Queen Elizabeth remembers Prince Philip in her Christmas message in Britain

LONDON – England’s Queen Elizabeth recalled the “naughty glow” in her eyes in an unusually personal Christmas message to the nation as she spoke about the loss of her husband Prince Philip on Saturday.

The 95-year-old monarch said while Christmas was a time of joy for many, it can be difficult for those who had lost loved ones, and this year in particular, she understood why, 99-year-old Felipe have lost.

“His spirit of service, intellectual curiosity and ability to squeeze fun out of any situation were unstoppable,” he said in his traditional pre-recorded holiday broadcast, paying tribute to “my dear Felipe.”

“That mischievous, curious glow in the end was as powerful as the first time I saw it,” he said.

The Queen said she knew Felipe would like her family to enjoy Christmas and be happy for them despite the absence of their “family laugh”.

She gave her speech with a picture of herself and Felipe sitting at a table, standing hand in hand and smiling at each other. The photo was taken in 2007, when the couple was celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

Elizabeth spent Christmas at Windsor Castle in West London for the second year in a row, a break with royal tradition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A palace source said this reflects a precautionary approach at a time when the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly.