Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Her Maj: Goodwill to* all never out of date
Queen’s Christmas message of unity * Er, that’s not aimed at Kate and Meghan is it?
THE Queen will use her Christmas Day broadcast to emphasise that the message of “goodwill to all” is needed as much now as ever.
With the country and Parliament deeply divided over Brexit, and military conflicts raging in parts of the world, her words will resonate with many.
There are also rumours of a falling out between the Duchesses, Meghan and sister-in-law Kate, who are two of the royals due to be spending Christmas Day with the Queen at Sandringham.
In her broadcast, the monarch will talk about her Christian faith and highlight much-loved words in the Bible about understanding and harmony.
The Queen, 92, will say: “I believe the message of peace on Earth and goodwill to all is never out of date.
“It can be heeded by everyone, it’s needed as much as ever... Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding.”
The Queen is publicly neutral on politics and does not express her views on issues.
But some commentators may interpret her words as a veiled reference to the toxic mood in relation to Brexit.
The address, written by the Queen, reflects on current events.
Highlights of 2018 include England reaching the football World Cup semi-finals, and the weddings of Prince Harry and Meghan and Prin- cess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. The Queen, who has reigned since 1952, will also say: “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.”
She has eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren – with another on the way because Harry and Meghan are expecting their first child in the spring.
The speech was recorded on December 12 in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
During the message, produced this year by Sky News, the monarch wears an Angela Kelly ivory silk cocktail dress and the gold Scarab brooch that the Duke of Edinburgh gave her in 1966.
She is sitting at a desk with a photo from 1949 of herself with Prince Philip, and Prince Charles when he was a baby.
The Queen arrived at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on Thursday for her festive break.
Well-wishers greeted her in the rain yesterday as she attended church nearby.
The Queen’s speech will air at 3pm on Christmas Day. It is on BBC1, ITV, Sky One, Sky News, and Radio 4.
In his Christmas message today, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn applauds those who are like the Good Samaritan. He praises people who help the destitute, saying there are those who refuse to “walk by on the other side”.
Even with the most deeply held differences, it is a good first step QUEEN ON TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT