Reuters
For the first time in nearly 30 years, Queen Elizabeth II failed to attend a Christmas Day church service near her English country estate because of what Buckingham Palace described as a persistent cold.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday that the 90-year-old queen “continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery.”
Nevertheless, this did not stop her from passing on her Christmas message as per the birth of Christ, which was prerecorded and broadcast.
It is here that Her Majesty revealed that she is one of billions of people who find light on following Christ.
“On our own we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice”she said.
She went on: “But the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine.
“At Christmas our attention is drawn to the birth of a baby some two thousand years ago.
“It was the humblest of beginnings. His parents Joseph and Mary did not think they were important. Jesus Christ lived obscurely for most of his life and never traveled far.
“He was maligned and rejected by many though he had done no wrong.
“Yet billions of people now follow his teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives
“I am one of them because Christ’s example helps me to see the value of doing small things with great love whoever does them and whatever they themselves believe.”
The British monarch is particularly visible during the holidays, and Buckingham Palace said that the queen had attended church services at Sandringham on Christmas Day since 1988, when the royal family began celebrating the holiday there.
The Queen has additionally been expecting her sixth great-grandchild.
“Very sadly, Zara and Mike Tindall lost their baby. At this difficult time, we ask that everyone respects their privacy,” a monarch spokeswoman said.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
