ORGAN PLAYS
# God save our gracious Queen
# Long live our noble Queen
# God save the Queen
# Send her victorious
# Happy and glorious
# Long to reign over us
# God save the Queen! #
For many, the service of Nine Lessons and Carols
from King's College, Cambridge is when Christmas begins.
Listened to by millions of people around the world,
it starts with a chorister
singing the first verse of Once In Royal David's City.
The priest who introduced this service
to King's College Chapel exactly 100 years ago
was Eric Milner-White.
He had served as a military chaplain in the First World War.
Just six weeks after the Armistice, he wanted a new kind of service
which, with its message of peace and goodwill,
spoke to the needs of the times.
2018 has been a year of centenaries.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
The Royal Air Force celebrated its hundredth anniversary
with a memorable fly-past,
demonstrating a thrilling unity of purpose and execution.
We owe them, and all our armed services, our deepest gratitude.
My father served in the Royal Navy during the First World War.
He was a midshipman in HMS Collingwood
at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
The British fleet lost 14 ships and 6,000 men in that engagement.
My father wrote in a letter, "How and why we were not hit beats me."
Like others, he lost friends in the war.
At Christmas, we become keenly aware of loved ones who have died,
whatever the circumstances.
But of course, we would not grieve if we did not love.
Closer to home, it has been a busy year for my family...
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
..with two weddings and two babies, and another child expected soon.
It helps to keep a grandmother well occupied.
We have had other celebrations, too,
including the 70th birthday of the Prince of Wales.
Some cultures believe a long life brings wisdom.
I'd like to think so.
Perhaps part of that wisdom
is to recognise 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,
a 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,
are known universally as the Friendly Games
because of their 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 2,000 years ago brought to the world.
Only a few people acknowledged Jesus when he was born.
Now billions follow him.
I believe his message of peace on Earth and goodwill to all
is never out of date.
It can be heeded by everyone.
It's needed as much as ever.
A very happy Christmas to you all.
# Once in royal David's city
# Stood a lowly cattle shed
# Where a mother laid her baby
# In a manger for his bed
# Mary was that mother mild
# Jesus Christ her little child
# He came down to earth from Heaven
# Who is God and Lord of all
# And his shelter was a stable
# And his cradle was a stall
# With the poor and mean and lowly
# Lived on Earth our saviour holy
# And our eyes at last shall see him
# Through his own redeeming love
# For that child so dear and gentle
# Is our Lord in Heav'n above
# And he leads his children on
# To the place where he is gone
# Not in that poor, lowly stable
# With the oxen standing by
# We shall see him, but in Heaven
# Set at God's right hand on high
# When like stars his children crowned
# All in white shall wait around. #