King Charles pays emotional tribute to 'selfless' workers in Christmas day speech

Christmas Day might be made up with a load of eating, presents and family time, but another key staple to many is the King’s speech.

King Charles III gave his second Christmas address to Brits today (25 December) following many years of his mum, the late Queen Elizabeth II, doing the coveted speech.

Officially crowned at his coronation earlier this year, Charles’ second festive message featured him being the very first to do something rather important.

In the background of the King’s speech this year, was a still-living tree.

This makes him the first monarch to do so, and it was decorated with natural ornaments made from sustainable materials, reinforcing the message of sustainability. The King has long championed supporting the environment.

Brits up and down the nation (and likely all over the world) will have sat down at 3pm today to watch the address.

It included thanks to volunteers as he said: “My wife and I were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people – volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction – were able to join us in Westminster Abbey for the coronation earlier this year.

“They are an essential backbone of our society.”

Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

The King also touched on his care towards the environment as he said: “To care for this creation is a responsibility owned by people of all faiths and of none. We care for the Earth for the sake of our children’s children.

“During my lifetime I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home which we all share.”

King Charles also spoke about the ‘increasingly tragic conflict around the World’.

“I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other. The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you,’” he said.

Hannah McKay - WPA Pool/Getty Images

“Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions, and other belief systems, across the Commonwealth and wider world. They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbours, and to seek their good as we would our own.”

The King finished with a classic: “I wish you a Christmas of ‘peace on Earth and goodwill to all’, today and always.”

Well, Merry Christmas and all that, lads.

Topics: UK News, Royal Family, News, Christmas

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

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