King Charles has been praised for the way in which he has handled the accusations made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle against the Royal Family.
Charles’s pre-recorded address to the nation mirrored the late Queen’s well-established template, with a personal reflection on the year touching on current issues and with a Christian framework.
In his message, he sympathised with families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and spoke about the “great anxiety and hardship” experienced by many trying to “pay their bills”.
The central theme was a celebration of “selfless dedication”, a value embodied by the Queen, and he praised the actions of individuals, charities and faith groups supporting those in need.
He delivered the historic Christmas broadcast from the quire of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, mirroring the late Queen’s 1999 festive address.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond joined Mark Longhurst on GB News to discuss the historic speech and said: “It was the imagery itself which told us of his sentimentality and his love, his affection for his mother and his father.
Jennie Bond joined Mark Longhurst on GB News
GB News
“The Queen actually gave one of her Christmas messages from St George's Chapel, so he wasn't actually breaking new ground. But it was a very safe territory because we journalists went all pouring over the background of which pictures of which members of the family were there or not there. That was quite clever, I thought.
“And also there was a little message in Christmas Tree, which was adorned with sustainable decorations, all of them sustainable and recyclable, which I thought was quite clever.”
Reflecting on the significance of leaving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle out of the speech, she said: “I think if he had mentioned them then it would have obliterated everything else he said. That's all we'd be talking about. And I think they have pointedly taken the higher ground here.
“Harry and Meghan can say what they want, complain as much as they want publicly, but the Royal family are not going to be goaded into a public response and I think that is the most dignified way of going about it. We're just seeing them carrying on with their work.
“The core members of the Royal family. Yes, it was quite clear that Harry and Meghan weren't even pictured. But then they're not working royals, that's their job. Why should they be?”
Charles’s message mirrored the late Queen’s template, with a personal reflection on the year touching on current issues and with a Christian framework
Victoria Jones