King’s Christmas speech breaks royal tradition

King Charles is scheduled to make his annual Christmas speech from a former hospital chapel, in a break from tradition as the British monarch undergoes cancer treatment.

King Charles records his Christmas message at the Fitzrovia Chapel in London. Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images

The King was scheduled to make his annual Christmas speech from a former hospital chapel, in a break from tradition as the British monarch undergoes cancer treatment.

The address comes at the end of a year in which the royal family faced multiple medical setbacks, starting with Charles, 76, being diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in February.

The speech overnight on Wednesday AEDT, which was pre-recorded at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, would be the first time the address to the nation was made from outside a royal residence since 2006.

The Byzantine-inspired chapel used to be part of Middlesex Hospital and has served as “a place of solace, prayer and rest for staff and patients” for nearly a 100 years, according to a Buckingham Palace statement.

Although the King has slowly returned to public duties, he is still undergoing cancer treatment, which is expected to continue into 2025.

Daughter-in-law Princess Catherine was also diagnosed with cancer this year, and announced in September she had completed chemotherapy.

The last time the annual broadcast was made outside a royal residence was in 2006, when the late Queen Elizabeth, made her speech from Southwark Cathedral.

The King evoked environmentalism and called for world peace in his 2023 Christmas address from Buckingham Palace.

This year’s message was recorded earlier this month from the ornate Grade II-listed chapel that boasts more than 500 stars in its gold-leaf ceiling and about 40 different types of marble.

AFP