King Charles III and close members of the royal family attended Christmas services on Wednesday at a church in Sandringham, the estate on the windswept North Sea coast that has served as a retreat for the royal family for generations. His brother Prince Andreashowever, was conspicuously absent.
The king, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, he waved to a large crowd of onlookers as he walked alongside his wife: Queen Camille. They were accompanied by Prince William, Prince of Wales, and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, the king’s daughter-in-law, who has slowly but surely returned to public roles after her own office. diagnosis of cancer and a course of chemotherapy.
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Reflecting the medical treatments they have undergone, Karel used its annual Christmas message to highlight healthcare workers.
“From a personal perspective, I extend a special heartfelt thank you to the selfless doctors and nurses who have supported me and other members of my family this year through the uncertainties and fears of illness, and helped provide the strength, care and comfort we need to have. need,” Charles said in his remarks, broadcast to millions of viewers in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.
“I am also very grateful to everyone who offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement.”
This is the king’s third Christmas speech since he ascended the throne after his mother, Queen Elizabethdied in September 2022. It is the first since he was diagnosed with an unknown form of cancer in February.
Charles’ speech was recorded on December 11 at Fitzrovia Chapel in London, part of the now demolished Middlesex Hospital, where his first wife, Diana, opened London’s first dedicated ward for people with AIDS. The building is richly decorated in neo-Gothic style with more than 500 stars in a gold leaf ceiling.
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“I assume that this space, which is one of calm reflection, but also of thinking about health, about care, about the medical profession, would make it quite an appropriate choice,” says Carla Whalen, chairman of the board of directors from the Fitzrovia Chapel Foundation.
Charles’ treatment forced him to give up public appearances for two months. The 76-year-old monarch has slowly returned to public life in recent months and was in good spirits in October during a tour of Australia with his wife, Queen Camilla.
It’s been a difficult year for the royal family. A few weeks after Charles began treatment, the Princess of Wales announced her own cancer diagnosis, which sidelined her for much of the year as she underwent chemotherapy.
In a voiceover for the broadcast of her annual carol service at Westminster Abbey, which was recorded this month but aired on Tuesday evening, Kate reflected on the love and support she has received.
“The Christmas story encourages us to think about the experiences and feelings of others,” she said. “It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, and how much we need each other despite our differences.”
Prince Andrew absent from Christmas event
One familiar face was missing from the traditional scene outside St. Mary Magdalene Church: Prince Andrew. The King’s 64-year-old brother has retreated further into the shadows amid news that: Chinese businessman was excluded from Britain, he maintained ties with Andrew on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party out of concern.
Andrew, once second in line to the British throne, has become a constant source of tabloid fodder due to his money problems and links to questionable figures, including the late American financier and convicted pedophile. Jeffrey Epstein.
Even though Andrew had stepped back from his public duties, he continued to appear at family events and his absence from Sandringham signals a further withdrawal from the public eye. The king is under pressure to create more distance between Andrew and the royal family to avoid further embarrassment for the monarchy.
Although Andrew has said he never discussed anything sensitive with the suspected Chinese spy and that he stopped contact with the man as soon as concerns were raised, the scandal raises further questions about his judgment and distracts from the work of the royal family, according to Ed Owens. , author of ‘After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?’
“The reason why this is a problem for the King is simply that the King is currently trying to rebrand the monarchy, centering the focus on him, but also on William and Catherine, which is what they are trying to do,” Owens said.
“It has been a very difficult year for the monarchy, not least because of the two cancer diagnoses. And all the positive headlines that the king has been trying to generate lately have unfortunately been overshadowed by the behavior, the reckless behavior of his younger brother, who is once again in the headlines.”
