King praises 'courage and sacrifice' in annual message

The King has used his Christmas message to urge the nation to “never lose sight” of the Second World War values of “courage and sacrifice” and community spirit.

- TONY JONES

In the wake of the Bondi Beach shootings and the Manchester synagogue attack, Charles also praised the “spontaneous bravery” of those who put themselves in “harm’s way to defend others”.

And the King referenced the impact new technologies can have on wellbeing and community cohesion as the world spins “ever faster”, suggesting the festive period might be a moment to recharge and for those communities to grow stronger.

The annual Christmas broadcast is written by the King and is the rare occasion when he does not turn to the government for advice. He put communities at the heart of his message, commenting on the benefits of their “diversity” and how they displayed courage in adversity.

Charles has long seen his role as helping to build bridges between these communities, faith groups and others, believing he is a part of society, not apart from it.

The King and Queen attended major commemorations this year to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day, and Charles said in the broadcast: “The end of the Second World War is now remembered by fewer and fewer of us, as the years pass.

“But the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, and the way communities came together in the face of such great challenge, carry a timeless message for us all.

“These are the values which have shaped our country and the Commonwealth. As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight.”

The past 12 months have seen division growing over a number of issues, from protests over the housing of asylum seekers, polarisation in the political landscape, so-called culture wars making headlines and the continued cost of living crisis widening the gap between the rich and poor and fuelling discontent between the generations.