“I wish you a Christmas of peace and well-being, I pray that in a time of growing conflict we can do everything in our power to protect each other”, thus King Charles’ wishes in his first speech Christmas since the May coronation (the second since he has been sovereign). And the coronation itself provided the opportunity to explain the meaning of the role of a King: “It’s about serving, this is the very spirit of coronation. And everyone can do their part by serving others.”
“My wife and I were touched by seeing so many volunteer at the coronation”, continued the King as the images of the ceremony at Westminster Abbey scrolled by (no shot of his son Harry) and then of The Big Help Out day dedicated to those who volunteer, with son William in the front row with Kate and second in line George engaged in volunteer work. “This spirit of service is the backbone of our company”, underlined Carlo.
“And service is at the basis of the very history of Christmas”, the King added, also underlining how “belief in the divine is ultimately something that all religions have in common. Just as attention and care for the land must be for the good of our children’s children.”
So Carlo then touched on the theme of sustainability which has defined his life path for over fifty years, after speaking at the opening of COP28 in Dubai a month ago: «In my life I have seen a growing sensitivity for this topic , for the need to take care of the earth and the planet which is the home we all share.”
And again, taking inspiration from Christmas, Charles III highlighted “the story of the nativity with the angel who announces the message to the shepherds, the simplest and closest to nature, making them the privileged”.
Then the King’s speech entered more political terrain, addressing the topic of ongoing conflicts in the world: «In this moment of increasingly tragic conflict I pray that we can do everything in our power to protect each other. Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. We must imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbors.”
By his own definition a “peacemaker” as he said on the snows of Davos in 2020, the King therefore referred to the global geopolitical situation. And he hasn’t forgotten the communities. Community, after all, is the key word to understand the profound meaning of his reign; the king dedicated his Coronation Food Project, launched for his 75th birthday on 14 November, to the most fragile communities. Together with the word sustainability.
And that tree, next to him in the frame of the Christmas speech from Buckingham, Palace, which for the first time is a fir tree that will be planted after Christmas, reminds us of him.
Even today – as Queen Elizabeth had done for a lifetime – King Charles III spoke at Christmas. A tradition begun in 1932 by King George V, continued by George VI and Elizabeth II who moved from radio to TV to enter the homes of her fellow citizens for 70 years of reign. A single exception: 1969 when Filippo convinced her to open the building to the cameras for a long documentary (which also made up for the TV talk at Christmas).
Standing behind him is the famous balcony of Buckingham Palace from which – last May 6th – he had looked out for the first time after the solemn coronation, the Imperial State Crown on his head. Thus King Charles III spoke at Christmas in the afternoon, on TV on the BBC, ITV and Sky, in his first Christmas speech since his solemn investiture at Westminster Abbey.
And as already for the 2023 Christmas greetings with a photo of the coronation, him and Camilla with the royal mantle and the crown on their heads, in the background the Windsor throne, the King also evoked December 25th with the choice of that shot , the sacred moment that made him the new British sovereign.
Today, King Charles takes up the legacy of 70 years of the Queen’s Christmas speeches. A year ago, speaking for the first time at Christmas, he had wished “Peace, happiness and eternal Light”. No reference to the Dukes of Sussex, instead the Princes of Wales are cited for their commitment. While the images chosen by the king to accompany his 2022 speech had recalled the work of the front line of the Windsors: the working Royals, and therefore Camilla, the princes of Wales, the Earl of Wessex Edward and the Princess Royal, Anna.
The King’s speech is pre-recorded, the Windsors watch it together on TV after Christmas mass and the traditional lunch at Sandringham. This year for the King’s extended family (without Harry and Meghan but with Camilla’s children and grandchildren). Andrea’s ex, the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, was also invited to the Christmas mass for the first time in 30 years.
Christmas mass at St Mary Magdalene Church for the Windsors before the traditional lunch on the Norfolk estate purchased by King Edward VII and since then the Windsors’ Christmas retreat. With King Charles, Camilla, the princes of Wales, and many grandchildren, also Prince Andrew, the sovereign’s brother, and, for the first time in 30 years, Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife. Kate and also George greet the public for the first time, like Queen Camilla and Charles. A Palestinian flag also appeared among the crowd. Text: Enrica Roddolo
Behind the speeches of Queen Elizabeth II, for 70 years there had been Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, the life-long rock and shoulder of the British sovereign who convinced her to move from radio to television. Visionary, passionate about the future, Filippo suggested that Elisabetta speak and smile in front of the camera. It was time to bring into the living rooms of the British and the world not only her words and her Christmas wishes, as had been happening for some time with the radio broadcast of December 25th, but also her smile, her expression.
So it was that for Christmas 1957, for the first time, Her Majesty looked at the camera while giving her speech. The set had been prepared by Filippo himself, again with the help of his friend who worked in the media world, Antony Craxton. They chose the Long Library of Sandringham Manor and placed family photos and impressive Christmas decorations to create the magic that has been part of the Windsors’ communication ritual ever since. And even behind the words of the queen’s speech – the Christmas speech is perhaps the most personal one of a sovereign – there was still him, Philip.
A speech that Her Majesty began thinking about months before and which she defined in the last weeks leading up to the end of year holidays. Bringing together her reflections and her husband’s advice. Only to later admit: “I will never be able to be as natural as Filippo in front of the camera.”
Who knows who advised the King today in drafting his speech. Certainly, Carlo has her battles very clearly in mind, but Camilla, who has been alongside him since 2005, instilling her stability and balance, will have contributed at least to endorsing her husband’s words. And with her Christmas speech the queen, in addition to acting as spokesperson for the country, for the desires, problems and feelings of the kingdom, sent messages for a lifetime.
So for example in 1958 – while Philip was battling the establishment to find a role for himself – she said “Frankly, I don’t feel at all similar to my great Tudor ancestor (Elizabeth I, ed.), who had neither a husband nor © children”. To reiterate all the importance of Philip, the authentic love of a queen.
In her 2019 Christmas speech, Elizabeth spoke about Brexit, “a year that saw an intense debate on Brexit”. She added as an invitation not to lose faith in the future: «The path is never“ smooth ”but“ small steps ”can heal divisions». The road is never easy but small steps can bridge the differences.
In 2020 – after the words spoken by the sovereign locked in isolation to protect her from the pandemic at Windsor Castle when she said “The pandemic keeps us apart, but we will succeed, and we will meet again”, her words at Christmas sounded like the confirmation that we could get out of the difficulties. But it was also her opportunity to reiterate her bond with her Philip: only one photo that year, that of the Duke of Edinburgh, on the desk in the Green Drawing Room in Windsor, for the 2020 Christmas speech.
Then in the first speech after Filippo’s death in 2021, he remembered “the family laughter that is missing this year (that of Filippo, ed.)”.
2023-12-25 15:11:15
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