Queen Elizabeth II is given flowers as she leaves the recently refurbished Bristol Old Vic Theatre during her visit to Bristol as part of her Jubilee tour on November 22, 2012 in Bristol, England.
Apparently 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth II is more technologically progressive than her grandson. Prince William banned 3D cameras from his 2011 wedding, but his dear grandmother is game: she agreed have her annual Christmas speech filmed in 3D this year, the Independent reported.
Her Majesty recorded the message, which was filmed by British satellite broadcaster BSkyB and will be aired by the BBC and ITV on Christmas Day, in three-dimensional format last Friday. According to the British paper, Buckingham Palace says it expects a “relatively small” audience to watch the high-tech version of the address, as viewers will need special equipment, including 3D glasses and a 3D television.
The Queen’s innovative decision makes her the first Royal to ever be filmed in 3D, the Daily Mail noted. She has, of course, never been one to shrink from new technology. Since 2007, her Yuletide message has been streamed via YouTube, and the Royal Channel now boasts over 40 million views. The British Monarchy even established an official Twitter account in 2009, the Independent pointed out (although it is decidedly less hilarious than the famous parody account, @Queen_UK).
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The Queen will reportedly focus her 2012 speech on the positive effects of the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics, and will not bring up her family’s well-publicized baby news.
The 3D format may be a novelty, but the royal Christmas Day address is nothing new. The Queen’s grandfather, George V, started the tradition in 1932 when he delivered a speech on the radio that was written by Rudyard Kipling. The current Head of the Commonwealth delivered her first Christmas speech in 1952.
Perhaps the Queen’s embrace of modern technology helped her reach record-breaking popularity in May, when 69 percent of respondents in a Guardian/ICM poll said Britain would be “worse off” without the monarchy. Her appearance alongside Daniel Craig in a scene shot for the London Olympics opening ceremony probably didn’t hurt either.