In the midst of the cost of living crisis in the United Kingdom, King Charles III praised “solidarity” in his Christmas message, broadcast this Sunday, December 25, the first since his accession to the throne.
Dressed in a blue suit, the 74-year-old ruler spoke from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where his mother Elizabeth II rests, who reigned for more than seven decades before dying on September 8 at the age of 96. years, and his father Prince Philip. He began his speech by thanking those who sent “excited” letters to his family following the death of the two sovereigns.
“I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our entire family,” he said, noting how emotional Christmas is for “all those who have lost loved ones”.
Tribute to associations
He praised the military and emergency services, “who are working tirelessly” for the country’s security, as well as health personnel while nurses recently witnessed an unprecedented strike.
“I especially want to pay tribute to all those wonderfully kind people who so generously ‘donate’ ‘food,’ ‘money,’ or their ‘precious’ ‘time,'” he added.
The king cited the “anxiety” and “difficulties” of those facing war, famine or natural disasters, as well as those “here looking for ways to pay their bills or feed and warm their families” as inflation is close to 11%.
“Such sincere solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving your neighbor as yourself,” he said.
“Whatever your faith, or not, it is in this life-giving light and with the true humility that is in service to others that I believe we can find hope for the future,” he added, wishing a “Christmas of peace, happiness and eternal light”.
Reference to Kate and William
The Christmas message is one of the main annual appointments of the British sovereigns, with the speech before Parliament and the official birthday of the monarch.
In the morning, the royal family attended Christmas mass in Sandringham, in the east of the country, reviving a tradition interrupted since 2019 by the pandemic. With Prince Andrew who paid millions in the United States to avoid a trial for sexual assault. Harry and Meghan, who chronicled their departure from the monarchy in a Netflix documentary series, were absent.
In his speech, the King referred to his successor, Prince William, and his wife Catherine, who recently visited Wales and “bring to light” “concrete examples of community spirit”: in particular, they visited associations there.
Charles III is scheduled to be crowned king on May 6 at Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony “progressive” but rooted “in the long tradition and pomp of monarchy,” according to Buckingham Palace.
Source: BFM TV
