In her annual Christmas message, Queen Elizabeth urged families to find comfort in one another and their communities, especially in times of crisis.
"Indeed, sadly, it seems that tragedy often draws out the most and the best of the human spirit," she said, wearing a bright red dress and standing in front of a Christmas tree.
The Queen said she and her husband Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family have been "inspired by the hope and courage" of the people they have met during visits to devastated areas. She noted her own visit to flood-ravaged Australia and Prince William's trip to New Zealand after this year's earthquake.
"We have seen that it's in hardship that we often find strength from our families," she said. "It is in adversity that often new friendships are formed. And it's in a crisis that communities break down barriers and bind together to help one another."
The Queen, who has been making these Christmas addresses since 1952 and writes them herself, said her own family had celebrated two marriages in 2011, but she also noted that many would not be happy at this time of year.
"For many, this Christmas will not be easy. With our armed forces deployed around the world, thousands of service families face Christmas without their loved ones at home," she said. "The bereaved and the lonely will find it especially hard."
She urged people to use their faith in God to get through troubled times.
"Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas," she said, pointing out that, "Jesus was born into a world full of fear."
Looking at the bigger picture, she reminded viewers that her visit to Ireland and U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to England proved that past strained relationships can change for the better.
"The spirit of friendship, so evident in both these nations, can fill us all with hope," she said. "It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today and so give us hope for tomorrow."
Her six-minute address closed with a spoken verse from the Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," to which she added: "It is my prayer that on this Christmas Day, we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God though Christ our Lord. I wish you all a very happy Christmas."
Carry On Christmas
Meanwhile, the Royal Family carried on with its usual Christmas traditions on Sunday without Prince Philip, who remains in hospital after a heart procedure late last week.
Despite the Duke of Edinburgh's absence, the Queen and her children and grandchildren kept up their Christmas morning tradition of attending a service at St. Mary Magdelene Church, which sits on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The family made a brief trip to the church in the early morning hours before leaving and returning two hours later in their Sunday best.
The Queen, dressed in lavender, arrived in her royal limousine and was followed into the church by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla.
Prince Harry walked into the church alongside his brother and sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who was clad in a deep purple coat and matching fascinator.
The Queen's granddaughters Zara Philips and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also attended the service. Philips was accompanied by her rugby-player husband, Mike Tindall.
Afterward, the Queen greeted well-wishers outside the church and handed flowers given to her by members of the crowd to the princesses.
The Royals then returned to the house for their traditional Christmas lunch before visiting Prince Philip in hospital.
Prince William and his brother Prince Harry drove in separate cars to Papworth Hospital from Sandringham, Elizabeth's sprawling estate where the royal family gathered to celebrate Christmas.
Prince Andrew's daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, also came to the hospital, along with Princess Anne's children, Zara and Peter.
The Duke of Edinburgh had a coronary stent put in after being rushed to hospital on Friday complaining of chest pains. A statement from Buckingham Palace said the prince is "in good spirits."
On Saturday, the palace said Prince Philip remains under observation, but is not expected to stay in hospital for long.
