How King Charles will break from tradition in his Christmas speech this year

The King has broken tradition by recording this year’s Christmas Day message at a church rather than on a royal estate.

King Charles has chosen to film the annual address to the nation at a former hospital chapel following his ongoing battle with cancer. 

The Monarch will appear on TV screens on Wednesday to deliver his speech from the Fitzrovia Chapel in London, which once served as a chapel for Middlesex Hospital.

It marks the first time in 14 years that the King’s speech has not been filmed on a royal estate. 

The chapel is understood to reflect the key themes of healthcare and community that the King is expected to talk about during the speech, according to The Telegraph.

The newspaper added that his message will focus on the ‘incredible work’ of the healthcare profession in a year where he and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, were both diagnosed with cancer.

He will also highlight the value of community, praising the British people for coming together in the wake of this summer’s far-right riots after the Southport stabbings. 

Charles has been undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease in February. It was revealed last week that the 76-year-old is ‘moving in a positive direction’ and will continue his treatment into 2025. 

The King has broken tradition by recording this year's Christmas Day message at Fitzrovia Chapel (pictured), which once served as a chapel for Middlesex Hospital

The King has broken tradition by recording this year’s Christmas Day message at Fitzrovia Chapel (pictured), which once served as a chapel for Middlesex Hospital

The Monarch will appear on TV screens on Wednesday to deliver his speech from the Fitzrovia Chapel in London (pictured)

The Monarch will appear on TV screens on Wednesday to deliver his speech from the Fitzrovia Chapel in London (pictured)

The King's speech last year was filmed inside Buckingham Palace (pictured), however, this year it will be filmed inside a former hospital chapel

The King’s speech last year was filmed inside Buckingham Palace (pictured), however, this year it will be filmed inside a former hospital chapel

It was reportedly the monarch’s own idea to film the broadcast outside of the royal residences. 

The late Queen filmed her 2010 Christmas speech at Hampton Court Palace, marking the last time a monarch broke this tradition.

A royal source told The Telegraph the King wanted to use his speech to ‘reach out into communities rather than bringing them into him’. 

‘Even though this is a Christmas address, His Majesty likes to reach out to those of all faiths and none,’ they added. 

Charles had reportedly never seen the church before and was ‘absolutely enchanted’ by its size, ‘astonishing beauty’ and rich history during his first visit.

The Grade II listed chapel in central London close to Oxford Street has Byzantine-inspired architecture and is richly decorated in a Gothic revival style with marble and more than 500 stars in the gold leaf ceiling.

It is used as a community space and, while it is not regularly used for services, it often hosts several events such as weddings, exhibitions and book launches. 

The chapel is currently closed to the public but is set to reopen on January 8 for a special exhibition. 

The Grade II listed chapel in central London close to Oxford Street has Byzantine-inspired architecture

The Grade II listed chapel in central London close to Oxford Street has Byzantine-inspired architecture 

The outside of the the Fitzrovia Chapel in London where King Charles III recorded his Christmas message

The outside of the the Fitzrovia Chapel in London where King Charles III recorded his Christmas message

King Charles III attends a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Family

King Charles III attends a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Family 

The King with priest Father Dominic Robinson during an advent service at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, also known as Farm Street Church, in London on Tuesday

The King with priest Father Dominic Robinson during an advent service at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, also known as Farm Street Church, in London on Tuesday

It was revealed last week that His Majesty intends to return to a full programme of public duties next year. This will include ‘exciting’ UK and international visits in the first half of 2025, a royal insider said.

‘His treatment has been moving in a positive direction, as a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into the new year’, they added. 

Charles has been carrying on with his duties despite facing a personally challenging year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.

He has also increased his engagements recently, including a visit to Apple’s London HQ and a meeting with CEO Tim Cook. 

News of Charles’ cancer, undisclosed in its form, came in February, after it was discovered while he was treated in hospital for an enlarged prostate in January.

He cancelled all face-to-face public duties but returned in April and has since travelled to France for D-Day commemorations, hosted incoming state visits for the Emperor of Japan and the Emir of Qatar, and undertaken a hectic tour to Australia and Samoa with the Queen, despite still undergoing outpatient cancer treatment.

You May Also Like

Chants of ‘Death to America’ heard at funeral for Iranian commanders who died in conflict while Trump threatens more bombings

THE funeral for the Iranian commanders wiped out in the war has…

Jessie J shares she is still battling cancer after surgery and decides to take a break from social media to concentrate on getting better

Jessie J has confirmed that she is not cancer free, a day after posting…

Joyful Patrick Whitesell catches up with friends while enjoying his happy life with his beautiful wife Pia, while his ex Lauren Sanchez ties the knot with Jeff Bezos in Venice.

Patrick Whitesell proved he has well and truly moved on from ex-wife…

New discoveries about Ancient Egyptian artifacts challenge our understanding of history after being hidden for 5000 years

A Florida retailer and podcaster has unveiled a private collection of ancient…

Six Americans captured for ‘tossing 1,600 bottles containing rice, Bibles, and $1 bills’ into ocean directed at North Korea

Six Americans were arrested for attempting to send over 1,600 bottles filled…

Pastry chef, lawyer, and fast food boss team up to take down Putin’s drones using a WWI-style machine gun on a truck from Leeds

It’s 3:15 in the morning, and the sun won’t rise for another…

Accusations that Labour signed up to a ‘migrant merry-go-round with France’

LABOUR was last night accused of signing up to a “migrant merry-go-round”…

For 31 years, I provided guidance on the Iran danger to the US – the final stages of a failing government, Trump’s upcoming decision is vital

IRAN’S repressed nation should be encouraged to overthrow its barbaric regime by…

Trump says he prevented Ayatollah from a brutal death by instructing Israeli jets to abort attack in mid-flight

DONALD Trump has claimed that he saved Iran’s Supreme Leader from an…

Holly Valance, aged 42, separates from wealthy real estate mogul spouse Nick Candy, aged 52, following thirteen years of marriage

Holly Valance has ended her marriage with Nick Candy, a wealthy real…

Putin embarrassed as expensive jets worth £37 million destroyed in attack before retaliating by killing two people in a sudden and violent assault on a residential building in Ukraine.

UKRAINE has successfully blitzed a pair of Russia’s prized Su-34 fighter jets…

A tourist at a US airport is deported for kicking a sniffer dog so hard that it flew into the air, and was fined for the incident.

A TOURIST who kicked a sniffer dog “so hard it flew into…