Whether the King was concerned about a possible mention of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in his historic first Christmas broadcast, we will never know.
But in choosing not to acknowledge them at all, perhaps he was sending a silent message more powerful than any other.
This was a very personal tribute to selfless dedication and service, to multicultural Britain and people of all religions, and none.
That carefully worded tribute included all the senior members of the family, who performed their own public duties in all four corners of the UK.
Yet only the heir to the throne and his wife were singled out for specific mention – a friendly, reassuring nod to the royal family’s future.
In a post that focused heavily on the late Queen’s legacy, the reference to the Prince and Princess of Wales was meant to provide a sense of continuity — a reminder that the institution would always evolve.
Harry and Meghan are no longer part of that institution in any meaningful way. While the king – and his mother before him – have long insisted that the couple remain beloved members of the family, the landscape has changed irreversibly.
As the damaging, personal attacks from California continue to rain down on the royal family, the prospect of reconciliation has faded further and further.
In the second installment of the Netflix documentary about Harry and Meghan, released two weeks ago, the Duke of Sussex suggested they were bullied by Prince William over their public duties and that palace officials had lied to other members of the royal family. protect at their cost.
Buckingham Palace did not respond to the six-part series in any way, as astute aides chose to rise above the fray, aware that even the mildest response would only serve to fan the flames.
The message was clear: the royal family went about their business and had no time or inclination to respond to this inappropriate airing of dirty laundry.
The King took a similar approach to his Christmas message, choosing to focus on the good work being done not only by his family, but, perhaps more importantly, by the nation as a whole.
It was different in September, when the King made his first historic speech to the nation just hours after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, his “dear mother.”
He then spoke not only as head of state, but also as a loving son, husband and father.
As such, he included a message of condolences to his youngest son and his wife, saying, “I also want to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad.”
The King of Christmas Day had a steely eye on the future.
In a clear break from tradition, he chose not to be surrounded by framed family photos when he delivered his first Christmas message, which would likely have been scrutinized, interpreted as messages of support, or otherwise, for certain family members.
Instead, the king used video footage to highlight the work of senior, working members of the royal family.
While O Little Town of Bethlehem was performed by the choir of St George’s Chapel, images of the King, the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex performing various public duties were shown .
Although the king tried to put his own personal stamp on the broadcast, the general format was similar to many messages over the decades.
The late Queen traditionally summarized the past year, but also looked to the future and tried to convey a message of hope.
On her final Christmas broadcast, she paid a heartfelt tribute to her “beloved Philip”, the Duke of Edinburgh, as she spoke of the comfort she found in “passing the baton” of their values to the next generations.
It was particularly poignant that her eldest son would take up that baton and in turn pay homage to his own “beloved mother.”
The late Queen also traditionally used the annual message to emphasize her own deep Christian faith, last year speaking of the “simplicity of the Christmas story” and the birth of a child as a “new dawn with endless potential”.
The king followed suit, emphasizing his own deep faith, which is a central part of his identity.
However, there was a strong emphasis on all religions, echoing his commitment to all religions.
In September, just days after becoming monarch, Charles vowed to “protect the space for faith itself” – promising religious leaders at a reception at Buckingham Palace that he would honor the numerous “religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and our spirit directs us”.
The King is expected to acknowledge that he serves all religions and not just the Church of England when speaking at his coronation.
