Queen's Christmas message

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33418, 27 December 1973, Page 9

Queen's Christmas message

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter— Copyright) LONDON, December 26. In her traditional Christmas message to the Commonwealth, the Queen said: “It is now 21 years since I first broadcast a Christmas message to the Commonwealth. “Then, our two elder children were only four and two. “Now, our daughter joins us for Christmas with her husband, and we are celebrating the festival this year with the memories of their wedding very much in our minds. “We are constantly being Fatal cold ware A cold wave has killed 179 people in two states in northern India, according to reports reaching New Delhi. They say that 121 people have died in Bihar, and 58 in Uttar Pradesh. Many of the victims were homeless, poverty stricken, and living on the pavements.—New Delhi, Dec. 26.

itold that we live in a changing world and that we need to adapt to changing conditions, but this is only part of the truth, and 1 am sure that all parents, seeing their children getting married, are reminded of the continuity of human life.

“That is why, I think that all weddings, all friends and relations, and even complete strangers, can stop worrying for a moment and share in the happiness of the couple who are getting married. “I am glad my daughter’s wedding gave such pleasure to so many people just at a time when the world was facing very serious problems.

“Earlier this year, I went to Canada for a different sort of family occasion. This was the meeting of Commonwealth heads of government.

i “I was impressed by the spirit which brought together (so many leaders from such different countries and enabled them to discuss constructively matters which concern us all as friends. “Those of you who are surrounded by friends —or, of course, who are members of a happy family—know this makes life much easier. Everything—the good and the bad—can be shared, but it is easy for us to forget

those who are not so fortunate.

“However, there are many (people of all ages who go out to help the old and the lonely, the sick and the handicapped. I am sure that, in so doing, they find the real happiness that comes from serving and thinking of others.

“I believe Christmas should remind us that the qualities of the human spirit are more important than material gain. Christ taught

! love, charity and that we show humanity and compassion at all times and in all situations. “A lack of humanity and i compassion can be very (destructive —how easily this (causes divisions within nations and between nations. (We should remember instead how much we have in common and resolve to give expression to the best of our human qualities, not only at Christmas, but right through the year.”