Britain’s King Charles III has called for compassion and reconciliation amid growing divisions around the world in his Christmas Day broadcast.
In the message, delivered on Thursday, the 77-year-old monarch said he was encouraged by what he described as a shared desire for peace among people of different faiths.
The king praised acts of courage shown by individuals who risked their lives to protect others during violent incidents, including those affected by the recent killings at a Jewish gathering in Bondi, Australia. His remarks were accompanied by images from events at Bondi.
He said communities and individuals had demonstrated spontaneous bravery by placing themselves in danger to defend others.
Reflecting on history, Charles noted that 80 years after the end of World War II, the courage of servicemen and women, as well as the solidarity shown by communities in the aftermath of the conflict, continued to offer important lessons.
He said such values had helped shape Britain and remained essential at a time when division was being felt both domestically and internationally.
The message, recorded at Westminster Abbey and broadcast nationwide, avoided reference to recent challenges within the royal family.
Charles said the diversity of modern communities could be a source of strength, adding that compassion and reconciliation were values that should be cherished.
In October, the king became the first head of the Church of England in 500 years to pray publicly with a pope, during a service led by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, an event he described as a historic moment of spiritual unity. Around the same period, he met with survivors of an attack on a synagogue and members of the Jewish community in Manchester.
This marks the second consecutive year that the king has delivered his Christmas address from a location outside a royal residence. Last year’s message was broadcast from a former hospital chapel, during which he thanked healthcare workers following his cancer diagnosis.
In this year’s address, Charles made no reference to his illness and did not mention his brother, Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles in October over his association with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The broadcast featured images of the Prince of Wales, William, and his son, Prince George. It concluded with a Christmas hymn performed by a Ukrainian choir formed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Later in the day, the king and other members of the royal family, including the daughters of Prince Andrew, attended a Christmas service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
