The Queen paid an emotional tribute to her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in her annual Christmas Day broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
In her speech, the 95-year-old reflected on the loss of her husband of 73 years, and sympathised with the millions of others who had loved ones die in 2021.
Sitting in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle with a photograph of herself and Prince Philip alongside her, The Queen began her speech saying there is “one familiar laugh missing this year.”
Her Majesty said: “Although it is a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for people 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 found great comfort in the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work from across the country, the Commonwealth and the world.”
The Queen said: “His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and the ability to squeeze pleasure out of any situation were all irrepressible.
“That mischievous, inquiring twinkle at the end was as bright as when I first saw him.
“Life consists of final partings and 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 millions around the world, readied ourselves for Christmas.”
The Queen spoke fondly of Prince Philip’s life and achievements, particularly in regards to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, which she says showed he was “always prepared to pass the baton” to help young people.
Her Majesty also paid tribute to the Prince of Wales & the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge for continuing Philip’s “pioneering work” on the environment at the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November.
The Queen delivered her address in a red dress decorated with a highly symbolic brooch that she has worn at some of the most famous moments of her long and happy marriage to Prince Philip.
The gem, which features a large sapphire surrounded by smaller diamonds in the design of a chrysanthemum, was chosen by the then Princess Elizabeth for the photocall that she and her new husband took part in as they honeymooned at Broadlands in Hampshire in 1947. Sixty years later, The Queen wore the brooch again as she and Prince Philip walked in the same grounds for portraits to mark their Diamond wedding anniversary.
