While we separated from the Crown over two centuries ago, Americans remain fascinated by the Royal Family. Many follow the lives of Queen Elizabeth and her children and their children. This Christmas was no different.

FNC: “Queen Elizabeth shared the pain she felt after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, as she encouraged people everywhere to celebrate Christmas with friends and family, despite the grief caused by the ongoing pandemic.

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Saying she understood the difficulty of spending the holiday season ‘with one familiar laugh missing,’ the monarch delivered her address beside a framed photograph of her arm-in-arm with Prince Philip, who died in April at age 99. On her right shoulder was the same sapphire chrysanthemum brooch she wore in the photo — a glittering statement pin that she also wore as a newlywed.

Despite her own loss, the queen said her family was a ‘source of great happiness.’ While she noted that she had welcomed four great-grandchildren this year, she made no mention of grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle who famously left their royal duties behind in 2020. The British monarch also made no mention of her son Prince Andrew who is facing a civil lawsuit by Virginia Roberts Giuffre who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was 17 years old at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York home, as well as in London and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

The Queen: “Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones,’’ the queen said in the prerecorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner. “This year, especially, I understand why.’’

HRM continued: “While COVID again means we can’t celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions, be it the singing of carols — as long as the tune is well known — decorating the tree, giving and receiving presents or watching a favorite film where we already know the ending,” she said. “It’s no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines. Perhaps it’s truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all. Adults, when weighed down with worries, sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things where children do not. And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas.’’

“Christmas was a bit of a struggle for the queen without Prince Philip by her side,” a palace source told Us Weekly. “And not being able to spend with her whole family [didn’t help]…Obviously, the Cambridges were disappointed not to be spending the day with the queen, but thanks to modern technology, they video called her first thing in the morning to wish her a Merry Christmas…And the kids excitedly told their great-grandmother about their gifts,” the source added.