The 93-year-old monarch will refer to the life of Jesus and the importance of reconciliation in her pre-recorded message, saying “small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.”
She will add: “The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.”
The Queen’s annual Christmas message — which will be broadcast on Wednesday at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. ET) — was filmed in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.
Seated behind a desk in a royal blue cashmere dress designed by Angela Kelly, the Queen will address the nation surrounded by a selection of photographs of her family including a photograph of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla marking the 50th anniversary of his investiture as Prince of Wales, a family portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their three children George, Charlotte and Louis, a photograph of the Duke of Edinburgh from her private collection as well as a black and white photograph of her father, King George VI, in 1944.
The Queen will also be wearing the Prince Albert brooch. It was given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1840, the day before their wedding and was worn on their wedding day. It is a sapphire and diamond brooch, set in gold.
The Queen will also use her Christmas Day message to highlight the 75th anniversary of D-Day landings.
“For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formerly been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the channel, putting past differences behind them,” she will say.
“By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honor the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.”
