Queen's Christmas message

The Queen said she had been humbled by the outpouring of support for her during the Diamond Jubilee year, reports ITV News' Royal Editor Tim Ewart:

The Queen joined the rest of the royals for the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham after recovering from a cold.

She missed Sunday's service at her Norfolk home as she was "getting over the tail end of a cold", Buckingham Palace said.

But today she appeared cheerful as she arrived for the 11am service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.

Christmas celebrations will have a different feel for the Royal Family today with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry absent from the traditional Sandringham festivities.

Prince William and his pregnant wife are instead spending the day with the Middletons in Bucklebury in Berkshire. Prince Harry is serving as an Apache pilot in Afghanistan.

The Queen is due to attend a morning service at Sandringham after recovering from a cold. She will be joined by other senior members of the Royal Family.

Ahead of the recording of her Christmas message the Queen met senior staff from Sky News which produced this year's broadcast. The message was recorded in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace.