The Queen at Christmas: gathering round the tree

It was all about a Christmas tree. The Queen linked past, present and future in her traditional festive speech by doing what everyone likes to do at this special time of year - getting others to gather around the tree and celebrate the season.

The Christmas Day Broadcast of the Queen, December 25th 2015

Buckingham Palace

It was an appropriate theme in this truly historic year for Elizabeth II. For the Christmas tree was brought to Britain in the 1840s by her great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, who this year passed into history as her descendant claimed her crown as longest reigning monarch in her country's history. And by keeping the tree at the centre of her speech, the woman who now holds the title of longest reign kept the memory of the woman she surpassed to take that record at the very heart of her Christmas message.

There were other reasons for the tree being so integral to the Queen's Christmas Speech this year. As Elizabeth II reminded her audience, it is a big part of festive family celebrations and she shared her joy at being able to see her children, grandchildren and their children decorate its branches before reminding us all, as if we could forget, that this year she had a new descendant to join in the fun.

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge wasn't mentioned by name but still featured in the Queen's Christmas speech this year

It was also a sign of remembrance as the Queen reflected on the tree given every year by the people of Oslo to the people of Britain as thanks for their support in World War Two. And the Queen also remembered the other significant anniversaries that had happened in 2015, a past that still informs the present and the future.

The Queen: ‘Christmas is a good time to be thankful … for all that brings light to our lives’ #QueensSpeech

— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) December 25, 2015

And it was to the future that she looked, reminding her audience that there are many in the world who bring light and hope to others and asking us all to be grateful for them. Elizabeth II made her first Christmas speech as a young woman in 1952. Sixty three years on, she is a great monarch with her very own place in the history books but her festive message was still a simple one of joy and hope. Like her reign, her Christmas message remains constant.