The actor turned 80 on November 17, 2024
The first Christmas Broadcast was delivered by George V in 1932. Since then, it has become an annual tradition.
The late Queen Elizabeth broadcast her first Christmas message in 1952. She stated: "Since my accession ten months ago, your loyalty and affection have been an immense support and encouragement. I want to take this Christmas Day, my first opportunity, to thank you with all my heart."
She continued to make a speech every year for the rest of her 70-year reign, until her passing on Sept. 8, 2022. This Christmas, King Charles III will take up the nearly century-old tradition during a time when the royal family seems more divided than ever before.
Click through the gallery to look back at some of the Queen's most iconic Christmas speeches throughout the years, and a few predictions about how King Charles will carry the torch.
"Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding."
"It’s a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. And, as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change."
"Remarkably, a year that has necessarily kept people apart has, in many ways, brought us closer. Across the Commonwealth, my family and I have been inspired by stories of people volunteering in their communities, helping those in need."
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 8, 2022, the crown and the responsibility to deliver a Christmas speech were passed to Charles. There's no doubt that King Charles will be a different kind of monarch from his mother, but he still plans to honor many of the traditions she held dear. The royal family is at a pivotal moment as the younger generation, namely Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, make unprecedented changes, and the new sovereign heralds a new era. It's expected that Charles will share a message of unity and reassurance for the British public.
"It’s no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines. We see our own children and their families embrace the roles, traditions and values that mean so much to us, as these are passed from one generation to the next, sometimes being updated for changing times. I see it in my own family and it is a source of great happiness."
Look back: the late Queen's Christmas messages through the years
What can we expect from King Charles' first Christmas speech?
CELEBRITY Royal christmas
The first Christmas Broadcast was delivered by George V in 1932. Since then, it has become an annual tradition.
The late Queen Elizabeth broadcast her first Christmas message in 1952. She stated: "Since my accession ten months ago, your loyalty and affection have been an immense support and encouragement. I want to take this Christmas Day, my first opportunity, to thank you with all my heart."
She continued to make a speech every year for the rest of her 70-year reign, until her passing on Sept. 8, 2022. This Christmas, King Charles III will take up the nearly century-old tradition during a time when the royal family seems more divided than ever before.
Click through the gallery to look back at some of the Queen's most iconic Christmas speeches throughout the years, and a few predictions about how King Charles will carry the torch.