This year’s Christmas message from King Charles will be delivered from a former hospital chapel, as he has been undergoing cancer treatment.
The Fitzrovia Chapel in downtown London, which previously served as the chapel of the Middlesex Hospital, will host the customary Christmas Day show.
It is the first time in more than a decade that the Christmas speech has been filmed outside of a royal palace or estate, and it is known that the King preferred a site with a healthcare connection.
The ornately adorned 19th-century former church structure currently hosts exhibitions and community events for individuals of all religions and none.
As well as a link to the health services, the structure also connects together with King Charles’ interest in seeking to develop bridges between diverse views, backgrounds, and religions.
The monarch’s traditional speech, which was taped earlier this month, will be broadcast as normal on television and radio at 15:00 on Christmas Day.
The Christmas message follows the King Charles’ cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
His regular sessions of treatment are continuing, as they have for much of this year, but as an indication of a favourable response, he has plans for a hectic schedule of engagements and abroad trips in 2025.
The little church, constructed in the Gothic Revival style with glittering mosaics and Byzantine influences, is tucked away in Pearson Square, in a quiet part of London’s West End.
It was established in the courtyard of what was the Middlesex Hospital, serving its personnel and patients. When the hospital was removed, the chapel was retained and repaired, with a new complex built around it.
It is no longer used for regular services but rather for community events and concerts, as well as for visitors seeking quiet contemplation.
The monarch’s Christmas message has frequently been recorded at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.
King Charles has recorded his speech at various locations, including Hampton Court Palace in 2010, Southwark Cathedral in 2006, and an army barracks in Windsor in 2003.
He has also attended seasonal events such as a Christmas market in Battersea, a service to remember those persecuted for their religion, and a celebration of diversity in Walthamstow.
