‘Do unto others’: King Charles praises acts of love and kindness

The King has celebrated those who ‘go the extra mile’ to help neighbours, strangers and friends in his Christmas message.

King Charles during the recording of his Christmas message. Picture: Getty Images

The King has celebrated ordinary acts of kindness in his Christmas message to underline the importance of compassion.

Delivering his second annual address from Buckingham Palace, after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II last year, King Charles said Christmas was a “also a time when we remember those who are no longer with us”.

Speaking in front of a replantable Christmas tree, adorned with sustainable decorations, the long-term environmentalist reflected on the importance of caring for the planet. “During my lifetime I’ve been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the earth and our natural world as the one home which we all share,” he said.

“From the way so many people recognise this, as does the Christmas story, which tells us that angels brought the message of hope. These were people who lived simply amongst others of God’s creatures.”

King Charles did not specifically mention his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, but spoke of his wife Camilla and their delight to meet a “selfless army of people” at their coronation in May.

“They are an essential backbone of our society. Their presence meant so much to us both and emphasised the meaning of coronation itself – to serve one another, to love above all,” he said.

Drawing on the Christmas story, the King said kindness was at the heart of the holiday season. “This care and compassion we show to others is one of the themes of the Christmas story,” he said.

“Especially when Mary and Joseph were offered shelter in their hour of need by strangers.

“Over this past year, my heart has been warmed by countless examples of the imaginative ways in which people are caring for one another, going the extra mile to help those around them simply because they know it is the right thing to do.”

The King prayed for those affected by the “increasingly tragic conflict around the world” and said Jesus’ words ‘do to others as you would have them do to you’, were more relevant than ever.

“Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions and other belief systems across the Commonwealth and wider world,” he said.

“They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbours, and to seek their good as we would our own.

“So on this Christmas Day, my heart and my thanks go to all who are serving one another all who are caring for our common home, and all who see and seek the good of others, not least the friend we do not yet know.”