King Charles has made a notable departure from royal tradition for this year’s Christmas message, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
For the first time in over a decade, the 76-year-old monarch recorded his annual address outside a royal residence. The speech, set to be televised at 3 p.m. on Christmas Day, was filmed nearly two weeks ago at the Fitzrovia Chapel, a former hospital chapel located in Pearson Square, central London.
It is believed the King, currently undergoing cancer treatment, chose the location for its connection to healthcare. This year’s message will highlight the contributions of healthcare workers in light of his diagnosis and emphasize the importance of community cohesion following the Southport stabbings, according to The Telegraph.
In preview images shared by the palace, Charles is seen wearing a navy suit paired with a blue patterned tie. Behind him, a Christmas tree adorned with sustainable decorations—including pinecones, metal bells, twisted glass, and glass baubles—adds a festive touch.
After the broadcast, the tree was donated to Croydon BME Forum and Macmillan Cancer Support’s “Can You C Me?” project and will be displayed at the Royal Trinity Hospice in Clapham, the UK’s oldest hospice.
The Fitzrovia Chapel, with its striking Byzantine-inspired architecture, was formerly part of the Middlesex Hospital, rebuilt between 1929 and 1935. The project was funded entirely by donations, with King George VI—Charles’ grandfather—laying the foundation stone in 1928 and inaugurating the completed building in 1935.
Now a Grade II* listed building, the chapel boasts a richly decorated Gothic revival interior, featuring marble and a gold-leaf ceiling adorned with over 500 stars. Open to people of all faiths, beliefs, and backgrounds, the chapel aligns with Charles’ commitment to fostering community connections.
The last time a Christmas broadcast was filmed outside a royal residence was in 2010, when the late Queen Elizabeth II recorded her message at Hampton Court Palace. In 2003, she delivered her address from the Household Cavalry Barracks in Windsor, drawing attention to servicemen and women deployed overseas.
Charles has delivered two Christmas messages as King—his first in 2022 from St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and last year’s from Buckingham Palace. This year’s choice continues the royal tradition of Christmas broadcasts, which began in 1932 with King George V.
