King Charles is thanking doctors for his and Kate’s cancer treatment as the royal family celebrates Christmas

King Charles III and his intimates the royal family On Wednesday, he attended Christmas Day services at the church in Sandringham, the windy North Sea coast retreat that has served as a royal family retreat for generations. His brother Prince Andrewbut was noticeably absent.

He was a king diagnosed with cancer earlier this year he waved to a large crowd of onlookers as he walked with his wife, Queen Camilla. They were joined by Prince William, Prince of Wales, and the king’s daughter-in-law, his wife, Catherine of Wales, who is slowly returning to state affairs after her retirement. cancer diagnosis and a course of chemotherapy.

In reflecting the medical treatments they received, Charles used its annual Christmas message to highlight healthcare workers.

“On a personal note, a special thank you to the dedicated doctors and nurses who have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and worries of the disease this year, helping to give us strength, care and comfort. needed,” Charles said in a speech broadcast to millions of viewers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.

“I am deeply grateful to all who have offered us their kind words of sympathy and encouragement.”

This is the third of the king Christmas speech because he succeeded his mother to the throne, Queen ElizabethHe died in September 2022. It’s the first since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February.

Charles’ speech was recorded on December 11 at Fitzrovia Chapel in London. It was part of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital, where his first wife, Diana, opened London’s first dedicated AIDS ward. The building is richly decorated in the Gothic Revival style with over 500 stars on the gold leaf ceiling.

Carla Whalen, chair of the board of trustees of the Fitzrovia Chapel Foundation, said: “I think this space is one of quiet contemplation, but also thinking about health, care, the medical profession, makes it a very appropriate choice.”

Charles’ treatment forced him to abstain from public speaking for two months. The 76-year-old monarch has slowly eased back into public life in recent months and was in good spirits on a tour of Australia with his wife, Queen Camilla, in October.

It has been a difficult year for the royal family. A few weeks after Charles began treatment, the Prince of Wales announced his cancer diagnosis, which sidelined him for most of the year as he underwent chemotherapy.

In a vote to broadcast the Christmas Eve service at Westminster Abbey, which was filmed this month but aired on Tuesday evening, Kate reflected on the love and support she has received.

“The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others,” he said. “It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, and how much we need each other despite our differences.”

Prince Andrew is not attending the Christmas event

One familiar face was missing from the traditional scene outside St Mary Magdalene Church: Prince Andrew. The king’s 64-year-old brother was in the news. The Chinese businessman was banned because of his concerns, he developed relations with Andrew on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party from England.

Once second in line to the British throne, Andrew became a constant source of tabloid fodder due to his money problems and connections to questionable characters, including a late American financier and a convicted pedophile. Jeffrey Epstein.

Although Andrew has withdrawn from public duties, he has continued to appear at family events, and his absence from Sandringham suggests a further retreat from the public eye. The king was under pressure to put more distance between Andrew and the royal family to avoid further embarrassment to the monarchy.

Although Andrews said he never discussed anything sensitive with the suspected Chinese spy and cut ties with the man as soon as concerns emerged, the scandal raises further questions about his judgment and is a distraction from the work of the royal family, Ed Owens said. , “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?”

“The reason it’s a problem for the king is simply because the king is trying to rebrand the monarchy right now, focusing around it, and what they’re trying to do is around William, Catherine,” Owens said.

“It’s been a very difficult year for the monarchy, not least because of the two cancer diagnoses. And all the positive headlines the king has been trying to generate lately are unfortunately being overshadowed by his behavior, his reckless behavior. It’s the younger brother who finds himself in the headlines again.”