Queen sees funny side of her family’s life
THE Queen joked about being a grandmother in her Christmas Day message yesterday, saying family events like weddings and births have kept her “well occupied” this year.
But she also highlighted the darker side of life, how religious faith which can lead people to do good in the service of others can also “fall victim to tribalism”.
And she thanked members of the Armed Forces, many of whom will be deployed overseas at Christmas, for their efforts.
The Queen has had a memorable 2018, with two of her grandchildren – the Duke of Cambridge and Zara Tindall – welcoming new additions to their families.
Another grandson, Prince Harry, married Meghan Markle and they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announcing soon afterwards that they were expecting their first child, due in the spring.
Granddaughter Princess Eugenie wed long-term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank.
Bringing a touch of humour to her televised address, the Queen said: “Closer to home, it’s been a busy year for my family, with two weddings and two babies and another child expected soon. It helps to keep a grandmother well occupied.”
She also described the importance of having loved ones around her.
She said: “Through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance.”
The broadcast was recorded in Buckingham Palace’s White Drawing Room, surrounded by family photos.
SO THERE she was, as she is every year, attending church and making her annual Christmas Day broadcast to the nation. Has ever a people been so fortunate in their head of state as we are in ours?
As the year draws to a close, the Monarch remains a symbol of stability. Long may Elizabeth II reign over us, indeed.
ASEASIDE bucket-andspade holiday seemed more like a Mediterranean paradise. On top of that we had the unlikely spectacle of the England football team getting into the World Cup semi-finals. All that gave us the strongest single quarter of retail growth since 2004.
Even though Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley described sales in November as “the worst in living memory”, the Office for National Statistics said that Black Friday sales were in fact strong, with sales volumes up by 1.4 per cent – better than the near-zero growth predicted by economists.
Interestingly it was the larger