LONDON, ENGLAND, December 27, 2006: In a break with tradition, Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas broadcast has featured footage of Europe’s largest Hindu Temple and Muslims praying in a mosque. In a broadcast that reflected the changing face of modern Britain, there were scenes of the opening of the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tividale in the West Midlands and also from a St. James’ Palace reception where the Queen met leaders of the country’s Jewish community. In the message, the Queen stressed it was easy to focus on the differences between religions rather than what they had in common. But, people of different faiths were bound together by the need to help the young become considerate citizens and all religious communities encouraged the bridging of the generation gap, she said.
In the message broadcast to one billion people in Britain and the Commonwealth, she urged people to bridge the generation gap between the young and old. “As children grow up and develop their own sense of confidence and independence in the ever-changing technological environment, there is always the danger of a real divide opening up between young and old, based on unfamiliarity, ignorance or misunderstanding,” said the Queen. “It is worth bearing in mind that all of our faith communities encourage the bridging of that divide. The wisdom and experience of the great religions point to the need to nurture and guide the young, and to encourage respect for the elderly,” she added.