• BBC News, Monday, December 24, 2007 11:45 AM

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, has launched a Royal Channel on Google's video site YouTube. The channel's first posting will be the Queen's annual Christmas Day message. The Palace said it hopes to reach younger people and those in other countries by posting the annual address on the Web. The site will also contain recent and historical footage of members of the Royal Family.

The channel bears the official title, "The Royal Channel-The Official Channel of the British Monarchy", and displays a photo of Buckingham Palace and the Queen's Guards. It went live shortly after midnight, according to BBC.

"I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct," the Queen said. "That it is possible for some of you to see me today is just another example of the speed at which things are changing all around us." The channel will feature clips from garden parties, state visits, prime ministers, investitures and a day in the life of Charles, Prince of Wales.

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