We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.

We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection. With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock.

I should like to be a horse.

I don’t like to badmouth people. But I’m the head of a monarchy that began in the ninth century, and I’m apparently more modern than Chris Christie. Look, I know he has to appeal to the crazy right-wingers in his party, but the fact is, he’s not as forward-thinking as an eighty-seven-year-old lady who wears a crown on her head. It’s pathetic.

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

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.

The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually, your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.