H.M. the Queen's Christmas message
The Queen has spoken about her great-grandson Prince George in
her Christmas broadcast, and said the birth of a baby allows people to
think about the future with renewed "happiness and hope".
In her traditional message to the nation, the Queen also made an
observation about the future for new parents - "life will never be quite
the same again".
After George's christening in October, the Royal Family gathered for traditional photos to mark an event the head of state said was "a happy occasion".
The Queen's annual broadcast also featured behind-the-scenes footage
taken at Clarence House as the royals posed for the christening pictures
under the direction of celebrity portrait photographer Jason Bell.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son George was born on July 22 at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital in central London.
Here is the full text of the Queen's Christmas broadcast:
"I once knew someone who spent a year in a plaster cast recovering
from an operation on his back. He read a lot, and thought a lot, and
felt miserable.
"Later, he realised this time of forced retreat from the world had helped him to understand the world more clearly.
"We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection.
With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock.
Be it through contemplation, prayer, or even keeping a diary, many have
found the practice of quiet personal reflection surprisingly rewarding,
even discovering greater spiritual depth to their lives.
"Reflection can take many forms. When families and friends come
together at Christmas, it's often a time for happy memories and
reminiscing. Our thoughts are with those we have loved who are no longer
with us. We also remember those who through doing their duty cannot be
at home for Christmas, such as workers in essential or emergency
services.
"And especially at this time of year we think of the men and women
serving overseas in our armed forces. We are forever grateful to all
those who put themselves at risk to keep us safe.
"Service and duty are not just the guiding principles of yesteryear; they have an enduring value which spans the generations.
"I myself had cause to reflect this year, at Westminster Abbey, on my
own pledge of service made in that great church on Coronation Day sixty
years earlier.
"The anniversary reminded me of the remarkable changes that have
occurred since the Coronation, many of them for the better; and of the
things that have remained constant, such as the importance of family,
friendship and good neighborliness.
"But reflection is not just about looking back. I and many others are
looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.
"The baton relay left London in October and is now the other side of
the world, on its way across seventy nations and territories before
arriving in Scotland next summer. Its journey is a reminder that the
Commonwealth can offer us a fresh view of life.
"My son Charles summed this up at the recent meeting in Sri Lanka. He
spoke of the Commonwealth's 'family ties' that are a source of
encouragement to many. Like any family there can be differences of
opinion. But however strongly they're expressed they are held within the
common bond of friendship and shared experiences.
"Here at home my own family is a little larger this Christmas.
"As so many of you will know, the arrival of a baby gives everyone
the chance to contemplate the future with renewed happiness and hope.
For the new parents, life will never be quite the same again.
"As with all who are christened, George was baptised into a joyful
faith of Christian duty and service. After the christening, we gathered
for the traditional photograph.
"It was a happy occasion, bringing together four generations.
"In the year ahead, I hope you will have time to pause for moments of
quiet reflection. As the man in the plaster cast discovered, the
results can sometimes be surprising.
"For Christians, as for all people of faith, reflection, meditation
and prayer help us to renew ourselves in God's love, as we strive daily
to become better people. The Christmas message shows us that this love
is for everyone. There is no one beyond its reach.
"On the first Christmas, in the fields above Bethlehem, as they sat
in the cold of night watching their resting sheep, the local shepherds
must have had no shortage of time for reflection.
Suddenly all this was to change. These humble shepherds were the
first to hear and ponder the wondrous news of the birth of Christ - the
first noel - the joy of which we celebrate today.
"I wish you all a very happy Christmas."
