The speech comes after a turbulent year for the royal family.
King Charles continues to put his own stamp on his annual Christmas Day message.
Queen Elizabeth often delivered her address from her desk at her Buckingham Palace residence, often with family photographs in view. This year, King Charles recorded his message at the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey. It’s the first time the broadcast has been filmed at the Abbey, which is known for its royal weddings and coronations.
The speech comes at the end of a turbulent year for the family. In November, the king officially stripped his brother Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his titles and honors and has tried to evict him from the Royal Lodge for his associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Charles also has been facing an undisclosed type of cancer, though two weeks ago he said he had received “good news” from his doctors and would be able to reduce his cancer treatment in the new year.
Princess Kate has been going through her own cancer journey and King Charle’s relationship with Prince Harry remains delicate. (The monarch saw his son briefly in September – their first meeting in 19 months – but Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are spending the holidays with their children in Montecito.)
So it was striking that the speech was steeped with themes of honor and integrity. The king stressed “we need to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation,” and also remembered the “courage and sacrifice” of those who fought in World War II, saying “as we hear of division, both home and abroad, they are values of which we must never lose sight.” In times of uncertainty, he added, “resilience in the face of adversity; peace through forgiveness” and “showing respect to one another” are what bring hope.
The address was aired after the royal family made their annual processional to St. Mary Magdalene Church. The Christmas Day walk, which included Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, but not their parents, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
According to the Palace, “Each Broadcast carefully reflects current issues and concerns, and shares The Monarch’s reflections on what Christmas means to them and their listeners. Over the years, the Christmas Broadcast has acted as a chronicle of global, national and personal events which have affected the Monarch and their audience.”
