Queen Elizabeth on Christmas Day 2019.Photo: Steve Parsons/Getty Images
Queen Elizabethis wishing the Commonwealth a very merry Christmas — and imparting the importance of “reconciliation.”
In her annual Christmas broadcast on Wednesday, which was filmed in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, the monarch, 93, opened with an important milestone — the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which wasdepicted in season 3 ofThe Crown.
“As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the fiftieth anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission,” she said. “As those historic pictures were beamed back to earth, millions of us sat transfixed to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind — and, indeed, for womankind. It’s a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.”
Queen Elizabeth with the Apollo 11 astronauts at Buckingham Palace, 1970.Hulton Archive/Getty
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She also noted the 75th anniversary of D-Day, stating that after the battle, “in the true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formerly been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations . . . putting past differences behind them.”
Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George at Christmas 2019.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
The monarch also gave a special shout-out toMeghan MarkleandPrince Harry’s 7-month-old son Archie. The royal parents opted to skip the Queen’s Christmas celebration in Sandringham this year so they could spend the holiday as a new family in Canada with Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland.
“Two hundred years on from the birth of my great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria,Prince Philipand I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great grandchild into our family,” she said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s 2019 holiday card.
The Queen then spoke of the past year, which she admits has been a trying one.
“Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference,” she said.
Her speech comes just weeks after her son Prince Andrew’s announcement that he has quit public duties amid his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The fallout from Andrew’s disastrous BBC interview about his friendship with the convicted sex offender saw his official royal role collapse to almost nothing in a matter of days. He was removed from his hundreds of charitable patronages and his office was forced out of Buckingham Palace.
The decision “shows that the royals can move very swiftly and very ruthlessly,” royal historian Robert Lacey tells PEOPLE.
Queen Elizabeth on Christmas Day 2019.Stephen Pond/Getty
The Queen also included sweet tokens of her family in the broadcast. On a table within view of the camera is a portrait ofPrince Charlesand Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall commemorating the 50th anniversary of Charles’ investiture as Prince of Wales; a family portrait ofPrince William, Kate Middleton and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis; a photo of Prince Philip from the Queen’s personal collection; and a vintage photo of the Queen with the Apollo 11 astronauts at Buckingham Palace in 1970.
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Queen Elizabeth‘s father King George VI started the Christmas address tradition in 1932 over the radio. She delivered her first Christmas address via radio in 1952 and via television in 1957.
source: people.com
