演讲原文：

At this time of year, few sights evoke more feelings of cheer and goodwill than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree.

每年的这个时候，只需几个场景就会唤起欢乐美好的感受，尤其是圣诞树上闪烁的灯光。

The popularity of a tree at Christmas is due in part to my great-great grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.After this touching picture was published, many families wanted a Christmas tree of their own, and the custom soon spread.

而圣诞树的普及，很大程度上是因为我的曾曾祖父母——维多利亚女王和阿尔伯特亲王。当年，在他们这张深触人心的画发布之后，很多家庭也想要他们自己的圣诞树，这个习俗很快流行了开来。

In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly-married naval wife.We have returned to that island over the years, including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders, and this year I met another group of leaders: The Queen's Young Leaders, an inspirational group, each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities.

还记得1949年，我在马耳他度过了圣诞节。当时，我还是一个海军军人的新婚妻子。这些年来我们多次重返马耳他，包括上个月和英联邦首脑们的会议。今年也会见了世界上的另一群领袖：“女王青年领袖”的获胜者，这是一个鼓舞人心的组织，其中每个成员都象征着他们各自英联邦成员国的希望。

Gathering round the tree gives us a chance to think about the year ahead - I am looking forward to a busy 2016, though I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, as we think of those who are far away or no longer with us.

相聚在圣诞树下，让我们不禁展望接下来的一年——期待丰饶的2016，尽管我已被提醒可能会多听到一两次大家为我唱起“生日快乐歌”。这亦让我们感怀即将过去的一年，与此同时，我们也惦念那些不在身边或已离世的人。

Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one is particularly hard. But it's also a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for.It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it".

很多人认为，失去挚爱的第一个圣诞节是异常难过的；但这也是铭记我们所需要感恩一切的时刻。的确，今年全世界都不得不面临一些短暂的黑暗时刻，不过（圣经）《约翰福音》（一章第五节）中有一段关于伟大的希望的篇章，我们常常会在圣诞颂歌中听到它：“光明在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光（黑暗遮不住光明）。”

One cause for thankfulness this summer was marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War.On VJ Day, we honoured the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in the Far East, as well as remembering the thousands who never returned.

这个夏天，我们心怀感激的原因之一，是今年标志了二战已结束70年之久。在第二次世界大战抗日战争胜利纪念日那天，我们向经历远东冲突的退伍军人们致敬，并纪念那些数以千计未有机会回家的战士们。

The procession from Horse Guards Parade to Westminster Abbey must have been one of the slowest ever, because so many people wanted to say "thank you" to them.

皇家骑兵卫队阅兵队伍前往威斯敏斯特教堂的一程，定当是十分漫长的过程，因为太多人想对他们说一声，“谢谢你们”。

At the end of that war, the people of Oslo began sending an annual gift of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square.It has 500 light bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians but by people of all faiths, and of none. At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem.

在那场战争结束后，奥斯陆的民众开始给特拉法加广场送来圣诞树，作为每年的礼物。其上有500个灯泡，不仅有基督徒为此颂赞，更包括拥有其它信仰的人们，所有人。一颗明亮的星星矗立在圣诞树的最顶端，它，象征着伯利恒之星。

The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert's time. For his family's tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family.

这样在圣诞树顶端加装饰的传统也来自于阿尔伯特亲王时期。当年，他们在自己家里的那棵树上放了一个天使，希望能够以此提醒我们，圣诞的真谛在于哪一个特别家庭。

For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus's birth - in a stable - were far from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country.

It's no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.

对于约瑟和玛利亚来说，耶稣的出生地（一个马厩）跟理想的出生场所相距甚远，更不幸的是，他刚出生，全家就被迫逃离了自己的国家。这个真实的故事，到现在依旧让人们为之想象、被其萦绕，并毫无疑问地触动着我们全世界所有基督徒的心。

Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ's unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another.Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn't be discouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.One of the joys of living a long life is watching one's children, then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun.

尽管曾流离失所并短短一生中惨遭迫害，但基督一直向大家传达的不是暴力或是复仇，而是关爱彼此！当然，这并非易事，我们不能就此灰心……相反，这鼓舞我们更努力的前行！要心怀感恩那些在我们生命中带来爱与欢乐的人们，也要想方设法把爱传递下去，不论何时，不论何地。

活了这么久，我觉得最开心的事情就是能看到我的孩子，我的孙辈，我的曾孙辈能一起帮忙装扮圣诞树。今年，我的家庭里又多了一个新的成员一起欢度快乐时光。

The customary decorations have changed little in the years since that picture of Victoria and Albert's tree first appeared, although of course electric lights have replaced the candles.

There's an old saying that "it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness".

自从维多利亚女王和阿尔伯特亲王那张装饰圣诞树的画发布后，装扮圣诞树的传统几乎从未改变，只是装饰品从蜡烛变成了彩灯。

有一句古话说的好。与其诅咒黑暗，不如点亮明烛去战胜它！

There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today.Christmas is a good time to be thankful for them, and for all that brings light to our lives.

I wish you a very happy Christmas.

在这个世界上，有无数的人们点亮了希望的蜡烛。

圣诞节，是一个感谢这些人的最佳时机！同时，感谢那些照亮我们生命的人们！祝你们圣诞快乐！