King Charles Honors Bondi Attack Heroes in Heartfelt Christmas Address

Share and Follow

King Charles spoke about the importance of overcoming division and embracing cooperation in his Christmas address, highlighting the courage displayed during the Bondi terror attack as an example of collective resilience.

Amid rising feelings of uncertainty and social division, Charles emphasised the importance of coming together.

He started by recalling his historic meeting and joint prayer with Pope Leo — the first shared worship between an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff in nearly 500 years — describing it as a “historic moment of spiritual unity”.

In a poignant reflection on the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day, King Charles paid tribute to the invaluable contributions of the armed forces in ending World War II. He emphasized that their sacrifices carry a “timeless message for us all” that continues to resonate today.

“These are the values which have shaped our country and the Commonwealth. As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight,” Charles said.

“In times of uncertainty, these ways of living are treasured by all the great faiths and provide us with deep wells of hope, of resilience in the face of adversity.”

Highlighting the importance of embracing diversity, King Charles urged communities to prioritize the values of “compassion and reconciliation.” He stressed that these principles are vital for fostering unity and harmony in society.

During his address, King Charles also touched on the recent tragedy at Bondi, where a terror attack on December 14 claimed 15 lives. He acknowledged the bravery and swift actions of individuals who responded to the crisis.

Among the first victims were Boris and Sofia Gurman, who, according to dashcam footage, appeared to attempt to disarm one of the assailants before being fatally shot by the alleged gunman, Naveed Akram.

As Charles spoke about the courage shown by veterans, humanitarian workers in conflict zones, and people who displayed “spontaneous bravery”, instinctively placing themselves in harm’s way to protect others, images of the memorial at Bondi Pavilion were shown on screen.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked on the resilience of the nation, stating, “At the worst of times, we see the best of the Australian character.”

Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a tobacco shop owner, was wounded after he confronted and disarmed one of the alleged gunmen. He has undergone multiple surgeries, and has been visited by a string of top officials in hospital, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Opposition leader Sussan Ley.

Earlier this week, Albanese announced heroes, first responders, medical staff and others who stepped up during the attack will be recognised in a special honours list next year.

“At the worst of times … we see the best of the Australian character,” Albanese said.

“We saw it with those who lost their lives tackling the terrorists as they embarked from the car. We saw it with those in police and emergency services rushing to assist people.”

Charles finished his address by reflecting on shared values across religions and humanity, saying people are united by “a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life”.