KING OF PEACE

Monarch in call for tolerance & respect between faiths as 1,000s die in wars

- RUSSELL MYERS

 

THE King yesterday called for peace in a world ravaged by the horror of wars, as the royals were united for Christmas.

With tens of thousands of people being killed, injured or left homeless by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Charles urged people to protect each other as he pointed to the shared values of major religions.

In his second King's speech, he also praised selfless volunteers serving communities across the UK and told of his delight at the growing awareness of the fight against climate change.

The speech, recorded at Buckingham Palace for the first time of his reign, was heavily laden with religious significance. It came after the Royal Family attended the traditional festive church service at Sandringham, Norfolk.

With no end seemingly in sight in the Israel-Hamas war and Ukraine's hell, Charles said: "At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can do all in our power to protect each other.

"The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant, 'Do to others as you would have them do to you.

"Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions, and other belief systems, across the wider world.

"They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbours, and to seek their good as we would our own." Turning to volunteers that help communities up and down the land, the King praised those he his chose among the guests for Coronation in May.

He said: "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.