Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday paid tribute to her late husband, Prince Philip, in her annual Christmas Day address.

The 99-year-old also acknowledged the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, which she pointed out had lessened the celebrations.

"Although it's a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why," the Queen said in the pre-recorded Christmas address from the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

"But for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work – from around the country."

The Queen's address began with footage of herself and Philip during his lifetime and a voiceover snippet from the Queen's speech on their golden wedding anniversary in 1997.

A framed photograph of the couple arm in arm sat in the foreground.

For the second time, the UK is celebrating a downsized Christmas due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The country has recorded more than 11.95 million COVID-19 infections with 148,324 deaths.

In her address, Queen Elizabeth II urged the UK to try and enjoy Christmas despite the challenges.

"While Covid again means we can't celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions. Be it the singing of carols (as long as the tune is well known); decorating the tree; giving and receiving presents; or watching a favorite film where we already know the ending, it's no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines," she said.

The televised Christmas Day message is an annual tradition in the UK.

It is an opportunity for the monarch to reflect on the holiday's meaning as well as the challenges facing the country.