King Charles III reflected his coronation theme of public service Monday in a Christmas message that he connected to the health of the planet and wars that are raging. In a prerecorded video shot with him standing beside a Christmas tree in Buckingham Palace, the king spoke of the message of Jesus’ life in serving those less fortunate as he honored the “selfless army” that forms the “backbone of our society” helping others.
Quick Read
- King Charles III’s Christmas Message: In his Christmas speech, King Charles III emphasized the theme of public service, connecting it to the health of the planet and ongoing global conflicts. The message was delivered beside a Christmas tree in Buckingham Palace and highlighted the importance of serving those less fortunate.
- Focus on Environmental Causes: The king, known for his long-standing commitment to environmental issues, expressed encouragement at the growing awareness of the need to protect the earth. He reiterated the shared responsibility to care for the planet for future generations.
- Sustainable Christmas Decorations: Demonstrating his commitment to sustainability, the Christmas tree beside him was decorated with natural ornaments and was to be replanted after the holidays, marking a shift towards more environmentally conscious practices at the palace.
- Highlights from the Coronation Year: The speech included footage of key moments from the past year, including King Charles III’s first state visit as monarch to Kenya and scenes from his coronation ceremony. The video also featured Prince William and his family engaging in community service.
- Absence of Prince Harry in the Video: The video did not feature Prince Harry, who has been estranged from the royal family since moving to the U.S. in 2020. The speech did not address the tensions following the publication of Harry’s memoir, “Spare.”
- Appeal for Empathy and Service: King Charles III appealed for empathy and service to others, especially in the context of current global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict. He called for people to consider the well-being of others, including those they do not yet know.
- Acknowledgment of Global Conflicts: The king referred to the “increasingly tragic conflict around the world,” highlighting the need for compassionate and service-oriented actions in times of turmoil.
The Associated Press has the story:
King Charles III’s Christmas message reflects a coronation theme, calls for planet’s protection
Newsloloks- LONDON (AP)
King Charles III reflected his coronation theme of public service Monday in a Christmas message that he connected to the health of the planet and wars that are raging.
In a prerecorded video shot with him standing beside a Christmas tree in Buckingham Palace, the king spoke of the message of Jesus’ life in serving those less fortunate as he honored the “selfless army” that forms the “backbone of our society” helping others.
“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.
It was the king’s second Christmas speech since he ascended the throne after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September 2022, but the first since his coronation in May when he was officially crowned in a medieval ceremony rich in pageantry and pomp.
Charles, who has long campaigned for environmental causes and recently told foreign leaders at the COP28 Climate Meeting that achieving climate goals remain “dreadfully far off track,” said he was encouraged to see awareness growing of the need to protect the earth.
“To care for this creation is the responsibility owned by people of all faiths and of none,” he said. “We care for the earth for the sake of our children’s children.”
In his own gesture towards sustainability, the evergreen next to him was bedecked in natural decorations made from wood, dried oranges, pinecones and paper. The tree, the first live one at the palace, was to be replanted after the holidays.
As Charles spoke, video showed highlights from his past year, including helping plant a tree during a trip to Kenya — his first state visit as monarch with Queen Camilla to a Commonwealth country.
It also featured footage from the coronation in which he declared, “I come not to be served but to serve.” Another clip showed his eldest son, Prince William, heir to the throne, along with his wife, Kate, the princess of Wales, and their three children carrying out that mission by helping to rebuild a Scout hut during a day of service that followed the coronation.
His estranged son, Prince Harry, who left the ranks of the senior royals when he moved to the U.S. in 2020 with this wife, Meghan, wasn’t shown in the video. Harry, who showed up alone at the coronation and was seated in the third row, inflamed tensions with his best-selling memoir, “Spare,” published early in the year that accused his brother of beating him up.
At a time of “increasingly tragic conflict around the world,” a reference to wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, Charles invoked the words of Christ to “do unto others as you would have them do to you.”
“They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbors and to seek their good as we would our own,” he said. “My heart and my thanks go to all who are serving one another, all who are caring for our common home and all who see and seek the good of others, not least the friend we do not yet know.”
