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Queen Elizabeth expected to give very personal Christmas message this year
The BBC reported that Queen Elizabeth is expected to give a very personal Christmas message this year, in her first Christmas since the death of her husband Prince Philip.
It said that the annual broadcast was recorded last week, before the Queen's decision to stay in Windsor Castle because of concerns about the pandemic.
It mentioned that there are not any Christmas day public appearances expected from the Queen.
But she was said to be in "good form" by Buckingham Palace aides and needed few takes to complete the recording.
The BBC noted that the traditional Christmas day message, to be screened at 15:00 GMT on Saturday, is an address to the nation and to the Commonwealth, reflecting on the passing year.
For the Queen it's the end of the year in which Prince Philip died, after a marriage of 73 years together.
In the broadcast she speaks beside a framed photograph of the couple taken during their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007 - and she is wearing the same sapphire brooch that appears in the photograph.
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It's the same brooch, with a chrysanthemum design, that she wore on honeymoon in 1947.
A service of thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip has been announced by Buckingham Palace, to be held in Westminster Abbey in the spring, with representatives of his charities and causes to be among the guests.
According to the BBC, this year's speech is expected to be more personal than usual, in a year in which many families have faced bereavements and hardship in the pandemic.
It should be noted that it's also the approach of next year's platinum jubilee, marking 70 years since she took to the throne.
Source: BBC
