Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. The duke of edinburgh has returned to sandringham in time for christmas after leaving hospital in london. Prince phillip, whos 98, spent four nights in the king edward vii hospital on the advice of his doctor. In her Christmas Day message the queen will describe 2019 as a bumpy year. Heres our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell. Afterfour nights in the king edward vii hospital, the duke emerged this morning and walked slowly but without assistance to the waiting vehicle. There has been no information about the reason for his stay at the hospital. In the past he has been treated there for bladder and chest infections. Whatever the nature of this latest episode, the duke has satisfied his doctors that he is well enough to return home. The helicopter from Buckingham Palace to the sandringham estate where the royal family are gathering for christmas. In her christmas broadcast, the queen will talk about a past year which has felt quite bumpy. She hasnt clarified what has felt quite bumpy which will invite speculation. She has talked about reconciliation. The obvious conclusion is that this is a coded message from britain part is a coded message from britains head of state, urging the country to move on. She also says in the broadcast that small steps can overcome long held differences. But references to a bumpy year may also be in reference to her own family, after a year which began with the duke of edinburghs Road Accident which continued with the duke and duchess of sussex complaining about the problems of of being in the public eye, and which culminated most recently about the controversies surrounding prince andrew, forcing him to step back from public duties. For the queen who arrived in norfolk en route to sandringham at the end of last week, there is at least the reissuance of knowing that her husband will be with her over christmas. Harry and meghan will be absent. They are in canada. This is their Online Christmas card, a picture of them with their son archie. And earlier Nicholas Witchell gave me his thoughts on the queens Christmas Day message. What did she mean by this reference to a bumpy year . We shall find out tomorrow. I think the context is reconciliation overcoming deep divisions. So i think shes talking about the political situation, the divisions in the country caused by brexit. I think thats the focus for this remark. But it has been a difficult year for the royal family. Not on the scale of 1992 or 1997 when Princess Diana was killed, but a difficult year for all of the obvious reasons, including the recent news with prince andrew. Charlotte gallagher is in sandringham for us where the queen has been in residence since friday. Some good news for the queen that Prince Philip will be there for Christmas Eve celebrations. Yes, a huge relief for the royal family Prince Philip is back at sandringham to spend christmas with his family. Also for the staff who work at sandringham. I spoke to someone work at sandringham. I spoke to someone who worked here who said he often sees Prince Philip walking around, hes quite involved in the running of the estate, and he feels like a running of the estate, and he feels likeafamily running of the estate, and he feels like a Family Member to them, so they were also relieved when he was flown back for christmas. The next time we see the royal family will be Christmas Day because it is traditionalfor Christmas Day because it is traditional for them Christmas Day because it is traditionalfor them to Christmas Day because it is traditional for them to attend Church Christmas morning. The queen will be there but we dont know if the prince will be. Firstly because hes just been discharged from hospital. He also didnt go last year because he stepped back from public life, he retired in 2017, so we see him a lot less in public. One person we think will be there is prince andrew, the duke of york. There was speculation he wouldnt go because of the scrutiny surrounding his friendship with jeffrey because of the scrutiny surrounding his friendship withjeffrey epstein. And also the interview on bbc newsnight which created headlines all across the world, almost all negative about the duke. In happier news, we do also think Princess Charlotte and Prince George will be making their debut at the Christmas Service making their debut at the Christmas Service tomorrow. Making their debut at the Christmas Service tomorrow. Theyve never been before. But we think Prince William and catherine have decided to take them for the first time. Im sure that will be a treat for a lot of the well wishers royals fans who come every year to see the royal family. Speaking to people on the estate, theyve been told to expect around 6000 people tomorrow. Even though it has been this bumpy year for the royalfamily though it has been this bumpy year for the royal family this year with highs and lows, there is still a lot of interest in royal family. Yes, the visit to the church always a popular event. Thank you so much, charlotte. Boris johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have thanked nhs staff and other Public Servants who work through the holidays in their christmas messages. The Prime Minister said the uk stood in solidarity with christians around the world who have faced persecution for their beliefs. Mr corbyn said it had been a difficult year for many but christmas was a chance to reflect on hopes for a better world. We are hearing more about Boris Johnsons plans for the new year and about how the Prime Minister and his girlfriend will be travelling to the caribbean. He will be staying with friends. Hes not going just yet, he is taking a call in downing street with the president of turkey. He will be spending christmas in downing street with his girlfriend and dog. He was praising the doctors, nurses, police, and army members working over christmas, and also highlighting the plight of christians. People might say you are off to the caribbean, you deserve it, but he will open himself to some criticism. Yes, how will that play politically . A labour source has said that he has a proud member of the elite few and protector of bankers and billionaires, so it is no surprise he holidays with them. As a leader ofa he holidays with them. As a leader of a peoples government, perhaps he will get some stick for that. But he is paying for it himself. He is, other leaders have travelled abroad, tony blair used to go to barbados to hang out with Cliff Richard there. David cameron spent a lot of time in cornwall, but he also travelled abroad. Theresa may famously stayed at home for walking holidays, one in snowdonia when she called that infamous snap election. We need to distinguish between the personal and the political with borisjohnson. He personal and the political with Boris Johnson. He has personal and the political with borisjohnson. He has banned ministers from going to davos for the annual economic gathering in the swiss resort. Andy downing street source told the even standard at the time that our focus is delivering for the people, not champagne for billionaires. Evening standard. The owner of that paper, co ntroversially, the owner of that paper, controversially, hosted a party the night after Boris Johnson controversially, hosted a party the night after borisjohnson won his landslide victory which Boris Johnson went to and a writer for the guardian said it was a champagne and caviar fuelled christmas party. Guardian said it was a champagne and caviarfuelled christmas party. You have in equal measure of celebrity and politician in borisjohnson that many close to him speak about. Perhaps it is no surprise he goes to these parties. But he is in the caribbean for his new year holiday, but weve heard no suggestion he will be handing over power to a deputy, so he will still be very much in charge. People in the australian state of New South Wales have been showing their gratitude to volunteer firefighters battling huge bushfires by donating christmas presents. Since september close to 3,000 firefighters have been out every day trying to control the fires which have engulfed vast areas. Our correspondent phil mercer reports. Koalas and other Australian Animals are the unseen victims of the fires. Much of their habitat has been destroyed and the survivors need all the help they can get. The true extent of australias bushfire crisis is gradually emerging as the charred remains of devastated towns are inspected. Since the start ofjuly, the authorities here in New South Wales say almost a thousand homes have been destroyed by the bushfires. This property was devoured by flames that tore up through a gully at the back. Communities like this terrorised by fires that in many places are simply burning out of control. We just want to make sure that you guys have got stuff for your community. The damage would be far worse without the efforts of volunteer firefighters. Here in buxton locals have been showing their appreciation to those who have been working around the clock to keep the town safe. It is just overwhelming support with presents and stuff for the kids. I havent even done any Christmas Shopping or anything for my daughter. She will turn ten on january the 11th. Yes, just thank you very much. To boost the emergency efforts the australian Prime Minister, scott morrison, says that volunteer firefighters who have jobs in the Public Service will be given four weeks paid leave. Some have been battling the fires for months and with no end in sight to the crisis, a long, dangerous summer lies ahead. Phil mercer, bbc news, New South Wales. There have been further clashes between police and pro democracy protesters who have been holding Christmas Eve rallies in hong kong. Some demonstrators threw umbrellas and objects to police. Police responded by firing tear gas and beating protesters with batons. Thousands of people have been arrested since the unrest began injune, although the demonstrations have been smaller in recent weeks. At least 26 people have died in indonesia when a bus plunged into a ravine. The bus left the city of beng kulu with 50 passengers on board. Rescue teams and volunteers evacuated the survivors, who were trapped on the bus, before taking them to nearby hospitals. Thousands of children in care are living more than 100 miles from their family and friends in places they have never heard of according to a report by the childrens commissioner for england. More than 30,000 children in care are placed out of area, which is a 13 increase over five years. While some children are placed further afield for their own safety, to protect them from criminal gangs or sexual predators, many have to move away because of a shortage of local places. The increasing number of children now is really a result of the increasing number of teenagers coming into care. Theyre less likely to go into foster care, more likely to go into childrens homes. The majority of childrens homes are in areas of the country where accommodation is cheaper lincolnshire, the north west, kent. This means they are sent to these places and often moved around. Children tell me not only do they feel they do not know where they are on the map, they do not know how long they will be there, they dont have access to school properly, and actually they feel it is some kind of punishment. This is, you know, a crucial time of growing up, a crucial time where they need school, they need friendships and they need to be able to plan their future. Doctors are warning of the dangers posed by small button batteries that can be found in toys, Christmas Lights and musical cards. If swallowed, the batteries can burn through a childs throat in a short period of time. The Child Accident trust says two children a year die in the uk from swallowing the batteries. Our Health CorrespondentDominic Hughes has more. Claire still remembers vividly the events of 2015. At the age of two, her daughter sophie came dangerously close to death after swallowing a button battery. It badly damaged her throat and burned a hole in her lung, leaving sophie in intensive care and needing multiple operations. If they swallow one and they leave it, it can be fatal. And if it wasnt for my Quick Response and getting up there, because within two hours it had already done damage, it is not worth thinking about, really. They are really dangerous and things escalate so quickly. This speeded up footage shows how fast a button battery can cause damage. Slices of ham represent the delicate tissues of the throat, saliva reacts with the battery to release caustic chemicals. Within two hours, the flesh is already scorched. Senior doctors say it is important that batteries in toys, lights, clothing and cards are kept safe. Because children mistake these things as sweets, keep them out of reach where they cant get to them. If they come in compartments, in toys, christmas cards, make sure they are in there, locked away if possible. Better to prevent than have to go to an a e department, but if you do have to go, our great nhs staff will be there to remove the battery. Sophie has made a good recovery and her mum knows it was a close call. And not an experience anyone else should go through. Dominic hughes, bbc news. The headlines on bbc news. The duke of edinburgh has left hospital in time to spend christmas with the queen at sandringham. The queen will use her Christmas Day message to say the past year has been quite bumpy adding that small steps can heal divisions. Thousands of volunteer Fire Fighters will spend Christmas Day battling wildfires that are still ravaging australia. Sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, heres olly. Tottenham have banned one of their supporters for throwing a missile at the chelsea keeper kepa arrizabalaga. That was during their defeat at home on sunday. The club havent said how long the ban is for. A chelsea fan has been arrested for committing a racially aggravated offence during the game and tottenham and the police are still trying to identify a supporter who allegedly abused the chelsea defender antonio rudiger. Speaking today, the chelsea manager Frank Lampard has criticised Jose Mourinho for questioning rudigers integrity. The spurs boss felt that rudiger overreacted in an incident that saw son heung min sent off, the chelsea defender claimed that he was targetted with racial abuse from the stands shortly i think with tony in this incident, when he is having to post after the game about something that we know is a huge deal, i think the question is integrity in that time is disappointing. For sure. I think to question his integrity in that time is disappointing. For sure. Because i think pretty universally, certainly what i heard in the post match reflection, was that it was a red card. I said after the game, it wasnt a brutal red card but it was an instinctive one that warrants a red card. Tottenhams appeal against sons red card has failed. The fa have announced that in the last couple of minutes so he will miss the boxing day match at brighton. Liverpools Alex Oxlade Chamberlain has damaged an ankle ligament and will miss their games against leicester and wolves. The england midfielder picked up the injury in qatar during the second half of his sides one nil win over flamengo in the Club World Cup final on saturday. Alan pardew is back in football hes taken over as head coach of dutch side den haag. The former newcastle and Crystal Palace manager has signed a deal until the end of the season and will have chris powell as his assistant. Powell will combine the role alongside his coaching position with england den haag are currently second bottom in the dutch league. The england cricket captainjoe root says he doesnt know if ben stokes will be available for the first test against south africa that starts on boxing day, stokes father ged was taken seriously ill yesterday. He is in a Critical Condition at a johannesburg hospital ijust want i just want to put support to him and his family and to stress the importance of their privacy at this time. But it is really sad news. We are all there for him. You have no idea if he will play are not on boxing day, do you . It would be wrong to go into that now. As i say, its important hes with his family, that comes first, you know, and we will have to wait and see, but most importantly we are all there for ben and the rest of his family. Everybodys thoughts are with ben stokes and his family. They are still in hospital injohannesburg. His father is in Critical Condition. Ben stokes is unable to practise here today with the rest of his team mate at c