King Charles III Praises Queen and Workers in First Christmas Message

They attended church on Christmas morning and spent about 45 minutes greeting some of them as they began to gather outside St Mary Magdalene’s Church in the early hours of Christmas morning.

Footage played throughout the King’s message shows members of the royal family at work, including the late Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Queen, the Royal Princess Anne, the Early and Countess of Wessex, Edward and Sophie. I got

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn’t show up, and Prince Andrew was stripped of his honorary military titles and of public service because of his friendship with American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The King also praised Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and mentioned Camilla, but the bulk of his speech was dedicated to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth.

Loading

The King is the first male monarch to grace the television screens of millions of Britons celebrating Christmas.

Throughout his speech, however, he referred to the first late queen to broadcast a Christmas message on television, tying her official duties to a Christmas message celebrating faith and the birth of Jesus.

“My mother’s belief in the power of that light was an integral part of her faith in God, but also in people, which I share wholeheartedly.”

“It is the belief that each person has an extraordinary ability to touch the lives of others with good intentions and compassion and shed light on the world around them.

“This is the essence of our community, the very foundation of our society,” he said.

The King said this light was shone by the military and paramedics who kept London safe, allowing millions of people to mourn their mother’s death in September, as well as teachers, health workers and social workers. and by all those engaged in public service.

Nurses, paramedics, border patrol officers, postal, rail and transport workers in London are on strike for Christmas.

The government and unions are fighting over whether wage increases should outpace record inflation. Real wages will recede.

The King acknowledged that it was a time of “great anxiety and hardship”.

“Whether it’s for people around the world facing conflict, famine or natural disasters, or looking for ways to continue to feed and warm their families at home,” he said. .

But he said that people throughout Britain and the Commonwealth who were “ready to respond to the plight of others” were another example of light over darkness.

“Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras have come together again to feed the hungry and to provide love and support throughout the year,” he said.

The six-minute message ended with an appeal to pay attention to the “eternal light”, an important aspect of Queen Elizabeth’s faith in God and faith in people.

“Christmas is, of course, a Christian celebration, but the power of light to overcome darkness is celebrated beyond the boundaries of faith and belief.

“So, whatever faith you may or may not have, in this life-giving light and true humility in service to others, we have hope for the future. I believe you can find it.

Get direct notes from foreign correspondents on what’s trending around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter here.