King Charles shares new personal statement to carers amid 'tears' and 'distress'
The king honoured those who dedicate their lives looking after othersKing Charles has issued a heartfelt statement to carers to honour those who dedicate their lives to look after others.
The king, 77, hosted a special reception at Windsor Castle this week to honour carers for the incredible and selfless work they do.
In his message to carers, King Charles said he has “seen the patience required when the vulnerable person you care for is in distress”. He also said he has “witnessed” the “tears held at bay when an elderly loved-one no longer recognises your face”.
King Charles’ heartfelt statement to carers
In a message shared ahead of the Windsor Castle reception, King Charles said: “My wife and I are delighted to welcome you here this evening as we celebrate and give thanks to those remarkable individuals who dedicate their lives to the care of others.
“Whether through professional commitment or through the quiet, unheralded devotion of family and friendship, you represent something profoundly valuable not just within our communities, but for humanity as a whole.”
They do so not for recognition nor reward, but because their hearts compel them to.
The king detailed that across the UK today, there are five million people providing “unpaid care to a loved one”.
He continued: “Let that number settle in your minds for a moment. That is one in every ten adults who, alongside the demands of their own lives, have taken upon their shoulders the sacred and selfless responsibility of caring for another human being.
“They do so not for recognition nor reward, but because their hearts compel them to.”
‘I have witnessed the tears held at bay’
The king went on to say that alongside those “wonderfully altruistic individuals stand the estimated 1.6 million professionals who work in social care – the nurses, care workers, support staff and countless others who have chosen to make compassion their vocation”.
King Charles said he feels “privileged” that throughout his life, he’s had the chance to meet many individuals involved in such service.
He added: “In care homes and hospices, in support groups and community centres, I have witnessed the extraordinary tenderness with which you go about your duties.
“I have seen the patience required when the vulnerable person you care for is in distress. I have witnessed the tears held at bay when an elderly loved-one no longer recognises your face.”
The king continued: “I have observed the gentle humour and camaraderie of colleagues that can lighten the heaviest of days. Above all, I have been moved, time and again, by the resilience of those who give so much of themselves while asking for so little in return.”
The struggles that carers face
The king also shed light on the struggles that carers face. He said that those who “devote their lives to the care of others often do so at the expense of their own health and wellbeing”.
He said, according to research, many “informal carers” struggle to maintain employment whilst fulfilling caring duties.
The king said it can also cause “isolation, exhaustion, and financial strain”.
He also honoured young carers, particularly children and young people, who “shoulder responsibilities that would test the strongest among us”.
The monarch said: “They prepare meals, administer medication, provide emotional support and manage household chores, all while trying to navigate the ordinary challenges of growing up.”
King Charles’ message to those who receive care
Giving an important message to those who receive care, King Charles added: “As for those who receive care, I particularly want to say this: you are not and you will never be a burden. The care you require and receive is not a choice you can make, nor an imposition on others. It is in fact an expression of their devotion.”
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Concluding his message, the king said: “So to those who provide care – whether you wear a uniform or simply the clothes you felt able to pull on in the morning – please know that the great love you show in small ways every day is an example and an inspiration to us all.
“It is our duty, in return, to ensure it is never taken for granted nor forgotten. This comes with my most heartfelt gratitude to you all.”
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