King Charles III gave his first Christmas address to the Commonwealth as Monarch and spoke of his late mother’s deep faith in Jesus Christ. The speech was delivered from the chapel of St. George at Windsor Castle and paid tribute to the recently passed, Queen Elizabeth II. “Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season, and remember them in each cherished tradition,” the King said.
He continued:
“In the much-loved carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem,’ we sing of how, ‘in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.’ My mother’s belief in the power of that light was an essential part of her faith in God, but also have faith in people, and it is one which I share with my whole heart. It is a belief in the extraordinary ability of each person to touch with goodness and compassion the lives of others and to shine a light in the world around them.”
“I went down into the Chapel of the Manger and stood in silent reverence by the silver star that is inlaid on the floor and marks the place of our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth. It meant more to me than I can possibly express, to stand on that spot where, as the Bible tells us, the light that has come into the world was born,”
“So whatever faith you have, or whether you have none, it is in this life-giving light and with the true humility that lies in our service to others, that I believe we can find hope for the future. Let us, therefore, celebrate it together and cherish it always. With all my heart I wish each of you a Christmas of peace, happiness, and everlasting light.”
The King’s speech marks the first time a King of the United Kingdom has delivered a Christmas message on television.
According to Breitbart:
The central theme of the message was the Christian message of selfless service to others, which is perhaps the most defining feature of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
The King said that this is the very “foundation of our society,” saying: “We see it in the selfless dedication of our armed forces and emergency services, who work tirelessly to keep us all safe, and who perform so magnificently as we mourn the passing of our late Queen. We see it in our health and social care professionals, our teachers, and indeed all those working in public service whose skill and commitment are at the heart of our communities.
King Charles, who is the head of the Church of England, concluded by saying that “while Christmas is of course a Christian celebration, the power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across the boundaries of faith and belief.”
