In his inaugural Christmas greeting, King Charles reflected on the cost-of-living crisis.
He described the “severe concern and difficulty” endured by individuals who struggle to “pay their bills and keep their families nourished and comfortable.”
Alongside the address, which was filmed by the King in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, were photos of food banks and homeless aid.
He honored his mother, Queen Elizabeth, who is interred in the chapel.
The late Queen was the pioneer of the televised royal Christmas Day address, and she spoke of “passing the torch” to the new generation in her final message last year.
The King’s address touched on several of his causes and views, including his concern for the downtrodden, the value of public service, and his support for a multifaith approach to religion.
In the King’s broadcast, only “working royals” were shown on air, including the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Earl of Wessex, and Princess Royal.
This meant that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan, were not named. The Duke of York was omitted as well.
During a time of industrial turmoil and economic strain, the King’s sermon centered on those who assist those in need.
The King remarked, “I’d like to pay special homage to all the incredibly generous people who donate food, money, or the most valuable commodity of all — their time — to help those in most need around them.”
The statement was accompanied by images of organizations feeding the homeless and volunteers at a food bank.
Buckingham Palace has announced that donations collected after the passing of the late Queen will be donated to a charity that assists those who cannot afford their energy bills.
The King and other senior royals gathered for Christmas at Sandringham, Norfolk, and he attended the traditional Christmas Day ceremony for the first time as monarch.
The King complimented the emergency services, teachers, and health and social care workers who “worked tirelessly to keep us all safe.
The late Queen’s final Christmas greeting was sent last year, and the King recalled the “kindness and sympathy” that followed her death in September.
“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 “remarked the King.
Standing “near where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is buried with my darling father,” he spoke of his mother’s faith in God as well as her “faith in mankind.”
The address emphasized the community service of religious organizations, and the King, in addition to reaffirming his Christian faith, extended this to all religions.
He praised the “heartfelt unity” displayed by “churches, synagogues, mosques, and gurdwaras.”
“It meant more to me than I could humanly convey to stand on that ground,” the King said of his visit to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
George V delivered the first royal Christmas broadcast on the radio in 1932, therefore the King’s speech follows a tradition that dates back 90 years. In 1957, Elizabeth II introduced the very first television broadcast.
In terms of style modifications, the King gave his first message standing up, as opposed to delivering a formal presentation from behind a desk, and his topics addressed more contemporary social issues.
However, there was much that was conventional. This Christmas Day sermon, presented in a chapel with a choir singing, touched on the significance of faith, hope, and service to others.
The choir concluded as it did last year for the Queen’s last speech, by performing O Little Town of Bethlehem, with the King emphasizing the carol’s message of “light triumphing over darkness.”
