The Queen's decision to launch her own channel on YouTube has sparked all sorts of debate however while I am a traditionalist I am of the belief that it is demonstrating another positive step to make the monarchy relevant to a new generation without in any sense undermining the institution.

The Queen was swift to grasp the importance of television when her Christmas message was televised for the first time 50 years ago and once again she is embracing popular culture.

Today it is no longer quite the fixture it was - but Her Majesty has risen to the challenge. Last year, her Christmas message was, for the first time, issued as a podcast while this year it will be carried on the internet. The aim, says Buckingham Palace, is to make the message "more accessible to younger people and those in other countries".

With eight grandchildren ranging in age from 30 years to just one week, the Queen is no stranger to the ways of the young (she does, after all, text). What could be more natural than to decide, at the age of 81, to deliver your message through the medium they actually use?