Queen Elizabeth II selected a precious photograph of herself and her late husband, Prince Philip, to place on her desk to decorate her annual Christmas speech.
It's the Queen's first Christmas since her husband's death in April 2021, and the Queen has chosen a sweet photo of them from 2007 to put on the table.
The photo shows the Queen and Philip on holiday in Hampshire, England, in 2007, celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary, when they gazed affectionately at each other.
The photo is the only one on the Queen's desk to show her 2021 Christmas speech at Windsor Castle, which will be broadcast to the world in the UK on Christmas Day.
She also wears the sapphire chrysanthemum brooch she wears in two photos on her chest.
It is believed that the Queen will pay her heartfelt tribute to Prince Philip in her Christmas address, the first time in 73 years that she has ever had a holiday without a husband.
A senior royal source told The Mirror: "This year's speech will be a particularly private one as the Queen prepares for her first holiday after her husband's death. ”
It was an extraordinary year for the Queen and the royal family – Prince Philip died, four grandchildren were born, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family.
As in 2020, the Queen is expected to pay tribute to the tireless efforts of health workers during the pandemic.
In 2019, the Queen sat next to two photographs of Prince Philip, one of the Cambridge couple and the other of Prince Charles and Camilla.
As concerns about the Omelon novel coronavirus heightened, the Queen cancelled her traditional Christmas schedule at Sandringham this year.
Clarence Palace subsequently confirmed that Prince Charles and Camilla would spend Christmas with the Queen, ensuring that the Queen would not spend Christmas alone for the first time after Prince Philip's death.
A spokesman for the couple said Thursday: "Charles and Camilla will be with the Queen at Christmas."