0:00:02 > 0:00:03DRUM ROLL
0:00:03 > 0:00:06MUSIC: "God Save The Queen"
0:00:42 > 0:00:46In this past year, my family and I have been inspired
0:00:46 > 0:00:49by the courage and hope we have seen in so many ways
0:00:49 > 0:00:53in Britain, in the Commonwealth and around the world.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56We've seen that it's in hardship
0:00:56 > 0:01:00that we often find strength from our families.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05It is in adversity that new friendships are sometimes formed.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09And it's in a crisis that communities break down barriers
0:01:09 > 0:01:11and bind together to help one another.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage
0:01:18 > 0:01:19rising up from within.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Indeed, sadly it seems that it is tragedy
0:01:24 > 0:01:28that often draws out the most and the best from the human spirit.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33When Prince Philip and I visited Australia this year,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37we saw for ourselves the effects of natural disaster
0:01:37 > 0:01:41in some of the areas devastated by floods,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45where in January so many people lost their lives
0:01:45 > 0:01:46and their livelihoods.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50We were moved by the way families
0:01:50 > 0:01:54and local communities held together to support each other.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Prince William travelled to New Zealand and Australia
0:02:01 > 0:02:05in the aftermath of earthquakes, cyclones and floods
0:02:05 > 0:02:09and saw how communities rose up to rescue the injured,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11comfort the bereaved
0:02:11 > 0:02:15and rebuild the cities and towns devastated by nature.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20The Prince of Wales also saw first-hand
0:02:20 > 0:02:24the remarkable resilience of the human spirit
0:02:24 > 0:02:28after tragedy struck in a Welsh mining community,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32and how communities can work together to support their neighbours.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39This past year has also seen some memorable and historic visits -
0:02:39 > 0:02:42to Ireland, and from America.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45BAND PLAYS ROUSING TUNE
0:02:45 > 0:02:49The spirit of friendship, so evident in both these nations,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51can fill us all with hope.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58Relationships that years ago were once so strained
0:02:58 > 0:03:02have, through sorrow and forgiveness, blossomed into long-term friendship.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07It is through this lens of history
0:03:07 > 0:03:10that we should view the conflicts of today
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and so give us hope for tomorrow.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Of course, family does not necessarily mean blood relatives,
0:03:18 > 0:03:23but often a description of a community, organisation or nation.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30all with a common bond,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33shared beliefs, mutual values
0:03:33 > 0:03:34and goals.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36- MAN:- Long live the Queen!
0:03:36 > 0:03:38It is this which makes the Commonwealth
0:03:38 > 0:03:41a family of people in the truest sense...
0:03:41 > 0:03:42- Nice to see you again.- How are you?
0:03:42 > 0:03:48..At ease with each other, enjoying its shared history
0:03:48 > 0:03:50and ready and willing to support its members
0:03:50 > 0:03:52in the direst of circumstances.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57They have always looked to the future with a sense of camaraderie,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00warmth and mutual respect
0:04:00 > 0:04:03while still maintaining their individualism.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07The importance of family has, of course,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10come home to Prince Philip and me personally this year
0:04:10 > 0:04:14with the marriages of two of our grandchildren,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17each in their own way a celebration of the God-given love
0:04:17 > 0:04:19that binds a family together.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21CROWD CHEERS
0:04:23 > 0:04:26For many, this Christmas will not be easy.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31With our Armed Forces deployed around the world,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34thousands of service families face Christmas
0:04:34 > 0:04:36without their loved ones at home.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42The bereaved and the lonely will find it especially hard.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46And, as we all know, the world is going through difficult times.
0:04:47 > 0:04:53All this will affect our celebration of this great Christian festival.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55# Angels, angels
0:04:55 > 0:04:58# Angels everywhere... #
0:04:58 > 0:05:03Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Jesus was born into a world full of fear.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16"Fear not," they urged. "We bring you tidings of great joy,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20"which will be to all people, for unto you
0:05:20 > 0:05:23"is born this day in the city of David
0:05:23 > 0:05:25"a saviour who is Christ the Lord."
0:05:25 > 0:05:28..Give Jesus a birthday gift...
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Although we are capable of great acts of kindness,
0:05:32 > 0:05:38history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41from our recklessness or our greed.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46God sent into the world a unique person,
0:05:46 > 0:05:51neither a philosopher nor a general - important though they are -
0:05:51 > 0:05:54but a saviour with the power to forgive.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships
0:06:05 > 0:06:08and it can reconcile divided communities.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God's love.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17MUSIC: "O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
0:06:20 > 0:06:23In the last verse of this beautiful carol,
0:06:23 > 0:06:27O Little Town Of Bethlehem, there's a prayer.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30"O holy child of Bethlehem
0:06:30 > 0:06:33"Descend to us, we pray
0:06:33 > 0:06:36"Cast out our sin and enter in
0:06:36 > 0:06:39"Be born in us today."
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It is my prayer that on this Christmas Day
0:06:43 > 0:06:49we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels
0:06:49 > 0:06:53and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57I wish you all a very happy Christmas.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03MUSIC: "O Little Town Of Bethlehem"