Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1956.Photo: INTERCONTINENTALE/AFP via Getty
This year marks the first Christmas thatQueen Elizabethsince her husbandPrince Philip’s death in April, but it’s not the first time she’s spent the holiday without him.
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During her annualChristmas speech, the monarch made sure to include a nod to her husband.
“Of all the voices we have heard this afternoon, none has given my children and myself greater joy than that of my husband,” she said. “To him I say: ‘From all the members of the family gathered here today our very best good wishes go out to you and to every one on boardBritannia, as you voyage together in the far Southern seas. Happy Christmas from us all.’ "
The Queen continued, “Of course it is sad for us to be separated on this day, and of course we look forward to the moment when we shall all again be together. Yet my husband’s absence at this time has made me even more aware than I was before of my own good fortune in being one of a united family.”
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The Queen, 95, announced Monday that shewould not travel to Sandringham for Christmaswith the royal family per tradition due to the rising number of COVID cases in the U.K.
The holiday festivities were were also canceled last year amid the pandemic. Instead, the Queen andPrince Philipquietly celebrated Christmas at Windsor Castle together.
source: people.com
