SHADMIA's WORLD

Queen Elizabeth II of England announced the creation of "The Royal Channel" on Youtube. In acknowledging the worldwide popularity and acceptance of the video-sharing website, the royal family has once again shown its willingness to embrace new technologies as a means of reaching out to the public.

From her televised coronation in 1953, to her first live broadcast on Christmas Day 1957, to her podcast last year Christmas, the queen has shown a remarkable fondness for using the mass media and keeping up with the changing times. This year's Christmas message is available on the new Youtube Channel.

On the newly launched channel there are clips dating as far back as the silent news footage in 1917 of Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII. Other topics of interest include: The Queen Mother's wedding (1923), Death of King George VI, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, State Banquets, Garden Parties and much more. It is a real look back in time at the Royal Family. It is also very popular. It is the 2nd most subscribed to channel this month with more than 17,000 subscribers. Almost 1 million visitors have already been to the site.

In her Christmas message this year she started and ended with clips from her 1957 broadcast - 50 years ago. She also wore the same pearl necklace that she had on back then.

The Queen, Christmas 1957:

"That it's possible for some of you to see me today is just another example of the speed at which things are changing all around us. Because of these changes I am not surprised that many people feel lost and unable to decide what to hold on to and what to discard, how to take advantage of the new life without losing the best of the old."

The Queen, Christmas 2007:

"One of the features of growing old is the heightened awareness of change, to remember what happened 50 years ago means that it is possible to appreciate what has changed in the mean time. It also makes you aware of what has remained constant."

No matter what you may think of the British monarchy, Queen Elizabeth is one of the most beloved public figures in the world. She has reigned for 54 years and at 81-years-old, is Britain's longest reigning monarch. Her role today may only be ceremonial but she has lived a life that her subjects, the British people, can be very proud of. With all the troubles and scandals in the world, it almost makes one nostalgic for "The Good Old Days".