King Charles III will deliver his Christmas Day message this year from a former hospital chapel, Buckingham Palace announced Monday, marking a departure from tradition as the British monarch continues treatment for cancer.
The 76-year-old king, who ascended to the throne in 2022, was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer earlier this year, following a procedure for an enlarged prostate. According to palace sources, his treatment is progressing positively and will continue into 2024.
A Historic and Symbolic Setting
This year’s pre-recorded Christmas Day broadcast will take place at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, an ornate former church located on the site of a former hospital.
“The Fitzrovia Chapel is now a space for quiet reflection, discovery, and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement on X, noting that King Charles’s grandfather, George VI, laid the chapel’s foundation stone in 1928.
The palace has not revealed the content of the king’s message, which will be aired on Wednesday, but a royal source indicated it would address international, national, and personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of communities supporting one another.
The annual Christmas Day messages date back to a radio broadcast by King George V in 1932. Traditionally filmed in one of the monarch’s residences, this year’s location signifies a shift in approach.
King Charles delivered his first Christmas message as monarch last year from Buckingham Palace. The last time the broadcast was filmed outside a royal residence was in 2006 by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
According to *The Daily Telegraph*, the decision to use Fitzrovia Chapel reflects Charles’s intention to make the message feel “fresher and more modern,” particularly as he navigates his own health challenges.
The chapel’s history and its connection to healthcare are seen as deeply symbolic. As the king continues his treatment, the choice of location may underscore themes of resilience and community support that are expected to feature in his address.
