British sovereign Charles III, who is battling cancer, pays tribute to doctors and healthcare workers during his Christmas speech

The 76-year-old king spoke in a pre-recorded message from a former hospital chapel in London, a symbolic choice.

A tribute to the medical staff who brought “support” et “comfort” to the royal family. During his Christmas speech, Wednesday December 25, King Charles III, aged 76, addressed “special and sincere thanks to the dedicated doctors and nursing staff who, this year, supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties associated with the illness, and gave us strength , the care and comfort we needed.” Charles III is still being treated for his cancer, the nature of which has not been revealed.

Charles III spoke in a pre-recorded message from a former hospital chapel in London. “I am also deeply grateful to all those who have kindly sent us words of sympathy and encouragement,” he added. The British royal family has had a trying year in 2024, with the announcement of the king's cancer in February and, in March, that of the Princess of Wales. The illness temporarily kept them away from public life, before they returned in November. Princess Kate announced in September the end of her chemotherapy.

In his speech, the king also mentioned the racist riots which shook the country after the death of three little girls killed at the end of July. “I felt a deep sense of pride when here in the UK, in response to the anger and anarchy in several cities this summer, people came together not to repeat these behaviors, but to fix them “he said. He finally sent a message of peace in the face of conflicts throughout the world.