The Queen's Christmas Message

In her annual Christmas Day message to Britain, Queen Elizabeth II advised the country take a “deep breath” when trying to face the world’s problems.

The 90-year-old queen, who missed the traditional Christmas church service near her Sandringham estate due to her “heavy cold,” used the message to praise those who had offered inspiration through the year. She included medalists from this year’s Paralympic and Olympic Games in Rio and even those who work with her grandson Prince William, a helicopter pilot in the East Anglican Air Ambulance service.

But in the prerecorded message she said it’s not necessary to win medals or save lives to be brave, calling out countless charities that worked throughout the year and ordinary people who perform neighborly deeds.

Britain also faces global problems, she acknowledged.

‘When people face a challenge they sometimes talk about taking a deep breath to find courage or strength. In fact, the word ‘inspire’ literally means ‘to breathe in.’

Queen Elizabeth II

She added that it’s “understandable” that Britain sometimes thinks the world’s problems are so immense that one country can’t really help. However, the “cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine,” she said.