On a crisp December 25, 2025, as the world grappled with the shadows of war, political upheaval, and social division, King Charles III stood before the nation and Commonwealth to deliver his fourth Christmas Day message as monarch. The address, broadcast from the storied halls of Westminster Abbey, echoed with a call for unity, kindness, and reflection—a plea that resonated far beyond Britain’s borders.
The king’s annual message, a tradition since George V first spoke over the radio in 1932, has long served as a touchstone for Britons during the holiday season. This year, Charles’s words seemed especially urgent. With conflicts raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, and social strains evident at home, he urged listeners to look past what divides them and to cherish the strength found in diversity. “With the great diversity of our communities, we can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong,” Charles declared, according to the BBC.
The monarch’s speech was rich with references to the Biblical nativity story, drawing parallels between the journey of wise men and shepherds seeking hope and the journeys people make today—whether fleeing conflict or seeking a better life. “The Christmas story of wise men and shepherds traveling through the night to find their savior shows how we can find strength in the companionship and kindness of others,” Charles said, as reported by NBC San Diego. He emphasized that “peace through forgiveness, simply getting to know our neighbors and by showing respect to one another, creating new friendships,” are values that transcend faith and culture.
Charles’s call for compassion was particularly pointed in the context of migration, a topic that has stirred heated debate in Britain and across Europe. He noted that kindness towards people on the move is essential at a time of heightened global concern over migration. The king’s words came as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government faced mounting pressure to manage unauthorized migration and shore up strained public services, according to NBC San Diego.
The setting of the broadcast—Westminster Abbey—was no accident. By choosing the site of coronations and royal weddings, Charles underscored the theme of pilgrimage, both literal and metaphorical. “Pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it is of particular significance for our modern world, and especially at Christmas,” he observed. “This is about journeying forward into the future, while also journeying back to remember the past and learn from its lessons.”
Earlier in the day, the royal family had made their own pilgrimage, walking together to St. Mary Magdalene Church on the king’s private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The procession included Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Princess Eugenie of York, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Wales family—Prince William, Catherine, and their children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte. After the service, the royals greeted crowds gathered outside, a scene captured by Getty Images and widely shared in the media.
In a gesture that spoke volumes about Britain’s ongoing support for Ukraine, the king’s broadcast concluded with a carol sung by a Ukrainian choir, clad in traditional embroidered shirts, accompanied by the London-based Royal Opera Chorus. According to Channel NewsAsia, this musical finale underscored Charles’s solidarity with Ukraine—a nation he has backed publicly throughout the year. The king has hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy three times at Windsor Castle in 2025, most recently in October, bolstering diplomatic and moral support for Kyiv as the war in Ukraine continues to cast a shadow over Europe.
King Charles has not shied away from addressing other global crises, either. In his message, he voiced concern over the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and lamented recent attacks on Jewish communities, including violence at a northern England synagogue and a shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia. His remarks reflected both personal sorrow and a broader appeal for peace and understanding among faiths. “In meeting people of different faiths, I am encouraged by how much they share—a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life,” Charles said, as cited by Channel NewsAsia.
Faith, service, and remembrance were woven throughout the king’s address. He praised military veterans and humanitarian aid workers for their courage in adversity, drawing a direct line from the sacrifices of the past to the challenges of the present. The king referenced the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, noting the dwindling number of living veterans and the importance of remembering their courage and the unity their generation embodied. “These are the values which have shaped our country and the Commonwealth,” Charles reminded viewers. “As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight.”
This year’s speech also carried a deeply personal note. Nearly two years after revealing his diagnosis with an unspecified cancer, Charles shared a hopeful update earlier in December: doctors had given him “good news,” allowing his treatment to be scaled back in the new year. Buckingham Palace confirmed his care would now move to a “precautionary phase,” with his condition monitored for continued recovery. Catherine, Princess of Wales, also announced in January that she was in remission after chemotherapy, bringing a measure of relief to royal watchers concerned about the family’s health.
But 2025 was not without its challenges for the monarchy. The year saw renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, culminating in Charles stripping his younger brother of remaining titles. Yet there were moments of healing, too. In September, Charles and his estranged son Prince Harry met for tea—their first meeting in nearly two years. Harry later expressed hope for reconciliation, describing life as “precious” and recognizing the limited time families have to mend rifts.
The king’s Christmas message, broadcast at 3 p.m. London time and watched by millions across the UK and the 56-nation Commonwealth, was accompanied by video footage of the royal family engaging with the public and fulfilling their duties. Among the highlights was Charles’s historic visit to the Vatican in October, where he and Pope Leo prayed together in the first joint act of worship by a British monarch and a Catholic pontiff since England’s break with Rome in 1534. The event was widely seen as a symbolic step toward healing centuries-old divisions between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
As the address drew to a close, Charles’s message was clear: even in troubled times, hope endures. “To this day, in times of uncertainty, these ways of living are treasured by all the great faiths and provide us with deep wells of hope, of resilience in the face of adversity,” he reflected. The blend of tradition, personal candor, and a forward-looking call for unity gave this year’s Christmas broadcast a resonance that will likely linger long after the holiday lights dim.
