King Charles highlights cost of life crisis in first Christmas broadcast | King Charles III | Daily News Byte

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In his first Christmas broadcast, King Charles highlighted the cost of living crisis and the “great anxiety and difficulty” of many people struggling to “pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm”.

In the message, with the nation in the grip of economic difficulties and against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the king dedicated a large part of his broadcast to those helping to ease the plight of others.

Footage of food banks and meals being distributed to those in need featured prominently as he praised the “wonderfully kind people” who donated food or their time.

Delivered from the choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where the late Queen Elizabeth II also broadcast her Christmas message in 1999, the monarch paid tribute to her mother, and recognized others who had lost loved ones.

Addressing people of all faiths and none, he said religious communities are among those who help others in economic hardship. He also appreciated the volunteers, charity workers, healthcare workers and others who came forward to help in times of adversity.

On his central theme of “selfless dedication,” he said, it can be seen “in our armed forces and emergency services who work tirelessly to keep us all safe.

“We see it in our health and social care professionals, our teachers and indeed all those working in the public service, whose skills and commitment are at the heart of our communities.

“And in these times of great anxiety and difficulty – whether for people around the world who are facing conflict, famine or natural disaster, or who are looking for ways to pay their bills at home and keep their families fed and warm – we see it in .The humanity of people in our nations and Commonwealth who respond so readily to the plight of others.

“I would especially like to pay tribute to all the wonderful kind people who so generously give food or donations, or the most precious commodity of all – their time – to support those around them who are most in need, and together with many charities. Extraordinary work under the most difficult circumstances.”

Of his own Anglican faith, he shared the profound impact on him some years ago of visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, which Christians celebrate as the birthplace of Jesus. “It meant more to me than I can possibly express to stand on that spot where the Bible tells us, ‘the light that has come into the world’ was born.”

The pre-recorded message began with him reflecting on standing “very close to where my dear mother is laid to rest with my dear father” in the George VI Memorial Chapel as he thanked the public for the “love and sympathy” expressed in cards. and condolence messages.

Of his personal loss, he said: “Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in every cherished tradition. He shared the late queen’s religious belief of “faith in people” and “the power of light to overcome darkness,” he said.

The broadcast includes footage of the armed forces and emergency services at work. It also showed the core of the royal family as it is now. The Prince and Princess of Wales were shown visiting Swansea. Other members of the royal family were featured at various events, including the Earl and Countess of Wessex. But there were no images or references to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Charles hosted Christmas Day at Sandringham, with members of the royal family holding their traditional Christmas Day walk at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk estate.

The King and Queen Consort led members of the royal family as they made their way to St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, for the first Christmas Day service since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Duke of York accompanied them as a member of the family, although he no longer has a public role and is no longer acting royal.

For the first time, the Prince and Princess of Wales brought their youngest son, Louis, four, who joined his brother George, nine, and Charlotte, seven. Other royals who passed through a small group of members of the public at the church include Andrew’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

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