the queen has paid tribute to the people of london and manchester in her christmas speech, after terror attacks in both cities this year. she also spoke of the awfulness of the grenfell tower fire, which claimed the lives of at least 71 people. her speech was broadcast on bbc one just over an hour ago. and for those of you who missed it, here it is again in full. # god save our gracious queen # long live our noble queen # god save the queen # send her victorious # happy and glorious # long to reign over us

# god save the queen. # 60 years ago today, a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change. she presented the first television broadcast of its kind. she described the moment as a landmark. television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on christmas day. my own family often gather round to watch television, as they are at this moment, and that is how i imagine you now. six decades on, the presenter has evolved somewhat, as has the technology she described. back then, who could've imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones,

as some of you are today. but i'm also struck by something that hasn't changed. that, whatever the technology, many of you will be watching this at home. we think of our homes as places of warmth, familiarity and love, of shared stories and memories, which is perhaps why at this time of year so many return to where they grew up. there is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home. for many, the idea of home reaches beyond a physical building to a home town or city. this christmas, i think of london and manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past 12 months in the face of appalling attacks. in manchester, those targeted included children who had gone to see

their favourite singer. a few days after the bombing, i had the privilege of meeting some of the young survivors and their parents. so you'd come specially for the concert, had you? yeah. mm-hm. it was a birthday present. oh, was it? oh, right. very scary. very wicked. mmm. and to target that sort of thing, you know. yeah. yeah, it's awful, but hopefully they'll mend. yes. we'll get better. it's very interesting how everybody has united, haven't they, here? well, it's been amazing, really. mmm. i describe that hospital visit as a privilege because the patients i met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience. indeed, many of those who survived the attack came togetherjust days later for a benefit concert. it was a powerful

reclaiming of the ground, and of the city those young people call home. we expect our homes to be a place of safety, sanctuary even, which makes it all the more shocking when the comfort they provide is shattered. a few weeks ago, the prince of wales visited the caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities. and here in london, who can forget the sheer awfulness of the grenfell tower fire? our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much, and we are indebted to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives this past year saving others. many of them, of course, will not be at home today because they are working to protect us.

reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family, and in particular for 70 years of marriage. 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. even prince philip has decided it's time to slow down a little, having, as he economically put it, "done his bit". but i know his support and unique sense of humour will remain as strong as ever, as we enjoy spending time this christmas with our family and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year. in 2018, i will open my home to a different type of family — the leaders of the 52 nations of the commonwealth, as they gather in the uk

fora summit. the commonwealth has an inspiring way of bringing people together, be it through the commonwealth games — which begin in a few months‘ time on australia's gold coast — or through bodies like the commonwealth youth orchestra & choir, a reminder of how truly vibrant this international family is. today, we celebrate christmas, which itself is sometimes described as a festival of the home. families travel long distances to be together. volunteers and charities, as well as many churches, arrange meals for the homeless and those who would otherwise be alone on christmas day. we remember the birth ofjesus christ whose only sanctuary was a stable in bethlehem. he knew rejection, hardship and persecution, and yet it isjesus christ's generous love and example which has inspired me

through good times and bad. whatever your own experiences this year, wherever and however you are watching, i wish you a peaceful and very happy christmas. # it came upon the midnight clear # that glorious song of old # from angels bending near the earth # to touch their harps of gold # peace on the earth # goodwill to men # from heaven's all gracious king

# the world in solemn stillness lay # to hear the angels sing # for lo, the days are hastening on # by prophet bards foretold # when, with the ever—circling years # comes round the age of gold # when peace shall over all the earth

# its ancient splendours fling # and the whole world give back the song # which now the angels sing. # this year's christmas message from her majesty the queen. it might be deepest winter at home, but england's cricketers will step out into the summer sunshine in australia later today for the first session of the next ashes test. they have already lost the series, but organisers expect a sell—out at the melbourne cricket ground as they try to rescue some pride. patrick gearey reports. the ashes gone, and still they come. there's a reason england's fans are called the barmy army. when they're not watching cricket, they're playing it. and they've called up mr root to their team. not the england captain, but his brother, billy — a professional himself, who has had to watchjoe lose the urn with everyone else.

i think he will always enjoy the challenge of it. i think there will be times where he is frustrated. but i think it is the sort of thing he will enjoy taking on, a tough challenge like this. challenge is an understatement. comment and criticism comes with cricket in australia. in the past week, root‘s had to watch the ashes go, and had to listen to his captaincy be described as "soft and childlike" by former australian skipper ricky ponting. he doesn't spend any time in our dressing room. he doesn't spend much time around the squad, so. i don't think i go about things as a little boy, for sure. i have my own way of doing things. i think it is important that you don't try and be something that you're not. now he takes his team into a test like no other. boxing day in melbourne is a national occasion, notjust a sporting one. australian values of history, tradition and competition mean there will be no going easy on england. this is the notorious bay 13 of the mcg. home to the most raucous supporters in cricket. and they will be reminding which ever poor england fielder who has the misfortune of being posted near to them exactly

what the score is in this series, and how bad it could yet get for them. words can't hurt england, but runs do. steve smith provides them, and the aussie captain will play, despite injuring his hand in training. ashes series can numb as well as inflict pain. it's been a good summer so far. obviously, won back the urn, which was the objective at the start of the series, and we've now got an opportunity to keep winning. that's been my message to the boys. don't worry about 5—0 at this stage, you've got to win this one first. even on christmas morning, even with the series decided, they come to watch practise in melbourne. more than 90,000 will be here on boxing day to pick over the ashes leftovers. patrick gearey, bbc news, in melbourne. let's get the weather, with tomasz shaferneker. it is forecast not a flake of snow.

it will be turning tonight and later on tonight across the southern uplands of scotland, maybe the highlands there could be a bit of snow, maybe two to five centimetres possibly even the welsh hills, but this will be really right up there in the hills. for most of us, a chilly night on the way, there will be showers round, maybe some windy weather to foretime in the south, and the south—west, by the end of the night temperatures there two or three degrees above freezing. watch out for icy patches on boxing day. boxing day, a lot of sunshine for much of the country, but quickly through the morning the weather will go downhill in the south—west, the winds will strengthen, on the hills in wales there might be snow too, best of the weather throughout boxing day will be in northern and eastern area, watch what happens during the evening. it looks as though we could have snow on the welsh hills and wet elsewhere. this is bbc news,

our latest headlines. the queen has paid tribute to how the people of manchester and london dealt with this year's terror attacks. in her christmas day broadcast, she described meeting the manchester attack survivors in hospital. i described that hospital visit as a privilege, because the patients i met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience. meghan markle has made her first public appearance with the royal family, as she attended the traditional christmas day service at the church on the queen's sandringham estate in norfolk. pope francis has renewed his call for peace in the middle east. in his traditional christmas address he urged israel and the palestinians to continue to work towards a peaceful two—state solution. now on bbc news, from the engagement of prince harry and meghan markle, to the retirement from royal duties of the duke of edinburgh, sarah campbell looks back on the key events in review 2017: the royal year. reporter: congratulations

from all of us! how are you both feeling? thrilled! this was the year in which prince harry introduced his new leading lady, the american actress, meghan markle. the fact that i fell in love with meghan so incredibly quickly, was sort of confirmation to me that everything, all the stars were aligned, everything was perfect. after 70 years of public service, the duke of edinburgh, britain's longest—serving royal consort, hung up his hat and retired from royal duties.