25日，英国女王发表圣诞节讲话，突出了以陶瓷罂粟花向一战阵亡将士致敬的活动，并感谢抵抗埃博拉的医疗人员。以下为演讲全文：

 

In the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral is a sculpture of a man and a woman reaching out to embrace each other. The sculptor was inspired by the story of a woman who crossed Europe on foot after the war to find her husband.

在旧考文垂大教堂废墟（Coventry Cathedral）的外面竖立着一尊雕塑，造型是一个男人和一个女人正伸手想要拥抱彼此。雕塑的灵感来源于一个女人在战争爆发后徒步跨越欧洲寻找自己丈夫的故事。

Casts of the same sculpture can be found in Belfast and Berlin, and it is simply called Reconciliation.

在贝尔法斯特和柏林都能找到同样的雕塑，它的名字很简单，叫做和解。

 

Reconciliation is the peaceful end to conflict, and we were reminded of this in August when countries on both sides of the First World War came together to remember in peace.

和解是战争过后的和平，今年8月第一次世界大战的交战双方在一起纪念和平时，我们再次想到了“和解”这个词。

 

The ceramic poppies at the Tower of London drew millions, and the only possible reaction to seeing them and walking among them was silence. For every poppy a life; and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind.

伦敦塔上的陶瓷罂粟吸引了数百万人，沉默是人们看到这场景并从中穿过时的唯一反应。每一朵罂粟象征着一个生命，让人们想起失去至爱后的悲痛。

 

No one who fought in that war is still alive, but we remember their sacrifice and indeed the sacrifice of all those in the armed forces who serve and protect us today.

也不能忘记那些依然在服务和保卫着我们的军中将士做出的奉献。

 

In 1914, many people thought the war would be over by Christmas, but sadly by then the trenches were dug and the future shape of the war in Europe was set.

1914年，很多人认为战争会在圣诞节结束，但遗憾的是那时战壕已经挖好，欧洲战场上未来的战争形态也已经确定。

 

But, as we know, something remarkable did happen that Christmas, exactly a hundred years ago today.

不过，正如我们知道的那样，一百年前的今天，也就是圣诞节当天，的确发生了一件意义非凡的事情。

 

Without any instruction or command, the shooting stopped and German and British soldiers met in No Man's Land. Photographs were taken and gifts exchanged. It was a Christmas truce.

没有指示，没有命令，射击停止了，德国士兵和英国士兵相聚在无人地带。士兵们拍照留念并互赠礼物。这就是圣诞节休战协定。

 

Truces are not a new idea. In the ancient world a truce was declared for the duration of the Olympic Games and wars and battles were put on hold.

休战协定并非新创。古时候战争和战斗都要在奥运会期间暂停。

 

Sport has a wonderful way of bringing together people and nations, as we saw this year in Glasgow when over 70 countries took part in the Commonwealth Games.

运动是将人们和国家聚在一起的好方法，我们看到有70多个国家参与今年在格拉斯哥举行的英联邦运动会。

 

It is no accident that they are known as the Friendly Games. As well as promoting dialogue between nations, the Commonwealth Games pioneered the inclusion of para-sports within each day's events.

这个运动会被称为友好运动会并非偶然。除了促进国家之间对话以外，英联邦运动会还开创了在每天的比赛项目中都加入残疾运动项目的先河。

 

As with the Invictus Games that followed, the courage, determination and talent of the athletes captured our imagination as well as breaking down divisions.

在之后的不可征服运动会中，运动员们的勇气，决心和天赋不但吸引着我们的目光，同时还打破了隔阂。

 

The benefits of reconciliation were clear to see when I visited Belfast in June. While my tour of the set of Game Of Thrones may have gained most attention, my visit to the Crumlin Road Gaol will remain vividly in my mind.

今年六月份我访问贝尔法斯特时就清楚的看到了和解的好处。虽然我参观《权利的游戏》拍摄地的新闻吸引了大部分人的注意力，但对克拉姆林路监狱的参观却让我记忆犹新。