Despite King Charles’ Globalist Tendencies, His First Christmas Address Embraced England’s Unique Cultural Identity

Since his mother’s passing, King Charles III has done well under pressure. His skillful, pleasant, but impervious handling of his younger son and daughter-in-law’s betrayal stands as an admirable example of a man walking easily into the authority of his inherited destiny. Harry and Meghan’s self-immolation aside, the royal Christmas address was always going to serve as the first primary PR hurdle for Charles after the tremendous responsibility of publicly honoring and burying his mother.

Americans should pay deliberate thoughtfulness to King Charles’ Christmas message because it stands as a sincere and noteworthy personal account of Christian witness from a modern global leader. This stands in comparison to President Joe Biden’s wandering address, which mostly echoed on the theology of Christmas but was muddled with confined digressions and lacked the clear, succinct, and surprisingly personal statement of values that Charles so effectually delivered.

The pre-recorded message was filmed on December 13 and touched on the ‘great anxiety and hardship’ experienced by many trying to ‘pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm’. 

The King’s speech lasted eight minutes and made sure to be inclusive to multiple religious groups, stating: ‘Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras, have once again united in feeding the hungry, providing love and support throughout the year.

‘Such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving our neighbour as our self.’

It was the first Christmas speech made by a male monarch since Charles’s grandfather, King George VI delivered a pre-recorded message in 1951. 

I’m standing here in this exquisite chapel of St George at Windsor Castle, so close to where my beloved mother, the late queen, is laid to rest with my dear father.

I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself.

And I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family.

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.

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 her 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.

This is the essence of our community and the very foundation of our society.

We see it in the selfless dedication of our armed forces and emergency services, who work tirelessly to keep us all safe, and who performed 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 skills and commitment are at the heart of our communities.

And at this time of great anxiety and hardship, be it for those around the world facing conflict, famine, or natural disaster, or for those at home finding ways to pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm, we see it in the humanity of people throughout our nations and the Commonwealth, who so readily respond to the plight of others.

I particularly want to pay tribute to all those wonderfully kind people who so generously give food or donations or that most precious commodity of all, their time, to support those around them in greatest need, together with the many charitable organisations which do such extraordinary work in the most difficult circumstances.

Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras have once again united in feeding the hungry, providing love and support throughout the year.

Such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving our neighbour as ourself.

The Prince and Princess of Wales recently visited Wales, shining a light on practical examples of this community spirit.