Queen Elizabeth II plans to acknowledge that both Britain and her family have endured a difficult year by saying during her Christmas message that it has been a "bumpy" time.

Key points: The Queen's Christmas message will be broadcast on Wednesday, but snippets have been released ahead of time

The Queen's Christmas message will be broadcast on Wednesday, but snippets have been released ahead of time The Royals have had to weather a number of controversies, including Prince Andrew's links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

The Royals have had to weather a number of controversies, including Prince Andrew's links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein The UK also endured a year of turmoil as the Brexit crisis dragged on

The pre-recorded message will be broadcast in Britain and Commonwealth nations including Australia on Christmas Day.

It was recorded before the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, was hospitalised in London as a "precautionary measure".

Excerpts released by Buckingham Palace before the speech show the Queen admitting difficulties during the course of the year.

Talking about the need for reconciliation and forgiveness, the Queen says: "The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference".

Prince Andrew was criticised for his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. ( Reuters: Toby Melville )

The problems facing the Queen's family this year included Prince Andrew's retreat from public duties because of a widely-criticised BBC interview in which he discussed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The family has also endured a public rift between Prince William and Prince Harry, with the younger prince admitting the pair "have bad days".

"Part of this role, part of this job, this family, being under the pressure which it's under, inevitably stuff happens," Prince Harry told ITV journalist Tom Bradby.

"We are certainly on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him, and as I know he will always be there for me."

Prince Harry has travelled with his wife Meghan and young son Archie to Canada rather than spend the Christmas holidays at Sandringham Estate — the Queen's rural retreat — as has long been customary for senior royals.

Prince Harry admitted he and his brother Prince William were "on different paths". ( Reuters: Eddie Mulholland )

The Duchess of Sussex lived in Canada years before she married Prince Harry while she was filming the TV series Suits.

Both Prince Harry and Meghan have complained about constant scrutiny by the media as they settle into family life with seven-month-old Archie.

The Duchess of Sussex opened up about the impact public scrutiny had on her physical and mental health in an ITV documentary, saying the pressure she felt during her pregnancy and as a new mother had been "really challenging".

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The health of the 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh has also been a constant concern.

Prince Philip has been hospitalised in London for several days, but may still be able to return to Sandringham in time for Christmas.

The Queen has been staying at the estate and carrying on with her Christmas plans without Prince Philip. Details about his condition have not been made public.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with newborn Archie. ( Dominic Lipinski via Reuters )

When Prince Charles was asked about Prince Philip's health during a visit to flooded South Yorkshire on Monday, he said his father was "alright".

"When you get to that age things don't work so well," he said.

This year has also seen Britain's tortuous attempts to leave the European Union, which led to a lengthy political stalemate broken only earlier this month when voters gave the pro-Brexit Conservative Party a comfortable majority in Parliament.