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King Charles thanked the “selfless doctors and nurses” who supported him and his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton after they were both diagnosed with cancer.
On Wednesday, the 76-year-old gave his annual Christmas speech, which was recorded in Fitzrovia Chapel, the former chapel of the Middlesex Hospital in London.
The broadcast came hours after the monarch attended Christmas services at a church in Sandringham. Charles was accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, son Prince William, Kate and three grandchildren. Kate, who has slowly returned to public duties after finishing chemotherapy, was seen hugging a cancer patient after the service.
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Britain’s King Charles III smiles during the recording of his Christmas message at Fitzrovia Chapel in central London on December 11, 2024. This year marks the first time the sovereign’s Christmas message has been recorded outside the royal residence since 2006, when it was recorded at Southwark Cathedral. (Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
“I speak to you today from the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London – itself now a vibrant community – and think especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the UK and across the Commonwealth who use their skills and the goodness of their hearts to care for others – often at some cost to themselves,” said Charles.
“From a personal point of view, in particular, I sincerely thank the selfless doctors and nurses who supported me and other members of my family this year through the uncertainties and anxieties of the disease and helped provide us with the strength, care and comfort we needed,” he shared. “I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who sent us their kind words of condolence and encouragement.”
Charles also spoke about the importance of compassion in difficult times.
“We all go through some form of suffering at some point in our lives, whether it’s mental or physical,” he said. “The degree to which we help each other – and receive support from each other, whether we are people of faith or non-believers – is a measure of our civilization as a people. This is what continually impresses me, as my family and I meet each other listen to those who have their own devoted their lives to helping others.”
The king also referred to ongoing global conflicts and those directly affected by the war.
“This Christmas, we cannot help but think of those for whom the devastating effects of conflict – in the Middle East, Central Europe, Africa and elsewhere – pose a daily threat to the lives and livelihoods of many people,” Charles said.
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Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Queen Camilla, Prince William and King Charles at the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
“We also think of the humanitarian organizations that work tirelessly to provide vital aid,” he said. “After all, the gospels speak so vividly conflicts and teach the values with which we can overcome them. The example that Jesus gave us is timeless and universal. It is to enter the world of those who are suffering, to make a difference in their lives and thus to bring hope where there is despair.”
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Charles also spoke about the violent riots the UK faced earlier this year, as well as a mass stabbing dance class on the theme of Taylor Swift in Southport, England. The attack claimed the lives of three children.
“I felt a deep sense of pride here in the UK when, in response to the anger and lawlessness in several cities this summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviors, but to make amends,” Charles said. “To repair not only buildings, but also relationships. And, most importantly, repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the benefit of all.”
“From a personal point of view, in particular, I sincerely thank the selfless doctors and nurses who supported me and other members of my family this year through the uncertainties and anxieties of the disease and helped provide us with the strength, care and comfort we needed.”
In September, the Princess of Wales announced that she had finished chemotherapy. (Jordan Peck/Getty Images)
“The angel’s message to the shepherds – that there should be peace on Earth – actually resonates through all faiths and philosophies,” Charles said. “It still rings true today for people of goodwill around the world.
“On that note, I wish you and all those you love a most joyful and peaceful Christmas,” he concluded.
The king’s Christmas speech is the third since he came to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, but the first since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February.
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Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-lived English monarch, died in 2022. She was 96 years old. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
The monarch’s holiday message is watched by millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth, with many households timing Christmas lunch around it.
The king’s treatment, which is believed to be ongoing, forced him to step back from public appearances for two months. In recent months, he has been slowly returning to public life, and he was in a good mood on a tour of Australia and the South Pacific in October.
A few weeks after Charles began treatment, announced the Princess of Wales her own cancer diagnosis, which sidelined her for most of the year.
Prince Louis and his mother Catherine, Princess of Wales during the “Together At Christmas” service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London. (Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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In September, 42-year-old Kate announced in a candid video that she had finished chemotherapy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
