He spoke of the “great anxiety and hardship” for those struggling to “pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm”.
As he spoke, his voice was overlaid with images of food banks and helping the homeless.
The address was recorded by the King at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where his mother Queen Elizabeth II and father Prince Philip are buried.
It was also marked by style changes.
Charles III spoke standing up instead of sitting behind a desk, as his mother did, and addressed more current social issues.
His Christmas message touched on points involving his causes and beliefs, such as his concern for the underprivileged, the importance of public service and his multifaith approach.
But tradition has not been relegated to the background. From inside the chapel and to the sound of choral singing, the king spoke regarding faith, hope and the importance of serving others.
Early on, Charles III paid tribute to his mother, who died in September of this year.
The late queen pioneered the televised Christmas Day speech and used what would become her last message last year to talk regarding “passing the baton” to the next generation.
The longest-lived British monarch in history, Elizabeth II died of natural causes at the age of 96.
Only “acting royals” appeared in the images during the King’s broadcast, including the Queen Consort Camilla, her son Prince William and wife Kate, and her brother Prince Edward and wife Sophie.
Charles III’s other son, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan were not named. Another of his brothers, Prince Andrew, was also not included in the statement. Harry and Andrew still retain their royal titles but no longer work on behalf of the British monarchy.
In a time of industrial strife and financial pressures, the King’s message focused on those who support those in need.
“I would particularly like to honor all those wonderfully kind people who so generously give food or donations, or the most precious commodity of all, their time, to support those around them who need it most,” said the King.
The message was accompanied by photos of charities giving food to the homeless and volunteers helping out at a food bank.
Buckingham Palace said funds donated following the late Queen’s death were being forwarded to a charity that helps those unable to pay their energy bills.
The King met other senior royals at Sandringham in Norfolk (England) for Christmas, before attending the traditional Christmas Day service for the first time as monarch.
Charles 3rd praised the emergency services who “worked tirelessly to keep us all safe”, teachers and health and social care workers.
Last year was the late Queen’s last Christmas message, and Charles III recalled the “love and sympathy” that followed her death in September.
“Christmas is a particularly moving time for all of us who have lost loved ones,” said the King.
Standing “near where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is buried with my dear father”, he spoke of Elizabeth II’s faith in God as well as her “faith in people”.
The message highlighted the community work of religious groups, and the king, in addition to affirming his own Christian belief, extended this to other religions.
He spoke of the “sincere solidarity” shown by “churches, synagogues, mosques and gurdwaras (Sikh temples)”.
The king further described how thrilled he was to visit the birthplace of Christ in Bethlehem: “It meant more to me than I can express to be there.”
Charles III’s speech follows a tradition that dates back 90 years, with the first Christmas message broadcast on the radio in 1932 by his grandfather, King George V. The first televised broadcast was hosted by Elizabeth II in 1957.
By Sean Coughlan
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