King Charles used his annual Christmas message to pay tribute to the selflessness of those who cared for him and the Princess of Wales this year as they both received cancer treatment.
The 76-year-old king said in a pre-recorded message released on Wednesday that he and his family “constantly” admire those who dedicate their lives to helping others.
“From a personal standpoint, I extend a special, heartfelt thank you to the dedicated doctors and nurses who this year have supported me and other family members through the uncertainty and anxiety associated with the disease and helped provide the strength, care and comfort we need,” he said in a pre-recorded speech.
The broadcast came several hours after the Queen waved to a large crowd of onlookers who traditionally gather to see the royal family attend Christmas Mass at a church in Sandringham, an estate on the windswept North Sea coast that has served as a family retreat for generations. .
A year marked by illness in the royal family
The King’s Christmas speech is the third since he ascended to the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, but the first since he was diagnosed with an unknown type of cancer in February.
The Queen’s holiday message is watched by millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth, with many families timing their Christmas lunch around it.
The king’s treatment, which is believed to be ongoing, forced him to stay away from public appearances for two months. He has slowly returned to public life in recent months and was in good spirits during a tour of Australia and the South Pacific in October.
Just weeks after Charles began treatment, the Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis, sidelining her for much of the year.
In an audio commentary for her annual Christmas service at Westminster Abbey, which was recorded this month but broadcast on Tuesday evening, Catherine also reflected on the love and support she has received.
“The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others,” she said. “It also reflects our vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving compassion, as well as how much we need each other despite our differences.”
Charles spoke at Fitzrovia Church in central London, which was part of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital where his first wife Diana opened London’s first dedicated ward for AIDS patients.
The King had tasked the team organizing the broadcast with finding a location away from royal property, a location with healthy communications, a strong community presence, and a place of solace and reflection for those with or without faith.
Charles walked with Queen Camilla followed by his eldest son, Prince William, Catherine and their three children. The king’s daughter-in-law, who slowly returned to her public duties after completing chemotherapy, hugged a cancer patient after the service.
Two of Charles’ siblings, Anne, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, were also in the procession.
Prince Andrew was noticeably absent from St Mary Magdalene Church. The king’s 64-year-old brother, who was second in line to the British throne, has become a regular source of tabloid news due to his financial woes and ties to questionable figures, including the late American financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Most recently, a Chinese businessman was banned from entering the UK over fears he was establishing ties with Andrew on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
A message to those suffering from “devastating” conflict.
It is a rare occasion when the King’s Christmas message is not recorded at the royal residence, in particular Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The last time his late mother recorded her message outside the Royal Palace was in 2006.
Charles also paid his respect to the World War II soldiers who died on the beaches of northern France, as well as to the few remaining veterans, many over 100 years old, who attended the 80th anniversary of the landings in Normandy, in June.
He said it was a “great honour” to meet “the distinguished veterans of this very special generation who gave themselves so bravely on behalf of us all” but the specter of war haunts the world this Christmas.
“During previous celebrations, we were able to console ourselves with the idea that such tragic events rarely happen in modern times,” he said.
“But on this Christmas Day, we cannot help but think of those for whom the devastating effects of conflict in the Middle East, Central Europe, Africa and elsewhere pose a daily threat to the lives and livelihoods of too many people.”
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