In a world first, Amazon has announced that Her Majesty The Queen’s Christmas Day Message will be made available via Alexa, enabling more people than ever to hear the Monarch’s annual festive address.

The Christmas Day tradition, which began with a radio broadcast by George V in 1932,will now include an innovative digital expansion. Alexa customers across the Commonwealth, and beyond, will have the opportunity to hear the speech on 25th December.

To listen to the message, simply ask, “Alexa, play The Queen’s Christmas Day Message” or “Alexa, play Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas Day Message” from 3pm GMT on Christmas Day and the official audio recording of the speech will play in full.

With many families and friends experiencing an altogether different Christmas this year, The Queen’s words of encouragement will be needed more than ever.

“After a challenging year, millions of people from across the Commonwealth will be eagerly awaiting Her Majesty the Queen’s message on Christmas Day,” said Eric King, Director of Alexa Europe. “By creating this world-first innovation, just as we did in 2012 with the release of The Queen’s Christmas Speech on Kindle, we hope that even more people will be able to enjoy the uplifting words of Her Majesty. This really is one for the history books and showcases just how far technology has advanced since the very first speech was delivered back in 1932.”

The Queen made her first Christmas broadcast live on the radio, in 1952 – the year of Her Majesty’s accession – and the annual message was first shown on television in 1957. The first televised broadcast was transmitted live from the Long Library at Sandringham, with The Queen stating that she hoped “this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and more direct”. In 2012, the speech was made available via Kindle, along with 59 of Her Majesty’s previous Christmas messages. Making the speech available this year to those with Amazon Alexa Devices is the latest in a line of technology innovations designed to help The Queen’s message reach as many people as possible across the Commonwealth.

For Alexa customers across the Commonwealth, and beyond, the speech will be available to those with Amazon Alexa Devices (Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick) set to languages including, eng_UK, eng_US, eng_AU, eng_CA and eng_IN.

To hear the audio simply ask Alexa:

  • “Alexa, Play the Queen’s Christmas Day Message”
  • “Alexa, Play Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas Day Message”

Find out more: How are Amazon teams supporting charities and communities this Christmas?