The Royal Family, which will celebrate Christmas this year, will undoubtedly be celebrating the absence of one important person: the patriarch, Prince Philip, who died in April at the age of 99.

But there was another Christmas that the Queen spent away from her husband after 73 years of marriage.

According to People, in 1956, Prince Philip was on a three-month voyage aboard the royal yacht Britannia. The voyage began in October, when he visited Australia to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Melbourne. Queen Elizabeth remained at home with the couple's two young children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. The Queen and the Prince would later have two children, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Although separated during the vacations, the royal couple were able to speak at Christmas. Prince Philip called the Queen at Sandringham by radio from the ship. The Queen acknowledged the conversation that day in her annual Christmas broadcast.

"Of all the voices we have heard this afternoon, none has brought greater joy to my children and me than my husband's," Queen Elizabeth said in the radio broadcast. From all of our family gathered here today, we wish you and all aboard Britannia our very best wishes as you sail together through the far southern seas." Happy Christmas from all of us."

"Of course we are sad to be apart on this day and of course we look forward to the time when we will all be together again.

"However, my husband's absence at this time has made me realize more than ever how fortunate I am to be part of a family that is united."

The Queen's festivities this year will be different, not only because of her husband's absence, but also because the pandemic has once again canceled her celebration plans. Earlier this week, the Queen announced that she would cancel her travel plans to Sandringham and remain at Windsor Castle for the second year in a row in light of the surge in Omicron variants and COVID infections. The royal estate, where the Queen usually celebrates Christmas with her family, including the famous walk to church on Christmas morning, is on the east coast of England. The Queen usually spends the vacations there and stays until early February.

Queen Elizabeth also canceled the annual pre-Christmas luncheon for her large family, which was to have taken place in Windsor on December 21.

"A royal official said it was a personal decision made after 'careful consideration' and reflects the ongoing 'precautionary approach,'" People reported." The official added that she would be visited by various members of her family during the Christmas vacations." Those relatives are expected to follow strict COVID safety protocols to protect the queen.