King Charles praises health workers in his 1st Christmas address since being diagnosed with cancer

King Charles used his annual Christmas message to praise the dedication of his and the Princess of Wales’ carers this year as they both undergo cancer treatment.

In a pre-recorded message released on Wednesday, the 76-year-old monarch said he and his family are “constantly” touched by those who dedicate their lives to helping others.

“On a personal note, a special, heartfelt 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 and who have helped to provide us with strength, care and comfort. they felt the need,” he said.

The broadcast came just hours after the monarch waved to large crowds who had traditionally gathered to see the royal family attend Christmas celebrations at the chapel at Sandringham, on the windswept North Sea coast that has served as the family’s retreat for generations. .

A year marked by illness in the royal family

The royal Christmas speech is the third since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne after her death in September 2022, but the first since she was diagnosed with undisclosed cancer in February.

The monarch’s festive message is watched by millions across the UK and Commonwealth countries, with many households planning their Christmas dinner around it.

The king’s supposed ongoing treatment forced him to take a two-month hiatus from public appearances. He has slowly returned to public life in recent months and was in good spirits on a tour of Australia and the South Pacific in October.

A few weeks after Charles began treatment, the Prince of Wales announced his cancer diagnosis, which will sideline him for most of the year.

The vote for the annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, recorded this month but broadcast on Tuesday night, also reflected the love and support Catherine 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.”

Charles spoke at Fitzrovia Chapel, part of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital in central London, where his first wife Diana opened London’s first dedicated AIDS ward.

The king instructed the broadcast team to find a site away from the royal estate and with health connections, a strong community presence, and a place of solace and reflection for those with or without faith.

Charles, followed by his eldest son Prince William, Catherine and their three children, walked with Queen Camilla. The King’s daughter-in-law, who is slowly returning to government work after completing chemotherapy, hugged the cancer patient after the service.

Charles’ two sisters, Princess Royal Anne and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, were also in the procession.

Notably, Prince Andrew was absent from St. Mary Magdalene Church. Once second in line to the British throne, the 64-year-old brother of the King has become a constant source of tabloid fodder due to his money problems and connections to questionable characters, including the late American financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

A Chinese businessman was recently expelled from the UK for having links with Andrew on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.

A message for those enduring “devastating” conflict

It is rare that the monarch’s Christmas message is not recorded at a royal residence, particularly Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. Her late mother last posted a message outside the royal estate in 2006.

Charles also paid tribute to World War II troops who died on the beaches of northern France, as well as several veterans, many of whom were centenarians, who attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy in June.

He said it was a “tremendous privilege” to meet “the outstanding veterans of a very special generation who gave so bravely on behalf of all of us” but the specter of war haunts the world this Christmas.

“During the previous commemorations, we could console ourselves by thinking that these tragic events rarely happen in modern times.

“But this Christmas, we can’t help but think about the daily threats to the lives and livelihoods of so many people in the Middle East, Central Europe, Africa and elsewhere as a result of the devastating effects of conflict.”