King Charles III urges compassion and reconciliation amid global division in his Christmas message, praising acts of bravery and shared longing for peace.
LONDON: King Charles III called for “compassion and reconciliation” amid global division in his Christmas Day message.
The 77-year-old monarch said he found it “enormously encouraging” how people of different faiths share a “shared longing for peace”.
He praised individuals who risked their lives to save others in violent situations, referencing the recent killings at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach in Australia.
“Individuals and communities have displayed spontaneous bravery, instinctively placing themselves in harm’s way to defend others,” the King said.
His message, recorded at Westminster Abbey, highlighted the timeless values shaped by courage and community spirit since World War II.
“As we hear of division both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight,” Charles stated.
He emphasised cherishing the values of compassion and reconciliation as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
The King did not mention his own cancer battle or his brother Prince Andrew’s stripped royal titles.
His message featured images of his son Prince William and grandson Prince George.
It concluded with a song performed by a Ukrainian choir formed after Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Earlier in the day, the King and other royals attended a Christmas service at St Mary Magdalene Church on his Sandringham estate.
