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King Charles delivers Christmas message in former hospital chapel
King Charles will deliver his message from Fitzrovia Chapel in London at Christmas, a break from tradition as he continues to undergo treatment. Find out more about this special decision.
King Charles delivers Christmas message in former hospital chapel
Britain's King Charles will deliver his Christmas message from a particularly symbolic place of worship this year, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday. This marks a departure from tradition as the monarch continues to receive treatment for cancer.
The king's health
The 76-year-old monarch announced in February that he was against a unspecified cancer fights. He returned to his public duties in April. However, according to a palace official, the king's treatment has developed positively and will continue next year.
A new location for the Christmas message
Typically, the monarch's celebratory address is recorded at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. But this year King Charles chose the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London as a recording location. This chapel was once a hospital chapel before it was demolished in 1924, reflecting a special connection to the medical community.
A historic moment
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Monday that the message would be recorded there. It is the first time in over a decade that the speech was not recorded at the royal estate. The last speech filmed outside a royal homestead was in 2006, when the late Queen Elizabeth II delivered her message from Southwark Cathedral.
A place of reflection
Fitzrovia Chapel is a beautifully designed, Grade II listed building with Byzantine architecture. Buckingham Palace describes the space as a “space for quiet reflection, discovery and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths, or no faith.”
Royal connections
The building also has unique royal connections, as King Charles' grandfather, the Duke of York - later George VI - laid the foundation stone in 1928 and was present at the inauguration in 1935. The chapel was restored between 2013 and 2015.
A year full of challenges
The choice of location reflects the King's deep spirituality and is seen as a fitting choice in a year in which both he and his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, have faced health challenges.
Traditional Christmas event
The monarch's annual address is traditionally recorded in early December and broadcast on television and radio at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. ET) on Christmas Eve.
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