King Charles III and close members the royal family on Wednesday attended Christmas services at the church at Sandringham, an estate on the windswept North Sea coast that has served as a retreat for the royal family for generations. His brother Prince Andreihowever, was noticeably absent.
The king who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year waved to a large crowd of spectators as he walked alongside his wife, Queen Camilla. They were joined by Prince William, Prince of Wales, and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, the King's daughter-in-law, who is gradually returning to government duties after her own cancer diagnosis and a a course of chemotherapy.
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In reflecting the medical treatment they received, Charles used his annual Christmas message to highlight healthcare workers.
“On a personal note, I extend a special heartfelt thank you to the dedicated doctors and nurses who have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of the disease this year and helped provide us with strength, care and comfort. were needed,” Charles said in his speech, which was broadcast to millions of viewers in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.
“I am also deeply grateful to all those who have given us kind words of sympathy and support.”
This is the king's third Christmas speech since he ascended the throne after his mother, Queen Elizabethdied in September 2022. It's the first since he was diagnosed with an undiagnosed form of cancer in February.
Charles' speech was recorded on 11 December at Fitzrovia Chapel in London, which was part of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital, where his first wife Diana opened London's first AIDS ward. The building is richly decorated in Neotic style with more than 500 stars on the golden ceiling.
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“I think this space, where you can think quietly and think about health, about care, about the medical profession, makes it quite a fitting choice,” said Carla Whalen, chair of the Fitzrovia Chapel Foundation's board of trustees.
Charles' treatment forced him to give up public speaking for two months. The 76-year-old monarch has slowly eased back into public life in recent months and was in good spirits on a tour of Australia with his wife, Queen Camilla, in October.
It's been a rough year for the royal family. Weeks after Charles began treatment, the Princess of Wales announced her own cancer diagnosis, which has sidelined her for most of the year as she undergoes chemotherapy.
In a voice-over for the broadcast of her annual Christmas service at Westminster Abbey, which was taped this month but aired on Tuesday night, Kate reflected on the love and support she has received.
“A Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others,” she said. “It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of compassion and empathy, and how much we need each other despite ourquainta.
Prince Andrew is absent from the Christmas event
One familiar face was absent from the traditional scene near the Church of St. Mary Magdalene: Prince Andrew. The 64-year-old brother of the king has fallen further into the shadows amid news that The Chinese businessman was banned from the UK due to concerns that he was cultivating links with Andrew on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
Andrew, once second in line to the British throne, has become a constant source of tabloids for his money problems and links to shady characters, including the late American financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Although Andrew has stepped back from public duties, he has continued to appear at family functions and his absence from Sandringham suggests a further retreat from the public eye. The king was under pressure to put more distance between Andrew and the royal family to avoid further embarrassment for the monarchy.
Although Andrew said he never discussed anything sensitive with the suspected Chinese spy and that he stopped contact with the man as soon as concerns arose, the scandal casts further doubt on his judgment and distracts from the work of the royal family, said Ed Owens, author of the book “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?”
“The reason it's a problem for the king is simply because the king is trying to rebrand the monarchy at the moment, focusing around himself and also around William, Catherine, what they're trying to do,” Owens said.
“It has been a very difficult year for the monarchy, not least because of two cancer diagnoses. And all the positive headlines that the king has been trying to create lately have unfortunately been overshadowed by the behavior, the reckless behavior of his younger brother, who has found himself in the headlines again.”