The Queen puts picture of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry beside her as she gives Christmas speech
THE Queen used her annual Christmas Speech to publicly welcome Prince Harry's fiancée Meghan Markle into the Royal Family.
A framed photo of lovebirds announcing their engagement could be seen in the background as the 91-year-old monarch addressed the nation.
During the televised message the Queen said she and the Duke of Edinburgh "look forward to welcoming new members into [our family] next year."
She will not only have been talking about Prince William's third child with Kate Middleton, due in April, but Meghan Markle, who is set to marry Prince Harry in May.
The 36-year-old today became the first royal fiancée to spend Christmas Day with the senior royals at the Queen's Sandringham estate, where they likely watched the speech together.
Both the invite and the unnamed mention in the pre-recorded address show just how quickly Meghan has been accepted into the family.
Also visible in family snaps behind her Majesty were Prince Charles with Camilla Parker-Bowles, and individual photos of her great-grandchildren Prince George, four, and Princess Charlotte, two.
Two pictures of the Queen and Philip - taken 70 years apart - can also be seen.
A black and white photo shows the couple on their wedding day in 1947, alongside a colour photo released this November to mark their 70th wedding anniversary.
The Queen's speech was this year used to praise Manchester and London for their response to the 'appalling' terror attacks in their cities this year.
The royal hailed the 'powerful identities' which shone through in the face of evil, and paid tribute to those killed, injured or who lost their homes in the Grenfell Tower fire disaster.
She also thanked to the Duke of Edinburgh, who has retired from solo public duties, praising his "support and unique sense of humour".
The Queen also looked back over the last year, with "home" as the theme.
In her pre-recorded address, filmed at Buckingham Palace, the Queen said: "This Christmas, I think of London and Manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past twelve months in the face of appalling attacks."
The nation endured a series of devastating terrorist atrocities during the year, beginning with the Westminster Bridge attack in March which saw four pedestrians die when an attacker, later shot dead by police, drove at them before fatally stabbing a police officer.
In May, 22 people - including children - were killed when a lone suicide attacker detonated an explosive device as crowds of music fans left Manchester Arena following a performance by US singer Ariana Grande.
There were more deaths in June when three terrorists in a van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge then went on a knife rampage in Borough Market, killing eight in total.
The three terrorists were shot dead by police.
The address traditionally has a strong religious framework reflecting the Queen's faith, and is written by the monarch who draws on current issues and her own experiences over the past year.
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Speaking about the Christmas message's theme the Queen said: "We think of our homes as places of warmth, familiarity and love... there is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home."
This year's annual address has been produced by Sky News.
It was recorded in the palace's 1844 room which is decorated with a large tree and features family photos.