and lift off. the world s most powerful telescope has blasted into space, soon to offer unprecedented images of the universe. christmas day boosterjabs in england thousands of people are expected to be vaccinated today, as the race to fight the surging omricon variant continues. and tributes are paid to the former england and yorkshire captain ray illingworth who has died at the age of 89. hello and welcome if you re watching in the uk or around the world. the queen has spoken movingly in her christmas day message about her grief at the death of her husband, prince philip, who died in april.
my beloved me, in the months since the death of my beloved philip, i have drawn great my beloved philip, i have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life affection of the many tributes to his life and work from around the country. his life and work from around the country, the commonwealth, and the world country, the commonwealth, and the world his country, the commonwealth, and the world. his sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation, were to squeeze fun out of any situation, were all to squeeze fun out of any situation, were all irrepressible. that mischievous enquiring twinkle was as bright mischievous enquiring twinkle was as bright at mischievous enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end is when i first set eyes bright at the end is when i first set eyes on him. but life, of course, set eyes on him. but life, of course, cons
this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. queen elizabeth speaks about her personal grief over the death of her husband, prince philip, in her christmas day message, saying there was one familiar laugh missing , amid the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. that mischievous inquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when i first set eyes on him. but life, of course, consists of final partings, as well as first meetings. and as much as i and my family miss him, i know he would want us to enjoy christmas. in his christmas message, pope francis highlighted the tragedies in yemen and syria which he said are being passed over in silence.
for changing times. i see it in my own family, and it is a source of great happiness. prince philip was always mindful of this sense of passing the baton that s why he created the duke of edinburgh s award, which offers young people throughout the commonwealth and beyond the chance of exploration and adventure. it remains an astonishing success, grounded in his faith in the future. he was also an early champion of taking seriously our stewardship of the environment, and i am proud beyond words that his pioneering work has been taken on and magnified by our eldest son charles and his elder son william, admirably supported by camilla and catherine, most recently at the cop climate change summit in glasgow.
christmas number ones. coming up next, pasties at christmas. that is next year. it is just it isjust a it is just a suggestion. in the queen s christmas day broadcast, a short while ago, she has spoken for the first time in some detail about the loss of her husband, prince philip, who died in april. the monarch poignantly reflected on a year of personal grief saying there was one familiar laugh missing amid the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. she remarked how his mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when she first set eyes on him, as she empathised with families who had lost loved ones this year. here is the queen s full christmas message. band plays the national anthem.