It was a historic day for King Charles when he gave the nation his first-ever Christmas Day speech, which he dedicated to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Prince of Wales and his wife, the Princess of Wales, were featured in the King’s video, but his other son, Prince Harry, and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, were left out. Here’s why.
Photo: BBC
The Waleses were featured in a clip from their September visit to St. Thomas Church in Swansea, which was a part of their duties as working members of the royal family. Video of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s charitable work was not featured in the broadcast because they have since resigned from their positions.
The monarch began his speech by remarking that he was “so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father” in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. He also thanked the British people and the rest of the world for their “love and sympathy” shown through special cards and heartfelt condolence messages.
As the family attempts to celebrate the holidays while also remembering the late Queen on their first Christmas without her, it is a bittersweet time for them.
Her Majesty was honored during Princess Kate’s annual Christmas carol service, which featured a concert featuring a series of images projected onto a piano.
Princess Kate paid homage to the late Queen in a moving message sent in advance of the service.
Our first Christmas without Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth will be this one, she said. “Christmas was a special time for Her Majesty because it brought people together and served as a reminder of the value of friendship, family, and faith as well as the need to express empathy and compassion.
“This year, we’ve invited a huge number of motivational people to the service. Those who demonstrate the strength of community and connection, enabling us to uphold Her Majesty’s tradition of honoring and expressing gratitude to those who go above and beyond to help others.
“Her Majesty leaves us with a truly amazing legacy that has profoundly inspired many of us.”
