Queen goes on location for message

THE QUEEN'S Christmas message took on a new look yesterday when she used the traditional slot to give a report on her year, writes Jonathon Carr-Brown.

Taking on the role of TV presenter, the Queen delivered her message on location from the countries and events she had attended, beginning with a shot of her alongside the choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Tradition was further swept away when she began with a friendly "Happy Christmas".

Working with BBC producer Daniel Brittain-Catlin, she then delivered a confident piece-to-camera looking out from her hotel window over the streets of Durban, during this year's state visit to South Africa.

In Edinburgh, at Holyroodhouse Palace, she introduced footage of a reception for young achievers in Scotland. And in a rare glimpse behind the scenes, she allowed a TV camera to record four generations of Royals posing for pictures for the family's private photo album.