The Queen’s grandfather, King George V, delivered the first royal Christmas broadcast live on the radio from Sandringham more than 75 years ago.

He had reigned since 1910, but it was not until 1932 that he gave his first festive speech.

He was unsure about using the relatively untried medium of the wireless, but eventually agreed and read a message composed by author Rudyard Kipling.

The original idea was suggested by Sir John Reith, the founding father of the BBC, to inaugurate the Empire Service, now the BBC World Service.

The fixed time of 3pm each year was chosen in 1932 because it was considered the best for reaching most of the countries in the British Empire by short wave.

The General Post Office was used to reach Australia, Canada, India, Kenya and South Africa.

King George V’s eldest son, who became King Edward VIII, never delivered a Christmas speech as his reign lasted less than a year, ending in abdication.

There was no broadcast in 1936 or in 1938.

King George VI, Edward’s younger brother, made his first broadcast in December 1937 in which he thanked the nation and Empire for their support during the first year of his reign.

It was the outbreak of war in 1939 which firmly established the tradition, when George VI sought to reassure people and boost morale.

Following her father’s death, the Queen made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952 and her first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957, live from Sandringham.

She has delivered one every year except for 1969, when she decided the royals had been on TV enough that year following an unprecedented documentary the family made about their life.

Her 1969 greeting took the form of a written address.

Now the speech is available on the television, radio, internet, the Royal Channel on YouTube and in HD.

The Queen does her speech in one take, usually recording it a couple of weeks before the 25th. Accompanying TV footage is gathered throughout the year.

She writes her own message and each one has a religious framework and reflects current issues.

The speech is one of the rare occasions when the Queen does not turn to the Government for advice and is able to voice her own views.

Factbox

Using sport to help create harmony and build bonds within communities was highlighted by the Queen in her Christmas message to the nation.

The Queen made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952 and the annual message was first shown on TV in 1957.

In that first broadcast the monarch delivered her message live on the radio from her study at Sandringham, Norfolk.

She has delivered one every year except in 1969, when she decided the royals had been on TV enough after an unprecedented family documentary. Her greeting took the form of a written address.

In her 1991 message, the Queen silenced rumours of abdication as she pledged to continue to serve.

The Queen issued a writ against The Sun newspaper after it published the full text of her 1992 broadcast two days before transmission. She later accepted an apology and a £200,000 donation to charity.

The Queen’s grandfather, King George V, delivered the first royal Christmas broadcast live on the radio from Sandringham in 1932.

George V was at first unsure about using the relatively untried medium of the wireless, but eventually agreed.

There was no Christmas broadcast in 1936 or 1938, and it was the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 that firmly established the tradition.

This year the Queen delivered her address from Hampton Court Palace – the first time

The speech is written by the Queen and each has a strong religious framework, reflects current issues and often draws on her own experiences.