King Charles releases Easter message but faces criticism over reference to other faiths

King Charles has shared an Easter message on Maundy Thursday wherein he said that the world still needs “faith, hope and love”.

“One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we’re able to each great cruelty and great kindness,” he said.

“This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and within the scenes that each day come before our eyes — at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in one other, heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians of all types risk their very own lives to guard the lives of others.

“Just a few weeks ago, I met many such people at a reception in Buckingham Palace and felt a profound sense of admiration for his or her resilience, courage and compassion.” 

Although the onus of the message is on the Christian celebration of Easter, the King’s message has been criticised on social media over its nods to Islam and Judaism. 

He continued, “On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of lots of those that would abandon Him. His humble motion was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries and is central to Christian belief.

“The love He showed when he walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and people in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and within the hearts of all who seek the great of others.” 

Responses on social media have been strongly critical of his decision to incorporate other faiths in a message intended for a Christian festival as essential as Easter, especially in light of his official role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England and title of ‘Defender of the Faith’ as Britain’s reigning monarch. 

“Is this a joke?” wrote one social media user. 

Another observed, “Is he not the top of the Church of England? When it’s my sons birthday I don’t wish my daughter completely happy birthday too [SIC]. Let Easter just be Easter.” 

The King faced similar criticisms over his 2024 Christmas message which appeared to suggest that every one faiths are the identical.

“As the famous Christmas Carol, ‘Once In Royal David’s City’ reminds us, ‘Our Saviour holy’ ‘got here all the way down to Earth from Heaven’, lived amongst ‘the poor and mean and lowly’ and transformed the lives of those he met, through God’s ‘redeeming love’,” he said. 

“That is the center of the Nativity Story and we will hear its beat in the idea of all the good faiths within the love and mercy of God in times of joy and of suffering, calling us to bring light where there’s darkness.” 

He was accused of “syncretism” over the message, and of promoting “moralistic, do it yourself, multi-faith religion”.

The King and Queen will spend Maundy Thursday at Durham Cathedral where they may distribute the normal ‘Maundy money’ to 76 men and 76 women – signifying King Charles’ age. 

The Maundy money is made up of 4 specially-minted coins which can be traditionally given by the monarch on Maundy Thursday to individuals who have done commendable acts of Christian service. 

This 12 months’s recipients come from across the Diocese of Durham, the Province of York, Wales and Scotland.

The Very Rev Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham said, “We are each honoured and delighted that The King and Queen are coming to Durham for this 12 months’s Royal Maundy Service.

“All of us at Durham Cathedral stay up for welcoming them and being a part of this special celebration of volunteering in the area people.

“Maundy Thursday is about remembering the service and sacrifice of Jesus and it can be so special to have a good time in such a memorable way those that live out the instance of Jesus today.”