A look back at the Queen's Christmas speech outfits

December 24, 2020

<h2>1952</h2><p>At 26 years old, the Queen gave her first-ever Christmas broadcast to the nation from <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/Sandringham" target="_blank"><strong>Sandringham</strong></a> in Norfolk via radio. The elegant photo shows she has always favoured pearl necklaces and elegant silhouettes!<p>Photo: © Fox Photos/Getty Images

<h2>1957</h2></p><p>This heart-warming photo of Her Majesty's very first televised Christmas speech captures her smiling at <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/prince-philip" target="_blank"><strong>Prince Philip</strong></a> at the end of the broadcast! Royal fans were treated to a good look at her printed dress with knotted bodice, albeit the recording was in black and white!</p><p>Photo: © Keystone/Getty Images

<h2>1972</h2></p><p>The Queen delivered the year's speech at <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/buckingham-palace" target="_blank"><strong>Buckingham Palace</strong></a> wearing a refined cardigan with embellished trim and her three-strand pearl necklace.</p><p>Photo: © Keystone/Getty Images

<h2>2004</h2></p><p>It is magnificent to see the Queen in colour! This photograph allows us to see the splendour of the Yellow Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace as well as the beauty of her royal purple dress and jewels.</p><p>Photo: © ROTA/Getty Images

<h2>2005</h2></p><p>The monarch delivered this Christmas speech in the Chapel at Buckingham Palace. She wore a vivid teal jacket with diagonal striped lace dress underneath. The colour palette was in keeping with the festive season!</p><p>Photo: © Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty Images

<h2>2006</h2></p><p>In a change from other years, the Queen recorded her 2006 Christmas message at Southwark Cathedral in London. She dazzled in a green buttoned jacket and matching skirt with her ever-present pearls.</p><p>Photo: © Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage

<h2>2007</h2></p><p>To mark the 50th anniversary of her first televised Christmas speech, the Queen posed next to the recording at Buckingham Palace. Her gold dress with sprinkling of embellishment was joyful and complemented her surroundings.</p><p>Photo: © Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/WireImage

<h2>2008</h2></p><p>Her Majesty stands regally in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas speech in 2008. The floral embroidery on her dress brought out her jewelry and hair colour.</p><p>Photo: © Anwar Hussein Collection/Rota/WireImage

<h2>2010</h2></p><p>In some of the Queen's later Christmas speech photos royal fans can see her posing with her glasses and without them, like she did in 2010. Her rich purple suit with contrasting black collar and pearls remained a fixture in all portraits. This year's event was also unique because she delivered her speech at the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace in London.</p><p>Photo: © John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>2012</h2></p><p>The 2012 Christmas speech was the first time it was broadcast in 3D! For the occasion, the Queen looked lovely in a textured white dress which brought to mind falling snow. She accessorized with her pearl necklace, earrings and brooch. The speech was filmed in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.</p><p>Photo: © John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>2015</h2></p><p>Surrounded by family portraits on her desk in the 18th Century Room at Buckingham Palace, the Queen looked lovely in a pale textured dress. The subdued colour emphasized her Art Deco diamond and aquamarine brooch, which was previously owned by <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/queen-mother/" target="_blank">the <strong>Queen Mother</strong></a>.</p><p>Photo: © John Stillwell-WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>2016</h2></p><p>In the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty looked lovely for her 2016 Christmas message in a blue textured dress with contrasting neckline and pearl jewelry.</p><p>Photo: © Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>2017</h2></p><p>'Tis the season for some shimmer! Her Majesty sat at her desk in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace, after recording her Christmas Day broadcast. She wore an embellished white dress with a diamond brooch.</p><p>Photo: © John Stillwell - WPA Pool/ Getty Images

<h2>2018</h2></p><p>What a marvellous image! This photo of the Queen after she recorded her annual Christmas Day message in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace has festive spirit! The glistening lace fabric and pointed neckline of her dress have such impact. The Queen accessorized with the gold, ruby and diamond "Scarab" brooch Prince Philip gave to her in 1966. It has also been featured in a few other Christmas speech ensembles!</p><p>Photo: © John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>2019</h2></p><p>The Queen reportedly doesn't like to repeat outfit colours too frequently on Christmas. For 2019, she recorded her speech at <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/windsor-castle/" target="_blank"><strong>Windsor Castle</strong></a> in a beautiful blue dress. The colour of her frock highlighted her pearl jewelry and the sapphire and diamond Prince Albert brooch. The latter piece was a present from
<strong>Prince Albert</strong> to <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/tags/0/queen-victoria" target="_blank"><strong>Queen Victoria</strong></a> on the eve of their 1840 wedding.
</p><p>Photo: © Steve Parsons / POOL / AFP

By Heather Cichowski

One of the Queen's annual Christmas traditions is delivering her Christmas message on Dec. 25. It is something she has done via television since 1957 when she was 31! Prior to that, she delivered Christmas radio broadcasts in the tradition of her grandfather King George V. (Her Majesty gave her first radio broadcast in 1952, when she was just 26 years old!)

The monarch has covered countless events and worked with ever-evolving technologies in her now-pre-recorded Christmas speeches. And she has worn quite a number of dazzling outfits for her Christmas messages! A lot of thought and care goes into the Queen's Christmas looks and that is evidenced in these stunning photos.

Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you’re on desktop) to see the Queen's Christmas speech outfits throughout the years!