King Charles delivers Christmas speech, addresses cancer 'anxieties'

King Charles and his relatives made a much-anticipated public appearance on December 25, attending Christmas Day services at a church in Sandringham.

It was a particularly notable event because the monarch was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and because he was accompanied by, among others, Kate Middleton.

The Princess of Wales is slowly returning to public duties after her own cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment.

“We all go through some form of suffering at some point in our lives, whether mental or physical,” the king also said in his pre-recorded message for his annual Christmas address.

“The extent to which we help each other – and support each other, whether we are believers or not – is a measure of our civilization as nations. »

As of this writing, it's still unclear exactly what type of cancer Charles and Kate are battling.

We cannot confirm reports that the former is suffering from pancreatic cancer and has only two years to live.

Elsewhere in his annual message, Charles told the audience:

“I speak to you today from the chapel of the Old Middlesex Hospital in London and I am thinking particularly of the thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the UK and across the Commonwealth who, through their skills and out of the goodness of their hearts, caring for others, often at some cost to themselves.

Charles did not mention Middleton by name during this speech, but clearly referred to her as follows:

“On a personal note, I extend my sincere thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who this year supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of the disease , and have helped to give us the strength, care and comfort that we have. needed.

“I am also deeply grateful to all those who have offered us their kind words of sympathy and encouragement.”

It was the King's third Christmas speech since he ascended the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in September 2022.

However, this is the first since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February.

In a voiceover for the broadcast of her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey – which was recorded this month but broadcast on Tuesday evening – Middleton for her part reflected on the love and support that she has received over the past few months.

“The 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 giving and receiving empathy, as well as how much we need each other despite our differences.”