ONE’S PAIN
She tells of Royal Family’s ‘bumpy year’ and the nation’s agony over Brexit
It has been a testing time and she is right … it’s been bumpy
ROYAL SOURCE ON THE QUEEN’S DIFFICULT YEAR
WITH her husband in hospital, her son rocked by scandal and the nation split over Brexit, the Queen has had a “testing” 2019, royal sources admit.
And the 93-year-old monarch will acknowledge the rocky road she has endured when she gives her Christmas speech tomorrow.
It comes after Prince Andrew’s car crash interview over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Harry and Meghan’s struggle with public life and the Duke of Edinburgh’s illness, which last night kept him in hospital for a fourth night. The Queen will give her speech with pictures of Harry and Meghan missing from royal snapshots placed next to her.
In what is seen as a reference to Brexit and the deep divisions it has caused across the land, she will talk about reconciliation.
The Queen is to say: “...how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.
“The path is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.”
A Palace source said: “The
Christmas message has always been an opportunity for the Queen to make references to the year experienced by the people and her family, albeit subtly.
“The past 12 months has seen a multitude of events that have set a rocky path for certain individuals and even made some compare it with the famous ‘annus horribilis’ of 1992. From the Duke of Edinburgh’s car crash, William and Harry’s strained relations, the Sussexes’ admissions they are struggling in the spotlight to Prince Andrew’s banishment, it’s been a very testing time for the monarch at the head of the family and she is quite right to admit it’s been a ‘bumpy’ ride at times this year.
“Then there’s the continued uncertainty over politics and Brexit experienced by the nation as a whole. Both encompass this message. But
there is lots for the Queen to be thankful for, a new greatgrandson [Archie] and many other successful royal tours.
“As she expertly points out, ‘small steps can make the world of difference’ and we could all perhaps heed that advice.”
The Queen had to watch as Prince Andrew gave his embarrassing BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein, who killed himself in August while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Andrew denies claims he slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of the US financier’s victims, on three separate occasions. But his attempts at explaining himself backfired sensationally and he showed a lack of empathy with those assaulted.
The Prince, who was removed from royal duties, may also be compelled to give evidence to the FBI in America.
It left his reputation in tatters and his YouGov approval rating has plunged to 19%, making him the 15th most popular royal. Support for the Queen is at 72%, meaning she is still the most liked of the family.
But that will be of little comfort to her as she spends
Christmas without her husband, who was last night still in King Edward VII Hospital, Central London, after being airlifted from Sandringham on Friday night with an existing condition.
Prince Charles, 71, yesterday said his 98-year-old dad was being looked after “very well”. He spoke during a visit to flood-hit South Yorkshire.
Philip was involved in a car accident near Sandringham in January that left another driver injured. The Duke surrendered his driving licence.
The annual Christmas message is pre-recorded in the Green Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
Harry and Meghan are conspicuously absent from this year’s choices of pictures, despite them celebrating Archie’s birth in May.
The couple had declined an invitation from the Queen in favour of spending the tot’s first Christmas with Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland.
They were pictured twice last year during the speech.
Instead, snapshots of William and Kate and children, the Queen’s father George VI,
Charles and Camilla, and Philip are displayed as well as a photo of the Queen meeting astronauts Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
It remains unclear if Andrew, also missing from the family pictures, will join his mother and other relatives at Sandringham for Christmas.
During the Queen’s “annus horribilis” of 1992, three of her children’s marriages collapsed and Windsor Castle went up in flames.
IT is shameful that thousands of people will spend this Christmas on the streets.
Figures show rough sleepers have risen from 1,768 in 2010, when the Tories came to power, to 4,677 today. Almost every major UK city has reported an increase in the numbers.
The exception is Greater Manchester, where the Labour Mayor Andy Burnham’s A Bed Every Night scheme has led to a 37% fall.
He deserves praise for making the issue a priority. Others should be encouraged to follow his lead, though there is only so much councils can do on limited resources.
If we really want to help people, we must provide more affordable housing and give local government the funding it needs.