"… and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas."

"Oh, bravo, Your Majesty. Simply wonderful," Leroy praised. He was applauding a little too enthusiastically to be genuine, and Emma rolled her eyes behind her note cards.

While Sandringham House was still relatively empty, she'd been using her free time to write and rehearse her annual Christmas speech. She'd called Leroy in to listen to her final draft, just to get someone else's thoughts on the whole thing before it was recorded for airing, but he'd defaulted to simpering idiot instead of offering her any kind of genuine feedback.

"I asked for your honest opinion, Leroy," she reminded him. "That means being brutally honest. What did you really think of it?"

Leroy hesitated for a moment before his smile faltered. Emma knew he hadn't found it as wonderful as he'd declared it to be. She just wished he'd had the courage to tell her that to her face, without her needing to cajole it out of him.

"If I may, Ma'am? Perhaps you should add something a little more personal to it."

"In what way, Leroy?"

Emma had already touched upon the brilliant work her family had achieved that year and how proud she was of them all. That was about as personal as she ever got during any of her speeches, considering just how little close family she had left.

"What about your cousin's wedding?" he suggested. "You could say how happy you are to be welcoming his fiancée to the family and how much you're looking forward to the day itself."

Emma frowned down at her note cards as she considered Leroy's words. This was what she hated most about delivering the annual Christmas address. When she'd first ascended the throne, she'd tried to talk her advisors into letting her cancel them indefinitely. Emma had just suffered the biggest tragedy of her life and the whole world already knew about it. What was she supposed to say on National Television, on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of the year? But her advisors wouldn't hear of it. It was a tradition that dated back far too long for them to dream of cancelling it. So with their help, she'd been able to write something that she felt comfortable enough recording. However, that discomfort she'd felt during the first year of her reign had never really passed, and every year she found herself dreading the day she'd have to sit down and deliver her address to the nation.

"You are happy about the wedding, Ma'am?" Leroy asked, misinterpreting her frown.

"Of course. I'm very happy for David. I wouldn't have given them my blessing if I felt otherwise. I'm just not entirely sure that this is something the country would be happy to hear about. Many people already complain about the financial strain they believe our family puts upon public funding. I'm sure they see a royal wedding as unnecessary pomp and circumstance during a time where funds are already so tight for so many."

"I'm sure there are individuals that think that way," Leroy agreed gently, taking a few steps closer to Emma's desk. "But there are also those that will be so excited by a royal wedding. We haven't had once since -" Leroy cut himself off abruptly when he realised that Emma's parents had been the last royals to marry, and recovered quickly with, "In years, Ma'am. The country loves a good celebration. Not to mention royal watchers in the Commonwealth that will be thrilled for an excuse to party. But more than that, deep down, people want to see you happy, Ma'am. They want an excuse to celebrate with you. Take this opportunity to share some of your joy with them. I'm sure they'll appreciate that."

Emma took a moment just to consider Leroy's words before she nodded her head stiffly and then began scratching out notes on the back of her speech. "Thank you, Leroy. I'll work on adding that in and we can review again tomorrow morning."

"Of course, Ma'am. Is there anything else I can assist you with this evening?"

Emma's eyes flicked over to the clock on her computer and she sighed when she realised it was well past dinner time. She'd kept the poor guy late – again – and as ever, Leroy had simply been too kind (or too scared, she was never really sure which) to say anything about it.

"No, thank you, Leroy. That will be everything for today. Enjoy what's left of your evening."

"Thank you, Ma'am. You too," he offered, as he bowed stiffly before taking his leave.

When Emma was alone once more, she slumped back into her chair and pushed aside the speech she'd been working on all week. There were only a handful of days left until Christmas, and most people in the country were busy with the final preparations for the holiday season. It was the time of the year many people looked forward to most, and it was the time of the year Emma hated the most. No matter what she did or who she spent the holiday season with, she could never seem to escape the reality of just how much she'd lost.

Her left hand reached out for the small silver frame she kept on the corner of her desk, and Emma gently brushed her thumb over the glass covering the picture inside of it.

"I miss you," she whispered, as she allowed her mind to fill with memories of a happier time; a time when Christmas hadn't been so painful for her.

After a few moments of silent reminiscing, Emma mentally shook herself to get a hold of her emotions once again. Then she stood from her seat and decided to go in search of something to eat. The kitchens would still be busy, what with it being so close to the holiday season, and her chefs had long-since gotten used to the unusual hours their Queen kept. It would be nice she mused, as she left her office, to pay them a visit and thank them in person for all the work they did.

Okay, I guess this is the right time to add a little royal trivia!

The first Annual Christmas Broadcast was made via a radio broadcast in 1932 and delivered by King George V. Queen Elizabeth II delivered her first radio Christmas broadcast at 3:07pm in 1952 and 5 years later, she gave the first televised broadcast. The only year she has not given one is in 1969 as a documentary was made and released about the Royal Family that year in connection with the investiture of the Prince of Wales. Instead, the Queen issued a hand-written message to the nation. Today, the message is pre-recorded and aired over the radio; through the BBC, ITV and Sky News television networks; and online, through the Royal Family's Social Media accounts.

Sandringham House was purchased for Queen Victoria's eldest son and heir back in 1862. It has remained in the royal family ever since. Both King George V and King George VI passed away there, and the Queen often spends the anniversary of her father's passing at the estate. She also celebrates Christmas on the estate with her family, just as her father, grandfather and great-grandfather did. (Her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, preferred to celebrate the holidays at Windsor Castle.) The Queen usually remains in residence at Sandringham House until February. It is important to note that Sandringham House is one of only two properties that are owned privately by the Queen, and not in her role as Head of State (the other is Balmoral Castle) and both are expected to be inherited by Prince Charles upon her death.

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