CNN —
Britain’s King Charles paid a heartfelt tribute to his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, in his first Christmas broadcast as monarch on Sunday.
In a pre-recorded speech from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the Queen was buried next to her husband Prince Philip, the new King thanked members of the public who had shown love and condolences to her death in Sept.
“I remember the deeply touching letters, cards and messages so many of you have sent to my wife and I, and I cannot thank you enough for the love and compassion you have shown to our entire family,” he said .
“Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We sense their absence in every familiar season and remember them in every cherished tradition.”
King Charles paid tribute to the Queen’s legacy in his speech, recalling her belief in the power of “eternal light” and her belief that people touch the lives of others.
“In the much-loved Christmas carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ we sing of how ‘in thy dark streets perpetual light shines’.” My mother’s belief in the power of this light was an integral part of her belief in God, but also of her belief in human beings – and I share that with all my heart. It’s a belief in each human being’s extraordinary ability to touch the lives of others with kindness and compassion, and to shine a light on the world around them,” he said.
“This is the essence of our community and the foundation of our society.”
Sunday’s message marks Britain’s first annual Christmas Day broadcast not to have been delivered by the Queen since her first message in 1957. In her last Christmas speech last year, she spoke of “passing the baton on to the next generation”.
King Charles also indirectly referenced the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis, speaking of a time of “fear” and “hardship” as people around the world face conflict and those at home struggle to pay their bills to pay “Keep their families fed and warm.”
The King’s speech continues a 90-year tradition from the royal family and comes days after the Bank of England unveiled the first images of British banknotes of the new monarch.
The portrait of King Charles will appear on £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes. In the meantime, the rest of the design remains the same as the current notes, which features the late Queen Elizabeth on the front.
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