Queen Elizabeth II’s annual Christmas address for 2021 was deeply personal, in more ways than one.
At her first Christmas without her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, the queen, who is the longest-reigning British monarch in history, addressed the public for the 69th time.
During her annual Christmas speech, it is traditional for the queen to pay tribute to the notable events from the year, but it took a personal tone this time, as she paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April aged 99.
She spoke of the sorrow of losing loved ones, so keenly felt during times of family celebration. "Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year especially, I understand why," she said.
As usual, the address was pre-recorded, this year in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, where she has chosen to spend the holiday period instead of Sandringham Estate where she usually spends Christmas, owing to the spread of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.
As well as remembering Prince Philip in her words, she offered another, more discreet homage. Clad in a vivid red top, the queen adorned it with her signature triple string pearls and a large, sapphire and white diamond brooch.
In a framed photograph of her and her husband on the desk next to her during the speech, taken during celebrations of their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007, the queen could be seen wearing the same blue brooch.
The photograph, taken at Broadlands Country House, was a significant one for the couple, as it's where they spent their wedding night on November 20, 1947.
In a photo taken in the same spot following their wedding, t then Princess Elizabeth can be seen wearing the same sapphire brooch.
Shaped like a chrysanthemum flower, with petals of white diamonds, it is believed the brooch was given to the princess in 1946 after she helped launch an oil tanker, appropriately named the British Princess.
She wore it again for an official family portrait in 1951, showing both the queen and her husband, and their children, Prince Charles, and a baby Princess Anne. So often seen at key moments in her family life with the late prince, it is fair to assume it was a personal favourite of the duke, who she described in her speech as being “irrepressible” and as her “beloved.”
england euro squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Qualifier A, Muscat
(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv)
Fixtures
Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final
UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
The specs
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Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Soldier F
“I was in complete disgust at the fact that only one person was to be charged for Bloody Sunday.
“Somebody later said to me, 'you just watch - they'll drop the charge against him'. And sure enough, the charges against Soldier F would go on to be dropped.
“It's pretty hard to think that 50 years on, the State is still covering up for what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
Jimmy Duddy, nephew of John Johnson
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Result
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2
Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)