(Photo Credit: Steve Parsons/pool via AP)

The Queen addresses UK in celebration of Christmas

Queen Elizabeth, the 93-year-old reigning monarch of England, gave a special shoutout to her new great-grandson, Archie, in her yearly Christmas address.

Archie, who made his royal debut on May 1, is the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

“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,” she said. “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. 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.”

Baby Archie is eighth in line for the British throne. He is also the first addition to the royal family who is of mixed-race descent: Markle, an American-born actress who married Prince Harry in the spring of 2018, is half African-American.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex posted their own Christmas message with Archie early on Christmas morning.

“Wishing you all a very merry Christmas,” they wrote, alongside a close-up photo of their adorable son.