Royal Christmas broadcasts from George V to his great-grandson Charles

King George V broadcasting to the British empire on Christmas Day 1935 in Sandringham

The King’s great-grandfather, King George V, delivered the first royal Christmas broadcast live on the radio from Sandringham 90 years ago.

He had reigned since 1910, but it was not until 1932 that he gave his first festive speech.

George V was unsure about using the relatively untried medium of the wireless, but eventually agreed and read a message composed by author Rudyard Kipling.

The original idea was suggested by Sir John Reith, the founding father of the BBC, to inaugurate the Empire Service, now the BBC World Service.

Queen Elizabeth II makes her first Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth from Sandringham House, Norfolk in 1952.

The fixed time of 3pm each year was chosen in 1932 because it was considered the best for reaching most of the countries in the British Empire by short wave.

The General Post Office was used to reach Australia, Canada, India, Kenya and South Africa.

George V’s eldest son, who became King Edward VIII in 1936, never delivered a Christmas speech as his reign lasted less than a year, ending in abdication.

King George VI, Edward’s younger brother and Charles’ grandfather, made his first broadcast in December 1937 in which he thanked the nation and Empire for their support during the first year of his reign.

A photograph of The Queen and Prince Philip was positioned prominently during Queen Elizabeth II's 2021 Christmas speech.

It was the outbreak of war in 1939 which firmly established the tradition, when George VI sought to reassure people and boost morale.

Following her father’s death, the Queen made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952 and her first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957, live from Sandringham.

She delivered one every year except for 1969, when she decided the royals had been on TV enough that year following an unprecedented documentary the family made about their life.

Today the speech is available on the television, radio, the official royal channel on YouTube, and in HD.

King Charles III during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast in the Quire of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Charles, like the late Queen, wrote his Christmas broadcast and it followed his mother’s well-established template, a personal reflection on the year, touching on current issues and with a Christian framework.

The King used his first Christmas broadcast to sympathise with families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and praise individuals, charities and faith groups supporting those in need.

The central theme was a celebration of “selfless dedication”, a value embodied by Queen Elizabeth and reflected in the actions of many, from the emergency services to public spirited individuals, which helped to build and strengthen communities.