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Royals in Sandringham gathering Royals in Sandringham gathering
(about 2 hours later)
The Queen and other members of the Royal Family are spending Christmas Day at Sandringham in Norfolk. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family have arrived at the church on the Sandringham estate, in Norfolk, for a Christmas Day service.
The Queen's Christmas message will be broadcast at 1500 GMT in which she is expected to pay tribute to the work of the armed forces in Afghanistan. The monarch and Prince Philip were joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princes William and Harry at St Mary Magdalene Church.
She will also urge young people of the Commonwealth to come together to discuss the environment. The Queen's Christmas message will be broadcast at 1500 GMT.
She is expected to pay tribute to the armed forces in Afghanistan and urge more discussion about the environment.
This year more than 100 UK servicemen were killed in Afghanistan and world leaders met to discuss climate change.This year more than 100 UK servicemen were killed in Afghanistan and world leaders met to discuss climate change.
The annual speech usually has a strong religious framework, reflects current issues and often draws on the Queen's own experiences and concerns.The annual speech usually has a strong religious framework, reflects current issues and often draws on the Queen's own experiences and concerns.
The armed forces and the Commonwealth are known to be two areas of close interest for the 83-year-old monarch.The armed forces and the Commonwealth are known to be two areas of close interest for the 83-year-old monarch.
And the environment is an issue that has been high on the Commonwealth's agenda.And the environment is an issue that has been high on the Commonwealth's agenda.
She will say in her speech: "It is important to keep discussing issues that concern us all - there can be no more valuable role for our family of nations."She will say in her speech: "It is important to keep discussing issues that concern us all - there can be no more valuable role for our family of nations."
At a gathering of leaders from the institution's member states last month, the Queen urged them to take a lead in the international response to the challenge of climate change.At a gathering of leaders from the institution's member states last month, the Queen urged them to take a lead in the international response to the challenge of climate change.
Heavy lossesHeavy losses
Hundreds of onlookers watched the royals arrive.
Police searched visitors and more than a dozen officers monitored crowds lining the path the royals walked along.
The Princess Royal, the Duke of York and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex are also among the attendees.
Princes William and Harry are both on leave from their military training as helicopter pilots.
The Royal Family are rarely all together under one roof and, as with many families, Christmas is the one occasion during the year when they all come and stay with each other for a few nights.The Royal Family are rarely all together under one roof and, as with many families, Christmas is the one occasion during the year when they all come and stay with each other for a few nights.
As in past years, they will attend morning service together at the church on the Sandringham estate. After lunch it will be time for the Queen's Christmas broadcast, which was recorded earlier this month at Buckingham Palace.
Princes William and Harry - who are both on leave from their military training as helicopter pilots - are expected to be there.
Then, after lunch, it will be time for the Queen's Christmas broadcast, which was recorded earlier this month at Buckingham Palace.
With the losses suffered by the armed forces in Afghanistan on many people's minds this Christmas, the Queen is expected to take the opportunity to re-state her admiration for the work that Britain's servicemen and women are doing there.With the losses suffered by the armed forces in Afghanistan on many people's minds this Christmas, the Queen is expected to take the opportunity to re-state her admiration for the work that Britain's servicemen and women are doing there.
The Queen's Speech will be broadcast on BBC One at 1500 GMT on Christmas Day, and shown again at 1850 GMT on BBC Two.The Queen's Speech will be broadcast on BBC One at 1500 GMT on Christmas Day, and shown again at 1850 GMT on BBC Two.