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.

A Tale of Two Christmases: Aarhus and Byron Bay

It was a tale of two Christmases for Denmark's royals this year. While Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik attended church in Aarhus, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary were tens of thousands of miles away in Australia spending the festive season with her family.

Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik leaving church in Aarhus on Christmas Eve 2015

Margethe wrapped up warm for the Christmas Eve service. She and Henrik were joined by Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and their two children, Henrik and Athena. Marie rocked a red coat in keeping with the spirit of the season and the gathering gloom of a late December evening added a sense of Christmas to the whole scene.

Princess Marie of Denmark holds her daughter's hand as they leave church in Aarhus with Prince Joachim on Christmas Eve 2015

But in Australia, it was very different. In warm weather and with not a hope of a snowflake in sight, Crown Princess Mary went hot with her fashion appearing in a bright yellow shirt and white shorts as she walked around parts of Byron Bay as Christmas Day approached. 

Princess Mary has a girls day out in hippie haven Byron Bay https://t.co/PnJ6mFbKx7 pic.twitter.com/aX1Rfkczhx

— Daily Mail Femail (@Femail) December 24, 2015

The decision of Frederik and Mary to spend Christmas with her family was seen as a bit of a surprise in some quarters and there has been lots of media attention in the royal stay in Australia, especially when Prince Christian had to be rescued by lifeguards when he was caught by a current while swimming off the Gold Coast earlier in December. This little royal family had Christmas Day with the princess' family and will head back to Denmark in time for the traditional New Year events. Two Christmases, one family and a traditional start to 2016.

King Felipe of Spain's Christmas speech is all about unity

King Felipe of Spain's second Christmas message was all about unity. Speaking to his fellow citizens from the huge throne room in the Royal Palace in Madrid, Felipe looked to the way the country's past had built its future and told his viewers that staying together was important.

King Felipe VI of Spain during his 2015 Christmas broadcast

(photo casareal.es)

Coming just days after elections left Spain facing weeks of negotiations by political parties trying to form a coalition, Felipe's speech touched on the dialogue and compromise needed when political plurality was delivered at the ballot box. And the newest king on the continent also talked about the way the past had built the Spain of today.

The setting of the speech added to that feel of the past as Felipe sat, by himself, in the middle of the huge expanse of the Royal Palace with images from his country's history all around him. He began by telling his viewers that the palace belonged to everyone in Spain and throughout his message touched on the contribution of the arts and science to the creation of the Spain of 2015.

King Felipe of Spain makes his 2015 Christmas speech (photo casareal.es)
He ended by looking to the future and there was a new focus on what is to come in the Spanish monarchy as well. A brief collection of photos of the country's royals followed with the standout image a previously unseen picture of the king with his heiress, Princess Leonor. It was a snapshot of a happy father and daughter but also the image of a dynasty in evolution.

Felipe and Leonor in an image from the king's 2015 Christmas broadcast (photo Casa Real TV)
The speech has been generally well received and marks a change from the less formal approach taken by the king in his first Christmas broadcast. Felipe looked to the future as well as the past in this festive message - 2016 will be a big year for the king and his country.

Royals at Christmas: December 24th, the Queen of Christmas

The last picture of an advent calendar is always special and so in this special year for the Queen it seems fitting that the final photo of Royals at Christmas is Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history.  So to end our Christmas countdown, here is the Queen at Christmas. Happy Christmas.

Royals at Christmas: December 23rd, through the falling snow

Just two days to go until Christmas and dreams of a white one are fading fast. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a bit of snow over the festive period. Royals at Christmas today is all about spotting the kings, queens, princes and princess through the falling snow.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are just about visible in this photo taken as they posed on a ski-ing holiday with their four children

When they were just four, not six, the family of Frederik and Mary of Denmark got caught in the snow on a ski-ing holiday too. It didn't seem to bother them.

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Diana, Princess of Wales smiled through the snow during a trip to Lech, Austria in 1993

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The Queen was ready with her umbrella when a light snow shower began as she walked to church in Norfolk

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Prince Albert of Monaco might have hoped for a bit more snow to cover up his rather unusual choice of outfit at the 70th birthday celebrations of King Harald of Norway