The Christmas of 1936 was a difficult one
for the Royal Family. Just weeks before, King Edward VIII had
abdicated, giving up his throne to marry the woman he loved, Wallis
Simpson. The decision had shocked his country, his empire and his
relations. Days into the reign of the new king, George VI, they
were still so shaken, there wasn’t even a Christmas speech.
However, in the midst of this…
The little church with an intriguing history that's now the heart of the royal Christmas
24th December 2024
It is a little church in a remote part of
Norfolk but once a year, all eyes fall on it. St Mary Magadalene on
the Sandringham Estate boasts a pretty impressive royal pedigree
and for over a century it has been a very special place for kings,
queens, princes and princesses.
A moment of history in the first Christmas speech of Queen Elizabeth II
24th December 2024
For our last lookback at Royal Christmas
Broadcasts throughout the years, we are looking at one of the most
historic Christmas speeches: Queen Elizabeth II’s first Christmas
address as monarch in 1952. When Princess Elizabeth set out with
her husband for a six…
How King Charles broke with tradition with latest Christmas speech
24th December 2024
For his third Royal Christmas Broadcast
as Monarch, King Charles has made a major change to the beloved
tradition. Instead of delivering his speech from Buckingham
Palace in London, or one of the other royal residences such as
Windsor Castle or the Sandringham estate, The King’s speech has
been recorded elsewhere. King Charles’s holiday address was
recorded at the Fitzrovia…
In December 2022, King Charles III gave
his first Royal Christmas Broadcast. With his mother’s passing on 8
September, his reign was still very new. His first Christmas speech
was a heartfelt and touching address to all of his subjects. King
Charles gave his first…
There’s been a last minute change to the
guest list at Sandringham for this year’s royal Christmas
celebrations and for a rather important reason. Princess Beatrice
will now spend the festive season at the Norfolk estate with the
Royal Family. She and her…
The King will continue treatment for
cancer into the New Year, it’s been confirmed. His Majesty has been
undergoing weekly treatment since being diagnosed with an
unspecified form of the disease in February. Now, Buckingham Palace
has said that treatment will go on into 2025 as things are ”moving
in a positive direction”. It’s also been confirmed that King
Charles…
King George VI never sought the throne
but was called upon to reign at a time of huge political turmoil
that would result in war. His conduct in that difficult time earned
him widespread respect. By the time he spoke on Christmas Day 1951,
he was a hugely popular monarch.
Royal babies usually get rather royal
names but when the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh welcomed their
son, in 2007, their choices surprised many. And the unusual pick of
Edward and Sophie could have even more unusual origins. The baby
boy born on December 17th 2007 at…
While the sovereign’s Christmas address
often touches on personal topics, such as the birth of a new family
member, weddings, tours, or Jubilees, they often also discuss
worldwide events that affect everyone. In 2000, Queen Elizabeth
II’s Royal Christmas Broadcast opened with a nod to the
Millennium. Queen Elizabeth II said ”By any measure this
Millennium year has been an…
