In his first Christmas address as monarch, King Charles paid respect to his late mother, the Queen, and wished for “peace, happiness, and everlasting light.”
In his Christmas message to the country, His Majesty reminisced on being “so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, and my dear father are put to rest” in the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
He complimented the’selfless dedication’ of the Armed Forces, health and social care professionals, teachers, and all those who labor in the public sector.
The pre-recorded statement, which was filmed on December 13, addressed the “severe concern and difficulty” felt by individuals who are struggling to “pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm.”
Earlier on Sunday, the King and other senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and Queen Consort Camilla, went on a Sandringham walkabout to meet the masses.
The King’s eight-minute speech was inclusive of numerous religious organizations, stating: ‘Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and gurdwaras have once again come together to feed the needy and provide love and support throughout the year.
Such selfless compassion is the most edifying manifestation of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
It was the first Christmas speech by a male king since Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, gave a pre-recorded message in 1951.
Read Charles’s full speech below:
King Charles III’s first Christmas message was televised on Christmas Day at 3 p.m.
Earlier on Sunday, the King, along with other senior royals such as the Prince and Princess of Wales and Queen Consort Camilla, went on a walkabout in Sandringham to interact with gathered audiences.
I am here in this magnificent chapel of St. George at Windsor Castle, so near to where my cherished mother, the late queen, and my cherished father are laid to rest.
I recall the heartfelt letters, cards, and notes that so many of you have written to my wife and me.
And I cannot thank you enough for the compassion and love you have shown to our entire family.
The holiday season is especially heartbreaking for those of us who have lost loved ones.
We sense their absence with each passing season and remember them with each beloved custom.
In the popular Christmas hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” it is sung that “the everlasting light shines in thine dreary streets.”
My mother’s conviction in the power of that light was fundamental to both her faith in God and her faith in humanity.
And it is one that I wholeheartedly support.
In his speech, he honored his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September of this year. Last year, the couple was photographed at the Balmoral Cricket Pavilion.
It is a belief in the amazing capacity of each individual to touch the lives of others with goodness and compassion and to illuminate the world around them.
This is the essence of our community and the basis of our entire society.
We see it in the unselfish dedication of our armed forces and emergency services, who work ceaselessly to ensure our safety and who performed so beautifully while we mourned the loss of our queen.
We see it in our health and social care professionals, our educators, and all public servants whose abilities and dedication are at the core of our communities.
And in this time of great anxiety and hardship, whether for those around the world facing conflict, famine, or natural disasters, or for those at home finding ways to pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm, we see it in the humanity of the people of our nations and the Commonwealth, who respond so readily to the plight of others.
King Charles III is photographed here on Christmas morning in Sandringham, Norfolk, with his family on their way to the Christmas Day church service.
I would like to pay special homage to the incredibly generous individuals who donate food, money, or the most valuable commodity of all, their time, to help those in greatest need around them, as well as the numerous charitable organizations that do such extraordinary work in the most difficult of circumstances.
Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and gurdwaras have once again banded together to feed the hungry, providing assistance and love throughout the year.
This is the most awe-inspiring manifestation of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Recently, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Wales and shed light on concrete examples of this community spirit.
Prince Louis shakes hands with a member of the public (left) and pulls on his mother’s hand (right) as the Royal Family engages in a Christmas Day walkabout.
The Princess of Wales grins as she carries her youngest son, Prince Louis, by the hand.
I was able to fulfill a lifetime desire to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity a number of years ago.
There, I descended into the chapel of the manger and stood in reverent silence before the Silver Star inlaid into the floor, which symbolizes the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It meant more to me than words can explain to stand on the location where, according to the Bible, the light of the world was born.
While Christmas is obviously a Christian holiday, the triumph of light over darkness is celebrated across religious and philosophical barriers.
I believe we can find hope for the future in this life-giving light and the true humility that resides in our service to others, regardless of our religious beliefs or lack thereof.
Therefore, let us celebrate it together and treasure it forever.
I wish each of you a Merry Christmas filled with peace, joy, and everlasting light.
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