“I wish you a Christmas of peace and well-being; I pray that in a time of increasing conflict we can do all we can to protect one another,” were King Charles' wishes in his first Christmas speech since the 19th. Century coronation in May (the second since his reign). And the coronation itself was an opportunity to explain the importance of the role of a king: “It’s about service, that’s the spirit of the coronation.” And everyone can do their part by serving others.”
“My wife and I were touched to see so many volunteers at the coronation,” the King continued, as images of the Westminster Abbey ceremony (no shot of his son Harry) and then the dedicated “The Big Help Out” day the volunteers walked past, with son William in the front row with Kate and second in line George, who is volunteering. “This spirit of service is the backbone of our company,” emphasized Carlo.
“And service is the basis of the very Christmas story,” the king added, also emphasizing that “belief in the divine is ultimately something that all religions have in common.” As is attention and care for the land for the good of ours must be children’s children.”
After speaking at the opening of COP28 in Dubai a month ago, Carlo then addressed the issue of sustainability, which has guided his life for over fifty years: “In my life I have seen a growing sensitivity to this issue, to the need . “to care for the Earth and the planet that is our common home.”
And again he was inspired by Christmas, emphasizing “the story of the birth of Christ with the angel who proclaims to the shepherds the message that is the simplest and most natural, making them the privileged.”
The king then moved into more political territory in his speech and addressed the ongoing conflicts in the world: “In this moment of increasingly tragic conflict, I pray that we can do everything in our power to protect each other.” Treat others as you would you want them to do it to you. We have to put ourselves in our neighbors’ shoes.”
A “peacemaker” by his own definition, as he said in the snow at Davos in 2020, the king therefore referred to the global geopolitical situation. And he didn’t forget the communities. Community, after all, is the key word to understand the deep meaning of his rule; The King dedicated his Coronation Food Project, which he launched on his 75th birthday on November 14, to the most vulnerable communities. Together with the word sustainability.
And that tree next to him as part of the Christmas address from Buckingham, Palace, which is a fir for the first time planted after Christmas, reminds us of him.
Even today – as Queen Elizabeth had done throughout her life – King Charles III spoke. for Christmas. A tradition started by King George V in 1932 was continued by George VI. and Elizabeth II, who moved from radio to television to rule the homes of their fellow citizens for 70 years. The only exception: in 1969, when Filippo persuaded them to put the building in front of the cameras for a long documentary (which also compensated for the television presentation at Christmas).
Behind him stands the famous balcony of Buckingham Palace, from which he looked out for the first time last May 6th after the ceremonial coronation with the imperial state crown on his head. This is what King Charles III thought. on Christmas afternoon on BBC, ITV and Sky television, his first Christmas address since his inauguration at Westminster Abbey.
And as for the Christmas greetings 2023 with a photo of the coronation, he and Camilla with the royal mantle and the crown on their heads, in the background the Windsor throne, the king also evoked the holy moment of December 25th by choosing this image , which made him the new British ruler.
Today King Charles builds on the Queen's legacy of 70 years of Christmas speeches. When he first spoke at Christmas a year ago, he wished “peace, happiness and eternal light.” No reference to the Dukes of Sussex, instead the Princes of Wales are cited for their involvement. While the images chosen by the King to accompany his speech in 2022 recalled the work of the Windsors' frontline: the working royals and therefore Camilla, the Princes of Wales, the Earl of Wessex Edward and the royal Princess Anna.
The King's speech will be pre-recorded and the Windsors will watch it together on television after Christmas mass and the traditional lunch at Sandringham. This year for the royal family (without Harry and Meghan, but with Camilla's children and grandchildren). Andrea's ex, the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, was also invited to Christmas mass for the first time in 30 years.
Christmas mass at St Mary Magdalene Church for the Windsors before the traditional lunch at the Norfolk estate which was acquired by King Edward VII and has been the Windsors' Christmas holiday ever since. With King Charles, Camilla, the Prince of Wales and many grandchildren, including Prince Andrew, the ruler's brother, and for the first time in 30 years, Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife. Kate and George welcome the public for the first time, as do Queen Camilla and Charles. A Palestinian flag also appeared among the crowd. Text: Enrica Roddolo
Behind Queen Elizabeth II's speeches for 70 years was Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, the British ruler's lifelong pillar who convinced her to switch from radio to television. As a visionary and passionate about the future, Filippo suggested Elisabetta to talk and smile in front of the camera. It was time to bring not only his words and his Christmas wishes into the living rooms of the British and the world, as had been done for some time with the radio broadcast of December 25th, but also his smile, the expression on his face.
So it happened that Her Majesty looked into the camera for the first time while giving her speech at Christmas 1957. The set was prepared by Filippo himself, again with the help of his friend who worked in the media world, Antony Craxton. They chose Sandringham Manor's Long Library and placed family photos and stunning Christmas decorations to create the magic that has been part of the Windsors' communication ritual every year since. And even behind the words of the Queen's speech – the Christmas speech is perhaps the most personal of a sovereign – it was still him, Philip.
A speech that Her Majesty began to think about months before and that she defined in the final weeks before the end-of-year holidays. She brings together her thoughts and her husband's advice. Only to admit later: “I will never be able to be as natural as Filippo in front of the camera.”
Who knows who advised the king in writing his speech today. Carlo is certainly aware of his struggles, but Camilla, who has been at his side since 2005, providing him with stability and balance, will at least have helped to support her husband's words. And with her Christmas speech, the Queen sent messages for life not only as a spokesperson for the country, but also as a spokesperson for the kingdom's wishes, problems and feelings.
For example, in 1958, while Philip was fighting the establishment to find a role for himself, she said: “To be honest, I feel nothing like my great Tudor ancestor (Elizabeth I, editor's note), who had no husband.” nor © children”. To emphasize the importance of Philip, the authentic love of a queen.
In her 2019 Christmas speech, Elizabeth spoke about Brexit, “a year in which there was intense debate about Brexit”. As a challenge not to lose faith in the future, I added: “The path is never “straight,” but “small steps” can heal divisions.” The path is never easy, but small steps can bridge the differences.
In 2020 – after the words of the Sovereign who kept her in isolation at Windsor Castle to protect her from the pandemic, when she said: “The pandemic is keeping us apart, but we will succeed, and we will meet again”, At Christmas, her words sounded like confirmation that we could get out of trouble. But it was also an opportunity to reaffirm his bond with Philip: this year there was only one photo, that of the Duke of Edinburgh, on the desk in the Green Drawing Room in Windsor, for the 2020 Christmas speech.
Then, in the first speech after Filippo's death in 2021, he recalled “the family laughter that is missing this year (that of Filippo, editor's note)”.