Queen Elizabeth II

My husband has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years, and I owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim.

No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her.

I have been aware all the time that my peoples, spread far and wide throughout every continent and ocean in the world, were united to support me in the task to which I have now been dedicated with such solemnity.

The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience. It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbors and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere.

At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child.

Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.

In remembering the appalling suffering of war on both sides, we recognise how precious is the peace we have built in Europe since 1945.

It is easy enough to define what the Commonwealth is not. Indeed this is quite a popular pastime.

I have behind me not only the splendid traditions and the annals of more than a thousand years but the living strength and majesty of the Commonwealth and Empire; of societies old and new; of lands and races different in history and origins but all, by God's Will, united in spirit and in aim.

I hope that tomorrow we can all, wherever we are, join in expressing our grief at Diana's loss, and gratitude for her all-too-short life. It is a chance to show to the whole world the British nation united in grief and respect.

Madam President, speaking here in Dublin Castle it is impossible to ignore the weight of history, as it was yesterday when you and I laid wreaths at the Garden of Remembrance.

I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.

To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.

What were once only hopes for the future have now come to pass; it is almost exactly 13 years since the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in favour of the agreement signed on Good Friday 1998, paving the way for Northern Ireland to become the exciting and inspirational place that it is today.

The British constitution has always been puzzling and always will be.

To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?

These wretched babies don't come until they are ready.

For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first.

We lost the American colonies because we lacked the statesmanship to know the right time and the manner of yielding what is impossible to keep.

Like all best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.