Right before Christmas time, some good news has come to Britain's Royal Family with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip returning home after being hospitalised as a precautionary measure.
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At her annual address to the nation, however, Queen Elizabeth II plans to acknowledge that the year has indeed been a bumpy one, both for the nation and the family.
In the pre-recorded message, that will be broadcast in Britain and the Commonwealth nations on Christmas Day, the Queen has talked of the need for reconciliation and forgiveness. “The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference," she said.
The Queen, in the speech refers to Britain's tortuous path out of the European Union, which led to a lengthy political stalemate broken only earlier this month when voters gave the pro-Brexit Conservative Party a comfortable majority in Parliament.
One of the problems the royal family faced this year included Prince Andrew's name being dragged into a sex scandal owing to a disastrous interview in which defended his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. This led to him retreating from public duties.
The family also endured rumours about a rift between Prince William and Prince Harry.
Both Harry and Meghan have complained about constant scrutiny by the media as they settle into family life with 7-month-old Archie.
When Prince Charles was asked about Philip's health during a visit to a flooded visit in South Yorkshire, Charles said Monday his father was, Alright.