Address for the festive season more personal than ever | This is how emotionally the Queen is celebrating Christmas this year
The Queen’s first Christmas without her beloved husband Prince Philip (†99). This recent photo of Queen Elizabeth II. has now been released. Seen in front, a framed picture with Philip Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP
This Christmas address by the Queen (95) will be more emotional than ever, palace insiders now tell the "Daily Mail". On 25. December at 4 p.m. German time, the speech of the British Queen will be broadcast on BBC and ITV, but recorded her speech was already.
The Queen’s Christmas address is a tradition among the British – but this year it is to be different. The queen is expected to deliver a moving speech and pay tribute to her late husband Prince Philip (†99), for which she has chosen very personal words, palace staff now tell.
In a pre-released photo, the Queen can be seen wearing a sapphire brooch that has a very special meaning. She wore the gem both in 1947 during her honeymoon with Prince Philip, and to celebrate 60. Wedding anniversary (diamond wedding) of the couple in 2007.
Prince Philip (†99) and his Queen at their Diamond Wedding in 2007. The queen also wore the sapphire brooch back then Photo: AP
The love of her life, Philip, will not be by her side for the first time at Christmas; her husband died in April shortly before his 100th birthday. Birthday. For 73 years the two were married. In addition, the highly contagious Omikron variant of the Coronavirus has England firmly in its grip, so that a carefree reunion of all family members of Elizabeth II. is not possible.
Actually, the Queen had insisted on celebrating Christmas with her family again this year at the royal country estate of Sandringham and also go to church there. But the rapidly expanding omicron variety of corona is throwing a wrench in her plans.
Just a few days before Christmas, it was announced that the Queen will stay at Windsor Castle west of London to receive her Christmas visit, as she did last pandemic year.
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The Queen made the "personal decision after careful consideration," a member of the royal family was quoted as saying. During the holidays, all precautions and rules would be followed, a representative of the royal family assured.
The monarch, who has been in failing health for months, has lost a significant amount of weight since the death of her husband in April. To protect them, covid tests are mandatory for all family members.
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Celebration is now only with about 15 people, the closest circle of the Queen. With it are according to "Daily Mail" her sons Charles (73), Andrew (61) and Edward (57), as well as their wives. Even Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson (62) is expected to be there, as well as Prince Edward’s two children. Also attending is the Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Gloucester (77) and his wife Birgitte (75).
Princess Anne (71), the Queen’s daughter, can’t join in the celebrations – her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence (66) has tested positive for the coronavirus, several British media outlets report.
Incidentally, Prince William (39) and Duchess Kate (39) are celebrating with their three children, George (8), Charlotte (6) and Louis (3), and family members of Kate at their country estate, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. The Queen has given her blessing for the separate Christmas and the family is said to have visited their grandmother shortly before departure.
Her renegade grandson Prince Harry, 37, and his wife Meghan, 40, will not be paying the Queen a Christmas visit. The two probably prefer to celebrate under the California sun with their two children Archie (2) and Lilibet (six months) in their villa in Montecito. Just recently, Meghan and Harry introduced daughter Lili to the public for the first time: On her Christmas card, Meghan lifts her little daughter aloft, son Archie sits on dad Harry’s lap, everyone laughs and looks happy.
Harry’s daughter is named after her grandmother, Lilibet is the Queen’s very personal nickname, but the little one hasn’t even been to her daddy’s home country since she was born. Maybe the waves between Harry and his family will smooth out until the next celebration of love.