"Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones," he said.

"We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition.

In the televised address, King Charles, 74, also spoke of Queen Elizabeth II's faith. The long-reigning royal died in September. She was 96.

"In the much-loved carol 'O Little Town Of Bethlehem, ' we sing of how 'in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.'"

"My mother's belief in the power of that light was an essential part of her faith in God, but also her faith in people, and it is one which I share with my whole heart."

"It is a belief in the extraordinary ability of each person to touch, with goodness and compassion, the lives of others, and to shine a light in the world around them."

"This is the essence of our community and the very foundation of our society."

He also referred to his January 2020 trip to Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity. He said the trip was a "life-long wish."

"It meant more to me than I can possibly express to stand on that spot where, as the Bible tells us, 'The light that has come into the world' was born," said the king.

"While Christmas is, of course, a Christian celebration, the power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across the boundaries of faith and belief."

"So, whatever faith you have, or whether you have none, it is in this life-giving light, and with the true humility that lies in our service to others, that I believe we can find hope for the future."

The coronation celebration for King Charles is scheduled for May 6, 2023.

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