By the time you read this, Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas address will have aired in the UK. Ahead of the broadcast, Buckingham Palace released a photo of Her Majesty taken at Windsor Castle, touching on some of the themes she’d be speaking to in her message:
As we all know, it hasn’t been a great year, especially the last few months. Brexit has been a major concern and then, well, then there’s the matter of her second son, Prince Andrew and his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the dead rapist pedophile, which ended up in his stepping away from public duty last month. On top of all that Prince Philip hasn’t been well. He was hospitalised on Friday but was seen this morning leaving treatment in London and travelling back to Sandringham via helicopter. That, undoubtedly, will cheer everyone up for Christmas.
The Queen acknowledged in her message that it’s been a “bumpy” year but she does not focus on the negative. Her role, as a symbol, has always been to steady her people. Which explains the photo selection at her desk. Prince Charles and Camilla are there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his investiture as the Prince of Wales. There’s a shot of Prince Philip and also her father, King George VI. And then the House Cambridge Five – so the past, present, and future of the crown. That, as I said yesterday, is the brand: stability, continuity, legacy. And she’s stuck to it throughout her rein. No matter the turmoil or upheaval, what matters most to the British royal family is that they’ll always be around.
Looking forward then to the walk to church tomorrow. We’ll have those photos and commentary on Friday.
