It’s a Royal Holiday! See Queen Elizabeth’s Most Stunning Christmas Speech Looks Through the Years

For more than 60 years, Queen Elizabeth has given her annual Christmas speech to the public from the comfort of her home at Buckingham Palace. Since her first-ever address on December 25, 1957, fans of the royal family have looked forward to her yearly broadcasts.

The royal tradition, more formally known as the King’s Christmas Message, first began in 1932. The royal family instituted the annual speech in an effort to reflect on the year, including major events and personal milestones with the British monarchy.

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Prior to TV broadcasts, the King’s Christmas Message was circulated around the Commonwealth nations via radio. In 1957, Her Majesty made history after accepting the BBC’s request to read her remarks live on TV, which came four years after she ascended to the throne in 1953.

Although royal admirers love huddling around their TVs to watch Elizabeth address the public on Christmas day, an insider close to the former princess revealed she isn’t the biggest fan. Princess Diana‘s former royal butler, Paul Burrell, told Daily Mail last year how Elizabeth tends to leave the room when her annual speech comes on.

“The queen’s speech will be played at 3 p.m., [the royals] go through the saloon drawing room and switch the TV on, people will be expected to be there,” the royal expert dished. “But the one person missing will be Her Majesty, who will slip through the north end door and go for a walk, as she doesn’t like to watch herself.”

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Paul told the outlet Elizabeth’s royal family members — like Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince William and Duchess Kate (née Middleton), among others — are always sure to make her feel better. “When she’s back, they will congratulate her saying, ‘Oh, you were very good this year, Granny. Well done,'” he added.

Christmas is the queen’s favorite holiday because she loves having all of her family members together in one household. As fans know, members of the royal family and the queen’s closest loved ones gather each year at her famed Sandringham Estate for her annual Christmas celebration.

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2020 Christmas is going to be much different for the royal family, though, as Buckingham Palace announced Elizabeth canceled her highly anticipated event. Because England still has restrictions in place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the royal monarch won’t get to reunite with her loved ones.

Fortunately, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are “organizing a family Zoom call on Christmas Day,” an insider told Closer Weekly in mid-December. “Christmas will be different and lonelier for the queen this year, but at least she’ll feel the love. Thanks to Kate and William bringing their family together from around the world.”

Knowing Elizabeth, she’s going to make the most out of the virtual holiday!