Britain has had a difficult 12 months and its problems will not "go away" in 2023 - but the coronation of King Charles III will help unite the country, according to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday in his New Year message.
Sunak, who in October became the UK's third Conservative prime minister of the year, said his country had been shaken this year by the "profound economic impact" of Russia's war in Ukraine.
He said his government had taken "difficult but fair decisions to get borrowing and debt under control" and helped Britons overcome a cost-of-living crisis caused by soaring energy bills.
Sunak did not mention the political chaos in the UK this year, which saw the resignation of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July after a series of scandals and the resignation of his successor, Liz Truss, after less than two months in office.
Britain's economy and politics have calmed since then, but Sunak still needs to tackle a slowing economy, widespread labour strikes in reaction to the cost of living crisis, and a divided Conservative party that has lost popular support after 12 years in power.
“I’m not going to pretend that all our problems will go away in the new year," he said.
However, he added that the UK would "come together with pride in everything that makes this country great" at Charles III's coronation ceremony.
Charles became monarch upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8. He will be formally crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6.
Follow the latest news on Google News
