Queen's Christmas Podcast

It's been announced that Her Majesty's annual Christmas Message will be made available for download to Podcast for the first time. Given the history of the Christmas Message it was surely only a matter of time until it was made available through Podcast, but the timing is especially fitting as the Queen will be addressing the need for better communication between the old and young generations in her message this year.

The British Monarchy website will allow subscribers to sign up for a free MP3 download of the Queen's Message which will be aired at its traditional time of 3 pm on the 25th.

This is not the first time the Christmas Message has taken advantage of new technologies. The brainchild of one of the BBC's founders Sir John Reith, the first Royal Christmas Message was made by King George V over Wireless Radio 1932. It was the first time most people in Britain and the Commonwealths had ever heard their King and Emperor speak. His son and granddaughter have carried on the tradition ever since. In 1957 the first Christmas Message was filmed for television. In 1979 subtitles were added for the hard of hearing. And in 1998 the Christmas Message was made available over the Internet.

Who says the Monarchy isn't Modern!

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