This Christmas address by the Queen (95) is more emotional than ever, palace insiders now report to the “Daily Mail“. On December 25th at 4 p.m. German time, the British Queen’s speech will be broadcast on the BBC and ITV, but her speech has already been recorded.
The Queen’s Christmas speech has a long tradition among the British – but this year it should be different. The Queen is supposed to give a moving speech and pay tribute to her late husband Prince Philip († 99), for which she chose very personal words, say palace employees.
A previously published photo shows that the Queen is wearing a sapphire brooch that has a very special meaning. She wore the piece of jewelery both during the honeymoon with Prince Philip in 1947 and on the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary (diamond wedding) in 2007.
Prince Philip († 99) and his Queen in 2007 at their diamond wedding. Even then, the queen wore the sapphire broochPhoto: AP
Her great love Philip will not be by her side for the first time at Christmas, her husband died in April shortly before his 100th birthday. The two were married for 73 years. In addition, the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus has England firmly under control, so that a carefree gathering of all Elizabeth II’s family members is not possible.
The Queen had actually insisted on celebrating Christmas with her family again this year at the royal country estate of Sandringham and going to church there. But the rapidly expanding omicron variant of Corona is thwarting your plans.
It was only a few days before Christmas that it became known that, as in the previous pandemic year, the Queen would stay at Windsor Castle, west of London, and receive her Christmas visit there.
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, assured a representative of the royal family.
The monarch, who has been in poor health for months, has lost significant weight since the death of her husband in April. To protect them, Covid tests are mandatory for all family members.
The celebration is now only with around 15 people, the Queen’s closest circle. According to the “Daily Mail”, their sons Charles (73), Andrew (61) and Edward (57), as well as their wives, are there. Even Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson (62) is said to be there and the two children of Prince Edward. Also there is the Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Gloucester (77) and his wife Birgitte (75).
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla can take off their masks at Christmas. They celebrate vaccinated and tested with the QueenPhoto: Sam Hussein / AP
By the way, Prince William (39) and Duchess Kate (39) celebrate with their three children George (8), Charlotte (6) and Louis (3) and Kate’s family members at their country estate, Anm Hall in Norfolk. The Queen has given her blessing for the separate Christmas party and the family is said to have visited their grandmother shortly before leaving.
Her renegade grandson Prince Harry (37) and his wife Meghan (40) will not pay 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. Meghan and Harry recently introduced their daughter Lili to the public for the first time: Meghan lifts her daughter up on her Christmas card, son Archie is sitting on Dad Harry’s lap, everyone is laughing and looking happy.
Pure family happiness on a Christmas card: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan with their kids Archie and LiliPhoto: ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI
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 since she was born. Maybe the waves between Harry and his family will smooth out by the next love festival.