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All many people want for Christmas this year is a simple hug, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth said in her annual holiday message, saying it would be difficult for those who lost loved ones to the Covid-19 pandemic or were separated. by restrictions on the social mix.
In her traditional prerecorded Christmas Day address to the nation, the 94-year-old monarch repeatedly spoke of hope for the future while acknowledging that millions of Britons might not have their usual family celebrations this year.
“Of course, for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness; some are mourning the loss of loved ones and others, missing friends and family, have distanced themselves for safety when all they really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a handshake, ”Elizabeth said.
“If you are among them, you are not alone. And let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers. ”
The Queen herself has had to avoid her traditional Christmas celebrations and is spending the holiday season quietly at Windsor Castle with her husband, 99-year-old Prince Philip.
Usually all the Windsors gather at their home on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, the walk to a nearby church for the Christmas Day service is a staple of the royal calendar.
However, Britain is currently struggling to curb the spread of a new variant of the new coronavirus, with the number of new infections hitting record levels this week and the number of hospital admissions and deaths on the rise.
Much of the country has been subjected to strict restrictions, and for London and the surrounding areas, households cannot mingle at all during Christmas, while for other areas there are strict restrictions limiting contact to a single day.
“Surprisingly, a year that has necessarily kept people apart has brought us closer in many ways,” said the queen, adding that royals were inspired by the stories of those who volunteered to help others in need.
“In the UK and around the world, people have met the challenges of the year magnificently and I am very proud and moved by this calm and indomitable spirit.”
