STORY: Britain's King Charles highlighted the importance of unity in diversity in his annual Christmas Day message on Thursday (December 25), as wars and tensions put communities around the world under strain.

"With the great diversity of our communities, we can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong," Charles, 77, said in his fourth annual broadcast since becoming monarch.

"As I meet people of different faiths, I find it enormously encouraging to hear how much we have in common, a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life."

Charles spoke of "journeying" and the importance of showing kindness to people on the move - themes that resonate at a time of intense public concern over migration around the world.

His message, delivered from Westminster Abbey where monarchs have been crowned since William the Conqueror in 1066, came at the end of a year marked by tensions in the royal family.

The king's words were followed by a performance by a Ukrainian choir, wearing traditional Ukrainian "vyshyvanka" embroidered shirts, and the London-based Royal Opera Chorus.

Charles has frequently expressed his support for Ukraine and has hosted President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at Windsor Castle three times in 2025 alone, most recently in October.

Although constitutionally required to remain above politics, the king has repeatedly spoken out on global crises, voicing concern over the Israel–Gaza conflict and expressing sorrow after violence against Jewish communities including an attack at a synagogue in northern England in October and Sydney's Bondi Beach shooting this month.

In his Christmas Day broadcast - a tradition dating back to 1932 - Charles praised military veterans and aid workers for their courage in adversity, saying they gave him hope.

In an address rich in references to the Biblical Christmas story, he also recalled his state visit to the Vatican in October, where he and Pope Leo prayed together in the first joint worship by a British monarch and a Catholic pontiff since England broke away from Rome in 1534. The British monarch is supreme governor of the Church of England.

Nearly two years after revealing an unspecified cancer diagnosis, Charles said this month that his treatment could be scaled back in the new year.

His daughter-in-law, Kate, Princess of Wales, announced in January that she was in remission after completing chemotherapy the previous September - rare disclosures for a family that traditionally guards its privacy.

Health was not the only challenge for the monarchy.

Charles stripped his younger brother Andrew of his titles as Duke of York and prince after renewed scrutiny of his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

But the year also brought a rare moment of reconciliation when Charles' younger son, Prince Harry, met his father for tea in September, their first meeting in just under two years.

Harry, who is based in the U.S., later said he hoped for healing, calling life "precious" and acknowledging limited time to mend ties.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. AERIAL VIEW OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY / TITLE READING (English): "HM The King"

2. VARIOUS OF ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR INSIDE WESTMINSTER ABBEY PERFORMING UNITED KINGDOM'S NATIONAL ANTHEM

3. BRITAIN'S KING CHARLES WALKING THROUGH HALL

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S KING CHARLES SAYING (CUTAWAYS FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND DATES):

"A few weeks ago, the Queen and I were delighted to make a state visit to the Vatican, where we prayed with Pope Leo in a historic moment of spiritual unity. Together, we celebrated the Jubilee theme, Pilgrims of Hope. Pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it has particular significance for our modern world, and especially at Christmas. It is about journeying forward into the future while also journeying back to remember the past and learn from its lessons. (CUTAWAYS OF ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS INTERACTING WITH VETERANS) We did this during the summer as we celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day. The end of the Second World War is now remembered by fewer and fewer of us. As the years pass, but the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women and the way communities came together in the face of such great challenge carry a timeless message for us all. 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. (CUTAWAYS OF KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA DURING VICTORY OVER JAPAN DAY 80TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY) For instance, it is impossible not to be deeply moved by the ages of the fallen as the gravestones in our war cemeteries remind us. The young people who fought and helped save us from defeat in both World Wars were often only 18, 19, or 20 years of age. Journey is a constant theme of the Christmas story. The Holy Family made a journey to Bethlehem and arrived homeless without proper shelter. The wise men made a pilgrimage from the east to worship at the cradle of Christ and the shepherds journeyed from field to town in search of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. (CUTAWAYS OF ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS INTERACTING WITH CHARITY WORKERS) In each case, they journeyed with others and relied on the companionship and kindness of others. Through physical and mental challenge, they found an inner strength. (CUTAWAYS OF KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA WITH POPE LEO DURING VISIT TO VATICAN) To this day, in times of uncertainty, these ways of living are treasured by all the great faiths and provide us with deep wells of hope, of resilience in the face of adversity, peace through forgiveness, simply getting to know our neighbours and by showing respect to one another, creating new friendships. Indeed, as our world seems to spin ever faster, our journey may pause to quieten our minds in T.S. Eliot's words, at the still points of the turning world, and allow ourselves to renew. In this, with the great diversity of our communities, we can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong. It seems to me that we need to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation, the way our Lord lived and died. This year I've heard so many examples of this, both here and abroad. (CUTAWAYS OF PRINCESS ANNE DURING VISIT TO REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR UKRAINIAN MILITARY PERSONNEL IN KYIV) These stories of the triumph of courage over adversity give me hope from our venerable military veterans to selfless humanitarian workers in this century's most dangerous conflict zones. (CUTAWAYS OF KING CHARLES DURING VISIT TO MANCHESTER FOLLOWING DEADLY ATTACK ON SYNAGOGUE) To the ways in which individuals and communities display spontaneous bravery, instinctively placing themselves in harm's way to defend others. (CUTAWAYS OF MEMORIAL SERVICE TO VICTIMS OF DEADLY ATTACK IN AUSTRALIA’S BONDI BEACH) As I meet people of different faiths (CUTAWAYS OF KING CHARLES INTERACTING WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS) I find it enormously encouraging to hear how much we have in common, a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life. If we could find time in our journey through life to think on these virtues, we could all make the future more hopeful. Of course, the greatest pilgrimage of all is the journey we celebrate today. The story of the one who came down to earth from Heaven, whose shelter was a stable, and who shared his life with the poor and lonely. It was a pilgrimage with a purpose heralded by angels that there should be peace on Earth, that prayer for peace and reconciliation, for doing to others as we would have them do to us, (CUTAWAYS OF ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS DURING FOREIGN VISITS) which rang out over the fields near Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago, still reverberates from there and around the world today. It is a prayer for our times and our communities too, as we journey through our lives. So with these words and my whole heart, I wish you all the most peaceful and very happy Christmas.

5. VARIOUS OF ROYAL OPERA CHORUS AND UKRAINIAN SINGERS WEARING TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN SHIRTS PERFORMING CAROL OF THE BELLS / CUTAWAYS OF ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS INTERACTING WITH MEMBERS OF PUBLIC AND MILITARY PERSONNEL DURING VARIOUS ENGAGEMENTS