Any reference to the Queen’s Speech might bring to mind the recent movie, The King’s Speech, in which Colin Firth plays King George VI. In that film, the “speech” is the King’s first radio broadcast on Britain’s declaration of war on Germany in 1939. Today, any reference to “the Queen’s Speech” will bring to mind the annual “Christmas message” to the peoples of the Commonwealth by Queen Elizabeth II, the eldest daughter of George VI. This annual speech, aired every Christmas Day via TV, radio, and the internet, has been a tradition since the Queen’s grandfather, George V, gave the first such speech in 1932, which was broadcast on the radio by the newly fledged BBC. The speech was first televised in 1957, when the young Queen had only been on the throne for a few short years. Since then, it has been a tradition for many families in Britain and the Commonwealth to switch on the TV at the appointed hour, interrupting their Christmas festivities to listen to the Queen’s address.
There is, however, another “Queen’s Speech” which predates and supersedes the Queen’s Christmas message. This is the Queen’s Speech which formally marks the State Opening of Parliament. Unlike the Christmas message, this more formal speech “from the throne” lists the Government’s goals for the new Parliamentary session.
See the full article by Joseph Pearce, September 8, 2022