0:00:13 > 0:00:15BAND PLAYS: God Save The Queen
0:01:01 > 0:01:04There was a time when British Olympic medal winners
0:01:04 > 0:01:06became household names
0:01:06 > 0:01:09because there were so few of them.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13But the 67 medals at this year's Games in Rio
0:01:13 > 0:01:17and 147 at the Paralympics
0:01:17 > 0:01:22meant that the GB medallists' reception at Buckingham Palace
0:01:22 > 0:01:24was a crowded and happy event.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Throughout the Commonwealth, there were equally joyful celebrations.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Grenada, the Bahamas, Jamaica and New Zealand
0:01:32 > 0:01:35won more medals per head of population
0:01:35 > 0:01:37than any other countries.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Many of this year's winners spoke of being inspired by
0:01:43 > 0:01:45athletes of previous generations.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Inspiration fed their aspiration,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54and having discovered abilities they scarcely knew they had,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57these athletes are now inspiring others.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03A few months ago, I saw inspiration of a different kind
0:02:03 > 0:02:06when I opened the new Cambridge base
0:02:06 > 0:02:09of the East Anglian Air Ambulance,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12where Prince William works as a helicopter pilot.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17It was not hard to be moved by the dedication
0:02:17 > 0:02:20of the highly skilled doctors, paramedics and crew,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24who are called out on average five times a day.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31But to be inspirational, you don't have to save lives or win medals.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people
0:02:35 > 0:02:38doing extraordinary things -
0:02:38 > 0:02:40volunteers, carers,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43community organisers
0:02:43 > 0:02:44and good neighbours -
0:02:44 > 0:02:49unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53They are an inspiration to those who know them,
0:02:53 > 0:02:59and their lives frequently embody a truth expressed by Mother Teresa,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02from this year Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07She once said, "Not all of us can do great things.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11"But we can do small things with great love."
0:03:12 > 0:03:17This has been the experience of two remarkable organisations,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and the Prince's Trust,
0:03:21 > 0:03:25which are 60 and 40 years old this year.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28These started as small initiatives
0:03:28 > 0:03:32but have grown beyond any expectations,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35and continue to transform young people's lives.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40To mark my 90th birthday,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44volunteers and supporters of the 600 charities
0:03:44 > 0:03:48of which I have been patron came to a lunch in The Mall.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Many of these organisations are modest in size
0:03:53 > 0:03:56but inspire me with the work they do.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00From giving friendship and support to our veterans,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03the elderly or the bereaved,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06to championing music and dance,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08providing animal welfare,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11or protecting our fields and forests,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15their selfless devotion and generosity of spirit
0:04:15 > 0:04:17is an example to us all.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21When people face a challenge
0:04:21 > 0:04:25they sometimes talk about taking a deep breath
0:04:25 > 0:04:27to find courage or strength.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32In fact, the word "inspire" literally means "to breathe in".
0:04:34 > 0:04:37But even with the inspiration of others,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39it's understandable that we sometimes think
0:04:39 > 0:04:44the world's problems are so big that we can do little to help.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice...
0:04:52 > 0:04:56..but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness
0:04:56 > 0:04:58can be bigger than we imagine.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04At Christmas, our attention is drawn to the birth of a baby
0:05:04 > 0:05:06some 2,000 years ago.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12It was the humblest of beginnings, and his parents, Joseph and Mary,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14did not think they were important.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Jesus Christ lived obscurely for most of his life
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and never travelled far.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27He was maligned and rejected by many, though he had done no wrong.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32And yet, billions of people now follow his teaching
0:05:32 > 0:05:35and find in him the guiding light for their lives.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41I am one of them because Christ's example helps me
0:05:41 > 0:05:45see the value of doing small things with great love,
0:05:45 > 0:05:49whoever does them and whatever they themselves believe.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54The message of Christmas reminds us
0:05:54 > 0:05:59that inspiration is a gift to be given as well as received,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02and that love begins small but always grows.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07I wish you all a very happy Christmas.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13BAND PLAYS: A Christmas Intrada by Alfred Reed