Never mind the silly songs, the physical comedy, and the cute pets; there’s a new hit on YouTube, and she is, in a surprise that few people can claim to have expected, the Queen of England.
It’s important to note that the Queen is an intentional hit. Great Britain’s rulers have been broadcasting
Christmas speeches since 1932, and Queen Elizabeth II’s 1957 Christmas address was the first to be televised. Her 2007 address is the first to be broadcast through Google’s video-sharing service. The Queen is not unaware of the historical significance.
In a clip that’s been viewed 538,970 times, parts of her 1957 Christmas greeting are shown as part of her 2007 message. Furthermore, the 1957 Christmas broadcast is available in its entirety elsewhere on the newly-launched Royal Channel, and so are other relevant video clips.
As you might expect, the whole affair puts YouTube in a much more dignified position than we’ve ever before seen it; there’s a large gap between Monty Python clips and “The Official Channel Of The British Monarchy.” YouTube played no small role in the matter, either, since Caroline Davies reports that a team developed the channel for free.
We’ll now give a hat tip to Nathan Weinberg, a bow to the Queen (and her speechwriters), and leave you to watch important moments in British history.
