LONDON (AP) — King Charles III used his annual Christmas message on Wednesday to praise the altruism of those who have cared for him and the Princess of Wales this year, after both were diagnosed with cancer.
The 76-year-old monarch said that he and his family are "constantly" impressed by those who dedicate their lives to helping others.
"From a personal standpoint, I offer a special and sincere thank you to the selfless doctors and nurses who have supported me and other members of my family this year through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care, and comfort we have needed," he said in his pre-recorded speech.
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The broadcast took place several hours after the monarch greeted a large crowd of spectators who traditionally gather to see the Royal Family attend Christmas Day services at a church in Sandringham, the coastal estate that has served as a family retreat for generations.
The king walked with Queen Camilla while his eldest son, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children followed them. The king's daughter-in-law, who has slowly returned to her public duties after completing chemotherapy, hugged a cancer patient after the service.
Two of Carlos' siblings, Ana, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, were also in the procession.
Notably absent from the church of Santa María Magdalena was Prince Andrew. The 64-year-old brother of the king has further withdrawn from public life amid reports that he was banned from entering the country by a Chinese businessman over concerns that he cultivated ties with Andrew on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
The king's Christmas speech is the third since he ascended to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, but the first since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February.
The monarch's Christmas message is watched by millions of people in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth, with many families scheduling their Christmas lunch around it.
The king's treatment, which is believed to still be ongoing, forced him to stay away from public appearances for two months. 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 Carlos began treatment, the Princess of Wales announced her own cancer diagnosis, which kept her away from public life for much of the year.
Kate also left a Christmas message
In a voiceover for her annual carol service at Westminster Abbey, which was recorded this month but aired on Tuesday night, Kate also 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, as well as how much we need each other despite our differences."
Carlos spoke at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, which was part of the now demolished Middlesex Hospital where his first wife, Diana, inaugurated London's first dedicated ward for AIDS patients.
The king had asked the team in charge of the broadcast to find a location far from the royal estate, one with health facilities, a strong community presence, and a place of solace and reflection for those with or without faith.
It is unusual for the monarch's Christmas message not to be recorded at a royal residence, notably Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The last time his late mother recorded her message outside the royal estate was in 2006.
On a national level, the king expressed his “deep sense of pride” for the communities that came together after riots broke out in many cities and towns during the summer following a series of stabbings at a dance class that left three girls dead and several injured.