Watch: King's Christmas message lauds Christian, Jewish and Muslim values
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The King has used his Christmas message to preach the “universal” values of Christians, Jews and Muslims “at a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world”.
The King, in his second annual festive message, said that the “Abrahamic family of religions” all hold the same fundamental beliefs about imagining oneself “in the shoes of our neighbours, and to seek their good as we would our own”.
In a message delivered while the Israel-Hamas conflict and the war in Ukraine continue to rage, he added: “I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other.”
‘Manifestation of the divine’
The traditionally Christian television address, filmed at Buckingham Palace, also saw the King urge the public to “protect the Earth and our natural world”, saying that honouring the “whole of creation” is central to religious belief.
“To care for this creation is a responsibility owned by people of all faiths and of none,” he said. “We care for the Earth for the sake of our children’s children.”
He thanked Britain’s “selfless army of volunteers” as the “essential backbone of society”, acknowledging those watching from home who are experiencing “real hardship” and proposing: “We need to build on existing ways to support others less fortunate than ourselves.
“Because out of God’s providence we are blessed with much, and it is incumbent on us to use this wisely.”
Recognising all those who have served others in his Coronation year, the King said that ”honouring the whole of creation” as another act of service is “a manifestation of the divine”.
Call for peace
In a call for peace, the King said: “At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other.
“The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’
“Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions, and other belief systems, across the Commonwealth and wider world.
“They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbours, and to seek their good as we would our own.”
Other faiths recognised
For the second year, the King included other faiths in the Christmas message, opening with a line describing how many “great religions of the world” celebrated festivals with a special meal.
The King has led his family through their second Christmas Day since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with a nearly all-family outing at Sandringham.
Then, he walked with the Queen surrounded by his siblings, elder son, grandchildren and great-nieces during a laughter-filled outing in front of about 2,000 wellwishers.
His Christmas message focused on reflections from his Coronation year, and was delivered over footage of the King and Queen visiting a food distribution hub, the Wales family volunteering with Scouts in Slough for the Big Help Out, and the Princess Royal and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attending events.
03:06 PM GMT
King thanks those 'caring for our common home'
King Charles thanked those who were “caring for our common home” and wished all those listening a Merry Christmas
03:04 PM GMT
Must protect the Earth, says King Charles
The King, who has spent much of his adult life defending the planet and now found “great inspiration” from the many people who recognise “we must protect the Earth and our natural world”.
03:03 PM GMT
King: Do to others as you would have them do to you
King Charles said: “And at a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other.
“The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’.”
03:02 PM GMT
King's speech live
The King told the nation and Commonwealth: “Over this past year my heart has been warmed by countless examples of the imaginative ways in which people are caring for one another - going the extra mile to help those around them simply because they know it is the right thing to do: at work and at home; within and across communities.
“My wife and I were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people - volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction - were able to join us in Westminster Abbey for the coronation earlier this year.
“They are an essential backbone of our society.”
02:45 PM GMT
Pictured: Christmas Day church service in Sandringham
02:41 PM GMT
King set to speak at 3pm from Buckingham Palace
The King is set to deliver his Christmas Day message from Buckingham Palace at 3pm following a church service in Sandringham this morning.
The 75-year-old is expected to give the 10-minute broadcast standing in front of the living tree, with the Victoria Memorial on the Mall visible over his shoulder.
Last year, the monarch followed his mother’s template of a personal reflection on the year touching on current issues and with a Christian framework.
The first Christmas Broadcast was delivered by George V in 1932 and has since evolved into an important part of Christmas Day celebrations for many in Britain and around the world.
Millions of people are expected to tune in for the speech with last year’s broadcast being the most viewed address on record, with 10.6 million viewers.
02:36 PM GMT
Prince George, Prince Louis and Mia Tindall arrive to attend the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene
01:45 PM GMT
Duke of York addresses crowds with a joke
Prince Andrew was seen walking with his hands held straight in a slightly awkward fashion and his hands in his pockets.
But he addressed the crowds with a confident joke, which prompted loud laughter.
“We can’t all stop,” he said, as he walked behind his children.
“If we all stop we are never going to get anywhere.”
His daughter, Princess Beatrice, was keen to find out whether the crowd enjoyed the singing from the service - which was played on speakers outside.
“Was everyone singing well?”, she asked the royal fans - much to their delight.
“I love Christmas carols, they just make you feel good,” she added.
O Little Town of Bethlehem was one of the carols heard in the 50-minute service this morning.
01:44 PM GMT
Prince and Princess of Wales handed flowers and children given moneyboxes
The Prince and Princess of Wales were handed flowers and their three children were given personalised wooden moneyboxes by royal fan Gemma Clark, 43.
Ms Clark gives the royal children presents each Christmas - and last year handed the young Waleses novelty toys known as “gonks”.
She said: “The children were very sweet and said thank you and Happy Christmas. They always seem to like my presents.”
The Princess of Wales was heard asking her youngest son what the wooden gift was.
“It’s a money box,” said Prince Louis.
“Oh that’s so cool, isn’t it,” his mother replied.
01:42 PM GMT
Duchess of York accepts flowers from public
The Duchess of York was seen accepting flowers and warmly approaching several members of the public, wishing them a Merry Christmas.
Emma Rapps, 31, who came to see the Royals for the first time with husband Andy, also 31, was thrilled when the Duchess walked over to accept her flowers and commented on their shared haircolour.
“Ah, red heads stick together,” the Duchess said, as she accepted the flowers and chuckled.
Mrs Rapps, who lives in Devon, said: “I think it was lovely when they first came to the church it was the first time we saw her and I was really pleasantly surprised.
“It was a lovely comment to make and she’s right - redheads do need to stick together.”
01:31 PM GMT
More than 2,000 wellwishers at Sandringham
The King and Queen led the way smiling at more than 2,000 wellwishers who had gathered to watch the traditional procession of royals to church, with many waiting hours to get a prime spot.
Royal fans were treated to the sight of the Prince and Princess of Wales walking hand in hand with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis from Sandringham house on their way to St Mary Magdalene Church.
Zara and Mike Tindall’s eldest daughter Mia held hands with Louis, who in turn held his father’s hand.
Among the group were the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Tindalls with their other daughter Lena.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were joined by their children Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn.
01:29 PM GMT
Duchess of York publicly back after joining the royals at Sandringham
The Duchess of York was publicly back at the heart of the royal family after joining the King and Queen at church on Christmas Day.
The former royal, who has had a troubled relationship with the monarchy, was pictured, smiling, and glancing towards the waiting media as she walked beside her ex-husband, the Duke of York.
It has been decades since the Duchess of York made the walk from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church with royals - normally reserved for close family - but in recent years it is thought she has been a guest for Christmas lunch.
She has won plaudits in recent months for her battle with breast cancer, praised for speaking openly about her treatment and setting an example for other women to get screened.
It is thought the last time she was pictured walking to church with Queen Elizabeth was in the early 1990s
12:55 PM GMT
Pictured: Royals greet wellwishers in Sandringham
12:06 PM GMT
Royal Family greets wellwishers at Sandringham
Following the Christmas service at Church of St Mary Magdalene, the Royal Family is now greeting wellwishers at Sandringham.
11:42 AM GMT
Prince Andrew arrives ahead of service
11:40 AM GMT
Princess of Wales arrives at Church of St Mary Magdalene
11:29 AM GMT
The Duchess of York attended the Christmas church service for the first time in over 30 years.
The Duchess of York attended the Christmas church service for the first time in over 30 years.
Fergie, who was wearing a long green coat, hat and heeled boots, smiled broadly and waved to crowds of around 2,000 gathered outside the church this morning.
She walked alongside her ex-husband Prince Andrew.
The former couple, who have two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenia, still live together.
11:19 AM GMT
King arrives for Christmas service at Sandringham
10:33 AM GMT
Royal fans leave homes at 4am for Sandringham
Kevin, 62, and Penny Oldfield, 61, were among some of the earliest Royals fans to arrive - leaving their hometown of Norwich at 4am and arriving at Sandringham at 6am.
It is the second time the couple have come to see the Royals on Christmas Day.
Mr Oldfield said: “We are patriotic, I served in the Royal Navy for 20 years and last year I had a conversation with Prince Andrew as he saw my medal ribbon and asked me about it.
“Sandringham is just the ideal place to come and see the Royals, you can’t get as close anywhere else.”
Mrs Oldfield said: “It is magical to see them - last year we wanted to support King Charles as it was his first year as King.
“If had a chance to ask Kate a question it would be how she managed to keep so beautifully slim.”
10:31 AM GMT
Pictured: Crowds gather in Sandringham
09:45 AM GMT
Buckingham Palace has a Christmas first - a living, breathing tree
The King will deliver his Christmas message in front of a living Christmas tree.
It is the second time King Charles III will address the nation on Christmas Day from Buckingham Palace – but the first time a living tree will feature in the backdrop.
Read the full story by Fiona Parker here.
09:44 AM GMT
King’s Christmas message to thank public for Coronation support
The King will thank the people of Britain and the Commonwealth for their support in his coronation year during his second Christmas address to the nation.
The monarch, who will deliver the annual royal message at 3pm on Christmas Day, is expected to speak about the highlights of 2023 in a statement of hope and gratitude.
In line with the coronation theme, “Called to Serve”, King Charles will give thanks to those who have served their communities.
Read the full story by Royal Editor Hannah Furness here.
09:42 AM GMT
Pictured: Crowds gathering at Sandringham
09:17 AM GMT
The Prince and Princess of Wales send Christmas wishes
If the Christmas carol tell us of We Three Kings, so the Wales family have embraced the theme with one future king, a Princess and a Prince, writes Royal Editor Hannah Furness.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have celebrated Christmas by releasing a new photograph of their three children, arms around each other in a picture of family joy.
Princess Charlotte, eight, beams for the camera and puts her arms around her brothers.
Prince George, the tallest at age ten, looks confidently into the camera, while five-year-old Prince Louis leans in to his big sister.
The children are sitting on a long antique chair, not unlike a garden bench in appearance, for the black and white photograph, in which they are dressed casually in coordinated white shirts.
The two old children wear jeans, while Prince Louis has a pair of smart shorts. Charlotte and Louis have matching slip-on trainers, while George follows in the footsteps of his father suede lace-up shoes.
The image is the second to be released from a series taken by photographer Josh Shinner. The first was used on the Wales Christmas card, and featured all five of the family.
Read the full story here.
09:14 AM GMT
Royal Family arrives at church for Christmas Mass
The Royal Family is arriving at St Mary Magdalene Church, in Sandringham, for Christmas Mass.
05:14 PM GMT
Good morning and Merry Christmas
Welcome to The Telegraph’s live royal coverage of Christmas Day.
The Royal family is due to arrive at the Church of St Mary Magdalene at around 10am ahead of the service this morning.
Later today King Charles III is expected to give his speech at 3pm from Buckingham Palace.
Follow the blog for the latest updates and join the conversation in the comments section.
