By Richard Kay
Last updated at 1:29 AM on 28th November 2011
For decades it was the highlight of the family Christmas when, across the country, people tuned in to the Queen’s annual broadcast. But in recent years the tradition has been in decline.
Now the arrival of a new royal star in the Duchess of Cambridge has triggered an extraordinary upsurge in interest across the globe.
For the first time the Sovereign’s message is being produced by Rupert Murdoch’s Sky News.
The Queen pictured following her Christmas message in 2008. For the first time this year the Sovereign's message is being produced by Rupert Murdoch's Sky News
In a year which has seen two royal weddings, Prince Philip’s landmark 90th birthday and the Queen’s historic visit to Ireland, broadcasters believe there could be a bumper audience.
The arrival of a new royal star in the Duchess of Cambridge has triggered an extraordinary upsurge in interest in the Queen's speech across the globe
Viewers will hope there is unseen footage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April wedding, while Sky, which will make the broadcast for the next two years, is expected to introduce a populist touch of its own.
The Christmas message reached its peak in 1987 with a TV audience of 27?million.
Since then — particularly in the years after Princess Diana left the Royal Family — the figures have shrunk.
The address to the Commonwealth, as it is properly known, dates back to 1932 and was once the preserve of the BBC.
But Palace anger over Diana’s Panorama interview saw the monopoly broken by ITV, which began sharing production duties with the Corporation in 1997.
Last year Sky approached the Palace and was invited to take part in making the film, effectively the Queen’s home movie of the year.
Insiders are confident that this inaugural broadcast will chime with the public.
‘We think there is going to be a huge interest this year,’ I am told. ‘Anything extra we can learn about Kate and William will grab the public imagination.’
Tonight the Queen will officially kick off next year’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations with a reception for media figures at Buckingham Palace.
Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family will be there to receive around 350 guests, from editors to broadcasters.
For decades it was the highlight of the family Christmas when, across the country, people tuned in to the Queen’s annual broadcast. But in recent years the tradition has been in decline.
Now the arrival of a new royal star in the Duchess of Cambridge has triggered an extraordinary upsurge in interest across the globe.
For the first time the Sovereign’s message is being produced by Rupert Murdoch’s Sky News.
The Queen pictured following her Christmas message in 2008. For the first time this year the Sovereign's message is being produced by Rupert Murdoch's Sky News
In a year which has seen two royal weddings, Prince Philip’s landmark 90th birthday and the Queen’s historic visit to Ireland, broadcasters believe there could be a bumper audience.
The arrival of a new royal star in the Duchess of Cambridge has triggered an extraordinary upsurge in interest in the Queen's speech across the globe
Viewers will hope there is unseen footage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April wedding, while Sky, which will make the broadcast for the next two years, is expected to introduce a populist touch of its own.
The Christmas message reached its peak in 1987 with a TV audience of 27?million.
Since then — particularly in the years after Princess Diana left the Royal Family — the figures have shrunk.
The address to the Commonwealth, as it is properly known, dates back to 1932 and was once the preserve of the BBC.
But Palace anger over Diana’s Panorama interview saw the monopoly broken by ITV, which began sharing production duties with the Corporation in 1997.
Last year Sky approached the Palace and was invited to take part in making the film, effectively the Queen’s home movie of the year.
Insiders are confident that this inaugural broadcast will chime with the public.
‘We think there is going to be a huge interest this year,’ I am told. ‘Anything extra we can learn about Kate and William will grab the public imagination.’
Tonight the Queen will officially kick off next year’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations with a reception for media figures at Buckingham Palace.
Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family will be there to receive around 350 guests, from editors to broadcasters.
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