King Charles thanks doctors for caring for his and Kate’s cancer patients as the royal family celebrates Christmas

King Charles III and members close to royal family He attended Christmas Mass on Wednesday at a church in Sandringham, the area on the windswept North Sea coast that has served as a retreat for the royal family for generations. His brother Prince AndrewHowever, it was noticeably absent.

The king who was He was diagnosed with cancer Earlier this year, he waved to a large crowd of onlookers as he walked alongside his wife, Queen Camilla. They were joined by Prince William, Prince of Wales, and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, the King’s daughter-in-law, who has slowly returned to her public duties after her departure. Cancer diagnosis And a Chemotherapy course.

In reflection of the medical treatments they received, Charles He used his annual Christmas message to highlight health workers.

“From a personal perspective, I extend a special thank you from the bottom of my heart to the dedicated doctors and nurses who have supported me and other family members this year through the uncertainty and anxiety associated with the disease, and helped provide the strength, care and comfort we need,” Charles said in his remarks, which were broadcast to millions of viewers in the Kingdom. United States and throughout the Commonwealth: “We needed it.”

This is the third for the king Christmas speech Since he ascended the throne after his mother, Queen ElizabethHe died in September 2022. This is the first death since he was diagnosed with an unknown type of cancer in February.

Charles’ speech was recorded at Fitzrovia Church in London, which was part of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital where his first wife, Diana, opened London’s first dedicated ward for AIDS patients. The building is richly decorated in Gothic style featuring over 500 stars in a gold leaf ceiling.

“I suppose this space, being a space for quiet reflection, but also thinking about health and care and the medical profession, will make it a very appropriate choice,” said Carla Whalen, Chair of the Fitzrovia Chapel Foundation Board of Trustees.

Charles’ treatment forced him to keep away from public appearances for two months. The 76-year-old king has slowly returned to public life in recent months and was in good spirits during a tour of Australia with his wife, Queen Camilla, in October.

It has been a difficult year for the royal family. Just weeks after Charles began treatment, the Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis, sidelining her for most of the year while she underwent chemotherapy.

In a voiceover for Westminster Abbey’s annual Christmas carol broadcast, which was recorded this month but broadcast on Tuesday evening, Kate reflected on the love and support she has received.

“The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others,” she said. “It also reflects our vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving compassion, as well as how much we need each other despite our differences.”

Prince Andrew is absent from the Christmas event

There was a familiar face absent from the traditional scene outside St. Mary Magdalene Church: Prince Andrew. The king’s 64-year-old brother has retreated further into the shadows amid news of a The Chinese businessman has been banned From the UK due to concerns that he was establishing ties with Andrew on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.

Andrew, who was once second in line to the British throne, has become a regular source of tabloid news due to his financial problems and links to questionable figures, including the late American financier and convicted pedophile. Jeffrey Epstein.

Although Andrew stepped back from his public duties, he continued to appear at family events, and his absence from Sandringham indicates a further retreat from the public eye. The king is under pressure to put greater distance between Andrew and the royal family to avoid further embarrassment to the monarchy.

While Andrew said he never discussed anything sensitive with the suspected Chinese spy and that he stopped contacting the man once concerns were raised, the scandal raises more questions about his judgment and distracts from the work of the royal family, Ed Owens said. Author of After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?

“The reason this is an issue for the king is simply because the king is trying to rebrand the monarchy at the moment, centering his focus around him, but also around William and Catherine, and what they are trying to do,” Owens said.

“It has been an extremely difficult year for the monarchy, not least because of two cancer diagnoses. All the positive headlines the King has been trying to generate recently have unfortunately been overshadowed by his reckless behaviour. The younger brother, who once again finds himself in the headlines.”