The first Christmas Day message by a British monarch was in 1932, when King George V broadcast live from Sandringham.
In the speech, which was written by Rudyard Kipling, the King celebrated the power of the wireless to unite all the people of the Empire, and wished them a Happy Christmas. He began; "Through one of the marvels of modern Science, I am enabled, this Christmas Day, to speak to all my peoples throughout the Empire."
The speech came at the end of a special programme, All Over The World, where British citizens from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Gibraltar and The Irish Free State sent Christmas greetings.
The time of 3.00pm was chosen as the best time to ensure the King's broadcast was heard in the most countries across the Empire. The idea for the royal broadcast came from 大象传媒 Director General Sir John Reith, who recognised the communicative potential of radio.
The reaction to the broadcast was hugely favourable, and the King was said to be "very pleased and much moved" by the response. The Christmas message from the monarch became a fixture during the war, and continues as a traditional feature of Christmas broadcasting to this day.
December anniversaries
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Ireland: A Television History
2 December 1980 -
Start of The 大象传媒 Television Shakespeare
3 December 1978 -
The World About Us
3 December 1967 -
Edward VIII Abdication speech
11 December 1936 -
1984 Broadcast
12 December 1954 -
bbc.co.uk is launched
12 December 1997 -
Jackanory first broadcast
13 December 1965 -
Comedy Playhouse
15 December 1961 -
Culloden
15 December 1964 -
The Likely Lads
16 December 1964 -
大象传媒 World Service launches
19 December 1932 -
Zoo Quest, first on-screen appearance by David Attenborough
21 December 1954 -
Just a Minute first transmitted
22 December 1967 -
A Close Shave
24 December 1995 -
First Empire Address by King George V
25 December 1932 -
Morecambe and Wise Christmas Shows
25 December -
Only Fools and Horses 1996 Christmas Specials
25 December 1996 -
大象传媒 Reith Lectures
26 December 1948 -
Alice in Wonderland
28 December 1966 -
Big Ben chimes broadcast at New Year for the first time
31 December 1923