Queen to acknowledge ‘bumpy’ year for UK, family

Queen Elizabeth II will reportedly acknowledge that 2019 has been a “bumpy” year in her annual Christmas message, referring to Brexit strife in the United Kingdom as well as tensions within the royal family. 

The pre-recorded message, which will be broadcast in the U.K. and in Commonwealth nations on Christmas Day, was recorded prior to Prince Philip’s hospitalization in London, The Associated Press reported.

The queen will say 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,” according to the AP. 

Her comments come after U.K. lawmakers struggled over Brexit negotiations all year.

Prince Andrew this year also retreated from official duties following an interview in which he defended his friendship and the time he previously spent with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

And Prince Harry traveled with his wife, Meghan, and their son Archie to Canada for the holidays. Senior royals typically spend Christmas at the queen’s Sandringham Estate.

Royal officials said Philip’s recent hospitalization was a precautionary measure. When asked about his father’s health, Prince Charles, the queen and Philip’s eldest son, said his father was “alright.”

“When you get to that age things don’t work so well,” Charles added.