The Queen has delivered an emotional message to the British public on the first Christmas Day since the death of her husband Prince Philip.
Opening the address to the nation she paid tribute to her late husband, saying he had been 'her strength'.
She said: "He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments, but he has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years.
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"And I and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know.
"Although it's a time of a great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones, this year especially I understand why.
"But for me in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work.
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"From around the country, the Commonwealth and the world. His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation were all irrepressible.
"That mischievous inquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him but life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.
"And as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas. We felt his presence as we, like many millions around the world, readied ourselves for Christmas.
"And as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas. We felt his presence as we, like many millions around the world, readied ourselves for Christmas.
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"While Covid again means we can't celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions."
The broadcast was recorded last week, but aired on nation television in the traditional time-slot at 3:00pm on Christmas Day on BBC One.
Elizabeth II lost her husband back in April, and gave her annual message to the public from Windsor Castle where she has been spending the day at Windsor Castle with her son, Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, and several other members of the Royal Family.
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Her daughter Princess Anne is not present this year because her husband Sir Timothy Laurence tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
Elizabeth has not made any public appearances this year, a side-effect of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the monarch was said to have been in ‘good form’ when filming her message.
Prince Philip died earlier this year after 73 years of marriage to the Queen, and she paid tribute to that relationship by delivering the speech beside a photograph of the pair on their diamond wedding anniversary back in 2007, and even wore the same brooch that she wore in that photo, as well as on their honeymoon in 1947.
This year’s speech, as well as occurring against the backdrop of much suffering up and down the country – and around the world – comes amidst rumours and concerns amongst many about the Queen’s health.
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She pulled out of a number of engagements in the autumn, including a speech at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, and the traditional Remembrance Sunday service in London in November.
The Christmas Message from the monarch is a tradition that dates back to 1932, when Elizabeth’s grandfather George V delivered a radio broadcast from Sandringham.
She was six at the time of that first broadcast, which has always remained at 3:00pm on Christmas Day in order to fit with as many time-zones around the world as possible.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: UK News, World News, The Queen, Royal Family, Christmas