King Charles will deliver his traditional Christmas message on December 25, but those watching will notice he will be doing so from a different location than usual. The King is set to deliver his message from the former chapel of a hospital – the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London which was once part of the Middlesex Hospital – to be exact. It will mark the first time in more than 10 years that the Christmas message wasn’t recorded in a royal home.
Given his fight with cancer over the past year, the King reportedly wanted to film his message at a location that was a nod to healthcare. As a result, The Telegraph reports the King recorded his message almost two weeks ago at the Fitzrovia Chapel.
Charles is hoping the switch in location brings him closer to his desire to “reach out into communities rather than bringing them into him”. His message is set to touch on themes of health care and the power of community, as well as the power of togetherness and unity. A palace source also noted that the speech will also “reflect on international, national and personal challenges and how they can be overcome by communities supporting one another”.
Charles wants address to have a modern feel
When deciding on where to deliver his message, Charles wanted a location with a fresh and modern feel given his recent medical history. His grandfather, George VI, laid the foundation stone when the hospital was rebuilt in 1928. As for the chapel, it was built in the heart of the former Middlesex Hospital and offers staff and patients a place to reflect while featuring a golden mosaic ceiling over the nave.
Charles’ message comes after a trying year for the royal family. Charles and Kate Middleton were both hospitalised earlier in the year, the King with an enlarged prostate and Kate for abdominal surgery. They were then both diagnosed with cancer within days of each other. Princess Anne was also hospitalised after being knocked out by a horse, while the Queen has also been recovering from a bout of pneumonia in recent weeks. The King’s speech is set to be televised at 3 pm in the United Kingdom across television and radio on Christmas Day.
