The King has paid tribute to the medical staff who provided "strength, care and comfort" during cancer treatment for himself and the .

In his Day message, Charles praised the “selfless” medical teams, offering his "heartfelt thanks" to everyone who had supported him and his family "through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness".

In an unusual step, the monarch chose to record his third annual festive address from a church which used to provide a place of solace for doctors and nurses at a London hospital and now acts as a place of reflection for people of all faiths.

After a tumultuous year for the and the country, Charles spoke of his "deep sense of pride" at how communities across the UK responded to the riots following the fatal Southport stabbings of three young girls, by repairing "not just buildings, but relationships".

The King chose to open his address from the Fitzrovia Chapel by honouring the sacrifices made by Second World War servicemen and women, which Charles said continue to "inspire, across the generations".

Amid tension and war across the , the King said we should have solidarity with those “whom the devastating effects of conflict - in the Middle East, in Central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere”.

The King said: "From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed.

"I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement."

The candid words of praise are in keeping with Charles' open approach to his illness which saw him publicise his diagnosis in February, in the hope some good would come from his situation. The type of cancer has not been disclosed “in a bid to reach the widest number of people”, said.

In January the King also spent three nights in hospital for a procedure on an enlarged prostate, at the exact time the Princess of Wales was admitted to in Marylebone for an abdominal operation.

The pair found solace in visiting each other while both patients at the clinic, before some weeks later they were within days of each other both independently diagnosed with cancer.

Charles’ message came after he led the royal family alongside on a walk to church from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, past a crowd of well-wishers.

They were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, , 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

William walked hand in hand with Charlotte and Kate, who wore a green coat and hat, smiled at the crowds.

Also in the walking party was the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Absent was the Duke of York, who has been dogged by links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Andrew, 64, had joined the family at church for the last two years in succession, but was forced to pull out of the Sandringham gathering to spend Christmas Day with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York.

Fergie posted a message on on Christmas Eve while out walking two of the late Queen’s corgi , saying “It’s a time of reflection and I just want to say thank you and a huge embrace of goodness and kindness to those of you who have been so kind and supportive”.

As part of his message, broadcast to the nation today/yesterday (WEDS) in the traditional 3pm slot, footage was shown of Charles' April visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.

In his first public-facing event after pausing outside engagements following his diagnosis, where he spoke of his "shock" at being told he had cancer.

Alongside images of the King meeting fellow cancer patients, he said: "All of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life, be it mental or physical. The degree to which we help one another - and draw support from each other, be we people of faith or of none - is a measure of our civilisation as nations."

It is understood the King's doctors are very pleased with his progress and his ongoing treatment falls at the lower end of the scale in terms of its impact on his ability to work, and the first half of 2025 has a full programme of engagements.

Kate is on the road to recovery after completing chemotherapy treatment in September and is making a gradual return to public duties, saying her focus is staying cancer free.

A few days ago the King and Queen visited Waltham Forest Town Hall in north-east London to celebrate the community cohesion shown by Walthamstow residents, who took to the streets to stage a peaceful counter-protest in the wake of riots following the Southport stabbings.

The disturbances, which saw mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted, were denounced as "far-right thuggery" by Prime Minister Sir .

Speaking from Fitzrovia Chapel, a former London hospital chapel, Charles said: "I felt a deep sense of pride here in the when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviours, but to repair.

"To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all."

At the time, Charles was briefed daily about the situation and was engaging privately in the issues generated by the outbreak of violence across the country.

Footage was shown of people sweeping the streets and collecting bricks in a clear-up operation.

When the King spoke about the royal family meeting and listening to those who "dedicate their lives to helping others" the Prince and Princess of Wales were seen chatting to emergency workers who responded to the fatal Southport stabbings.

The King referenced his visit to a Commonwealth summit in Samoa in October and suggested the institution's strength lay in its "diversity of culture, ethnicity and faith" and how its member states listened to each other - something that allowed people to "learn to respect our differences" and "defeat prejudice".

Highlights of the royal year were shown from the King being hugged by a group of New Zealand female rugby players, the Princess Royal at an event, scenes from Kate's annual carol concert and crowds outside Sydney Opera House meeting the King and Queen during their visit to earlier this year.

The broadcast ended with the choir Inner Voices singing the carol Once In Royal David's City.

The Princess of Wales hugged and spoke with a cancer patient after attending the royal family's traditional Christmas Day church service following her own "brutal" year with the disease.

Following the service, which lasted about 45 minutes, Kate hugged 73-year-old Karen Maclean from North Lincolnshire, who said she had had "20 years of cancer", as she spoke with both the princess and Charles about the disease.

Ms Maclean said: "We just had a little talk about cancer, really. I've met the King before. He said to me 'I can remember you', I'm thinking 'what!', like many years ago?" She said that Charles and Kate seemed "very well actually, considering what they're going through". She added after hugging Kate: "What a privilege."