THE KING'S PLEA
King’s Christmas speech: Charles makes impassioned plea for ‘peace on Earth’ and hails ‘selfless army’ of volunteers
Eagle-eyed viewers picked up a royal first in the speech
THE King used his Christmas Day broadcast to make an impassioned plea for "peace" in the face of "increasing tragic conflict" around the globe.
In a stirring speech delivered just seven months after his Coronation, Charles called for "care and compassion" and hailed those who "serve one another; to love and care for all."
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Millions around the UK and Commonwealth heard the King plead: "And at a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other.
He added: "The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘do to others as you would have them do to you.’
And amid worsening violence in Gaza and Ukraine, the King finished his second Christmas Day broadcast saying: "I wish you a Christmas of ‘peace on Earth and good-will to all’, today and always."
The address was filmed earlier this month at Buckingham Palace's Centre Room, with the Buckingham Palace balcony and view of the Victoria Memorial in the background.
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While viewers were treated to footage from the year of good work carried out by the King, Queen, Kate and William and their three children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne; there was no room on screen for the troublesome Harry and Meghan or Prince Andrew on the Christmas Day broadcast.
The King opened his 3pm address celebrating the traditional Christmas dinner, saying: "Many of the Festivals of the great Religions of the world are celebrated with a special meal.
"A chance for family and friends to come together across generations; the act of sharing food adding to conviviality and togetherness. For some, faith will be uppermost in their hearts. For others, it will be the joy of fellowship and the giving of presents."
Charles added: "It is also a time when we remember those who are no longer with us and think also of those whose work of caring for others continues, even on this special day.
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"This care and compassion we show to others is one of the themes of the Christmas Story, especially when Mary and Joseph were offered shelter in their hour of need by strangers, as they waited for Jesus to be born.
Footage of the royals at work this year included princes George and Louis with Princess Charlotte volunteering at a Scout hut in Slough and attending the Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen was seen bringing festive joy at Clarence House earlier this month and William visiting Royal Marsden Hospital and Kate at a specialist centre in Kent which supports children with disabilities and special educational needs and their families.
Viewers were treated to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie, marking the first anniversary of the Ukrainian conflict, on a trip to Edinburgh.
Princess Anne, the hardest-working royal of the year, was seen at Wellington Barracks as the Household Division of Coldstream Guards rehearsed for the Coronation.
The King and Queen's State Visit to Kenya was heavily featured as was their appearance at the Highland Games in Braemar and their Coronation in May.
Charles added: "Over this past year 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: at work and at home; within and across communities."
And said: "My wife and I were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people - volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction - were able to join us in Westminster Abbey for the Coronation earlier this year.
Hailing hard-working volunteers, he added: "They are an essential backbone of our society. Their presence meant so much to us both and emphasised the meaning of Coronation itself: above all, a call to us all to serve one another; to love and care for all.
And celebrated 'service', saying: "Service also lies at the heart of the Christmas story – the birth of Jesus who came to serve the whole world, showing us by his own example how to love our neighbour as ourselves."
The King said: "Throughout the year, my family have witnessed how people of all ages are making a difference to their communities. This is all the more important at a time of real hardship for many, when we need to build on existing ways to support others less fortunate than ourselves.
The late Queen's Christmas addresses always had a heavy religious tone and Charles was no different adding: "Because out of God’s providence we are blessed with much, and it is incumbent on us to use this wisely. However, service to others is but one way of honouring the whole of Creation which, after all, is a manifestation of the Divine.
"This is a belief shared by all religions. To care for this Creation is a responsibility owned by people of all faiths and of none. We care for the Earth for the sake of our children’s children."
His second address as King also pointed to his decades of work to protect the environment.
Charles said: "During my lifetime I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home which we all share. I find great inspiration now from the way so many people recognise this – as does the Christmas Story, which tells us that Angels brought the message of hope first to shepherds.
"These were people who lived simply amongst others of God’s creatures. Those close to Nature were privileged that night..."
The King has been outspoken on the conflict in Gaza which has raged since October 7 and in his Mansion House speech called for "civility and tolerance" and "mutual understanding" amid "international turmoil and heartbreaking loss of life".
And he hailed the Ukrainian people's "remarkable courage and resilience" in the face of Putin's and Russia's "brutal aggression".
But in his Christmas address, the King offered a hopeful plea to listeners saying: "And at a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the World, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other. The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘do to others as you would have them do to you.’
"Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions, and other belief systems, across the Commonwealth
and wider world. They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbours, and to seek their good as we would our own.
Speaking to millions who tuned in the UK and Commonwealth he added: "So on this Christmas Day 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. In this way, we bring out the best in ourselves.
And finished with a flourish saying: "I wish you a Christmas of ‘peace on Earth and good-will to all’, today and always."
The 10-minute broadcast is expected to be the most watched event on Christmas Day television.
The National Anthem was performed by British Army Musicians from the Household Division Symphonic Brass, conducted by Lieutenant Colonel David Barringer MVO MBE.
The carol, ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks’ was sung by the Bexley Music Primary Choir, conducted by Katherine Burr.
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The first verse was sung by soloist Binu Tennakoon, 15, accompanied by harpist Grace Xu, 15, and flautist Sofia Gkatsou, 17.
Bexley Music is committed to providing musical education and opportunities for schools, community groups and individuals of all ages and from all backgrounds, helping them to reach their full potential.
King Charles's speech in full
Many of the Festivals of the great Religions of the world
are celebrated with a special meal.
A chance for family and friends to come together across generations; the act of sharing food adding to conviviality and togetherness. For some, faith will be uppermost in their hearts.
For others, it will be the joy of fellowship and the giving of presents.
It is also a time when we remember those who are no longer with us and think also of those whose work of caring for others continues, even on this special day.
This care and compassion we show to others is one of the themes of the
Christmas Story, especially when Mary and Joseph were offered shelter in their hour of need by strangers, as they waited for Jesus to be born.
Over this past year 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: at work and at home; within and across communities.
My wife and I were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people - volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction- were able to join us in Westminster Abbey for the Coronation earlier this year.
They are an essential backbone of our society.
Their presence meant so much to us both and emphasised the meaning of Coronation itself: above all, a call to us all to serve one another; to love and care for all.
Service also lies at the heart of the Christmas story – the birth of Jesus who came to serve the whole world, showing us by his own example how to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Throughout the year, my Family have witnessed how people of all ages are making a difference to their communities. This is all the more important at a time of real hardship for many, when we need to build on existing ways to support others less fortunate than ourselves.
Because out of God’s providence we are blessed with much, and it is incumbent on us to use this wisely.
However, service to others is but one way of honouring the whole of
Creation which, after all, is a manifestation of the Divine.
This is a belief shared by all religions.
To care for this Creation is a responsibility owned by people of all faiths and of none.
We care for the Earth for the sake of our children’s children.
During my lifetime I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home which we all share.
I find great inspiration now from the way so many people recognise this – as does the Christmas Story, which tells us that Angels brought the message of hope first to shepherds.
These were people who lived simply amongst others of God’s creatures.
Those close to Nature were privileged that night…
And at a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the World, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other.
The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘do to others as you would have them do to you.’
Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions, and other belief systems, across the Commonwealth
and wider world.
They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbours, and to seek their good as we would our own.
So on this Christmas Day 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.
In this way, we bring out the best in ourselves.
I wish you a Christmas of ‘peace on Earth and good-will to all’, today and always.
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