Royal Family shares King Charles Christmas Day message video, monarch gets emotional during speech

King Charles III got emotional as he paid a heartwarming tribute to his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, in his first Christmas broadcast as monarch on Sunday.

In a historic first address - both for Charles personally and the UK as it marks the first time any King has made a televised speech on 25 December - the monarch appeared to be grateful to members of the public who had shown love and sympathy in the wake of her death in September.

Royal Family shared the clip King's heartfelt speech to their official Instagram account on Sunday, captioning: "Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition."

In a pre-recorded address from St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle -  where the Queen was laid to rest alongside her husband Prince Philip - Charles said: "I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family,"

“Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition,” he continued.

King Charles honoured the Queen’s legacy throughout his speech, remembering her belief in the power of “everlasting light” and her faith in people to touch the lives of others. He also spoke about the "great anxiety and hardship" experienced by many.