In a year marked by global and domestic turbulence, The King used his annual Christmas message to call for reconciliation, resilience, and the ‘timeless message’ of community spirit.
Filmed in the historic surroundings of Westminster Abbey, this year’s message moved once more away from the traditional palace setting to highlight a central theme of pilgrimage.
A location steeped in history
By choosing the Abbey, the site of his Coronation and the crowning of his ancestors for nearly a millennium, The King underscored the continuity of the Monarchy and its deep roots in British history.
The broadcast was recorded on 11 December in the Lady Chapel, also known as the Henry VII Chapel. This architectural marvel, built by Henry III in 1220 and later enhanced with its iconic fan vault ceilings, served as a powerful backdrop for the address as a site of pilgrimage.
The chapel serves as the final resting place for 15 previous Monarchs, including Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, Charles II, Queen Anne, and George II.
Visible in the background were Christmas trees repurposed from The Princess of Wales’ ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service, which had taken place at the Abbey earlier in the month.
It is the fourth Christmas message for Charles, and the third time he has recorded away from a Palace, where his mother tended to do hers, while the tradition of a Christmas message from the Monarch stretches back to George V.
Lessons from the past, challenges of the present
Reflecting on the passage of time, His Majesty noted that while the generation who lived through the Second World War is fading, but that their legacy of ‘courage and sacrifice’ remains an important blueprint for the modern age.
Powerful Christmas Message from the king – pitched on the importance of tolerance and
social cohesion. It builds on his definition of a Christian country: one that makes space and respects people of all faiths and none. pic.twitter.com/7Hmg6VYIAr— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) December 25, 2025
Having attended major commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day earlier this year, The King spoke passionately, noting: ‘These are the values which have shaped our country and the Commonwealth. As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight.’
Addressing recent tragedies, including the Bondi Beach shooting and the attack on a Manchester synagogue, The King offered his praise for the ‘spontaneous bravery’ of the people and groups who ‘instinctively’ risked their own lives ‘to defend others’.
He framed these acts of heroism as the ultimate expression of the values he hopes will define the coming year: resilience, forgiveness, and the simple act of ‘getting to know our neighbours’.
Reflecting on the year, Charles mentioned the historic joint prayers he conducted with Pope Leo at the Vatican, which he called a ‘historic moment of spiritual unity’.
The journey of Christmas
Drawing a parallel between modern life and the Nativity, King Charles III described ‘journeying’ as a constant theme of the Christmas story. He reminded us that the Holy Family, the Wise Men, and the Shepherds were all – in their own way – pilgrims who relied on the ‘companionship and kindness of others’.
When so many of us spend hours of the day on our phones, he encouraged us to spend more time on the things that are important. The King quoted British-American poet, T.S. Eliot, suggesting that in a world that ‘seems to spin ever faster’, we must all seek a pause – perhaps a nod toward a ‘digital detox’,
To quieten our minds at the ‘still point of the turning world’.
To allow our souls to renew.
To find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong.
Catherine spoke on a similar topic previously, co-writing an essay about the impact of excessive screentime is creating an ‘epidemic of disconnection’ in our society.
This was a deeply personal broadcast from The King, that noticeably skipped over his own family’s health issues (even the positive results so far).
It was a message that honoured the ‘great diversity of our communities’ while rooting itself firmly in the ancient foundations of Westminster.
