Broadband 'more popular than Queen'

More people were interested in surfing the internet than watching the Queen's Christmas speech, according to figures from an internet service provider (ISP).

Plusnet revealed that traffic to social networking site Facebook started to grow between 14:00 and 15:00, the hour before the broadcast of the speech.

This had grown by a quarter of 17:00 as Brits used the internet to get in touch with loved ones.

Facebook was the second most popular site on the day, behind search engine Google, while shopping sites such as eBay, Argos and Amazon were also popular.

"The study is a good illustration of how the web is changing the face of the traditional Christmas as more people go online for their fun, information and entertainment," said Neil Armstrong, Plusnet's products director.

"People were very busy staying in touch with friends and family during the afternoon but their attention turned to seasonal bargains later in the evening with more logging onto the shopping sites."

Channel 4's "alternative" speech - broadcast at the same time as the Queen's - due criticism this year, as it was given by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.