He takes on another legacy from his mother – where he said goodbye to her forever.
King Charles III (74) gave the traditional Christmas speech as British king for the first time – and thought of his late mother Queen Elizabeth († 96).
In his speech, he also presented himself as the king of all religions and a man who wants to care for those who are worst off.
King Charles with his wife Camilla and on their way to Christmas Mass on the morning of Boxing Day. Seen directly behind them (from left): Princess Charlotte, Princess Kate, Prince George and Prince William
“I stand here in this exquisite St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle,” Charles began his speech. “So close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is buried with my dear father.”
Background: Queen Elizabeth was buried in the chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle in September. Charles’ grandparents King George VI. († 56) and Queen Mum († 101), his father Prince Philip († 99) and the ashes of his aunt Princess Margaret († 71) are buried there – they all found their final resting place in the family grave.
Charles continued, “Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We sense their absence in every known season and remember them in every cherished tradition.”
He shared with the late Queen’s belief in people who could touch the lives of others with kindness and compassion. This is “the essence of our community and the foundation of our society,” said the 74-year-old.
Millions of Britons watched Charles’ first Christmas speech on TV
The monarch said in the televised speech on Sunday afternoon there was a “time of great anxiety and need”. This applies to everyone around the world who is exposed to conflict, famine or natural disasters, as well as to those “who find ways to pay their bills and feed their families and keep them warm”.
At the end of his speech, the monarch repeatedly emphasizes that he wants to be the king of all religions.
Charles: “While Christmas is of course a Christian celebration, the power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across faith and belief lines. So whatever your faith, or your lack of faith, it is in this life-giving light, with true humility, in our service to others, that I believe we find hope for the future.”
The long tradition of TV speeches
A royal Christmas speech was first televised live from the Sandringham estate in 1957, before that it was always heard on the radio. In Sandringham, the Royal Family spends their Christmas this year. It was from there that Elizabeth II’s grandfather, King George V, spoke for the first time in 1932 on the radio to the subjects of the royal realm. Since then, the speech has been an integral part of the royal calendar (with the exception of 1936 and 1938).
Queen Elizabeth during her last Christmas speech last year
While the Christmas speech is a long-standing tradition, the king has now endeavored to give it his own personal touch: king charles paid attention to some special details when choosing his background. The palace statement highlighted that the Christmas tree was decorated with sustainable materials such as paper and glass, as well as pine cones.
In addition, according to the recording, the tree found a reuse: it can already be admired by visitors in the castle courtyard. Charles has been a committed climate and environmental activist for many years, bringing a modern twist to this Christmas tradition.
The Christmas tree at last year’s royal speech was decorated by students from the Windsor Royal School with over 100 supporters
Constitutional expert Craig Prescott from Bangor University in Wales also explains how important this Christmas speech is for the new king: “He will address the nation on his own behalf for the first time.” Prescott describes this as a “great moment” that should be considered a milestone on the way to the coronation planned for May 6, 2023.
