King Charles's Easter message celebrates the important role love, faith and hope has in the world - especially during times of "human suffering". In his annual message on Maundy Thursday, the 76-year-old monarch discusses "one of the great puzzles of our humanity" - that people are capable of both "great cruelty and great kindness".

In an apparent reference to global conflicts, the King highlighted God's message that he "loved the world" and put his son on earth to show us that "love proved stronger than death".

The King says: "This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes — at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others."

He concluded: "There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. 'And the greatest of these is love'.

"It is with these timeless truths in my mind, and my heart, that I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Easter."

His message is released before the King and Queen attend the annual Royal Maundy Service, which will be held at Durham Cathedral this year.

During the service, the monarch will present 152 recipients, 76 men and 76 women (signifying the age of the King), with specially-minted Maundy money to thank them for their outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities. The tradition takes place at a different cathedral or abbey every year.

Last year the King's Easter message was delivered via a pre-recorded address, as he was unable to attend the Royal Maundy service because he had stepped back from public-facing duties due to his cancer diagnosis a month earlier.

In his message, which was broadcast in his absence at Worcester Cathedral, the King called on people to "prioritise care and friendship".

The poignant message, which saw the monarch reaffirm his Coronation pledge "not to be served but to serve" came just days after the Princess of Wales revealed she had also been diagnosed with cancer.