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Watch The Queen's Christmas Message

Watch Her Majesty's annual Christmas message to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Christmas is a time for celebration. But this year it is a more sombre occasion for many. Some of those things which could once have been taken for granted suddenly seem less certain, and naturally give rise to feelings of insecurity. People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world. Whether it is the global economy or violence in a distant land, effects can be keenly felt at home.

Once again many of our service men and women are serving on operations in common cause to bring peace and security to troubled places. In this 90th year since the end of the First World War, the last survivors recently commemorated the service and enormous sacrifice of their own generation. Their successors in theatres such as Iraq and Afghanistan are still to be found in harm's way in the service of others. For their loved ones, the worry will never cease until they are safely home.

In such times as these we can all learn some lessons from the past. We might begin to see things in a new perspective. And certainly, we begin to ask ourselves where it is that we can find lasting happiness. Over the years, those who have seemed to me to be the most happy, contented and fulfilled have always been the people who have lived the most outgoing and unselfish lives; the kind of people who are generous with their talents or their time. There are those who use their prosperity or good fortune for the benefit of others whether they number among the great philanthropists or are people who with whatever they have, simply have a desire to help those less fortunate than themselves.

What they offer comes in the form of what can easily be recognized as service to the nation or service to the wider community. As often as not, however, their unselfishness is a simply taken-for-granted part of the life of their family or neighborhood. They tend to have some sense that life itself is full of blessings and is a precious gift for which we should be thankful. When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat, instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.

I think we have a huge amount to learn from individuals such as these. And what I believe many of us share with them is a source of strength and peace of mind in our families and friends. Indeed, Prince Philip and I can reflect on the blessing, comfort and support we have gained from our own family in this special year for our son, The Prince of Wales.

60 years ago, he was baptized here in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace. As parents and grandparents, we feel great pride in seeing our family make their own unique contributions to society. Through his charities, The Prince of Wales has worked to support young people and other causes for the benefit of the wider community, and now his sons are following in his footsteps.

At Christmas, we feel very fortunate to have our family around us. But for many of you, this Christmas will mean separation from loved ones and perhaps reflection on the memories of those no longer with us.

I hope that, like me, you will be comforted by the example of Jesus of Nazareth who, often in circumstances of great adversity, managed to live an outgoing, unselfish and sacrificial life. Countless millions of people around the world continue to celebrate his birthday at Christmas, inspired by his teaching. He makes it clear that genuine human happiness and satisfaction lie more in giving than receiving; more in serving than in being served.

We can surely be grateful that, two thousand years after the birth of Jesus, so many of us are able to draw inspiration from his life and message, and find in him a source of strength and courage. I hope that the Christmas message will encourage and sustain you, too, now and in the coming year.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

文本参考中文翻译

让我们看一下女王向英国全体臣民发布的圣诞致辞。

圣诞节是值得庆祝的节日。但是今年对很多人来说情况比较悲观。以前看似理所当然的事情现在看来如此不确定，自然增加了人们的不安全感。人们被全世界范围内发生的事情所波及。无论是全球经济危机还是远方的暴力，我们在国内都能深切体会到影响。

许多军人又一次为了给暴乱地区带来和平和安全担负起责任。自从一战结束以来已经90年了，最后的幸存者最近几年了他们那个时代的服务和巨大的牺牲。他们的接班人现在正在伊拉克和阿富汗，仍然要作出牺牲。他们爱的人会一直担心他们，一直到他们安全回家。

在这样的时刻，我们都能从过去得到教训。我们要开始从新到视角看问题。当然，我们开始问自己，我们在那里可以找到持久的幸福。过去的这些年里，我所见到的最幸福，最心安，最满足的人都过着大方，无私的生活，那些对自己的智慧和时间非常慷慨的人。有一些人，无论他们有没有位居慈善家之列，他们都用自己的财富和好运或者他们拥有的一切来帮助其他人，仅仅因为他们渴望帮助那些比他们不幸的人。

他们以很容易被认可的方式奉献国家和国际社会。然而，他们的付出对他们的家人和邻居却是理所当然的一部分。他们会感到，生活中是充满幸福的，是上帝赐予我们的宝贵礼物，我们应该充满感激之情。当遇到困难的时候，勇敢者不会倒下，不会接受失败，相反，他们会为更美好的未来而努力。

我认为我们需要学习的有很多。我相信，我们与他们共享的我们的家人和朋友的力量的源泉和心灵的宁静。确实是，菲利普亲王和我可以将从家人中得到的幸福，舒适和支持转交给我们的儿子威尔斯王子。

60年前，他在白金汉宫音乐室接受洗礼。作为父母vhe祖父母，看到我们的家庭以独特的方式为社会作出贡献，我们感到很自豪。在他的慈善事业中，为了广大社会，威尔斯王子支持年轻人和其他事业，现在，他的儿子们正沿着他的足迹前行。

在圣诞节，能够和家人团聚我们感到非常幸运。但是对很多人来讲，这个圣诞节可能意味着骨肉分离，可能也会让你们想起那些已经离开的亲人。

我希望，像我一样，你们可以被耶稣的故事抚慰。他经常处在逆境却依然过着慷慨，无私和自我牺牲的生活。世界上数百万人为他所动，仍然在圣诞节为他庆祝生辰。他教会我们，给予比接受，服务比被服务更能给我们带来快乐和满足感。

我们非常感激，耶稣出世两千年之后，许多人从他的生活中得到启发，从他身上找到了力量和勇气的源泉。我希望，圣诞致辞也可以鼓励和支持你们迎接新的一年。

祝你们圣诞快乐。