King Charles’ Christmas message was filmed at Westminster Abbey and featured a number of Royal Family members, with one expert noting who received enhanced roles
Matt Jackson Trendswatch Content Editor
09:52, 26 Dec 2025
King Charles Christmas message showed a “carefully calibrated, enhanced role” for two royals, experts say(Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
King Charles’ Christmas message is reported to have featured a “carefully calibrated, enhanced role” for two members of the Royal Family. The monarch reflected on life’s “pilgrimage” during his yearly address, which was recorded at Westminster Abbey.
The 77-year-old referenced the wise men from the nativity story, who encountered both “physical and mental challenge” whilst discovering “inner strength” on their journey. The programme included footage of several royals, amongst them Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal, and the Duchess of Edinburgh.
However, according to Royal biographer Robert Hardman, it was the prominence given to Prince George and Princess Charlotte that was particularly noteworthy. Prince William and Princess Kate’s two eldest offspring are believed to have assumed greater significance within The Firm in recent months.
Hardman notes that Sophie Wessex featured in the broadcast “as often as the Princess of Wales”, though he acknowledged Kate has had to “juggle” her family commitments, professional duties, and her own cancer treatment.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Hardman observed: “It was a nod from the King to the importance of the Edinburghs to the small, core royal unit, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, the indefatigable Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte are said to be taking a more prominent role in The Firm(Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
“It was also good to see a carefully calibrated, enhanced role for both Prince George and Princess Charlotte.”
Last November, George made his debut at the Festival of Remembrance, standing beside his mother. William was absent from the ceremony as he was returning from the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl reveals that the Prince and Princess of Wales were eager for their 12-year-old son to participate as preparation for “the role that lies ahead”. When George eventually becomes monarch, he will serve as head of the Armed Forces.
The Princess of Wales and Prince George at the Festival of Remembrance(Image: Getty Images)
A source revealed to Nicholl: “It is all part of a carefully considered plan to bring George onto the public stage in a way that the family is comfortable with.”
The insider continued: “As second in line to the throne, George needs to understand the importance of occasions like this. It was deemed appropriate and significant for him to be there, particularly in his father’s absence. Both William and Catherine felt this was the right moment for George to be there.”
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, recently praised George as a “very impressive young man”, whilst noting that his “anxious” father is determined to adopt a different parenting approach.
In conversation with The Telegraph, she commented: “He is a very impressive young man, but I think William is anxious to bring him up differently to how he himself was brought up after his mother died.
“He is very conscious of not wanting George to be seen as an elitist kid; he just wants him to be as ordinary as he can be. I remember [the Princess of Wales] once saying that they always discuss these appearances with George, that he is never pushed.
“William is doing what he can to get him to look at the world in a certain way, but you can see how good George was with those old soldiers – he wants to do all these things. And William is happy for him to have a taste of it, but not the full meal.”