1992: Queen's Christmas speech leaked

The Queen’s Christmas speech was published in a national newspaper two days ahead of schedule on 23 December 1992.

The BBC launched a full investigation into the unprecedented leak, although the source was never found.

Buckingham Palace denounced the publication as “very regrettable”, signalling a clampdown on the future advance availability of the speech to the world’s press.

BBC Archive: Originally broadcast on 23 December 1992.