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Queen's Last Christmas Message: A Look Back
12 Dec
Summary
- The Queen's final Christmas message in 2021 was poignant, referencing her grief after Philip's death.
- She was the longest-serving broadcaster in history, with a reign spanning broadcasting evolution.
- Her broadcast blended personal reflection with national optimism, a hallmark of her addresses.
Queen Elizabeth II's final Christmas message in 2021, delivered during the pandemic and eight months after Prince Philip's passing, is now the subject of a Channel 5 documentary. This poignant broadcast, her last, was recorded at Windsor Castle, marking her first Christmas without her husband. Her long reign saw her become the longest-serving broadcaster, her messages evolving with the times. Broadcaster Wesley Kerr highlighted her empathetic and warm delivery, making viewers feel directly addressed.
The Queen's 69th and final Christmas address was her most personal, acknowledging her grief over Philip's death and relating it to the nation's losses during the pandemic. She spoke of the comfort she found in tributes to her husband, remembering his irrepressible spirit. The setting for the message, Windsor Castle's Drawing Room, held personal significance, being where Philip died. Her choice of a Golden Wedding anniversary photo and a sapphire chrysanthemum brooch, worn on her honeymoon, underscored themes of love and enduring commitment.
The tradition of the monarch's Christmas Message began with King George V in 1932. Queen Elizabeth II's first broadcast was in 1952, and Prince Philip assisted with her first televised speech in 1957. Throughout her reign, she embraced new technologies, even recording a 3D broadcast in 2012. In her final message, she aimed to reunite the community, incorporating a local choir and the Royal British Legion, underscoring her commitment to bringing people together.
