The Queen’s Christmas message to the nation highlighted the importance of sport as a medium that can help build communities and create harmony.

The monarch’s annual broadcast also focussed on how games and exercise can positively distance people from their day-to-day lives.

The Royal Family are all keen sportsmen and women who take part in a range of activities from polo to golf.

Some have even represented Britain in their chosen fields, like the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips – a former world three-day eventing champion – who followed in the footsteps of her mother the Princess Royal, who was also a member of the national equestrian team.

The Duke of Edinburgh, his son the Prince of Wales and grandsons Princes William and Harry have all played polo, with Philip and Charles now retired from the sport.

During her television address, which was broadcast on Christmas Day, the Queen said: “In the parks of towns and cities, and on village greens up and down the country, countless thousands of people every week give up their time to participate in sport and exercise of all sorts, or simply encourage others to do so.

“These kinds of activity are common throughout the world and play a part in providing a different perspective on life.”

The monarch’s message also focussed on how sport can be used to encourage the development of vital social skills. The importance of games was illustrated by footage showing Prince William and Prince Harry and a group of young African orphans from Lesotho all bonding as they play football.

The princes visited the country in June and travelled to the remote Semongkong Children’s Centre to meet the youngsters during a tour of southern Africa.

Christmas Day messages are normally recorded at Buckingham Palace but this year the Queen suggested Hampton Court Palace as an alternative – the first time it has been used. The historic building’s Chapel Royal was the venue and its vaulted blue ceiling, made for Henry VIII in the 1530s and lavishly decorated with gold leaf, will be shown during the address.

The Queen was featured in footage preparing to record the broadcast and seen standing as a technician adjusts a microphone, above her head, which has a sprig of festive holly on it.

Denis Mulliner, chaplain of the palace’s Chapel Royal, was seen walking through the place of worship with the monarch who was then introduced to Carl Jackson, director of music at the Chapel Royal.