The annual Christmas speech by the reigning monarch is a beloved UK tradition that has been celebrated for many decades. In 2022, King Charles III delivered the speech for the first time, and this year, he will once again address the people of the United Kingdom.
In this year’s speech, the King is expected to touch upon current events in Great Britain and around the world, as well as look towards the future.
Read on to find out how you can watch King Charles’ speech in the UK and abroad.
When is the King’s Christmas Speech this year?
The King’s Christmas Speech will be broadcast at 3pm GMT on Christmas Day (Wednesday, 25 December 2024), and it is expected to last around ten minutes.
How to watch the King’s Christmas Speech on TV
In the UK, the King’s Royal Christmas Message, as it is officially known, will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC Two, and ITV1. It will also be aired on BBC Radio 4 (92-95FM and 103-105FM).
As usual, the message will be pre-recorded and broadcast to all member countries of the Commonwealth.
How to watch the King’s Speech online from anywhere
Following the TV broadcast, you can catch up on the speech on the official BBC and Royal Family YouTube channels.
You can also stream the King’s speech online as it airs through iPlayer. You can watch it on a web browser or by downloading the app on your phone or tablet.
If you are not in a country where the speech is aired, using iPlayer is the best way to watch it live. However, iPlayer is technically only accessible within the UK.
To bypass this restriction, you can use a VPN and select a UK server to make it seem like you are in the UK. Some VPN services that unblock iPlayer include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Hidden24.