Queen reflects on past year's tragedies, family in Christmas message

Queen Elizabeth reflectson the past year's tragedies and family in her Christmas message broadcast Monday.

In excerpts released by Buckingham Palace, the Queen mentionsterror attacks, the Grenfell Tower fire and hurricanes in the Caribbean as events that rocked the U.K. and abroad.

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"This Christmas, I think of London and Manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past 12 months in the face of appalling attacks," she says.

The Queen says it was her privilege to visit young survivors of the attack on a Manchester concert hall as they were recovering from the blast,which claimed 22 lives.

"I describe that hospital visit as a 'privilege' because the patients I met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience."

She also joked about her decades ofmarriage to Prince Philip.

"I don't know that anyone had invented the term 'platinum' for a 70th wedding anniversary when I was born. You weren't expected to be around that long."

The Queen also said she looks forward to spending Christmas with family, and that she and Philip look forward to welcoming new members to the family next year, a possible reference to the recent engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, andthe third child expected in the spring by Prince William and his wife, Kate.

On Monday, the Royal Family followed its tradition of attending Christmas church service near the Queen's country estate in Sandringham, 175 kilometres north of London. The Queen didn't attend church last Christmas because of a heavy cold.

Meghan joined the family for the service, marking her first public appearance with the Queen. The American actress, who will marry Harry in the spring,smiled and gave a brief wave on her way into the church in her first public appearance with the Queen. Many well-wishers carried flowers to give to the royals after the service.

Royal Family members havea private lunch scheduled after the church service. They traditionally exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.