The King's Microphone

The King's Microphone

International ‘conferences’ can be dated back to medieval pageants (the 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold meeting of Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France) or diplomatic Congresses (Vienna, 1814-15). But scientific conferences of the 19th century set a template, orchestrating the technologies of globalisation (telegrams, post, radio). These would, in turn, communicate coverage of future international events. King George V embraced radio broadcasts, connecting the British sovereign and his global subjects. His first Christmas message was broadcast in 1932, two years after his welcome to the Round Table Conference delegates had been broadcast to the world, captured by apparatus within the King's special gold and silver microphone stand. A silver plate was engraved with each occasion the King used the apparatus, his 1930 broadcast being the ninth. The tradition was continued into the realm of King George VI, whose microphone took on a starring role in the 2010 film ‘The King’s Speech’.

The Parliamentary Archives, Palace of Westminster