Westminster Abbey was also the venue for the King’s recent Advent service, where there were prayers and music from different Christian traditions, including Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox.
There was a display of icons in the Abbey for that service – and when the King visited Pope Leo earlier this year he gave him an icon of St Edward the Confessor, a saint with strong connections to Westminster Abbey.
The Advent service and the trip to the Vatican had reflected one of the King’s longstanding causes – his efforts to build bridges between people of different faiths and backgrounds.
The tradition of an annual Christmas broadcast from the monarch, looking back on the year and addressing current events, dates back to 1932, when George V delivered a speech on the radio.
The first televised Christmas speech was delivered by Elizabeth II in 1957. It’s usually among the most-watched programmes on Christmas Day.