The Queen has delivered her most emotional Christmas message ever, paying tribute to her ‘beloved’ late husband Prince Philip and revealing how the Duke of Edinburgh’s ‘mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him’.
The monarch described that there was ‘one familiar laugh missing’ during the festive season this year as she made her most fulsome public tribute to her husband of 73 years and the nation’s longest-serving consort since his death in April aged 99.
She wore the sapphire brooch, which she had worn on her honeymoon in 1947, and again to celebrate her diamond wedding anniversary. The 95-year-old head-of-state also addressed the Covid crisis and reached out for families that have lost loved ones.
An intensely private woman, the Queen has touched upon her devastating loss on a handful of occasions since Philip’s death. She has also given permission for Buckingham Palace to release a small number of treasured images of the prince. But today’s message – broadcast at 3pm on both BBC1 and ITV – was by far her most intimate yet.
While speaking to the nation at Windsor Castle’s White Drawing Room, the monarch stood behind a wooden desk with one photograph of Queen Elizabeth and her husband in 2007.
Charles, her oldest son, and Camilla, his wife, were also mentioned fondly by Lilibet Diana. She also remembers William and Kate for their activism in climate change. Just a tacit mention was made to Lilibet Diana, Harry and Meghan’s daughter, as one of four great-grandchildren born this year.
But there was no reference – either on screen or by name during the nine-minute broadcast – to Andrew, Harry or Meghan, the trio having stepped back from royal duties as the House of Windsor faces its most severe crisis since arguably the 1990s.
‘Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones,’ the Queen said. ‘This year, especially, I understand why.’
The monarch, with a sapphire chrysanthemum brooch pinned to her Christmas red Angela Kelly dress, said of Philip: ‘His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation were all irrepressible.
As she sat beside the framed photo of Prince Philip (pictured), The Queen gave an emotional tribute. She wore the sapphire-chrysanthemum brooch that she wore on her jacket in November to commemorate her 73rd anniversary of marriage with Philip.
The Queen sitting alone inside St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor during Philip’s funeral in April
The Queen and the the Duke of Edinburgh leaving Westminster Abbey in London after their wedding ceremony in 1947
This framed photograph was taken in 2007, at Broadlands Country House in Hampshire, to commemorate their diamond wedding anniversary. Because her beloved Papa noticed that the color of the Queen’s daughter’s eyes matched his cornflower blue gems, he discovered that they were a symbol for love, purity, and wisdom.
Broadlands was the place where the royal couple honeymooned in 1947. The Queen also wore the same brooch made of chrysanthemums in this Christmas message.
One of the images broadcast today showed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at one of their ‘happy places’ – the Coyles of Muick hills close to Balmoral, where they enjoyed walking and picnics throughout their long lives together. She is so fondly attached to the area that her new corgi named after it. Their daughter-in law, the Countess Of Wessex took this special photograph in 2003 on one of their family’s summer holidays.
Buckingham Palace is allowed to release some treasured photographs of the Prince from The Queen.
The Queen has delivered her most emotional Christmas message ever, paying tribute to her ‘beloved’ late husband Philip and describing how the duke’s ‘mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him’
‘Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones,’ the Queen said. ‘This year, especially, I understand why’
An intensely private woman, the Queen has touched upon her devastating loss on a handful of occasions since Philip’s death
Children at The Royal School, Windsor, who made 100 white and gold stars to decorate the Christmas tree that features in The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast, hanging them on their school tree after the recording until the end of term when they took them home as presents for their parents and carers
The Central Band of the Royal British Legion performs during the broadcast on the grounds of Windsor Castle
Singology Community Choir performs for broadcast at St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle
‘That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him. Life is full of first and final meetings. And as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas.’
The Covid variant also had an impact on the Queen, who cancelled her Sandringham trip in order to spend Christmas with Windsor. Clarence House announces that Charles and Camilla joined her on this day.
‘While Covid again means we can’t celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions,’ the head of state said.
‘I am sure someone somewhere today will remark that Christmas is a time for children. It’s an engaging truth, but only half the story. Perhaps it’s truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all.
‘Adults, when weighed down with worries, sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things, where children do not.
‘And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, of whom we were delighted to welcome four more this year.’
In addition, Queen Elizabeth II hinted that she might be reunited with her loved ones during the New Year.
‘February, just six weeks from now, will see the start of my Platinum Jubilee year, which I hope will be an opportunity for people everywhere to enjoy a sense of togetherness… and also to look ahead with confidence,’ she said.
’I wish you all a very happy Christmas.’
Since October, when the monarch suffered a severe bout of illness and was not seen by the public, he has been absent.
A single, unframed photograph of Philip and her was presented to the Queen. It was taken in 2007, at Broadlands Country House in Hampshire. This picture marked their diamond wedding anniversary. There was their honeymoon in 1947.
A sapphire and chrysanthemum brooch was worn by her during key moments in her happy, long-lived relationship with Philip.
It was worn by Elizabeth, then the Princess of Wales, for her first photocall while on honeymoon. She also wore it at their diamond wedding celebrations.
The Queen has had a lifelong passion for sapphires, thanks to her ‘beloved Papa’, who noticed the cornflower blue gemstones matched the colour of his daughter’s eyes.
Throughout her life, King George VI often gave the gift of sapphires to his eldest daughter – from a bracelet for her 18th birthday in 1944 to a brooch in the shape of a flower basket to mark the birth of her first child, Charles, in 1948.
The suite of sapphires George VI gifted her in 1947 as a wedding gift was so loved by her that she had to have a bracelet made and a tiara.
It prompted Noel Coward to write of a film premiere: ‘The Queen looked luminously lovely and was wearing the largest sapphires I have ever seen.’
Also, she spoke affectionately about Charles, her oldest son, and Camilla, his wife, the Duchess de Cornwall.
Charles with Camilla, his wife; William and Kate getting out of a car. Image courtesy of the Queen’s Broadcast
Kate Middleton, Duchess Of Cambridge, was included in the Queen’s emotionally charged Christmas Broadcast
Buckingham Palace is allowed to release some treasured photographs of the Prince from The Queen.
Today, the suite of sapphires is reserved for what the Queen calls ‘big dressing’ for formal occasions such as State Banquets, while the necklace and earrings are a firm favourite for family occasions.
Other precious gems in her priceless collection include Prince Albert’s sapphire brooch, given to Queen Victoria on the eve of their wedding in 1840 and worn by every queen since, and a sapphire brooch left to her by Queen Mary that once belonged to the Empress Marie of Russia, mother of the murdered Tsar Nicholas II.
Buckingham Palace announced also that the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral will be commemorated at Westminster Abbey this spring.
Sources said they ‘fully expected’ Harry and Meghan to be invited to the service, alongside the rest of the Royal Family.
Many see it as a good way to ‘break the ice’ between the couple and their estranged relatives following their acrimonious departure from the UK and royal life.
Although the Queen didn’t mention Andrew, Harry or Meghan in her Christmas Day message, she gave praise to Charles, Camilla William, and Kate.
The House of Windsor was plunged into its most severe crisis since arguably Princess Diana’s death in 1997 after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit royal duties last year.
During their Oprah Winfrey interview Harry and Meghan made several bombshell claims against the Royal Family.
Accusations of racism forced the Queen to pointedly claim that ‘recollections may vary’ as she issued an unprecedented plea to deal with their issues privately as a family.
Though it is thought that Her Majesty has invited the couple to a service of thanksgiving for the Duke of Edinburgh’s life, concerns remain over Harry’s forthcoming ‘tell-all’ memoir – due to be published next autumn after the Platinum Jubilee.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s middle son Andrew stepped out of the public spotlight over questions about his friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and Epstein’s ‘madam’ Ghislaine Maxwell, who is on trial in New York accused of sex trafficking. The allegations are denied by her.
The Duke of York currently faces a US civil suit alleging that Virginia Roberts, Epstein’s victim of trafficking, was made to have sex three times with Virginia Roberts in 2001.
Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied Miss Roberts’s claims, and his lawyers are trying to get the case thrown out.
What The Queen’s Speech looks like today: From 1952 radio broadcast to modern TV productions.
British Christmas traditions are anchored on the Queen’s Christmas message.
Each year the monarch commemorates Christmas Day with a broadcast address to her subjects at 3pm ET on the Dot.
This tradition started in 1932, when Queen Victoria’s grandfather King George V used radio to address subjects.
Sir John Reith who was the founder and first chairman of BBC believed that an address given by the Sovereign in order to launch the Empire Service (which later became the BBC World Service), would provide a boost to the BBC.
Radio at that time was still relatively young. Although initially skeptical of the suitability for an address, the King soon grew to enjoy the opportunity to speak with his subjects.
The British Empire’s first address was broadcast live using General Post Offices, who were able to receive the transmission via shortwave transmitters from Britain.
For the broadcast, 3pm was selected as the time for transmission to ensure that the Empire could be reached.
This address by King George was first for many subjects to have such access to the Sovereign.
Britons grew to love addresses throughout World War Two, as George V, George VI’s younger brother, used radio addresses in order to raise the morale of war weary nations.
1952: Months after the death of her father, King George VI, a 26-year-old Queen Elizabeth took on the daunting task of delivering the Christmas speech from Sandringham, pictured
The 26-year old Queen rose to the throne on the 22nd of May 1952. She used her first broadcast to express gratitude to Britain and ask them to pray for her before she was coronated the next year.
The Queen, dressed in a traditional suit, sat behind Sandringham’s desk, Norfolk. There, equipment was set up for recording her radio message.
This address came several months after her premature death and was the most significant of the monarch’s lives since her speech from South Africa on her 21st Birthday in 1947.
Her speech also included greetings for British personnel serving abroad.
1957: Following the 1953 television broadcast that was televised her coronation, the Duke of Edinburgh orchestrated the broadcasting of the Christmas message to radio and television.
In 1957, the first televised Christmas message was broadcast. The Queen’s coronation and royal events were followed by the broadcasting of the Christmas message on TV.
This broadcast featured pictures of her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne, who were young at Sandringham.
This was the first time that broadcasts were delivered line-by-line. Later, the producer of the address stated that Queen Elizabeth II was natural using a teleprompter.
1967: Ten years ago, on the 10th anniversary of the original televised broadcast from 1957, the queen’s Christmas speech in colour was first seen.
Ten years later, the Queen’s Christmas broadcast in color was first shown.
She stated, “Modern communication makes it possible for us to communicate in our homes. I wish you a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.”
Although these techniques are new, the message of Christmas is timeless.
Buckingham Palace recorded the speech, but the framed photos that still draw much interest and symbolism in today’s setting were not as present in 1957.
The Queen paid tribute in her speech to Canada for the centenary celebrations of Confederation.
1971: Queen Elizabeth with her sons Prince Andrew (11 years old) and Prince Edward (7 years), looking through a photo album of their family. She was delivering a Christmas message that focused on families.
The Queen focused on her family during her 1971 speech and asked her children Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Prince Edward to go through a photobook together.
This speech, which was centered on family, marked the first time that other royals were involved in the broadcast.
As the Royal Family is largely kept secret until the time they reach adulthood, this was an unusual outing for these young princes.
1975: As the Queen wraps up, she heads into Buckingham Palace’s gardens for her first broadcast outdoors in 1975
In a break with the usual, the 1975 speech broadcast from Buckingham Palace was broadcast. This marked the first recording outside of its norm.
For the cold, grey winter day that awaited her, she wrapped up warmly in a heavy jacket.
The UK saw record levels of inflation and unemployment under Harold Wilson as prime minister. And worldwide, which was referred to by The Queen.
She stated that she was horrified at the brutality and senseless violence and, above all, by the threat posed by inflation, the terrifying sickness of today’s world.
“Then Christmas arrives, and we are again reminded of the importance and value of people, and our connection with one another.
2006: The Queen recorded her message at Southwark Cathedral in a short break from royal residences. There she also met the children who were working on a Nativity collage.
In another break with tradition, the 2006 Christmas Message was filmed at Southwark Cathedral
This was only the second occasion that the speech had been filmed without the royal residence.
While visiting children in the cathedral’s Nativity Collage, she wore a vivid green skirt suit.
The monarch expressed gratitude to the people for their’very generous’ response to her 80th Birthday.
She also met children who were working on a nativity collage as part of the break from royal residences.
1997: The Queen’s address in 1997 was overshadowed by the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in August of that year, an event she acknowledged at the outset of her festive speech
Diana Princess of Wales died in August 1997 and overshadowed the Queen’s 1997 address.
The Sovereign was subject to intense criticism in the months that followed Diana’s suicide.
The Queen then acknowledged again her grief at Diana’s death by quoting a William Blake poem on the intertwining joy and sadness.
Also, she noted that it was not all sad because the anniversary of the Golden Wedding between Prince Philip and the monarch was celebrated.
2002: Queen Elizabeth II used 2002 to remember her sister Princess Margaret and her mother Queen Elizabeth. She also marked the close of her Golden Jubilee Year.
Five years later, the theme of Queen’s grief was used in the 2002 Christmas Message.
This year saw the deaths of Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, her mother.
Like 1997, also the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee.
She spoke out to express her sympathy for all those who have lost loved ones this year.
2017: Meghan, Prince Harry’s new fiancee was welcomed by the Queen in her speech. This frame shows the photo of the actress.
To welcome the new Royal Family member, the Queen used her 60th anniversary broadcast of 2017 as a way to celebrate.
A framed photograph of Prince Harry and Meghan from their engagement session was displayed alongside family photos by the Queen to welcome them.
Sky News produced the annual address and recorded it in Palace’s 1844 Room. It is decorated with family photos and a large tree.
2020: The Queen’s role as a figure for national unity became even more important – showcased in the high viewing figures for her speech in 2020 at the height of the second wave of Covid infections
During the pandemic, Queen Elizabeth II’s function as an icon of national unity was even more crucial.
While protecting the sick at Sandringham, Norfolk from Covid, the Queen brought attention to the bravery of young people to help the older during the pandemic.
She spoke out about the strong spirit and resilience of British people, as well as how they overcame the difficulties that Covid presented.
It was in the same year that the Queen gave an exceptional public address to the nation at the peak of the first pandemic wave.
Admiration was widespread for her leadership when she used the words of Vera Lynn to rally the nations.
It was the highest-viewed television broadcast of the Christmas season, suggesting that Covid-weary Britain had turned to the head state for strength.