For many, the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, is when Christmas begins. Listened to by millions of people around the world, it starts with a chorister singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City.

对很多人而言，剑桥大学国王学院的《九篇读经与圣诞颂歌庆典》教堂礼拜，标志着圣诞节的开始。它由一名合唱团成员带头从《大卫城中歌》的第一段唱起，被全世界数百万人共同聆听。

The priest who introduced this service to King’s College chapel, exactly one hundred years ago, was Eric Milner-White. He had served as a military chaplain in the First World War. Just six weeks after the Armistice, he wanted a new kind of service which, with its message of peace and goodwill, spoke to the needs of the times.

整整100年前为国王学院教堂带来这项礼拜的神父，是艾瑞克·米尔纳-怀特，他在第一次世界大战期间曾担任随军牧师。停战日后的第六周，他希望用这样一项传播和平与善意的、全新的礼拜活动，来与当时的时代所需进行对话。

2018 has been a year of centenaries. The Royal Air Force celebrated its 100th anniversary with a memorable fly-past demonstrating a thrilling unity of purpose and execution. We owe them and all our Armed Services our deepest gratitude.

2018年是属于百年纪念的一年。皇家空军用一场给人印象深刻的空中表演，庆祝了它的100周年纪念日，展示出了目标与执行力的惊人一致。我们对他们和其他所有武装部队，都应抱有最深切的感谢。

My father served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. He was a midshipman in HMS Collingwood at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The British fleet lost 14 ships and 6,000 men in that engagement.

我的父亲也曾经在一战期间于皇家海军服役。1916年日德兰战役中，他是皇家海军科林伍德海事学院的一名准尉。在那场战事中，英国舰队失去了14艘船和6000名士兵。

My father wrote in a letter: ‘How and why we were not hit beats me’. Like others, he lost friends in the war.

我的父亲在一封信里写道：“我们是如何、又是为什么没被击中，我无法解释。”和其他士兵一样，他在那场战争中失去了不少朋友。

At Christmas, we become keenly aware of loved ones who have died, whatever the circumstances. But, of course, we would not grieve if we did not love.

圣诞期间，无论环境情境如何，我们都会尤其怀念那些已经去世的、我们所爱的人。但确实，如果我们从没爱过，也不会懂得悼念为何物。

Closer to home, it’s been a busy year for my family, with two weddings and two babies, and another child expected soon. It helps to keep a grandmother well occupied. We have had other celebrations too, including the 70th birthday of The Prince of Wales.

对我个人影响深刻的一点在于，过去这一年我的家庭非常忙碌。我们举办了两场婚礼，迎来了两个孩子，另外还有一个孩子即将到来。这让做祖母的我生活非常充实。我们也庆祝了其他一些喜事，其中包括威尔士王子（即查尔斯）的70岁生日。

Some cultures believe a long life brings wisdom. I’d like to think so. Perhaps part of that wisdom is to recognise some of life’s baffling paradoxes, such as the way human beings have a huge propensity for good, and yet a capacity for evil. Even the power of faith, which frequently inspires great generosity and self-sacrifice, can fall victim to tribalism.

一些文化相信，长寿给人带来智慧，我也愿意相信这一点。而也许，注意到人的生命中那些莫名其妙的悖论，也是这种智慧的一部分：比如人为什么能在拥有巨大的“善”的倾向的同时，竟也拥有“恶”的能耐。而即使那些常常能启发出慷慨行为和自我牺牲的信仰的力量，竟也可能屈服于原始本能。

But through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance.

但虽然我这么些年经历过了种种变迁，我的信仰、家庭和友谊，不仅是我生活中永恒的主题，同时也是给我带来慰藉与心安的源泉。

In April, the Commonwealth Heads of Government met in London. My father welcomed just eight countries to the first such meeting in 1948. Now the Commonwealth includes 53 countries with 2.4 billion people, a third of the world’s population.

今年四月，英联邦各国元首会议在伦敦举办。1948年我父亲第一次举办这场会议的时候，只有8个国家列席。而现在我们有53个国家参与其中，代表着24亿人口，也就是全世界人口的三分之一。

Its strength lies in the bonds of affection it promotes, and a common desire to live in a better, more peaceful world. Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding.

它的力量来源于我们互相之间的热情纽带，以及生活在一个更好、更安宁的世界的共同愿望。即使抱有最根深蒂固的分歧，只要我们能互相尊重，将对方作为同等的人来对待，那么这就是向着更深刻互相理解所进发的成功第一步。

Indeed, the Commonwealth Games, held this year on Australia’s Gold Coast, are known universally as the Friendly Games because of their emphasis on goodwill and mutual respect.

而确实，今年在澳大利亚黄金海岸举办的英联邦运动会，被普遍看做是一场“友谊运动会”，也正是得益于我们对善意和相互尊重的不断强调。

The Christmas story retains its appeal since it doesn’t provide theoretical explanations for the puzzles of life. Instead it’s about the birth of a child and the hope that birth 2,000 years ago brought to the world. Only a few people acknowledged Jesus when he was born. Now billions follow him.

耶稣诞生的故事，并没有为人生的谜题带来理论化的解释，但也正是它的魅力所在。相反的，它讲述了一个新生儿的诞生，以及他的诞生在2000年前为这个世界带来希望的故事。当耶稣降生的时候，没几个人承认他；而现在，数十亿人追随着他。

I believe his message of peace on earth and goodwill to all is never out of date. It can be heeded by everyone. It's needed as much as ever.

我坚信他对所有人所传递的和平与善意的信息，这永远也不会过时。任何人都可以体会到这种和平与善意，而我们和过去任何时候一样需要它。

A very happy Christmas to you all.

祝你们所有人圣诞快乐。