Britain's Queen Elizabeth described 2005 as a "terrible year" for many in her Christmas message today, focussing on natural disasters and the London bomb attacks.
In her annual speech, the Queen remembered the destruction caused by the Boxing Day Indian Ocean tsunami, which left 231,000 people dead or missing.
She also mentioned the hurricanes in the Caribbean and New Orleans and the earthquake in Pakistan and India, as well as those who were involved in the suicide bomb attacks on the London transport system in July which killed 52 people.
"This series of dreadful events has brought loss and suffering to so many people and their families and friends - not only in the countries directly affected, but here in Britain and throughout the Commonwealth," she said in her annual speech.
"As if these disasters were not bad enough, I have sometimes thought that humanity seemed to have turned on itself - with wars, civil disturbances and acts of brutal terrorism.
"In this country many people's lives were totally changed by the London bombings in July."
But the Queen also paid tribute to those people, from every faith, who helped in either practical or financial ways after the disasters.
"This Christmas my thoughts are especially with those everywhere who are grieving the loss of loved ones during what for so many has been such a terrible year," she said.
"These natural and human tragedies provided the headline news; they also provoked a quite remarkable humanitarian response.
"It has been clear that in the course of this year relief workers and financial support have come from members of every faith and from every corner of the world."