Years terror attacks. In her Christmas Day message, she will say the cities powerful identities had shone through in the face of appalling attacks. Im at the queens sandringham estate, in norfolk, where she will attend church this morning with the rest of the royal family, including prince harry and his new fiancee, Meghan Markle. Good morning, Merry Christmas. It is monday 25 december. Also ahead the pope urges the world not to ignore the plight of migrants forced to leave their countries because of violence. Christmas isnt all about presents and turkey dinners. Over a Million People will be working today. We will catch up with some of them. I have no idea what im singing. Louise is worried. And six breakfast presenters and a i,000 strong audience what could possibly go wrong . find out how we got on in our big singing challenge. And phil avery has the weather. Steph, very good morning to you. Here things are looking up, you have not just one but here things are looking up, you have notjust one but two very red faced men wishing you a Merry Christmas. I will have all the details in a few minutes. Good morning. First, our main story the queen will pay tribute to the cities of manchester and london in her Christmas Day broadcast, for the way in which they dealt with this years terrorist attacks. She is at her estate at sandringham with other members of the royal family, including prince harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle. Our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell reports. The queen recorded this years broadcast a few days ago at buckingham palace. Its main theme is the importance of home, a place she describes as a source of warmth and love. Looking back over the events of 2017, she praises the cities of london and manchester. The queen visited victims of the bombing at manchester arena, in which 22 people died as they left a concert. In her broadcast, she will talk about the powerful identities of manchester and london, which she says had shone through in the face of appalling attacks. On the table beside her in the broadcast, alongside pictures of Prince George and princess charlotte, are two photographs of her and her husband, one of which was taken on their wedding day in 1947. This year, they have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, and the duke of edinburgh retired from his separate programme of public engagements. In the broadcast, the queen will praise her husband for his support and, as she puts it, for his unique sense of humour. The worlds most experienced plucker. Laughter. The queen was absent from last years Christmas DayChurch Service at sandringham, due to a heavy cold. But there is expected to be a full turnout of the family at church this morning, and among the group attending church will be prince harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle, who are both spending christmas on the sandringham estate. It will be the first time someone who is yet to marry into the royal family will have joined their christmas celebrations, her presence a reminder of one of the events to which the family can look forward in 2018. And the queens Christmas Day broadcast will be on bbc one at 3 00pm this afternoon. Pope francis has urged the world not to ignore the plight of millions of migrants driven from their land, during Christmas Eve mass. The pontiff compared them to mary and joseph, recounting how they had to travel from nazareth to bethlehem, but found no place to stay. He said many migrants were being forced to flee from leaders who see no problem in shedding innocent blood. Meanwhile, services have taken place across the uk and further afield. Our religious editor Martin Bashir reports. At westminster cathedral, Cardinal Vincent nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic church in england and wales, framed his christmas message as a statement of concern for the way we tend to communicate with each other. He said we often prefer conflict to dialogue, hostility instead of a willingness to listen. Its a manifestation of a radical individualism. And, while the individual is hugely important, we have to know that we are also built to belong to each other. Were built to have relationships, and to work and find our best through relationships. He went on to say that, as we gaze into a nativity scene at christmas, we find one who can free us from the choking effects of disagreement and strife christ himself. And at the very beginning of the christmas narrative, here in bethlehem, in a land defined by walls of separation, a renewed call for reconciliation. Here in manger square, a Midnight Service has been held at the church of the nativity, where the archbishop ofjerusalem said that, whilejesus was born in a town under roman occupation, he was identified as the prince of peace. Guatemala has said it will follow americas lead, moving its embassy in israel tojerusalem too. Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales said he made the decision after speaking to israels pm, benjamin netanyahu. Donald trump had threatened to cut aid to nations that voted against the us in a recent un vote on the issue. A british woman being held in an egyptian prison for drug smuggling offences will appear in court later today. Laura plummer was arrested in october, when she was found with 290 tramadol tablets in her suitcase. The painkiller is legal in the uk, but not in egypt. Her family has maintained she wasnt aware the drug was illegal. If found guilty, she faces up to 25 years in prison. Surrey police are trying to identify a man who was found unconscious in a ditch yesterday afternoon. They have released pictures of the mans clothing in an attempt to track down his family. The man, who is thought to be in his 20s, is in a serious condition in hospital. Almost 200,000 people are currently serving as part of the uk armed forces, and for many on deployment, it means christmas away from loved ones. Yesterday bbc visited one military base in iraq as troops prepared to spend the day far, far from home. Iam not i am not going to pretend that it is not difficult to be in iraq over christmas. Of all the families are pa rt christmas. Of all the families are part of christmas, these are amongst the furthest away for the longest amount of time. This is my first christmas away from home in the army, and to be honest, i am christmas away from home in the army, and to be honest, lam here with the lads, i am here with the guys, i with the lads, i am here with the guys, lam with the lads, i am here with the guys, i am here with my friends. It is not with the family but it is quite good. As you can see it as a good atmosphere, it is good fun. After 21 years service, you get used to being away from home. It gets harder when you have a wife and child away from home. You wont get to see her open presence on Christmas Day. Some improvisation helps give a feel of christmas in the desert, but of course, not everything can be replicated. They have done quite well, doing it with old tyres, et cetera. What do i miss most . A good christmas dinner, i think, will be the one. You know, mums cooking. It is a reminder that british troops are still serving in iraq, rebuilding the country and others around the world, work that doesnt stop for christmas. Around 150 skiers have been rescued from a broken down ski lift in the french alps, after being trapped on it for several hours on Christmas Eve. Helicopters were used to rescue the people from their individual gondolas, which were around 82 feet above the snow, and rope was used to help the skiers get back down the slopes. The cause of the fault isnt known. It might be deepest winter at home, but englands cricketers will step out into the summer sunshine in australia later today for the first session of the next ashes test. They have already lost the series, but organisers expect a sell out at the melbourne cricket ground, as they try to rescue some pride. Play begins in australia at 11 30pm uk time. If you are relaxing at home, perhaps opening presents this morning, spare a thought for this team, who are still hard at work. Santa and his reindeer spent the night travelling the globe to deliver presents to children across the world. To make sure theirjourney went without a hitch, air Traffic Controllers from the us have been tracking the flight path of his sleigh. As you can see, he has already delivered billions of presents. He is currently heading for salt la ke he is currently heading for Salt Lake City in utah, i am reliably told by a couple of elves in the studio this morning. If you want to track santa, that is a great way to see where he is. The air Traffic Control team put that together for us. Later this morning, the royalfamily will make the short walk to st Mary Magdalenes church, on the sandringham estate. Our royal correspondent Daniela Relph is there. Good morning to you, and already lots of people who are hoping to catch a glimpse of them. Yes, good morning. Merry christmas. If you wa nt to morning. Merry christmas. If you want to get a prime position to see the royal family as they come to church ahead of the Christmas Service at 11am this morning, you have to get here early. The key was already building to the gates of the church, with lots of people wanting to see the royal family, but lots of people also wanting to get a glimpse of Meghan Markle this morning. A fairshare of of Meghan Markle this morning. A fair share of americans, perhaps more than usual in the crowd. I am joined by a few of them hoping to see meghan first of all, these girls are from mississippi and nebraska. Tell me, why are you here so early on Christmas Morning . Tell me, why are you here so early on Christmas Morning . |j tell me, why are you here so early on Christmas Morning . I am looking forward to all of the royals, meghan i forward to all of the royals, meghan , also her fiance, very good looking, so i am excited for that. And she is an american, does that. And she is an american, does that make you feel a bit more connect to the British Royals . Yes, i really excited to see what happens without marrying into the family. And pretty committed to come out so early on Christmas Day. Yes, we are about to leave so this is my last chance to see the royals in person. Really looking forward to it. What about having an american in the midst of the royal family . It is definitely intriguing, exciting. We have never had that before, so it is exciting. Also a bit of a family occasion this morning. Not everyone is opening their presents. We have joseph and lauren with their kids. Summer is ten and josh is nine. And blake is asleep in her dads arms. You have brought the whole family out early on Christmas Day. Why have you come here . We wanted to start a tradition, we thought it was a good chance for the kids to see the royal family. And as an american here, knowing there will be an american marrying into the heart of the British Royalfamily . It marrying into the heart of the British Royal family . It is marrying into the heart of the British Royalfamily . It is pretty neat. Looking after his daughter there. Who are you hoping to see . Probably kate and william, and the kids, Queen Elizabeth of course, and Meghan Markle and harry. Is there area Meghan Markle and harry. Is there are a lot of excitement back home about an american joining the British Royals . I think so, i think it isa British Royals . I think so, i think it is a unique opportunity. Do you wish you were home opening your presence, or are you happy to be here . I am happy to be here. Something quite special. And what about you, josh . I am feeling a little bit tired. It will be something you remember in years to come, i promise. I hope you all get a good position. You should do, so early on this morning. And everyone here of course gathering to see the royal family. We should see the queen driven to the church just before 11am, but ahead of her we are expecting to see most members of the royal family walking up to the main house of sandringham, up to st mary magdalene, and accompanied by Meghan Markle, which is a protocol. Normally partners of the royal family dont get to come to sandringham until they are married but an exception has been made for Meghan Markle, largely because her immediate family are in the United States and she has moved to the uk i had of her wedding in may next year. Prince harry asked queen whether she can come and she will be with the royal family today. A break of protocol but it will be the first time we see Meghan Markle as part of the wider royal family. Expecting to get ourfirst the wider royal family. Expecting to get our first glimpse at around 10 45am this morning. Everyone looks pretty wrapped up. Lets find out what is happening across the rest of the country. We are relying on our weather watchers as ever. If you happen to know a little boy by the name of david hudson, he was off doing his Christmas Shopping yesterday at a Garden Centre in leeds, and if you happen to be at the moment, david, there is the picture you sent to my collea g u es there is the picture you sent to my colleagues at bbc leeds, and are not sort it if it was sent that delivered it to me, not sure. What a present. It didnt cost apparent anything. With the licence fee in its own right. It is not particular seasonal at the moment, because we are yet again picking up on this mild southerly and south westerly wind, plenty of it at the moment, some of the gusts over 30 miles an hour on the south coast, and once again once this weather band begins its journey and once again once this weather band begins itsjourney across england and wales, during the course of the evening, you will know all about it, really quite punchy for a time and the wind picking up, it could be 60 miles an hour on the south coast at times. The rain already there across parts of scotla nd already there across parts of scotland and the far north west of england, once the rain moves further south it will open the door to something cooler, forget about double figure temperatures, already iam double figure temperatures, already i am told it is already three degrees also will, which is why when the moisture moves further east and the moisture moves further east and the cold air floods down, we will see a bit of a conversion, mostly over the Higher Ground of northern britain, of some of that rain into snow, and we are heading for a chilly night. If you are on the move first thing boxing day, there will be some ice around but some of our sporting fixtures, it is a big hunting day as well in some areas, dont worry because once the sun comes through, the frost on the ice will dissipate and there will be further snow showers because boxing day is a different beast, hello 3 8 degrees, and more cloud, wind and rain gathering down into the south western quarter to finish off your sporting boxing day. Maybe your shopping. Nipping into top flank, we have that cold air, and you can fill it in from here, because going into wednesday, we will push the area of cloud in wind and rain into the east, and look at this, no longer the high ground of scotland but easterby pennines, down to the Higher Ground of wilts, the childrens perhaps Higher Ground of wilts, the child rens perhaps later Higher Ground of wilts, the childrens perhaps later in the day, we could see a little bit of slushy snow just we could see a little bit of slushy snowjust beginning to pile up. Hardly christmas fare i know. There isa hardly christmas fare i know. There is a lot going on and it will be chilly as we go up towards the new year period, you can get all of it on our website. You and i are working, phil, what will you do for your christmas lunch . I have got the plans, it has become a christmas ritual, but those of you with a bit of may memory, may remember that i have been here for about the last four or five christmases, and at about 1130, 12pm, my family will be rocking up to enjoy the festive treat that is the bbc canteen, mr cheapskate treat that is the bbc canteen, mr chea pskate really pushing treat that is the bbc canteen, mr cheapskate really pushing the boat out and the family will be tucking in to whatever they want. They all come into the bbc canteen . Of course, who wouldnt i never knew that. Last year, i sat there looking at my children who are now ten and eight and at my children who are now ten and eightandi at my children who are now ten and eight and i looked at them and my son was tucking into two sausage rolls and a pilot tomato sauce and i think my daughter at a jacket potato. I will rename you the grinch, i think potato. I will rename you the grinch, ithink see potato. I will rename you the grinch, i think see you later on. Lots of people are working. If youll be spending today tucking into a turkey dinner and watching christmas films, you certainly wont be alone. But some people will be doing some pretty incredible things, like attempting to sail the hardest race in the world lets speak to jules salter. He joins us live fro