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of the King speech this year Marks the values of “courage and sacrifice” World War IIPromotes community cohesion and encourages the nation to slow down from fast-paced technology.
charles too Praised for “spontaneous courage” Among those who “put themselves in harm’s way to protect others” during this time. bondi beach firing and Manchester synagogue attack.
This is the king’s fourth broadcast at Christmas since he ascended the throne following his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, Died in September 2022.
Selected locations for this year The Christmas speech was Westminster Abbey, The shrine of Edward the Confessor is visited annually by pilgrims to honor the theme of pilgrimage trip In his address.
The King’s Christmas speech in full:
“A few weeks ago, the Queen and I had the pleasure of paying a state visit Vatican Where we prayed with Pope Leo in a historic moment of spiritual unity. Together we celebrated the Jubilee with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
“Pilgrimage is a word that is less used today, but it has special significance for our modern world, and especially at Christmas. It is about traveling back to remember the past and learn lessons from it, while also moving forward into the future.
“We did this during the summer, when we celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day.
“As the years go by, fewer of us remember the end of the Second World War. But the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, and the way communities came together in the face of such a huge challenge, is a timeless message for us all.
“These are the values that have shaped our country and our Commonwealth. As we hear about division both at home and abroad, these are the values we must never lose sight of.
“For example, it is impossible not to be deeply affected by the age of the fallen – as the gravestones in our war cemeteries remind us. The young men who fought in both world wars and helped save us from defeat were often only 18, 19 or 20 years old.
“Journeying is a constant theme of the Christmas story. The Holy Family traveled to Bethlehem and arrived there homeless, without proper shelter.
“The wise men made pilgrimages from the East to worship at the site of the Nativity of Christ; and the shepherds traveled from farm to town in search of Jesus, the Savior of the world. In each case, they traveled with others, and relied on the cooperation and kindness of others. Through physical and mental challenge, they found an inner strength.
“To this day, in times of uncertainty, these ways of living are cherished by all the great religions and offer us deep wells of hope: resilience in the face of adversity; peace through forgiveness; simply getting to know one’s neighbors and, by showing respect for each other, forming new friendships.
“Indeed, as our world seems to be spinning faster, our journey may pause, so that our minds may be quieted – in the words of TS Eliot ‘at the still point of a changing world’ – and our spirits may be allowed to be renewed. “In this, with the great diversity of our communities, we may find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong.
“I feel that we need to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation; the way our Lord lived and died.
“This year, I have heard many examples of this, both here and abroad. These stories of the triumph of courage over adversity give me hope, from our respected military veterans to selfless humanitarian workers in this century’s most dangerous conflict zones; how individuals and communities show innate bravery, instinctively putting themselves in harm’s way to protect others.
“When I meet people of different religions, I find it extremely encouraging to hear how much we have in common; a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life. If we could take time to think about these qualities in our journey through life we could all be more optimistic about the future.
“Undoubtedly, the greatest pilgrimage of all is the journey we celebrate today – the story of the one who ‘came from heaven to earth’, ‘whose shelter was a stable’ and who shared his life with ‘the poor and the wretched’.
“It was a pilgrimage with a purpose, proclaimed by angels, that there should be peace on earth. That prayer for peace and reconciliation – ‘Do unto others as we would have them do unto us’ – which echoed in the fields near Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago, echoes there and around the world today.
“This is a prayer for our times, and also for our communities, as we journey through our lives. So, with these words and with all my heart, I wish you all a peaceful and very happy Christmas.”