LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II reflected Thursday on the economic and political crises sweeping the globe , acknowledging in her Christmas Day message their impact on holiday festivities . Queen Elizabeth II attends a Christmas Day service at Sandringham in Norfolk , England . `` Christmas is a time for celebration , but this year it is a more somber occasion for many . Some of those things which could once have been taken for granted suddenly seem less certain , and naturally give rise to feelings of insecurity , '' she told Britons in a televised appearance from Buckingham Palace . `` People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world -- whether it is the global economy or violence in a distant land , the effects can be keenly felt at home . '' In her nine-minute message , she encouraged Britons to look for happiness and courage through helping others , and singled out World War I veterans and current troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as examples of courage and sacrifice . Military veterans of the First World War recently commemorated the `` service and enormous sacrifice of their own generation , '' the queen said . The families of soldiers now serving overseas carry an extra burden of worry while they are away , she added . `` In such times as these , we can all learn some lessons from the past . We might begin to see things in a new perspective , and certainly we begin to ask ourselves where it is that we can find lasting happiness . '' Watch excerpts of the queen 's address » . It appears , she noted , that people who seem most contented and fulfilled are `` the people who have lived the most outgoing and unselfish lives -- the kind of people who are generous with their talents or their time ... those who use their prosperity or good fortune for the benefit of others . '' `` When life seems hard , the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat . Instead , they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future , '' the queen said . `` I think we have a huge amount to learn from individuals such as these . '' She expressed pride in her son , Prince Charles , who turned 60 last month and is one of the longest-serving heirs to the throne . He was baptized in the music room where the queen spoke , she said . Several clips -- including a few with the queen playing with Charles , as a toddler -- were shown throughout her comments . Charles has helped and supported young people through various charities , and his sons , princes William and Harry , are following his lead , the queen said . She closed her message with references to Jesus Christ , who she said lived an unselfish and sacrificial life , despite circumstances of great adversity . `` He makes it clear that genuine human happiness and satisfaction lie more in giving than receiving , more in serving than in being served . `` We can surely be grateful that 2,000 years after the birth of Jesus , so many of us are able to draw inspiration from his life and message . ''
Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II was giving her Christmas Day speech . Queen : Economic , political crises sweeping globe impacted on celebrations . She encouraged Britons to look for happiness and courage through helping others . Message was recorded from her Buckingham Palace residence .