Queen Elizabeth has set up her own channel on the video-sharing website YouTube and will be posting her annual Christmas Day message on the site this year.

Buckingham Palace announced Sunday that the 81-year-old monarch hopes to reach a wider, more diverse audience through YouTube. The new Royal Channel features archival footage of the Royal Family and events involving them.

Queen Elizabeth, seen here with her husband, Prince Phillip, in November, wants to reach a wider, more diverse audience through her new YouTube channel.
(Canadian Press)

"The Queen always keeps abreast with new ways of communicating with people," said a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman.

"[She] has seen everything that is going on the new site."

The Queen's message is a hallowed tradition watched by millions of Britons and others in Commonwealth countries worldwide on Christmas Day. Last year, her holiday message was released as a podcast.

"We are thrilled to see the British Royal Channel on the site, bringing some unique royal video footage to our global community," said a statement released by YouTube.