Queen Elizabeth II's UNFORGETTABLE Moments in 38 Minutes | The Power of Small Steps

Key Takeaways

60 years ago today a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change but she presented the first television broadcast of its kind she described the moment as a landmark television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas day my own family often gather round to watch television as they are at this moment and that is how I imagine you now six decades on the presenter has evolved somewhat as has the technology she described back then who could have imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones as some of you are today but I'm also struck by something that hasn't changed that whatever the technology many of you will be watching this at home we think of our homes as places of warmth familiarity and love I've shared stories and memories which is perhaps why at this time of year so many returned to where they grew up there is a Timeless Simplicity to the pull of home to celebrate the life of Queen Elizabeth II we've put together a list of some of her most inspiring clips and moments I hope you enjoy for many the idea of home we reaches Beyond a physical building to Hometown or City this Christmas I think of London and Manchester whose powerful identities Shone through over the past 12 months in the face of appalling attacks in Manchester those targeted included children who had gone to see their favorite singer a few days after the bombing I had the privilege of meeting some of the young survivors and their parents so you'll come especially for the concert yeah the birthday person what was it you're right very scary very Wicked um Target that sort of thing yeah yes that's awful but uh hopefully it'll mend it's very interesting how everybody has United haven't they yeah well it's been amazing I describe that hospital visit as a privilege because the patients I met were an example to us all showing extraordinary bravery and resilience indeed many of those who survived the attack came together just days later for a benefit concert it was a powerful reclaiming of the ground and of the city those young people call home we expect our homes to be a place of safety Sanctuary even which makes it all the more shocking when the Comfort they provide is shattered a few weeks ago the Prince of Wales visited the Caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities and here in London who can forget the sheer awfulness of the grindful tower far our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much and we are indebted to members of the Emergency Services who risk their own lives this past year saving others many of them of course will not be at home today because they are working to protect us reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of Home and Family and in particular for 70 years of marriage I don't know that anyone had invented the term Platinum for a 70th wedding anniversary when I was born you weren't expected to be around that long even Prince Philip has decided it's time to slow down a little having as he economically put it down his bed but I know his support and unique sense of humor will remain as strong as ever as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year as a child I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon yet this year we marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission still looking very good here go the eagle has landed as there's historic pictures were beamed back to Earth millions of us sat transfixed to our television screens as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind and indeed for womankind it's a reminder for us all the giant leaps often start with small steps this year we marked another important anniversary D-Day on the 6th of June 1944 some 156 000 British Canadian and American forces landed in northern France it was the largest ever Seaborn Invasion and was delayed due to bad weather I will remember the look of concern on my father's face he knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no one for the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle in a true Spirit of reconciliation those who had formerly been sworn anyways came together in Friendly commemorations either side of the channel putting past differences behind them such reconciliation seldom happens overnight it takes patience and time to rebuild Trust and progress often comes through small steps since the end of the second world war many Charities groups and organizations have worked to promote peace and unity around the world bringing together those who have been on opposing sides by being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together we honor the freedom and democracy once won for us at so greater cost the challenges many people face today may be different to those ones faced by my generation but I have been struck by how new generations have brought a similar sense of purpose to issues such as protecting our environment and our climate my family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and Armed Forces and at Christmas we remember all those on duty at home and abroad who are helping those in need and keeping us and our families safe and secure 200 years on from the birth of my great great grandmother Queen Victoria Prince Philip and I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great grandchild into our family of course at the heart of the Christmas story lies the birth of a child seemingly small and insignificant step overlooked by many in Bethlehem but in time through his teaching and by his example Jesus Christ would show the world how small steps taken in faith and in Hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring Harmony and understanding many of us already tried to follow in his footsteps the path of course is not always smooth and May at times this year have felt quite bumpy but small steps can make a world of difference as Christmas stoned Church congregations around the world joined in singing It Came Upon the Midnight Clear like many Timeless carols it speaks not just to the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided World many years ago but also of the relevance even today of the Angel's message of peace and good will it's a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and Reconciliation and as we all look forward to the start of a new decade it's worth remembering that it is often the small steps not the giant leaps that bring about the most lasting change there was a time when British Olympic medal winners became household names because there were so few of them but the 67 medals at this year's games in Rio and 147 of the Paralympics meant that the GB medalist reception at Buckingham Palace was a crowded unhappy event throughout the Commonwealth that were equally joyful celebrations Grenada the Bahamas Jamaica and New Zealand won more medals per head of population than any other countries many of this year's winners spoke of being inspired by athletes of previous generations inspiration fed their aspiration and having discovered abilities they scarcely knew they had these athletes are now inspiring others a few months ago I saw inspiration of a different kind when I opened the new Cambridge base of the East anglian air ambulance where Prince William works as a helicopter pilot it was not hard to be moved by the dedication of the highly skilled doctors paramedics and crew who were called out on average five times a day but to be inspirational you don't have to save lives or win medals I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things volunteers carers Community organizers and good neighbors unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special they are an inspiration to those who know them and their lives frequently embody a truth expressed by Mother Teresa from this year Saint Teresa of Calcutta she once said not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love this has been the experience of two remarkable organizations the Duke of edinburgh's award and the prince's Trust which are 60 and 40 years old this year these started as small initiatives but have grown Beyond any expectations and continue to transform young people's lives tomorrow my 90th birthday volunteers and supporters of the 600 Charities of which I have been Patron came to a lunch in the mail many of these organizations are modest in size but inspire me with the work they do from giving friendship and support to our veterans the elderly or the bereaved to championing music and dance providing Animal Welfare or protecting our fields and forests their selfless devotion and generosity of spirit is an example to us all when people face a challenge they sometimes talk about taking a deep breath to find courage or strength in fact the word inspire literally means to breathe in but even with the inspiration of others it's understandable that we sometimes think the world's problems are so big that we can do little to help on our own we cannot end Wars or wipe out Injustice 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 2 000 years ago it was the humblest of beginnings and 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 and 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 see the value of doing small things with great love whoever does them and whatever they themselves believe the message of Christmas reminds us that inspiration is a gift to be given as well as received and that love begins small but always grows this is a duty I'm especially happy to discharge as the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh I remember well that in 1969 he told an academic Gathering if the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment it is as certain as anything can be that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time if we fail to cope with this challenge all the other problems will pale into insignificance it is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William I could not be more proud of them indeed I have drawn great comfort and inspiration from the Relentless enthusiasm of people of all ages especially the Young in calling for everyone to play their part in the coming days the world has the chance to join in the shared objective of creating a safer Stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend none of us underestimates the challenges ahead but history has shown that when Nations come together in common cause there is always room for hope working side by side we have the ability to solve the most insurmountable problems and to triumph over the greatest of adversities for more than 70 years I have been lucky to meet and to know many of the world's great leaders and I have perhaps come to understand a little about what made them special it has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics but what they do for the people of tomorrow that is statesmanship I for one hope that this conference will be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment and Achieve true statesmanship it is the hope of many that the legacy of this Summit written in history books yet to be printed will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity and that you answer the call of those future Generations that you left this conference as a community of Nations with the determination a desire and a plan to address the impact of climate change and to recognize that the time for words has now moved to the time for action of course the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today we none of us will live forever but we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children and those who will follow in their footsteps and so I wish you every good fortune in the significant Endeavor it it's inevitable that I should seem a rather remote figure to many of you a successor to the kings and queens of History someone whose face may be familiar in newspapers and films but who never really touches your personal lives but now at least for a few minutes I welcome you to the Peace of my own home that it's possible for some of you to see me today is just another example of the speed at which things are changing all around us because of these changes I'm not surprised that many people feel lost and unable to decide what to hold on to and what to discard how to take advantage of the new life without losing the best of the old but it's not the new inventions which are the difficulty the trouble is caused by unthinking people who carelessly throw away ageless ideals as if they were old and outworn machinery they would have religion thrown aside morality and personal and public life made meaningless honesty counted as foolishness and self-interest set up in place of self-restraint at this critical moment in our history we will certainly lose the trust and respect of the world if we just abandon those fundamental principles which guided the men and women who built the greatness of this country and Commonwealth today we need a special kind of Courage not the kind needed in battle but a kind which makes us stand up for everything that we know is right everything that is true and honest we need the kind of Courage that can withstand the subtle Corruption of the cynics so that we can show the world that we are not afraid of the future it has always been easier to hate and destroy to build and to cherish is much more difficult that's why we can take a pride in the new Commonwealth we are building this year Ghana and Malaya joined our Brotherhood both these countries are entirely self-governing both achieve their new status amicably and peacefully this Advance is a wonderful tribute to the efforts of men of Goodwill who have worked together as friends and I welcome these two countries with all my heart last October I opened the new Canadian Parliament and as you know this was the first time that any Sovereign had done so in Ottawa once again I was overwhelmed by the loyalty and enthusiasm of my Canadian people also during 1957 my husband and I paid visits to Portugal France Denmark and the United States of America in each case the arrangements and formalities were managed with great skill but no one could have managed the welcome we received from the people in each country I was welcomed as head of the Commonwealth and as your representative these nations are our friends largely because we've always tried to do our best to be honest and kindly and because we have tried to stand up for what we believe to be right in the old days the monocleid his soldiers on the battlefield and his leadership at all times was close and personal today things are very different I cannot lead you into battle I do not give you laws old Minister Justice but I can do something else I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old Islands and all the peoples of our Brotherhood of Nations I believe in our qualities and in our strength I believe that together we can set an example to the world which will encourage upright people everywhere I would like to read you a few lines from Pilgrim's Progress because I'm sure we can say with Mr Valiant for truth these words though with great difficulty I am God hither yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am My Sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage and my courage and skill to him that can get it my marks and scars I carry with me to be a witness for me that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder although it's a time of great happiness and good cheer for many Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones this year especially I understand why but for me in the months since the death of my beloved Philip I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work from around the country the Commonwealth and the world his sense of service intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation were all irrepressible that mischievous inquiring twinkle was a Sprite at the end as when I first set eyes on him good life of course consists of final partings as well as first meetings and as much as I and my family miss him I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas we felt his presence As We Lay Millions around the world readied ourselves for Christmas while covid again means we can't celebrate quite as we may have wished we can still enjoy the many happy traditions be it the singing of carols as long as the tune is well known decorating the tree giving and receiving presence or watching a favorite film where we already know the ending it's no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines we see our own children and their families embrace the roles traditions and values that means so much to us as these are passed from one generation to the next sometimes being updated for Changing Times I see it in my own family and it is a source of great happiness Prince Philip was always mindful of this sense of passing the battle that's why he created the Duke of edinburgh's award which offers young people throughout the Commonwealth and Beyond the chance of exploration and adventure it remains an astonishing success grounded in his faith in the future he was also an early champion of taking seriously our stewardship of the environment and I am proud beyond words that his pioneering work has been taken on and magnified by our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William admirably supported by Camilla and Catherine most recently at the cop climate change Summit in Glasgow next summer we look forward to the Commonwealth Games the better is currently traveling the length and breadth of the Commonwealth heading towards Birmingham a Beacon of Hope on its Journey it will be a chance to celebrate the achievements of athletes and the coming together of like-minded Nations and February just six weeks from now we'll see the start of my Platinum Jubilee year which I hope will be an opportunity for people everywhere to enjoy a sense of togetherness a chance to give thanks for the enormous changes of the last 70 years social scientific and cultural and also to look ahead with confidence I'm sure someone somewhere today will remark that Christmas is a time for children it's an engaging truth but only half the story perhaps it's truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all adults when we're done with worries sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things where children do not and for me and my family even with one familiar laugh missing this year there will be joy in Christmas as we have the chance to reminisce and see Anew The Wonder of the festive season Through The Eyes of our young children of whom we were delighted to welcome formal this year they teach us all a lesson just as the Christmas story does that in the birth of a child there is a new dawn with endless potential it is this Simplicity of the Christmas story that makes it so universally appealing simple happenings that form the starting point of the life of Jesus a man whose teachings have been handed down from generation to generation and have been the Bedrock of my faith his birth marked a new beginning as the Carol says the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight some cultures believe a long life brings wisdom I'd like to think so perhaps part of that wisdom is to recognize some of life's baffling paradoxes such as the way human beings have a huge propensity for good and yet a capacity for evil even the power of Faith which frequently inspires great generosity and self-sacrifice can fall victim to tribalism but through the many changes I have seen over the years faith family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance in April the Commonwealth heads of government met in London my father welcomed just eight countries to the first such meetings in 1948. now the Commonwealth includes 53 countries with 2.4 billion people third of the world's population its strength lies in the bonds of affection it promotes and a common desire to live in a better more peaceful world even with the most deeply held differences treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding indeed the Commonwealth Games held this year on Australia's Gold Coast our known University as the friendly games because of that emphasis on Goodwill and mutual respect the Christmas story retains its appeal since it doesn't provide theoretical explanations for the puzzles of life instead it's about the birth of a child and the hope that birth two thousand years ago brought to the world only a few people acknowledge Jesus when he was born now billions follow him I believe his message of peace on Earth and Good Will to all is never out of date it can be heeded by everyone it's needed as much as ever I speak to you today the same are as my father did exactly 75 years ago his message then was a salute to the men and women at home and abroad who had sacrificed so much in pursuit of what he rightly called a great Deliverance the war had been a total war it had affected everyone and no one was immune from its impact whether it be the men and women called up to serve families separated from each other all people asked to take up new rules and skills to support the war effort all had a part to play at the start the Outlook seemed bleak the end distant the outcome uncertain but we kept faith that the cause was right and this belief as my father noted in his broadcast carried us through never give up never despair that was the message of ye day I vividly remember the jubilant scenes my sister and I witnessed with our parents in Winston Churchill from the balcony of Buckingham Palace the sins of joy in the crowds who gathered outside and across the country was profound the world we celebrated the victory in Europe we knew there would be further sacrifice it was not until August that fighting in the Far East ceased and the war finally ended many people laid down their lives in that terrible conflict they fought so we could live in peace at home and abroad they died so we could live as three people in a world of free Nations they risked all so our families and neighborhoods could be safe we should and will remember them as I now reflect on my father's words and the joyous celebrations which some of us experienced firsthand I'm thankful for the strength and courage that the United Kingdom the Commonwealth and all our allies displayed the wartime generation knew that the best way to honor those who did not come back from the war was to ensure that it didn't happen again the greatest tribute to their sacrifice is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends working side by side for the peace health and prosperity of us all today it may seem hard that we cannot mark the special anniversary as we would wish instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps but our streets are not empty they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other and when I look at our country today and see what we are willing to do to project and support one another I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave Soldiers Sailors and Airmen would recognize and admire I send my warmest good wishes to you all in wishing you all good evening I feel that I am speaking to friends and companions who have shared with my sister and myself many are Happy Children's are thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers My Sister Margaret Rose and I feel so much for you as we know from experience what it means to be away from those we love most of all [Applause] living in new surroundings we send a message of true sympathy and at the same time we would like to thank the kind people who have welcomed you to their homes in the country all of us children who are still at home think continually of our friends and relations who have gone overseas who have traveled thousands of miles to find a wartime home and a kindly welcome in Canada Australia New Zealand South Africa and the United States of America my sister and I feel we know quite a lot about these countries our father and mother have so often talked to us of their visits to different parts of the world so it is not difficult for us to picture the sort of life you are all leading and to think of all the new sights you must be seeing and the adventures you must be having but I am sure that you too are often thinking of the old country I know you won't forget us it is just because we are not forgetting you that I want on behalf of all the children at home to send you our love and best wishes to you and to your kind hosts as well before I finish I can truthfully say to you all that we children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage we are trying to do all we can to help our Gallant Sailors soldiers and Airmen and we are trying to to Bear our own share of the danger and sadness of War we know every one of us but in the end all will be well for God will care for us and give us Victory and peace and when peace comes remember it will be for us the children of today to make the World of Tomorrow a better and happier place to see the top 10 we did on Princess Diana check the video right there next to me I think you'll love it continue to believe and I'll see you there I don't think I am I'm a perfectionist with myself but not necessarily with everybody else and those stories arose a long time ago and have kept coming out again and again but I don't think um