King Charles and the royal family, minus Andrew, gather for Christmas as King’s speech highlights unity and diversity
King Charles III and members of the royal family — except for his disgraced brother, former Prince Andrew — gathered for Christmas at the king’s private Sandringham estate, where they traditionally spend the holidays.
In the King’s annual Christmas speech, broadcast throughout Britain and the Commonwealth, he stressed the importance of both unity and diversity.
In the morning, Charles and Queen Camilla, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, their children and extended family members,
walked to services at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk, about 100 miles north of London.
Members of the royal family also stopped by to greet people in the crowd outside.
Andrew was not present at the holiday gathering, as reported by BBC News, due to the stigma surrounding his relationships with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; he also did not attend last year.
In October, he was stripped of his remaining titles and honours, including the title of Prince, and is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The king delivered his annual Christmas Day speech.
Later in the day, the king’s annual Christmas Day speech was watched by millions across Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations, a federation of 56 countries with historical ties to Britain.
“When I meet people of different religions, I find it extremely encouraging to hear how much we have in common: a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life,” Charles said in his address.
Amid “division both at home and abroad”, he said, “there are values we must never lose sight of.”
“With the immense diversity of our communities, we can find the strength to ensure that right prevails over wrong.”
Westminster Abbey, in the heart of London, is where kings have been crowned since William the Conqueror in 1066 and has also been the site of many royal weddings.
The speech was accompanied by a video of members of the royal family, including scenes of the king’s Vatican Historic Tour, where he prayed with Pope Leo XIV in an effort to create closer relations between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
The speech is one of the rare occasions when Charles, 77, can express his views independently from the government. The commentary usually has a strong theological framework, reflects current issues, and is sometimes based on King’s personal experiences.
Following the king’s speech, the Ukrainian Choir and the Royal Opera Chorus of London performed to signal Ukraine’s support in the war against Russian aggression.
This was Charles’ fourth Christmas speech since ascend the throne After your mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September 2022.
The address comes just two weeks after Charles made a very personal televised appearance in which he said “good news” from his doctors meant he would be able to do so. reduce his cancer treatment in the New Year.
King was diagnosed with a still unknown form of cancer in early 2024. Buckingham Palace says his treatment is now moving into a “precautionary phase” and his condition will be monitored to ensure his continued recovery.
During last year’s Christmas address, Charles honoured care workers across the country and presented a special award. Special thanks to the doctors and nurses who supported him after his cancer diagnosis.
Princess Catherine of Wales also received cancer treatment last year. He said so in January; she was in remission after passing some “hard times” during his recovery. Kate, as she is widely called, has not shared details about what type of cancer it was.
She and her husband, Prince William,… heir to the throne They have three children: Prince George of Wales, 12; Princess Charlotte of Wales, 10; and Prince Louis of Wales, 7.
