Browse content similar to 2015. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
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MUSIC: The National Anthem | 0:00:02 | 0:00:05 | |
# God save our gracious Queen | 0:00:20 | 0:00:26 | |
# Long live our noble Queen | 0:00:26 | 0:00:32 | |
# God save the Queen | 0:00:32 | 0:00:37 | |
# Send her victorious | 0:00:38 | 0:00:44 | |
# Happy and glorious | 0:00:44 | 0:00:49 | |
# Long to reign over us | 0:00:49 | 0:00:57 | |
# God save the Queen | 0:00:57 | 0:01:04 | |
# Thy choicest gifts in store | 0:01:07 | 0:01:12 | |
# On her be pleased to pour | 0:01:12 | 0:01:18 | |
# Long may she reign | 0:01:18 | 0:01:24 | |
# May she defend our laws | 0:01:24 | 0:01:29 | |
# And ever give us cause | 0:01:29 | 0:01:35 | |
# To sing with heart and voice... # | 0:01:35 | 0:01:42 | |
-Hip, hip! -ALL: -Hooray! | 0:01:42 | 0:01:43 | |
# God save the Queen. # | 0:01:43 | 0:01:51 | |
At this time of year, | 0:01:57 | 0:01:59 | |
few sights evoke more feelings of cheer and goodwill | 0:01:59 | 0:02:02 | |
than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree. | 0:02:02 | 0:02:05 | |
The popularity of a tree at Christmas is due in part | 0:02:07 | 0:02:10 | |
to my great-great-grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. | 0:02:10 | 0:02:15 | |
After this touching picture was published, many families | 0:02:16 | 0:02:20 | |
wanted a Christmas tree of their own, and the custom soon spread. | 0:02:20 | 0:02:24 | |
In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly married naval wife. | 0:02:26 | 0:02:32 | |
We have returned to that island over the years, | 0:02:33 | 0:02:36 | |
including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders. | 0:02:36 | 0:02:40 | |
And this year, I met another group of leaders - | 0:02:41 | 0:02:44 | |
The Queen's Young Leaders, an inspirational group, | 0:02:44 | 0:02:48 | |
each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities. | 0:02:48 | 0:02:52 | |
Gathering round the tree gives us a chance to think about the year ahead. | 0:02:53 | 0:02:59 | |
I am looking forward to a busy 2016, | 0:02:59 | 0:03:02 | |
though I have been warned | 0:03:02 | 0:03:04 | |
I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice. | 0:03:04 | 0:03:08 | |
It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, | 0:03:10 | 0:03:15 | |
as we think of those who are far away or no longer with us. | 0:03:15 | 0:03:18 | |
Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one | 0:03:20 | 0:03:24 | |
is particularly hard. | 0:03:24 | 0:03:25 | |
But it's also a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for. | 0:03:27 | 0:03:31 | |
It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness | 0:03:32 | 0:03:37 | |
this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, | 0:03:37 | 0:03:42 | |
often read at Christmas carol services - | 0:03:42 | 0:03:46 | |
"The light shines in the darkness, | 0:03:46 | 0:03:48 | |
"and the darkness has not overcome it." | 0:03:48 | 0:03:51 | |
One cause for thankfulness this summer was marking 70 years | 0:03:53 | 0:03:57 | |
since the end of the Second World War. | 0:03:57 | 0:03:59 | |
On VJ Day, we honoured the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in | 0:04:01 | 0:04:06 | |
the Far East, as well as remembering the thousands who never returned. | 0:04:06 | 0:04:11 | |
The procession from Horse Guards Parade to Westminster Abbey | 0:04:12 | 0:04:16 | |
must have been one of the slowest ever, | 0:04:16 | 0:04:18 | |
because so many people wanted to say thank you to them. | 0:04:18 | 0:04:22 | |
At the end of that war, the people of Oslo began sending an annual gift | 0:04:24 | 0:04:28 | |
of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square. | 0:04:28 | 0:04:31 | |
It has 500 light bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians, | 0:04:33 | 0:04:38 | |
but by people of all faiths, and of none. | 0:04:38 | 0:04:41 | |
At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem. | 0:04:43 | 0:04:47 | |
The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert's time. | 0:04:50 | 0:04:54 | |
For his family's tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us | 0:04:55 | 0:05:00 | |
that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family. | 0:05:00 | 0:05:04 | |
For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus' birth - | 0:05:07 | 0:05:11 | |
in a stable - were far from ideal, | 0:05:11 | 0:05:15 | |
but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country. | 0:05:15 | 0:05:19 | |
It is no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination | 0:05:21 | 0:05:26 | |
and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over. | 0:05:26 | 0:05:31 | |
Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, | 0:05:32 | 0:05:38 | |
Christ's unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence | 0:05:38 | 0:05:43 | |
but simply that we should love one another. | 0:05:43 | 0:05:46 | |
Although it is not an easy message to follow, | 0:05:48 | 0:05:51 | |
we shouldn't be discouraged. Rather, it inspires us to try harder, | 0:05:51 | 0:05:57 | |
to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness | 0:05:57 | 0:06:01 | |
into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading | 0:06:01 | 0:06:05 | |
that love to others, whenever and wherever we can. | 0:06:05 | 0:06:10 | |
One of the joys of living a long life is watching one's children, | 0:06:12 | 0:06:17 | |
then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren, | 0:06:17 | 0:06:21 | |
help decorate the Christmas tree. | 0:06:21 | 0:06:23 | |
And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun. | 0:06:24 | 0:06:27 | |
The customary decorations have changed little in the years | 0:06:30 | 0:06:33 | |
since that picture of Victoria and Albert's tree first appeared, | 0:06:33 | 0:06:37 | |
although, of course, electric lights have replaced the candles. | 0:06:37 | 0:06:41 | |
There's an old saying, that "it is better to light a candle | 0:06:43 | 0:06:46 | |
"than curse the darkness." | 0:06:46 | 0:06:48 | |
There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today. | 0:06:49 | 0:06:54 | |
Christmas is a good time to be thankful for them, | 0:06:55 | 0:06:59 | |
and for all that brings light to our lives. | 0:06:59 | 0:07:02 | |
I wish you a very happy Christmas. | 0:07:03 | 0:07:05 | |
# Away in a manger | 0:07:08 | 0:07:12 | |
# No crib for a bed | 0:07:12 | 0:07:16 | |
# The little Lord Jesus | 0:07:16 | 0:07:20 | |
# Laid down His sweet head | 0:07:20 | 0:07:24 | |
# The stars in the bright sky | 0:07:24 | 0:07:29 | |
# Looked down where He lay | 0:07:29 | 0:07:33 | |
# The little Lord Jesus | 0:07:33 | 0:07:37 | |
# Asleep on the hay | 0:07:37 | 0:07:42 | |
# The cattle are lowing | 0:07:43 | 0:07:48 | |
# The baby awakes | 0:07:48 | 0:07:52 | |
# But little Lord Jesus | 0:07:52 | 0:07:56 | |
# No crying, He makes | 0:07:56 | 0:08:00 | |
# I love Thee, Lord Jesus | 0:08:00 | 0:08:04 | |
# Look down from the sky | 0:08:04 | 0:08:09 | |
# And stay by my side | 0:08:09 | 0:08:12 | |
# Until morning is nigh | 0:08:12 | 0:08:17 | |
# Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh | 0:08:17 | 0:08:21 | |
# Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh | 0:08:21 | 0:08:24 | |
# Be near me, Lord Jesus | 0:08:24 | 0:08:27 | |
# I ask Thee to stay | 0:08:27 | 0:08:32 | |
# Close by me for ever | 0:08:32 | 0:08:36 | |
# And love me, I pray | 0:08:36 | 0:08:40 | |
# Bless all the dear children | 0:08:40 | 0:08:45 | |
# In Thy tender care | 0:08:45 | 0:08:48 | |
# And fit us for heaven | 0:08:48 | 0:08:53 | |
# To live with Thee there | 0:08:53 | 0:08:58 | |
# To live with Thee there. # | 0:08:58 | 0:09:04 |