Queen Elizabeth said she was “missing a well-known laugh” at a Christmas speech News

The British monarch says that for many, Christmas is a time of happiness, but it can be hard for those who have lost loved ones.

Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain spoke of the loss of her husband to Prince Philip, remembering the “naughty gleam” in her eyes in an unusual personal Christmas message to the nation.

In a televised appearance on Saturday, the queen said she knew Philip wanted his family to enjoy Christmas, and that he understood the difficulty of spending the holiday season “missing a familiar laugh.”

The 95-year-old monarch said that although Christmas was a time of happiness for many, it could be hard for those who lost loved ones, and this year, especially, he understood why, lost Philip, 99, after being married for 73 years in April.

“Sense of service, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to get fun out of any situation were impossible,” he said in a traditional pre-recorded holiday broadcast to pay tribute to “my dear Felipe”.

“That mischievous viewfinder was as bright as when I first saw my eyes,” he said.

Elizabeth gave her address while sitting at a desk, and there was a picture of her and Philip standing arm in arm and smiling at each other. The photo was taken in 2007, when the couple was celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

For her show, the queen wore a sapphire brooch she wore on her 1947 honeymoon and a diamond wedding portrait. Photos of her and Philip appearing on various stages of their lives appeared on the screen as he spoke.

‘Personal tone’

In a report from London, Andrew Simmons of Al Jazeera said it was strange to see the queen in a “rather personal tone”, but this was “quite a tragic year for her”.

“He described me as my dear Philip … saying he could get fun out of any situation,” Simmons said.

He also said the presence of children was crucial in celebrating the Christmas in the royal family, Simmons reported.

Also on Saturday, British police said a 19-year-old man had been arrested after a security breach in the area of ​​Windsor Castle.

“The man has been arrested for violating or violating a protected site and possessing an offensive weapon. He remains in custody at this time,” said Rebecca Mears, Thames Valley Police Superintendent.

The man did not enter any buildings, he said.

Elizabeth is spending Christmas in West Windsor Castle, west London, for the second year in a row, a break from the royal tradition caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A palace source said this reflected a precautionary approach when the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly.

He had to be visited by close family members, including his eldest son Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. No public appearances were expected.

Usually all Windsors gather for Christmas in another of their homes on the Sandringham estate in the east of England. Going to a nearby church for a Christmas service is a key part of the royal calendar.

With daily numbers of COVID infections in the UK breaking records, the queen canceled last week’s pre-Christmas meal with her family, also as a precaution.

In his message, he also spoke about the platinum jubilee year that will begin in February and will mark his 70th birthday on the throne. He is the longest-serving monarch in British history, surpassing his great-grandmother Queen Victoria in 2015.

He said he hopes that this jubilee will be an opportunity for people to “give thanks for the tremendous changes of the last 70 years, for the social, scientific and cultural, and to look forward with confidence.”