‘Scramble behind palace doors’ as calls are made for The King to rewrite his Christmas Broadcast

Buckingham Palace is facing calls to ensure King Charles’s Christmas broadcast reflects the Bondi Beach attack that has shaken Australia, with royal commentators warning that silence would risk appearing detached at a moment of national grief.

The fatal attack, which left at least 15 people dead and many more injured, occurred little more than a week before Christmas Day – raising questions about whether the monarch’s annual broadcast, traditionally recorded in advance, can still be adapted to reflect events that unfolded late in the year.

The King moved swiftly to issue a statement following the attack, saying he was “appalled and saddened” and praising the actions of police, emergency services and members of the public. Yet some royal observers believe a separate written message may not be sufficient, given the scale of the tragedy and Australia’s place within the Commonwealth.

Sky News Australia correspondent, Tessa Dunlop, said: “To remain relevant the King’s festive set-piece has to be responsive to outside events, however awful, that unfurl on the eve of the holiday season.”

The royal author continued: “He is well positioned to show leadership in Australia’s hour of darkness; a Christmas broadcast from a king who professes to be a defender of all faiths, must try and provide a balm of sorts in the face of the fatal attack during Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light.”

The Christmas broadcast, first delivered by George V in 1932, has long been seen as an opportunity for the monarch to reflect on the year’s defining moments and offer reassurance during times of hardship. While early messages were transmitted live, the address has been pre-recorded since the 1960s, allowing it to be aired at suitable times across the world – particularly in Australia.

That practical advantage, however, comes with a drawback. King Charles is understood to prefer recording his message in early December, often at carefully chosen locations with spiritual or historical significance. It is widely assumed that this year’s broadcast may already have been filmed before the events at Bondi Beach.

Royal sources have declined to confirm whether the speech has been recorded or whether changes are under consideration. Palace officials have also resisted speculation about the content of the message, maintaining the long-standing convention of secrecy until Christmas Day.

History suggests that late alterations are not without precedent. In 1996, Queen Elizabeth II used her Christmas broadcast to reflect on the mass shootings at Dunblane in Scotland and Port Arthur in Australia, seeking words that acknowledged collective grief while urging resilience. More recently, King Charles referenced the Israel-Gaza conflict in his 2023 address, speaking of shared values across faiths during a period of international tension.