Happy And Glorious

The Queen might have been broadcasting her Christmas Day message on television since 1957, but the ritual of gathering to watch at 3pm is as popular as ever, believes Adam Jacot de Boinod

- Adam Jacot de Boinod

EVERY year, at 3 pm on Christmas Day, millions of us around the country tune in to watch The Queen’s Christmas message. It’s now more than 60 years since her first speech was broadcast on the small screen in 1957, complete with sound and pictures (which had taken five years to effect, after she began with a radio broadcast). It’s scheduled at 3 pm to allow all 52 member states of the Commonwealth to have a decent chance to listen in or watch. In New Zealand, it’s shown at 6.50 pm local time, in Australia at 7.20 pm and in Canada at midday.

For many of us, her speech is a ritual that’s an integral part of our traditional Christmas Day. We fit it into the schedule, making things work around it—be it the church service, present-giving, the turkey feast or the attempt to walk off the second helpings.