THE Queen's Christmas message to the nation will focus on the strength of family, friends and the community working together.
The family is an important institution for the monarch who is not only head of state but a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Her position as head of the Commonwealth – often referred to as the family of nations – gives her another perspective on the role and strength of a family unit.
The Christmas address is written by the Queen herself and usually has a strong religious framework, reflecting current issues and drawing on her own experiences over the past year.
The speech is one of the rare occasions when she does not turn to the Government for advice but is able to voice her own views.
The last 12 months have seen some momentous events for the Queen – from her historic visit to the Republic of Ireland to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Duke of Edinburgh also celebrated his 90th birthday and the Queen presided over a major meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Perth, Australia.
During the message, which was recorded on December 9 and will be broadcast in full on Christmas Day, the Queen will say: "Of course, family does not necessarily mean blood relatives but often a description of a community, organisation or nation. The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations, all with a common bond, shared beliefs, mutual values and goals."
In the broadcast, filmed in Buckingham Palace's 1844 room, the Queen is wearing rimless spectacles, a strawberry red dress by Angela Kelly with her diamond and platinum Flame Lily brooch, which was a 21st birthday present from the children of Southern Rhodesia.
At the start of the footage, the Queen can be seen meeting senior Sky News staff who produced this year's Christmas message – a first for the broadcaster.
As the short extract from the annual address draws to a close, the Band of the Irish Guards are featured playing the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.
Then children from St Joseph's Catholic Infants' School in Camberwell, south London, are seen performing a scene from a nativity play.
The message will be transmitted on both television and radio at 3pm on Christmas Day.
It will be available on the Royal Channel on the YouTube website and will also be shown in Commonwealth countries.
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