HM King George V - The first ever Royal Christmas Message (Written by Rudyard Kipling) - 1932
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- Опубликовано: 2 май 2014
- The first ever Royal Christmas Message, written by Rudyard Kipling and broadcast live over wireless from Sandringham by King-Emperor George V in 1932.
Transcript:
Through one of the marvels of modern Science, I am enabled, this Christmas Day, to speak to all my peoples throughout the Empire. I take it as a good omen that Wireless should have reached its present perfection at a time when the Empire has been linked in closer union. For it offers us immense possibilities to make that union closer still.
It may be that our future will lay upon us more than one stern test. Our past will have taught us how to meet it unshaken. For the present, the work to which we are all equally bound is to arrive at a reasoned tranquillity within our borders; to regain prosperity without self-seeking; and to carry with us those whom the burden of past years has disheartened or overborne.
My life's aim has been to serve as I might, towards those ends. Your loyalty, your confidence in me has been my abundant reward.
I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all. To men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them; to those cut off from fuller life by blindness, sickness, or infirmity; and to those who are celebrating this day with their children and their grand-children. To all - to each - I wish a Happy Christmas.
God Bless You!
Amazing to think we are listening to the voice of a man born in 1865.
vcaus damn when u put it like that that’s astonishing.
there is voice recording of helmuth von moltke b. 1800 the oldest and only person born in the 18th century whose voice recording exists
@@cynic5537 WOW
It's amazing
tell me what you think when you watch those youtube videos of civil war veterans talking about the good ol' days lol
A very kingly voice.
I've seen paintings and photos of King George V, but to hear his voice is just an amazing experience. And his message is amazing too.
Well said!
There Is Also A Voice Recording Of His Grandmother.
The speech was written by Rudyard Kipling.
@@godisfake78 But read by George V
@@GodisMyNo1 but it wasn't his message.
His voice matches his facial hair.
Quite dapper indeed
King George V has the most stereo typical wise old fantasy wizard voice I’ve ever heard
this is the most accurate comment ever
@@awc6007 Sounds almost like Merlin from ‘The Sword in the Stone’, I’d say.
He had a very nice voice.
He had a very nice life. He had that in common with all the unelected freeloaders that live a life of absolute luxury at the expense of the taxpayers of the UK. It's 2017 not 1817 and it's time these so called royals were dumped in the dustbin of history.
Yeah and when this was recorded it was 1932, not 2017. Your Republican sentiments are irrelevant here.
The royals are our head of state and represent our culture and authority in the world. Sod off you pisspoor excuse for a man. The royals do not have an easy life, if you took your time to research them you'd find out that they do a great deal for our country and commonwealth.
MrAviron Gits like you are arrogant. I bet you're not even British. You also have no idea what work they do, it's not easy for them. They don't just live in absolute luxury, you drongo. Our Sovereign and the Royal Family each and individually work for the Commonwealth Nations & the United Kingdom. Sod off, dickhead.
MrAviron get out traitor. This nation wouldn’t be what it is now without the royals.
This is pure history right here.
My grandad George (born in London, 1912) was named after this reigning monarch.
The voice fits the man's regal image. George V was always said to be "solid and reliable". I hear that solidness and reliability in his voice Hearing the recorded words of people from so many years ago is a rare and unique treat for someone like me, who loves history and the people and events that have shaped our modern world.
Until it came to saving his cousin from being murdered because he feared bringing bad press to his name. Yep solid and reliable as always.
@@themanfromthesouth8697 Nikki brought it on himself, and George's advisors urged him not to. If Nikki hadn't been such a micro-managing autocrat, he'd have probably survived. George put his direct family's needs over those of a brainless cousin who built his own coffin.
Nonsense. The Tsar could not have been got out of Russia & no normal people would have wanted him here anyway. He & his forebears were the authors of his fate.
@@williamwoods377 I could not agree more or have said it better myself!
Re: “Nobody would have wanted him here.” Whatever you might think of the Tsar, the children did not deserve to die.
Amazing to think the current monarch in Buckingham Palace was already a girl at this time... I love it when living people are "relics" of an older age, like Victoria who died in 1901 remembering the Georgians.
It’s actually crazy to think Queen Elizabeth met George V. The man died over 80 years ago
@The Caring Adolf Hitler the very long continuous succession of kings called George from the 1710s until Victoria's own childhood. Just as we view the Victorians as stuffy and puritanical, the Victorians viewed Georgians as a rotten, callous, brutal age.
She was 9 at the time
@@Sawrattan lasted until 1830 when William IV became King
@@robertisham5279 6
He sounds like that grandfather who will love you no matter what.
He was a good king, but unfortunately he was not a decent father :/
@@kilgore1863 why?
@@raphaelsoares4462 his strictness and grufness made his children very afraid of him
@@kilgore1863Ironically, many of the strict, stern parents (who's children were legit terrified of them growing up) tend to be very soft and sweet by the time they become grandparents.
@@thisasiankidistrashfordram374 I'm pretty sure you're right there. He had a good relationship with Elizabeth II
God Bless his late majesty King George V. i love that the christmas broadcast is still happening almost 80 years since its
beginning, a great tradition. Greetings from the Dominion of Canada!!
Terrence Krause greetings from england or gb
Terrence Krause hello from the United States, God Save the Queen/King, and God bless America.
@@lilmaster1810 It's actually The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
@@danniellegower9142 or England if you're in England or great Britain if you're in great Britain (which you would be if you're in England). Countries within countries, unions withing unions.
And next year Marks the 90th Anniversary of this Christmas Broadcast on Sunday December 25th 1932 and His Master's Voice issued a 10inch 78rpm Record of that Christmas Broadcast
I saddened when I heard him cough, knowing that he had bad lungs. God save the Queen and God save His Majesty King George V
He had COPD.
A little clearing of the throat which would in modern recordings have been edited out. Not possible in the 30s when recording straight onto disc.
@@DMCS1917 i-
@@hapoussy don’t worry I have since changed my mind since I made that comment. God save the imperial families of Britain, Russia and Germany.
@@DMCS1917 God bless ye.
The monarch who ruled over more land than any other in the entirety of history.
Other than Queen Victoria you mean
@@LaDivinaLover Britain reached its territorial peak in 1921, so King George V did have the largest empire
@@LaDivinaLover @Tobberz is correct. Britain (and her Empire) was at its most powerful under Victoria, but the Empire was at its greatest size after gaining territory after the Great War.
Even though he was mostly a figurehead, this is a crazy fact about George V for sure
I hope that the 3rd British Empire starts soon, this time the Empire of which the sun never sets must colonise space for the commonwealth and for the anglosphere.
He was a very hard stern man but his voice is so soft and friendly. Fascinating
He appeared hard on the surface but if you read extracts from his letters recalling the visits he made to the troops on the frontline and the terribly wounded he comes across as a caring man, who was greatly upset by what he saw.
All men in authority were hard stern men back then. The American presidents (maybe FDR less so) were characters who would set you straight pretty fast if you got out of line, or did not follow protocol and the general social mores. To survive you had to be strict because medicine was not as good as today, and children out of wedlock was social shame (and there was no pill), and there were no surveillance cameras so you had to keep an actual eye on everyone.
The level of warmth and sincerity that radiates from this guy. A true King
Wonderful that Kipling wrote this. I read that the King was so nervous they had to put a green felt tablecloth so that his shaking hands wouldn't rustle the pages on the table audibly. I love the eloquence of " a reasoned tranquility within our borders" and "To all, to each". Also read that millions of Britons were mesmerized to hear him on the radio for the first time.
Very old English accent 1800s they often sounded like this. His son Duke of Windsor sounded very similar as did Queens father. He loved his granddaughter the queen and would been proud of her.
Sounds like a gentleman
I think hearing the voice of someone from history makes them seem very real, very human. My parents adopted me, my Dad was 48 by the time they took me on. Born in 1925, a year older than the late Queen, as he would often remind us, he was a wealth of knowledge about history and historical figures. He remembered George V’s silver jubilee and the abdication crisis . I’m so lucky to have inherited his interest in history and to have been able to hear about events most people only get to read about in books.
Given that the only recording of Queen Victoria’s voice is incomprehensible, you gotta appreciate that recordings as clear as this exist for George V
My great grandma was 21 when this was on and she could remember this really good
My MOTHER was 11 and my FATHER was 14!
Is she alive ?
@@pedanticlady9126 are they alive ?
@@syedsakib8546 No. My father died in 1995 my mother in 2005.
my great grandmother was 11 when this came out which is insane to me
It's incredible, that I'm listening to the very first recorded royal Christmas greetings ever.
If this speed and pace is what is considered to be a "good kingly way" to speak, then George VI did remarkably well while combating his stammer.
The king was 70 and was very ill back then when he made this speech
@@GodisMyNo1 Yes but the censors thought it was ok to get this be broadcast even if the people may not know how ill he was.
@@davidw.2791 I know, just saying that George V did well, considering his state of health
@@GodisMyNo1 He really did well!
He really did look like a king with that impressive beard. Came across as a tough man.
He was despite his short height of 5f6 compared to his 6ft1 older brother!!
George V. The best way to describe him is "solid and reliable". This speech emphasizes both qualities.
Oh I agree. It's a shame that he's almost forgotten - in many ways he's like William IV - both very steady, dependable, unflappable men who came from a naval or military background; monarchs who were both outshone by their immediate predecessors (George IV and Edward VII respectively) and overshadowed by their close successors (Victoria and Edward VIII & George VI, respectively).
I find it a great pity that George V remains overshadowed by the others - he was an excellent monarch in his own right - not flashy or flamboyant, not daring or dashing, either; but ultimately, he was a thoroughly British Lion through and through.
And just to wander off on a tangent: speaking of lions, after hearing his speaking voice, it''s a pity that (being long dead) His late Majesty couldn't have been the voice actor for Aslan in the latest batch of Narnia films by Disney & Walden Media. Liam Neeson is great, but he doesn't have a patch on this real-life monarch for true pathos, gravitas and sheer majesty.
Chris Matthews
Indeed. It's actually because of him that the surnames of the Royal Family and their close relations sound...well, British. When World War I kicked off, he threw away all of his German titles, had his close relatives do the same, and changed names across the board as a show of loyalty to England - he described it as "Good riddance to bad rubbish". In terms of his personality and private life, he could be quite witty when he wanted to be; he was a faithful husband and a decent father, and an even better grandfather - Elizabeth was his favorite.
He also knew how to make hard decisions: when the Russian Imperial Family was overthrown, he considered saving them, but decided against it when this potential decision was met with massive protest from his countrymen. He withdrew the offer, despite the fact that he and Nicholas were cousins (who closely resembled one another, I might add). Some historians even said that he was a monarch that Nicholas should have tried to emulate.
reliable tho?
the man offered the Romanovs asylum only to deny it to them afterwards.
The most powerful man to ever live.
a TRUE fact almost ALWAYS ignored
Joan Ruiz Jacob yup
@Din Djarin I strongly disagree he stated strongest of all time and no American president has ever been as powerful as George V as he was King over a massive portion of the world's population not just one country. But of course there was much more powerful people in history like Julius Caesar and many more.
He ruled over a huge empire, but as a constitutional monarch his 'power' was very limited. He would never have approved of Ramsay McDonald's Labour government but there was nothing he could do about it.
More powerful than Caeser? Augustus? Ghenghis?
He had a very pleasant voice and it’s interesting that it’s not as obviously ‘Royal’ as say the young Queen Elizabeth or Prince Charles with the distinctive Windsor accent. More like a well spoken ‘ordinary’ well to do gentleman.
Mostly a German accent.
As I am presently reading a biography of king George V by Jane Ridley, it was wonderful to actually hear his voice. This speech was mentioned in her book. 3:20
He had a strong, inspiring voice.
George V a trully good ruler!
I'm glad you said 'ruler'. Exactly what he was, unelected by the people who had no opportunity to get rid of him. Exactly like today.
@@MrAviron people often elect idiots
@@MrAviron more like no desire to remove him
One of the best British monarchs
Sounds like he was a good king ahead of his time
God Bless him
George V is the quintessence of Great Britain.
Very much that. I agree hundred per cent.
my great grandma told me a story when she was five years old on christmas 1936 and after she opened her gifts the whole family lisened to what they did not know would be his last christmas message
But he died already in January 1936, maybe you mean 1935.
The story goes that many listeners leapt to their feet in surprise when they heard his voice, as they thought he was in the room with them.
Many years ago, one of my great-uncles told me that at their family Christmas in 1932 he, his surviving brothers, and his brothers-in-law all wore their Great War medals. They stood to attention facing the wireless and saluted when the King spoke.
idk why but I've always considered George V to be truly worthy of the title of Emperor and the only monarch in my mind in which the title fits, I know he was considered Emperor of India but still
RetroGuy76
Like most fathers did back in the day.
if only he hadn't abandoned the Romanovs.
@@nothinghere2805 He didn't want to, and he was deeply affected by Tsar Nicholas's death. He wanted the British Army to at least get the Tsar and his family out of Russia, but the Parliament and Prime Minister weren't willing to sanction a rescue mission.
Those were the days. When Britons were unashamed to honour and venerate a mighty Emperor. God save the king
Am I the only one who thinks a biopic should be made about this guy? He was an interesting person, and in the right hands, his life could make quite a compelling story. My pick would be Russell Crowe, Roger Allam, or David Morrissey to portray him.
Jude Law looks a great deal like him
His voice is like having his vocal cords soaked for years in fine scotch whiskey! Long live the British Empire!
It's amazing that each generation of Windsor sounds so distinct from each other
Here is a transcript of King George V's 1932 speech:
"Through one of the marvels of modern science, I am enabled, this Christmas Day, to speak to all my peoples throughout the Empire. I take it as a good omen that Wireless should have reached its present perfection at a time when the Empire has been linked in closer union. For it offers us immense possibilities to make that union closer still.
"It may be that our future may lay upon us more than one stern test. Our past will have taught us how to meet it unshaken. For the present, the work to which we are all equally bound is to arrive at a reasoned tranquillity within our borders; to regain prosperity without self-seeking, and to carry with us those whom the burden of past years has disheartened or overborne.
"My life's aim has been to serve as I might, towards those ends. Your loyalty, your confidence in me has been my abundant reward.
"I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all. To men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them; to those cut off from fuller life by blindness, sickness, or infirmity; and to those who are celebrating this day with their children and grandchildren. To all-to each-I wish a Happy Christmas. God Bless You!"
Mate, i am bloody awesome.
He sounds surprisingly a lot like George VI in his later years.
This christmas message is reaching you through time and space.
The best british King of all times❤🇬🇧
I find it astonishing that my grandad was 2 years old at this time. he's still going at 90 and has seen george V edward VIII george the VI and now liz. I'm praying he'll make it to see Charles become king.
I hope he has!
If he's still alive then he did the other day.
I really enjoy listening to this. It's as if hes speaking directly to you, which many modern speeches don't do well.
Excellent, beautifully written,splendidly delivered message to the Peoples of the Empire where the sun never set...until it did. Delighted to hear this piece of history, thank you for making it available,I enjoyed it immensely...
I just got chills hearing him talk
His voice is like maple syrup! It's hard to believe how much of a hard ass he was..
He sounded like Americans born before 1850s. Just search for Julius Franklin Howard and you will find an interview video of a man born in 1846 recounting his days as a confederate soldier during the civil war and i think he had similar accent to King George V in this video. It's possible that British and American accents sounded exactly the same at some point in time.
One of, if not THE greatest King of Great Britain.
A relic of past times...crisp and clear recording...
He sounded so much like his son, Bertie. Or shall i say, his son Bertie sounded so much like him, minus the stammering of course.
One more thing, it's amazing how within 40-50 years, people change the way of speaking so rapidly. Here he almost sounded like he was reading some poems out loud. Compare this, his son's speech and QE2's speech, you'll see the difference. Then that's it, no more noticeable changes added afterwards.
It's too bad there are no available recordings of Edward VII. I just imagine him to sound very much like his son!
a tremendous king, God bless the King, God save the King (HM's great grandson)
Sooooooooooo... BEAUTIFUL!
Imagine George living in our current era; he would be alienated by the obnoxious sounds of the road man.
Proud to call him my king-emperor god save our gracious king
Over the years I had been reading about the first Christmas broadcast but today I am hearing it at Quetta.
J7, 1937, 01/10/2020.
The accent is so very different from the Queen.... Amazes me ❤️
This warms my heart.
We need Christmas messages from the Crown such as this in our century, a strong message as George V read it.
We still have Her Majesty the Queen's Christmas Message on television.
infinitecanadian It doesn't have the power of ones before television.
Thank you sir.
This is incredible
Wonderful!
It was 1932 when the BBC opened the Empire Service later known as the BBC World Service. This added to the significance of this broadcast.
Thank you for this
Great speech ⭐️
They named a battleship after him. Badass
And a hotel in Paris!
To think his grandmother was actually Queen Victoria!
how blessed are we......
Truly amazing! ❤ great technology
I cannot be more prouder.
The voice behind the epic beard
At least we got this recording to remember the great King George V by right guys
Fascinating to hear his accent. He doesn't sound as posh as Queen Elizabeth II.
And it was also in 1932 that a 16 Year old Yehudi Menuhin Recorded the Elgar Violin Concerto with a 75 Year old Sir Edward Elgar at th Abbey Road Studio's on July 14th and 15th 1932
It's weird to hear a monarch's voice that isn't Elizabeth.
Stacy K I know
Its weirder with King George VII (with the Stuttering and all)
VI
Teutonician VI not VII
Prince Charles would be King George VII.
“By snow, desert and sea” Back when The empire was a thing. 😭
easy, easy, you have the commonwealth
Love
Great
He speaks like a king !
Historically this in an important piece, and reflective of its time, yet I can't help but notice the contrast between him and Queen Elizabeth 2 in the depth of real heartfelt Christian belief at this season that it is 'chalk and cheese'. Rudyard Kipling may have been regarded as a 'great' in the literary world, but in this case, he (in my opinion) doesn't rate.
It is my hope that Her Majesty will be blessed with good health and have the honour of presenting her Christmas messages for many more years to come even up to her Centenary in 2026 (and beyond).
God save the Queen.
His accent is astonishingly subtle, almost American-like. Nothing remotely like modern London English or even Queen Elizabeth's
HRM George V.
Grandpa England son of King Edward VII. Duke of York. His older brother Prince Eddy. The Prince of Wales died age 18
Amazing how the voice of George VI resembles his dad the King.
he was not prince of wales because his father was prince of wales. He was Duke of Clarence and Avendale i think
@@thegamerteo0560Correct
Now we only need a 4/20 message. Get on it, Great Britain.
KING GEORGE WORLD RESPECT RESPECTED WORLD WIDE EMPIRE
Rudyard for the assist! The King shoots! Score!
Kurz und Knackig... Very well!
The King couldve put me to sleep with a voice like this.
there's a special place in me for George V. he had to overcome his bad stutter to make his first speech and here he is still speaking somewhat slowly. he seemed like a very lovely man and king. . . thank you for this. (from across the pond :)
He hadn't any stutter. His son George VI was the one with stutter problems, some say cause by the emotional abuse that his father did to his kids. You can see here on youtube videos of Albert (George VI real name) speaking slowly because of that. 😊
Maybe George V was speaking a little slow here because he was a smoker and he was around 68 at the time
@@chokispokis he was also very nervous as it was such an unusual event.
@@mazzymuso He later became a very relaxed and very accomplished broadcaster, as he very much liked the thought that he was speaking directly to his people in Britain and across the empire.
@@martinnoyes8507yes Queen Mary and King George were both eager to get out and about to meet their subjects. To be visible.
I wonder if the background noise is rain or static from it being a very old message.
RUDYARD KIPLING HE MADE EXCEEDINGLY GOOD CAKES
The throat clearance!
Great to know that King Charles III will continue this tradition.
George V Born: 1865; died: 1936
and the man who wrote the message:
Rudyard Kipling also Born in 1865
and also die in 1936.
Does anybody know anything about this painting? The only thing I can really find on it on google leads me right here to this video. It's an incredible work of art and an absolutely beautiful likeness, and I'd love to know more about it.
It's the 1921 portrait by Arthur Trevethin Nowell.
Oh THANK YOU! You are my hero!!
v nice
Sounds like “King Friday” on ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’
Put your hand in the Hand of God& trust Him for the future ❤😂😢