Queen Elizabeth II Christmas Day Television Broadcast - 1957

In 1957, the 25th anniversary of the first Christmas Broadcast, delivered by her grandfather, King George V in 1932, the Christmas Broadcast was televised. The Queen spoke from a desk in the long library at Sandringham, on which there were pictures of Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Christmas cards were displayed in the background.

Sylvia Peters, the BBC Television Service in-vision announcer was responsible for teaching the Queen the broadcasting skills necessary for Her Majesty's Royal Christmas Message broadcasts.

This film footage is from the Archive Collection held and administered by the Alexandra Palace Television Society.

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• sylvia
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• elizabeth
• christmas
• broadcast
• broadcasting

[altfactor]

Since there were no communication satellites then, and to insure that the TV broadcast would air on Christmas Day everywhere, I would think that this would have been pre-filmed, so it could be telecast across the entire British Commonwealth on Christmas Day itself.

Or did she film the speech in advance for the Commonwealth and do it again, live, on BBC and ITV on Christmas itself??

[aptsarchive]

@altfactor The Queen's Christmas Day broadcast was transmitted live (at least for these first few broadcasts). It was also telerecorded and it was the recording that was broadcast in other parts of the Commonwealth.

[benjamin308]

'New medium'? Surely by 1957 television was no longer 'new'. Was this telerecorded?

[aptsarchive]

Television was still considered by many as a 'new' medium in 1957. The BBC transmission was broadcast live from Sandringham Estate, due to the royal family spending Christmas there. The Queen was given instruction on how to present the Christmas message broadcast by Syvlia Peters - at the time one of the BBC's in-vision television announcers.

[VillageVet14]

"Today we need a special kind of courage. Not the kind needed in battle, but a kind which makes us stand up for everything that we know is right."

[SuperYooho]

happy christmas its marry christmas

[gabegal1]

Great credit to HM The Queen. She's been a great lady and I hope she sticks around for lot more years!

[yuri60014]

she was hot back then.

[CrispinFlora]

I was born in 1957: 5:40--I'm sure If Her Majesty could lead a Battle--It will be a hard fought Battle--and I for one will not hesitate to fight for Her Majesty's cause, and will not hesitate nor think twice about laying down my life in defense of Her Majesty and Her Majesty's cause.

God Save the Queen!!!

[Dinosaur69r]

who would thumbs down this? maybe johnny rotten? lol

[ktnsteve]

I love this woman who is about the same age as my mother. We lived in England at the time of her Coronation. She will always have my respect, admiration and affection, although, I expect, we'll never meet.

[norman230]

you got that right VillageVet.. smart young woman..