Alexa to summon the Queen as Amazon Echo airs Christmas broadcast

Fans of the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast will be able to listen without lifting a finger – and not just because the TV's been tuned to BBC One since The Gruffalo at 8.55am. Alexa users will be able to summon Her Majesty into their living rooms from 3pm GMT with the words "Alexa, play the Queen's Christmas Day message". The privilege isn't reserved just for Brits. Anyone with their Amazon Echo set to English – be that British, American, Australian, Canadian or Indian – will be able to listen to the speech, Amazon has announced. "After a challenging year, millions of people from across the Commonwealth will be eagerly awaiting Her Majesty the Queen's message on Christmas Day," said Eric King, the director of Alexa Europe.