Christmas Eve National Speech

The King's Christmas Speech, formally known as His Majesty The King's Christmas Message (Spanish: Mensaje de Navidad de S.M. el Rey) is a broadcast by the reigning King of Spain to Spanish people every Christmas Eve since 1975. The speech is aired on all Spanish TV channels.[1]

Broadcast

The message typically combines a chronicle of that year's major events, with specific focus on politics, economy, culture and social affairs, and also the sovereign's own personal feelings on Christmas.

In Spain and on the Internet, the King's Christmas Speech is not broadcast until 21:00 on 24 December.

Recurrent topics

During his reign, King Juan Carlos I usually covered the main problems of the nation, such as ETA. In 2004, the speech was highly related to the 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings; in 2006 the King discussed the need to become a united nation against terrorism (in implicit support of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's anti-terrorist policies) and he mentioned the increasing force of immigrants in Spain and appreciated their contribution to the economy.

Special speeches
Monarch Number Date Theme
Juan Carlos I 1 February 24, 1981 1981 Spanish coup d'état attempt
Juan Carlos I 2 March 11, 2004 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings
Juan Carlos I 3 March 23, 2014 Adolfo Suárez's death
Juan Carlos I 4 June 2, 2014 Juan Carlos I's Abdication
Felipe VI 1 October 3, 2017 2017 Catalan independence referendum
Felipe VI 2 March 18, 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
  • During his reign, Juan Carlos began his speeches with the phrase "La reina y yo" ("The Queen and I"). This is commonly considered the King's main catchphrase and as such has often been parodied by media. A comic strip in El Jueves magazine about the monarchy takes his title from this. In a departure from his father's custom, King Felipe VI did not start his 2015 speech with the phrase "La reina y yo", rather saying Buenas Noches ("Good Night").[2]
  • The King's speech has been parodied in many television shows such as Buenafuente.
  • Mariano Rajoy's speech on the occasion of Fiesta Nacional de España was criticized by the Left because it seemed too similar to the King's Christmas speech. Rajoy delivered his message seated near the flag of Spain and in a medium shot, just as royal speeches usually are.
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References
  1. Mensaje de S.M. Juan Carlos I - 2008
  2. "King Felipe of Spain's Christmas Eve Speech - English Translation". Gert's Royals. 24 December 2015.
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