Look back: the late Queen's Christmas messages through the years

"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."

26 / 30 Fotos

2020 -

"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."

27 / 30 Fotos

2021 -

"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."

28 / 30 Fotos

King Charles III -

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.

29 / 30 Fotos

Getty Images

0 / 30 Fotos

1953 - "At the same time I want to show that the Crown is not merely an abstract symbol of our unity but a personal and living bond between you and me."

1 / 30 Fotos

1970 - "Never before has there been a group of independent nations linked in this way by their common history and continuing affection."

2 / 30 Fotos

1971 - "The Christmas message is really one for all seasons and not just for one day of the year."

3 / 30 Fotos

4 / 30 Fotos

1976 - "Remember that good spreads outwards and every little does help."

5 / 30 Fotos

1983 - "I hope that Christmas will remind us all that it is not how we communicate but what we communicate with each other that really matters."

6 / 30 Fotos

1986 - "There are many serious and threatening problems in this country and in the world but they will never be solved until there is peace in our homes and love in our hearts."

7 / 30 Fotos

1988 - "May the Christmas story encourage you, for it is a message of hope every year, not for a few, but for all."

8 / 30 Fotos

1997 - "Being united - that is, feeling a unity of purpose - is the glue that bonds together the members of a family, a country, a Commonwealth."

9 / 30 Fotos

1998 - "Though we each lead different lives, the experience of growing older, and the joys and emotions which it brings, are familiar to us all."

10 / 30 Fotos

2000 - "By any measure this Millennium year has been an unforgettable one."

11 / 30 Fotos

2001 - "For Christmas marks a moment to pause, to reflect and believe in the possibilities of rebirth and renewal."

12 / 30 Fotos

2003 - "Separation at this time is especially hard to bear."

13 / 30 Fotos

2005 - "These natural and human tragedies provided the headline news; they also provoked a quite remarkable humanitarian response."

14 / 30 Fotos

2006 - "The birth of a baby brings great happiness - but then the business of growing up begins."

15 / 30 Fotos

2009 - "I am confident that this diverse Commonwealth of nations can strengthen the common bond that transcends politics, religion, race and economic circumstances."

16 / 30 Fotos

2010 - "Right around the world, people gather to compete under standard rules and, in most cases, in a spirit of friendly rivalry."

17 / 30 Fotos

2011 - "It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow."

18 / 30 Fotos

2012 - "At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story."

19 / 30 Fotos

2013 - "We are forever grateful to all those who put themselves at risk to keep us safe."

20 / 30 Fotos

2014 - "For every poppy a life; and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind."

21 / 30 Fotos

2015 - "I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice."

22 / 30 Fotos

2016 - "I wish you all a very happy Christmas."

23 / 30 Fotos

24 / 30 Fotos

2018 -

"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."

Getty Images

25 / 30 Fotos

2019 -

Getty Images

26 / 30 Fotos

2020 -

Getty Images

27 / 30 Fotos

2021 -

Getty Images

28 / 30 Fotos

King Charles III -

Getty Images

29 / 30 Fotos

Look back: the late Queen's Christmas messages through the years

What can we expect from King Charles' first Christmas speech?

20/12/22 | StarsInsider

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.