This year’s Christmas message from the Queen will be especially poignant following the death of her husband Prince Philip.
Rightly, Her Majesty will pay tribute to the man who was her rock and companion during their 73 years of married life.
She will also speak for the whole country with her praise for the key workers who have helped us through another year of coronavirus.
The Queen has an unfailing talent for capturing the mood of the nation. But this year it will not just be her words which will resonate but the fact that, like so many households, she will be spending Christmas with just a few close members of her family.
Once again Covid has disrupted our festive plans. For many of us the Omicron variant will be an inconvenience but for those who are vulnerable or living in care homes it is an unwelcome visitor at the end of a challenging year.
For them it may mean another Christmas separated from their friends and families.
In stark contrast to the dithering by the Prime Minister, the vast majority of people have shown remarkable resilience and fortitude since this variant struck.
They have understood the need to put the safety of others first, even if it means having to change plans or cut back on socialising.
They have spent their time trying to do the right thing. Communities have come together to help people get jabbed, to look after neighbours and care for those in need.
The figures on Covid remain alarming but the latest analysis shows that Omicron is less severe than the Delta variant and less likely to lead to people ending up in hospital.
So there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The worst may not be over but there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic.
Festive wish
Here's wishing all our readers a happy and Covid-free Christmas.
Wherever you are, and however you
are celebrating, we hope that you have a fantastic day.
After all, there’s no time like the presents.
