On Christmas Day, The King gave his traditional speech to the people of Sweden. Photo: SVT
On Christmas Day, 25 December, The King gave his traditional Christmas speech on Radio Sweden P1. As in previous years, the speech was also broadcast by Sveriges Television.
The King gave his first Christmas speech on the radio in 1972, when he was Crown Prince. Since 1973, the King's Christmas speech has been a regular tradition on Swedish radio. In 2007, The King's Christmas speech was also broadcast by Sveriges Television for the first time.
According to Radio Sweden's archives, the first Christmas speech to Swedes living abroad was given in 1933 by Arthur Engberg. In 1938, Prince Wilhelm gave a speech to Swedes living abroad in both Swedish and English. Gustaf VI Adolf gave his first Christmas speech to Swedes living abroad in 1951, and then again in 1957, 1964, 1966 and 1969. Prince Bertil gave a speech to Swedes living abroad in 1955.