♪
♪ ["God
♪ ["God Save
♪ ["God Save the
♪ ["God Save the King"
♪ ["God Save the King" by
♪ ["God Save the King" by Thomas
♪ ["God Save the King" by Thomas Arne]
♪ ["God Save the King" ♪ God save our gracious King ♪
♪ long live our noble King ♪
♪ God save the King ♪
♪ send him victorious ♪
♪ happy and glorious ♪
♪ long to reign over us ♪
♪ God save the King ♪
♪ [fades]
I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel
of Saint George at Windsor Castle.
So close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen,
is laid to rest with my dear father.
I'm reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards,
and messages which so many of you
have sent my wife and myself.
And I cannot thank you enough for the love
and sympathy you have shown our whole family.
Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us
who have lost loved ones.
We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season
and remember them in each cherished tradition.
In the much loved Carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem",
we sing of how in thy dark street Shineth
the everlasting light.
My mother's belief in the power of that light
was an essential part of her faith in God,
but also have faith in people
and it is one which
It is a belief in the extraordinary ability
of each person to touch with goodness and compassion
the lives of others and to shine a light
in the world around them.
This is the essence of our community
and the very foundation of our society.
We see it
of our armed forces
who worked tirelessly
and who performed so magnificently as we mourn
the passing of our late Queen.
We see it in our health
our teachers, and indeed
in public service,
are at the heart
And at this time of great anxiety and hardship,
be it for those around the world facing conflict,
famine or natural disaster, or for those at home
finding ways to pay their bills and keep their families fed
and warm, we see it
throughout our nations
who so readily respond
I particularly want to pay tribute to all those
wonderfully kind people who so generously give food
or donations or that most precious commodity of all,
their time...
to support those
Together with the many
which do such extraordinary work
in the most
Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples,
and gurdwaras have once again united
in feeding the hungry.
Providing love and support throughout the year.
Such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring
expression of loving our neighbour as ourself.
The Prince and Princess
shining a light
of this community spirit.
Some years ago I was able to fulfill a lifelong wish
to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity.
There I went down into
and stood in silent reverence by the Silver Star that
is inlaid on the floor
of our Lord
It meant more to me than I can possibly express
to stand on that spot where as the Bible tells us,
the light that has come into the world was born.
Well, Christmas is, of course, a Christian celebration,
the power of lights overcoming darkness
is celebrated across the boundaries of faith and belief.
So whatever faith you have,
or whether you have none...
..it is in this life giving light
and with the true humility that lies in our service
to others that I believe we can find hope for the future.
Let us therefore celebrate it together and cherish it always.
With all my heart I wish each of you
a Christmas of peace, happiness and everlasting light.
♪ [orchestral]
[choir sings "O Little Town of Bethlehem"]
♪ O little town of Bethlehem
♪ how still we see thee lie
♪ above thy deep and dreamless sleep
♪ the silent stars go by
♪ yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light
♪ the hopes and fears of all the years
♪ are met in thee tonight ♪
♪ how silently how silently
♪ the wondrous gift is giv'n
♪ so God imparts to human hearts
♪ the blessings of his heav'n ♪
[cheering, clapping]
♪ no ear may hear his coming
♪ but in this world of sin
♪ where meek souls will receive him still
♪ the dear Christ enters in ♪
♪ O holy Child of Bethlehem
♪ descend to us we pray
♪ cast out our sin and enter in
♪ be born in us today ♪
♪ we hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
♪ O come to us abide with us our Lord Immanuel ♪
♪ [ends]