This is the first Christmas Queen Elizabeth will be spending without her loyal husband Prince Philip since his passing in April. A lot has been speculated on how is she going to spend the holiday, and although many of her original plans had to be changed last minute due to the increase of Covid-19 cases, there’s a tradition that can’t be canceled, and that is the customary broadcasted Christmas message.
As it happens every year, Queen Elizabeth addresses the people of Great Britain wishing happy holidays and making a recount of the year. For this year, the message is expected to be a bit more personal and emotional being the year Her Majesty lost her life partner. Today, on Christmas Eve, Buckingham Palace released a picture to promote the Queen’s Christmas message, and just by looking at the elements of the photo we can tell this year it will be devoted to honoring Philip.
In the picture, from the message’s shooting last week, we can see on the desk a picture of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth taken in 2017 and commemorating their diamond wedding anniversary. The photo was a recreation of their 1947 honeymoon at Broadlands.
As it’s become a statement, the Queen likes using brooches to convey messages, and this time isn’t the exception. For the Christmas broadcast, the Queen is wearing a bright red suit adorned with a sapphire chrysanthemum brooch. This is the same brooch she wore on both occasions, her honeymoon and her diamond anniversary. This is a great way to celebrate the love the couple shared for over seven decades.
Since Prince Philip’s funeral had to be simple due to the pandemic, it’s also been announced that there will be a spring thanksgiving service honoring the late Duke of Edinburgh. Other events might be added to next year’s agenda to give him the proper farewell that was organized.
As for Christmas, due to health conditions and Covid-related restrictions, it’s been announced that the Queen won’t be traveling to Sandringham for Christmas as she’s done so for the past decades. Instead, she will stay home at Windsor Castle, like last year accompanied by her son, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla. It’s not known if her sons Edward and Andrew are going to spend the holidays with their mother, but it’s already known that Princess Anne won’t be attending since her husband tested positive for Covid just this week. William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will spend Christmas with Kate’s family.
Photos from Buckingham Palace
