As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission。

在我儿时，从未想过有一天人类可以在月球上漫步。但是今年，我们纪念了阿波罗11号登月50周年。

As those historic pictures were beamed back to Earth, millions of us sat transfixed to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind - and, indeed, for womankind. It's a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.

当这些历史照片传回地球时，成千上万的人坐在电视屏幕前，见证了尼尔·阿姆斯特朗迈出了他个人的一小步，人类的一大步，不管是男人还是女人。这提醒我们所有人，巨大的进步通常始于一小步。

This year we marked another important anniversary: D-Day. On 6th June 1944, some 156,000 British, Canadian and American forces landed in northern France. It was the largest ever seabourne invasion and was delayed due to bad weather.

今年还迎来了另一个重要的纪念日：诺曼底登陆纪念日。1944年6月6日，来自英国、加拿大和美国的大约15.6万官兵在法国北部登陆。这是史上规模最大的海上登陆战役，但当时因恶劣天气而推迟。

I well remember the look of concern on my father's face. He knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no one.

我永远记得我父亲焦虑的神情。他已经知道了秘密计划，但很显然无法与任何人分摊这份重担。

For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formally been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them.

在这次起决定性战斗的75周年纪念日里，本着真正的和解精神，那些曾经是不共戴天的敌人相聚在英吉利海峡两岸，共同参加友好的纪念活动，并将过去的分歧抛在身后。

Such reconciliation seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps.

这种和解不是一蹴而就的，需要耐心和时间重建信心，进步源于每一小步的累积。

Since the end of the Second World War, many charities, groups and organisations have worked to promote peace and unity around the world, bringing together those who have been on opposing sides.

自第二次世界大战结束以来，许多慈善机构、团体和组织都致力于在世界范围内促进和平与团结，将曾经对立的各方聚集在一起。

By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.

通过抛弃过去的分歧并共同前进，我们将以花巨大代价赢得的自由和民主为荣。

The challenges many people face today may be different to those once faced by my generation, but I have been struck by how new generations have brought a similar sense of purpose to issues such as protecting our environment and our climate.

现在人们面对的挑战和我们那一代相比可能已经不太一样，但我仍惊讶于年轻一代对于保护环境和应对气候变化所表现出的使命感。

My family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and armed forces; and at Christmas we remember all those on duty at home and abroad, who are helping those in need and keeping us and our families safe and secure.

在圣诞节，让我们记住那些在应急服务机构和部队坚守岗位的人们。他们也鼓舞着我和我的家人；不论男女，不论是在国内还是在海外，他们为需要帮助的人伸出援手，保障我们和家人的安全。

Two hundred years on from the birth of my great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, Prince Philip and I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great grandchild into our family.

我高祖母维多利亚女王出生的两百年后，我和菲利普亲王很高兴迎来我们的第八位曾孙加入我们的家庭。

Of course, at the heart of the Christmas story lies the birth of a child: a seemingly small and insignificant step overlooked by many in Bethlehem.

当然，圣诞节故事的中心意义在于孩子的诞生：但当时伯利恒（耶稣诞生地）的许多人都忽略了这个看似微不足道但至关重要的“一小步”。

But in time, through his teaching and by his example, Jesus Christ would show the world how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.

但耶稣迟早将通过他的教诲和榜样向世界展示，充满信心和希望的小步，能够克服长期而根深蒂固的分歧，从而带来和谐与谅解。

Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.

我们许多人已经尝试跟随他的脚步。道路并不总是那么平坦，今年可能有时会感到崎岖，但每走一小步，都会给世界带来改变。

As Christmas dawned, church congregations around the world joined in singing It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. Like many timeless carols, it speaks not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world, many years ago, but also of the relevance, even today, of the angel's message of peace and goodwill.

圣诞节来临之际，世界各地的教堂会众齐声歌唱《圣诞夜歌》。就像许多永恒的颂歌一样，它不仅讲述了许多年前耶稣基督降临到这个纷争的世界，还讲述了天使传达的平安与善意的重要意义，即便是在今天。

It's a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. And, as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it's worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.

这及时地提醒着我们，人们要抛弃过往的分歧，以友好、和解的精神走到一起，让美好的事情发生。而且，正值我们都正期待21世纪20年代时，我们应该相信，能带来长久变化的，往往是那些一小步，而不是一大步。

And so, I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

最后，祝大家圣诞快乐。