Sky News reported on how well King Charles’ speech had gone down in the US. As only the second monarch to give a speech to the US Congress, Sky said he “delivered his remarks carefully, with respect, with spades of humour and with both history and politics threaded through them”.
We all know the context – a US which is sceptical about NATO, flip-flopping on Ukraine and led by a regime which denies the impact of climate change – all areas that matter to King Charles.
But I was particularly impressed by what he said about his Christian faith and the importance of dialogue with other religions:
“For many here – and for myself – the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally, but together as members of our community.
“Having devoted a large part of my life to interfaith relationships and greater understanding, it is that faith in the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times.
“Through it, I am inspired by the profound respect that develops as people of different faiths grow in their understanding of each other.
“It is why it is my hope – my prayer – that, in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of ploughshares into swords.”
At a time when the US is locked into a war with the world’s leading Shi’ite state, a war which some have portrayed as a religious war, this was a good example of one of the King’s ‘not-so-subtle’ messages!
Well done, King Charles. While many wonder about the value of the British Monarchy, this was a good example of an appropriate and sensitive intervention, at a difficult time in the world’s, and humanity’s, development.
You can read about the King’s speech in detail on Sky News here.