KING Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Catherine, Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte, arrive at St Mary Magdalene’s church to attend the royal family’s Christmas service — Reuters
King's Christmas Message Lauds Christian, Jewish and Muslim Values
By Alex Barton
London, UK
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 neighbors, 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 honoring 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.”
Recognizing all those who have served others in his Coronation year , the King said that ”honoring 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 neighbors, and to seek their good as we would our own.”
Other faiths recognized
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 well-wishers.
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.
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”. - The Telegraph
