To think that people under 50 don’t watch the king’s speech on Christmas Day?

[AlertCat]

Just that really. I’ve never watched it because I grew up in a household that wasn’t royalist. I don’t know any friends who make time to watch it. The only person I know who does watch it is my 82-year-old MiL.
So do you watch it? Are you under 50?

We also don’t do presents until after the speech. We tend to have lunch and be on coffee and petits fours or Turkish delight when we decamp to the sofa to watch His Majesty, then when the national anthem has finished we go to the tree and do tree presents. It’s only 10 minutes and usually quite interesting. Don’t really do telly for the rest of the day.

I'm over 70. Sometimes I watch it. Sometimes I don't.
It's no big deal, but I also don't necessarily avoid it if others want to watch it.
As I'm now hosting this year, I'll be too busy.

You do realise the king is the head of state, not some object of worship for people who describe themselves as 'royalist'?

Im 58, have no interest at all in the royal family and not really that fussed about Christmas so its never been on radar tbh

Never seen it.

I’m 40 and never watched it, neither did my parents, grandparents or in laws. I don’t know a single person who watches it. I come from a long line of republicans!

What's wrong with Charles?

We switch the radio on at 3pm and listen to it in the background while pulling the crackers and eating cheese and pudding. It's a bit of tradition.

Noting some of the comments about Royalty on this thread. I'm no Royalist but I prefer a speech from a head of state who is constitutional monarch who is above party politics and factional interests than to have a Presidents address from an arse like Trump.

I'm 51 it's not something I would choose to watch but I'm usually at my elderly parents house at Xmas and at some point they will put it on or the recorded version.

No interest. But someone must be watching because viewing figures are usually quite high. I don’t think it’ll beat Gavin and Stacey this year but it’ll get viewers. 🤷‍♀️

Never seen it, from either of them. We never watch telly at Christmas though. We do always listen to the Nine Lessons and Carols on the radio on Christmas Eve.

I'm actually curious...
In countries like - for example - the USA do they have an equivalent "address to the nation" speech on Christmas Day from their President (or whoever)?
Commonwealth countries get the King (previously Queen obviously) doing a speech for them too but do any other countries?
(ones where Christmas is a big thing obviously)

I'm in my fifties and haven't ever watched it. My parents are in their eighties and they're not interested. It's just an irrelevance for my family.

I suspect a lot of people don't want either on their Christmas day!

I'm 55 and I thought it was on the radio! Always was when I was at my grannies for Christmas! I have never seen it ( queens speech)

@Doggymummar I expect it's broadcast on both radio and tv. It was radio originally before telly was invented.

Middle aged and definitely disinterested in this.

My parents are in their 70’s and never watched it, I’m in my 40’s and don’t either

Over 50 and staunch republican - so no I don't watch it.

Never watched it. I'm 49 though, so do I have to start watching it from next year?

Used to watch The Queen. Won't watch Charles

Didn't grow up watching queens speech - started in my 20s. Will be watching kings speech. I'm now in my 40s.

This thread should, if nothing else, serve as a reminder that MN is not a window on the UK!

The most watched TV programme in the UK last year on Christmas Day was The King's Speech, which was watched by 5.9m people. So over well over one in 10 adults.
Clearly most of them are on MN, but clearly a good number of under 50s are watching it.
(I'd have been one of them last year, but am sadly no longer under 50).

What do you have against Charles specifically?
( I’m not a royalist, just interested in your viewpoint)