Seventy-five years of Christmas messages

This ‘Queens Park Report’ was shaping up to be a bit of a tough one to write given the tumultuous economic climate in which we live today.

Much of my work up until Christmas in the riding and on the Finance Committee, has concerned the tough shape of our economy. So for inspiration I went to the 1932 Christmas speech of George V- this was the first of the annual Christmas messages.

As he neared the end of the radio broadcast, he cautioned listeners to work for "prosperity without self-seeking.”
He concluded with the following:

“Your loyalty, your confidence in me, has been my abundant reward. I speak now from my home and my heart to you all; to men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert or the sea that only voices out of the air can reach them; to those cut off from fuller life by blindness, sickness or infirmity, and to those who are celebrating this day with their children and their grandchildren - to all, to each, I wish a happy Christmas. God bless you.”

“Prosperity without self-seeking” – prosperity was not to return until well into the 1950’s. 

It was 1952 that our present Queen, Elizabeth II, delivered her first Christmas speech. Of course this was not Her Majesty’s first speech. As Princess Elizabeth, the Queen made her first public speech on October 13, 1940, with a radio address to the children of the Commonwealth – many of them living away from home because of the war.

In 1952, Elizabeth referred to her coming Coronation the following June and concluded by saying:

“You will be keeping it as a holiday; but I want to ask you all, whatever your religion may be, to pray for me on that day – to pray that God may give me a wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of life.”

In 1995, the Queen and her mother led celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Queen’s Christmas broadcast reflected on the role of those who fight on our behalf:

“It is the ordinary men and women who, so often, have done more than anyone else to bring peace to troubled lands. It is they who suffer most, and it is up to others to see that their courage and common sense are rewarded. It should not be too much to ask.”

As we commence Christmas meals and festivities it may be appropriate to remember and perhaps raise a toast to those men and women who are fighting a war in Afghanistan, and serving elsewhere. Many of those who have answered the call of duty will spend Christmas far from home and separated from friends and loved ones.

Last year, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip had their 60th anniversary on November 20th, and the following month the Queen’s message focussed on family. As she said:

“In my experience, the positive value of a happy family is one of the factors of human existence that has not changed. The immediate family of grandparents, parents and children, together with their extended family is still the core of a thriving community.”

Christmas is a time to rejoice. My family, my staff and I pray your Christmas will be blessed with family and fellowship.