of his Royal Christmas Broadcasts dealt with the war. In 1943, he once again focused on the dedication, faith, and resiliency of both service members and civilians across the…
Features

The King of England who was rumoured to want to marry his own niece

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19th December 2024
She was the woman who could have been England’s first queen regnant and he was the uncle who took the throne that might have belonged to her. The two were close and their stories heavily intertwined. But in a strange turn of events, their relationship became even more intense as it was subjected to a scrutiny that was outrageous even for late medieval times. Many accusations have been…
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FeaturesRoyal Christmas

A message of hope at Christmas in a difficult year

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18th December 2024
The Royal Christmas Broadcast is a moment of reflection and the message sent is heard by millions. In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II balanced an increasingly uncertain future across the globe with a year that had brought her great personal joy.In 1960, there was significant political upheaval across the globe, as well as natural disasters. Queen Elizabeth acknowledged these struggles, saying…
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Features

A joyful Jubilee Christmas broadcast

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15th December 2024
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. In 1977, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Silver Jubilee marking twenty five years on the throne. She is only the second British monarch to have a Silver Jubilee with her grandfather, King George V, being the…
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