King Charles III's Christmas Address
Britain's King Charles III spoke of the importance of human kindness and urged people to care for one another and our planet in his annual Christmas address. He and other members of the royal family gathered at their estate in Sandringham for their traditional holiday celebration.
It was Charles' second Christmas message since he became king following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in September 2022, and the first since his coronation ceremony last May.
In remarks filmed at Buckingham Palace earlier this month and broadcast Monday across the U.K. and Commonwealth nations, he spoke of remembering "those who are no longer with us" and praised "those whose work of caring for others continues, even on this special day."
"Over this past year my heart has been warmed by countless examples of the imaginative ways in which people are caring for one another — going the extra mile to help those around them simply because they know it is the right thing to do," he said.
Royal Family's Christmas Celebration
He did not mention other members of the royal family by name, but made one point on behalf of himself and his wife, Queen Camilla, saying they were delighted that members of a "selfless army" of community volunteers were able to join them at Westminster Abbey for the coronation.
Service, he said, "lies at the heart of the Christmas story," and is a value "all the more important at a time of real hardship for many, when we need to build on existing ways to support others less fortunate than ourselves."
In addition to serving one other, King Charles, a longtime environmentalist, said humanity is called upon to care for all of Creation.
"We care for the Earth for the sake of our children's children," he said. "During my lifetime I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home which we all share."
Royal family's Christmas in photos
King Charles, Queen Camilla and others in the royal family attended services Christmas morning at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, the estate in Norfolk where they traditionally spend the holiday.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, and their children, George, Charlotte and Louis, walked right behind Charles and Camilla and greeted well-wishers who lined the path. The king's younger son, Harry, and wife Megan, who now live in California, were not present.
Prince Andrew appeared with the royal family this Christmas, despite the controversy surrounding his association with Jeffrey Epstein and the legal settlement he reached last year regarding allegations of sex abuse.
The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, also joined the family for the walk to church, marking her first time doing so in over 30 years. Earlier this year, she underwent treatment for breast cancer. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, along with their husbands, were also in attendance.
