King Charles III reflected on the importance of prioritizing values amid division in his annual Christmas Day speech.
The British monarch, 77, delivered the message on Thursday, December 25, continuing the annual tradition started by his late great-grandfather King George V in 1932 and carried on by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for seven decades during her reign. Charles took over the custom in 2022, just months after the queen’s death at age 96.
Charles started by recalling the “historic moment of spiritual unity” when he prayed with Pope Leo at the Vatican during his October visit with Queen Camilla. He also mentioned the 80th anniversary of VJ Day while honoring the “courage and sacrifice” of veterans and the “way communities came together in the face of such great challenge.”
“These are the values which have shaped our country and the Commonwealth,” he noted. “As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight.”
Charles continued to share his wisdom with the public, adding, “Journeying is a constant theme of the Christmas story. The Holy Family made a journey to Bethlehem and arrived homeless without proper shelter. The wise men made a pilgrimage from the east to worship at the cradle of Christ; and the shepherds journeyed from field to town in search of Jesus, the savior of the world. In each case, they journeyed with others; and relied on the companionship and kindness of others.”
Charles’ Christmas address comes amid a difficult time for the sovereign. After being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in 2024, he is still undergoing treatment. Aside from Charles’ health issues, the strain within the royal family is perhaps more evident than ever, given the king’s ongoing rift with son Prince Harry and his decision to strip his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his titles and evict him from his royal estate due to his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Earlier this month, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that the royals’ holiday season “may carry a wistful tone” this year, but “they all want to make the most of their time together.”
The chances of Harry, 41, and wife Meghan Markle receiving a Christmas invitation from Charles were always “slim,” a second insider told Us at the time, but new concerns arose over “whether or not trust can be rebuilt” after the couple were spotted at Kris Jenner’s star-studded 70th birthday party in November.
“If they are going to go out and look like Hollywood players, it’s at odds with what the palace and royal family members would do,” the source said of Harry and Meghan, 44.
Meanwhile, Andrew, 65, was not invited to the Christmas festivities, with the first insider noting, “The family wants to put the negativity behind them.”
Despite the drama within his family, Charles hoped to celebrate a memorable holiday with his loved ones.
“Charles prioritizes duty, but he’s also a family man who knows his time is precious,” the first source told Us. “He wants a special last Christmas in case it’s his last.”
“Charles wants to have a traditional holiday with all the royals,” the source added. “Every family Christmas is precious, but it’s especially so for him this year.”
Although Charles’ health hasn’t been “the best” as of late, the second insider emphasized, “They’re taking it day by day.”
As for the king’s Christmas Day speech, the first source told Us, “Nothing would stop Charles from doing that,” insisting that he stands by his late mother’s motto that one “has to be seen to be believed.”
Regardless of the personal challenges Charles is facing, the source insisted, “He will do everything expected of him and more.”
