The Queen has thanked the public for braving the elements to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.
She said she was grateful for the British spirit of crowds “undaunted by the rain” who turned up to celebrate during the Thames Pageant to celebrate her sixty years on the throne, despite the downpour and chilly conditions.
After that landmark, and a 2012 where it was announced Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were expecting their first child, the Queen paid tribute to Britons, saying: "This past year has been one of great celebration for many.
The Queen thanked those who came out to celebrate her years on the throne
"The enthusiasm which greeted the Diamond Jubilee was, of course, especially memorable for me and my family.
"It was humbling that so many chose to mark the anniversary of a duty which passed to me 60 years ago. People of all ages took the trouble to take part in various ways and in many nations.
"But perhaps most striking of all was to witness the strength of fellowship and friendship among those who had gathered together on these occasions."
In her Christmas speech, which was also broadcast in 3D, panoramic shots of hundreds of boats, tugs, ships, cruisers and canoes sailing down river past the Houses of Parliament during the pageant staged as part of the national celebrations in June, were featured.
Boats travelling down the Thames during the celebrations
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was shown jigging along to a nautical tune.
"On the barges and the bridges and the banks of the river there were people who had taken their places to cheer through the mist, undaunted by the rain.
"That day there was a tremendous sense of common determination to celebrate, triumphing over the elements,” she said.
The Queen described how she was left humbled by the huge crowds that turned out to celebrate her Jubilee
The monarch also paid tributes to the athletes and all those involved in the 2012 Paralympic games.
"As London hosted a splendid summer of sport, all those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes," she said.
Footage featured Olympic and Paralympic heroes, from cyclist Bradley Wiggins on his way to clinching the time trial gold medal, to an ecstatic Mo Farah after winning the 10,000m title - soon to be followed by a 5,000m gold.
The Queen celebrated 60 years on the throne
Paralympian David Weir was seen after his triumph in the men's T54 800m and the world's fastest man Usain Bolt powering over the finish line to retain his 100m Olympic title.
But the Queen singled out “public-spirited” volunteers who helped Britain host the games.
2012 was the year Britain hosted the Olympics and Paralympics
The monarch, whose grandsons William and Harry are in the armed forces, asked Britons to take some time to think of those = away from home this Christmas, such as the troops.
"For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first. Those serving in our armed forces, in our emergency services and in our hospitals, whose sense of duty takes them away from family and friends, will be missing those they love," she said.
The Military Wives Choir sang the carol In The Bleak Midwinter
At the start of the broadcast, the British Paraorchestra, which accompanied Coldplay during the Paralympics closing ceremony, was featured performing the National Anthem in Buckingham Palace's Ballroom.
For the final segment of the message, the Military Wives Choir, with choirmaster Gareth Malone, sang the carol In The Bleak Midwinter in the same setting.