Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2014 September 30

= September 30 =

Queen Elizabeth II christmas broadcast in 1969.
Queen Elizabeth II usually goes a christmas speech that is broadcast. In 1969 she did not. There are both official reasons and unofficial ones. Instead of a broadcast a letter was issued.

Can anyone tell me how this address was issued? and when exactly it went out? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.35.195.101 (talk) 00:11, 30 September 2014 (UTC)


 * This is referred to at Royal Christmas Message with links to more information here and here. The reasons seem to have been that with the investiture of the Prince of Wales and a related documentary, she didn't want the Royals to be overexposed. (If only she had known...) As to when it was issued, the links don't say so I'd assume it was distributed to media on Christmas. - EronTalk 00:27, 30 September 2014 (UTC)


 * The text of the letter is here should you be curious. As to its distribution, the text of the Christmas Broadcast is nowadays sent to news organisations in advance, with an embargo on its release until 9 am GMT on Christmas morning. There was a bit of a fuss in 1992 when a newspaper divulged the contents early - see 1992: Queen's Christmas speech leaked. I suspect that similar arrangements were in place in 1969, but I couldn't find a reference. Alansplodge (talk) 12:54, 30 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Thinking a bit more about it, the actual medium of transmission would probably have been a telex message, but again, I couldn't find a source to back that up. Alansplodge (talk) 09:41, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Inside the United Nations headquarters in recent years before the renovation
Does any body know an internet site were pics of the interior of the United Nations headquarters building are shown right before the renovation? They say, it looked very bad till renovation but I hardly find any pics as evidences. --112.198.82.187 (talk) 02:36, 30 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Which parts? This is an image of the Delegate's Lounge in 2003. This is how it looked in 2013 after renovation. - EronTalk 02:44, 30 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Many sections, particularly the underground, the security council, general assembly hall. I also would like to know if there are video documentaries available. --112.198.82.73 (talk) 06:30, 30 September 2014 (UTC)


 * so, the most important parts. --112.198.82.73 (talk) 06:31, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Kind of additional
How is actually the infrastructural state of the UN locations in Geneva and Vienna, respectively? Have they also undergone a major renovation in the last 10 years like the headquarters in New York? --112.198.82.170 (talk) 09:04, 30 September 2014 (UTC)
 * The Vienna International Centre has had renovations in the past few years to remove asbestos from the building. That work is more or less completed now and there are no other major works planned. Regarding the Palace of Nations, major renovation is planned, see . --Viennese Waltz 09:24, 30 September 2014 (UTC)