2011 The Queen

DRUM ROLL

MUSIC: "God Save The Queen"

In this past year, my family and I have been inspired

by the courage and hope we have seen in so many ways

in Britain, in the Commonwealth and around the world.

We've seen that it's in hardship

that we often find strength from our families.

It is in adversity that new friendships are sometimes formed.

And it's in a crisis that communities break down barriers

and bind together to help one another.

Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage

rising up from within.

Indeed, sadly it seems that it is tragedy

that often draws out the most and the best from the human spirit.

When Prince Philip and I visited Australia this year,

we saw for ourselves the effects of natural disaster

in some of the areas devastated by floods,

where in January so many people lost their lives

and their livelihoods.

We were moved by the way families

and local communities held together to support each other.

Prince William travelled to New Zealand and Australia

in the aftermath of earthquakes, cyclones and floods

and saw how communities rose up to rescue the injured,

comfort the bereaved

and rebuild the cities and towns devastated by nature.

The Prince of Wales also saw first-hand

the remarkable resilience of the human spirit

after tragedy struck in a Welsh mining community,

and how communities can work together to support their neighbours.

This past year has also seen some memorable and historic visits -

to Ireland, and from America.

BAND PLAYS ROUSING TUNE

The spirit of friendship, so evident in both these nations,

can fill us all with hope.

Relationships that years ago were once so strained

have, through sorrow and forgiveness, blossomed into long-term friendship.

It is through this lens of history

that we should view the conflicts of today

and so give us hope for tomorrow.

Of course, family does not necessarily mean blood relatives,

but often a description of a community, organisation or nation.

The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations,

all with a common bond,

shared beliefs, mutual values

and goals.

-MAN:

-Long live the Queen!

It is this which makes the Commonwealth

a family of people in the truest sense...

-Nice to see you again.

-How are you?

..At ease with each other, enjoying its shared history

and ready and willing to support its members

in the direst of circumstances.

They have always looked to the future with a sense of camaraderie,

warmth and mutual respect

while still maintaining their individualism.

The importance of family has, of course,

come home to Prince Philip and me personally this year

with the marriages of two of our grandchildren,

each in their own way a celebration of the God-given love

that binds a family together.

CROWD CHEERS

For many, this Christmas will not be easy.

With our Armed Forces deployed around the world,

thousands of service families face Christmas

without their loved ones at home.

The bereaved and the lonely will find it especially hard.

And, as we all know, the world is going through difficult times.

All this will affect our celebration of this great Christian festival.

# Angels, angels

# Angels everywhere... #

Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas.

Jesus was born into a world full of fear.

The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices.

"Fear not," they urged. "We bring you tidings of great joy,

"which will be to all people, for unto you

"is born this day in the city of David

"a saviour who is Christ the Lord."

..Give Jesus a birthday gift...

Although we are capable of great acts of kindness,

history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves,

from our recklessness or our greed.

God sent into the world a unique person,

neither a philosopher nor a general - important though they are -

but a saviour with the power to forgive.

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith.

It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships

and it can reconcile divided communities.

It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God's love.

MUSIC: "O Little Town Of Bethlehem"

In the last verse of this beautiful carol,

O Little Town Of Bethlehem, there's a prayer.

"O holy child of Bethlehem

"Descend to us, we pray

"Cast out our sin and enter in

"Be born in us today."

It is my prayer that on this Christmas Day

we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels

and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

MUSIC: "O Little Town Of Bethlehem"