Every year millions of people sit down with their family on Christmas Day to watch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II deliver her annual Christmas speech, with the broadcast seen to many as synonymous with the festive period.
Over the years the Queen has used her annual festive broadcast to put across a number of messages, including welcoming new members into her own family as she did in 2017 ahead of Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex.
This year though she will urge her loyal subjects across the Commonwealth to treat one another with respect, despite any differences they may have, as a snippet of her upcoming speech was shared online on the Royal family’s official Instagram account.
“Through the many changes I have seen over the years – faith, family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance” she will say tomorrow.
“Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human-being is always a good first step towards greater understanding.”
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While the Queen used to deliver her message live, the broadcast is now pre-recorded. This year’s speech was recorded in Buckingham Palace’s white drawing room on December 12.
As well as an excerpt of her 2018 speech, a new photograph of Queen Elizabeth II was released on Monday to mark the occasion showing the monarch seated behind a desk in the drawing room.
Dressed in a stunning metallic dress and wearing a statement brooch and signature string of pearls, the Head of the Commonwealth is surrounded by fresh roses and is seated in front of a lavish Christmas tree adorned with gold decorations.
A framed black and white photograph is also visible in the shot, showing the Queen and Prince Philip proudly holding a young Prince Charles dressed in white.
The Queen’s choice of photographs never goes unnoticed and while she opted to pose with just one in shot this year, she has previously been surrounded by sentimental images of her family, including her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Last year the Queen chose sweet photographs of Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte, along with two images of herself and the Duke of Edinburgh, one of which was from their wedding day in 1947.
She also dedicated her speech last December to the 97-year-old Duke, who retired from public duty in 2017, saying: “Prince Philip has decided it’s time to slow down a little, having, as he economically put it, done his bit.
“But I know his support and unique sense of humour will remain as strong as ever as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family, and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year.”