King Charles and the royal family, apart from Andrew, gathered at Christmas as the king’s speech highlighted unity and diversity

King Charles III and members of the royal family – apart from his disgraced brother, the former Prince Andrew – gathered for Christmas at the king’s private Sandringham Estate, where they traditionally spend the holiday. In the king’s annual Christmas speech, broadcast across Britain and the Commonwealth, he emphasized the importance of both unity and diversity.

In the morning, Charles and Queen Camilla, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, their children and members of the extended family, walked to services at St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Norfolk, about 100 miles north of London.

Members of the royal family also stopped to greet people in the crowd outside.

Andrew was not at the holiday gathering, BBC News reported, after the meeting shame on his relationship for those who have sex late Jeffrey Epstein. He he was not there last year or. In October, he was there he was stripped of his remaining qualifications and honours, including the chief, and now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Later that day, the king’s annual Christmas Day speech was watched by millions in the UK and across the Commonwealth, the 56-nation organization with historic ties to Britain.

“As I meet people of different faiths, I find it very encouraging to hear how much we have in common, a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life,” Charles said in his speech, which was recorded earlier this month at Westminster Abbey.

Amidst “separation at home and abroad,” he said, “there are values ​​that we should never forget.”

“With the greater diversity of our communities, we can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong.”

Westminster Abbey, in central London, is where kings have been crowned since William the Conqueror in 1066, and has been the site of many royal weddings.

The speech was accompanied by a video of members of the royal family including scenes of the king a historic trip to the Vaticanwhere he prayed Pope Leo XIV in an effort to build a closer relationship between the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church.

The speech is one of the rare times when Charles, 77, is able to express his own views and not want to be led by the government. These words often have a strong religious theme, reflect current affairs and sometimes use the king’s personal experience.

The king’s speech was followed by a performance by the Ukrainian choir and the Royal Opera Chorus of London, showing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

This was Charles’ fourth Christmas speech since then ascending the throne after his mother, Queen Elizabeth IIHe died in September 2022.

The address comes just two weeks after Charles appeared on television in which he said “good news” from his doctors meant he would be able to reduce his cancer treatment in the new year.

I the king was diagnosed and a still undisclosed type of cancer in early 2024. Buckingham Palace says his treatment is now in the “monitoring phase” and his condition will be monitored to ensure he continues to recover.

During last year’s Christmas speech, Charles paid tribute to childcare workers across the country and gave a special thanks to the doctors and nurses who supported him after his cancer diagnosis.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, was also treated with cancer last year. He said in January he was forgiven after passing through some “hard times” during his recovery. Kate, as she is widely known, has never shared details about what type of cancer it was.

She and her husband Prince William, the the heir to the thronethey have three children: 12-year-old Prince George of Wales, 10-year-old Princess Charlotte of Wales and 7-year-old Prince of Wales.