King Charles said unity in diversity would help ‘good triumph over evil’ during his 4th Christmas speech

King Charles’ annual Christmas Day message highlighted the importance of unity in diversity, 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 good triumphs over evil,” Charles, 77, said Thursday during his fourth annual broadcast since becoming monarch.

“As I meet people of different faiths, I find it extremely encouraging to hear how much we have in common, a common desire for peace and a deep respect for all life.”

Charles spoke about “journey” and the importance of showing kindness to those on the move, themes that resonate at a time of intense public concern about migration around the world.

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

Ukrainian choir highlights king’s support for Kyiv

The king’s words were followed by a performance by a Ukrainian choir, whose members wore traditional Ukrainian embroidered “vyshyvanka” shirts, and the London-based Royal Opera Chorus.

Charles has frequently expressed support for Ukraine and welcomed the president Volodymyr Zelensky at Windsor Castle three times in 2025 alone, the last in October.

Although the Constitution requires him to remain above politics, the king has repeatedly spoken out on global crises, expressing concern over the Israel-Gaza conflict and expressing sadness over violence against Jewish communities, including the attack on a synagogue in northern England in October and the shootings at Bondi Beach in Sydney this month.

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

In a speech rich in references to the biblical story of Christmas, he also recalled his state visit to the Vatican in October, where he and Pope Leo prayed together in the first joint service of a British monarch and a Catholic pontiff since England separated from Rome in 1534. The British monarch is supreme governor of the Church of England.

Health and family challenges

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

His son William’s wife, Kate, Princess of Wales, announced in January that she was in remission after completing chemotherapy last September – a rare revelation for a family that traditionally guards its privacy.

Health was not the only challenge for the monarchy.

Charles has stripped his younger brother Andrew of his titles as Duke of York and Prince after renewed scrutiny over his links to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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

Harry, who lives in the United States, later said he hoped to recover, calling life “precious” and acknowledging he had little time left to reconnect.