King Charles’ Christmas speech: Former hospital chapel as a backdrop

King Charles III (76) did not choose a royal property as a filming location for his Christmas speech this year. Instead, the monarch chose a building with special significance. , the speech, which was recorded earlier this month, was recorded in a former hospital chapel.

The Fitzrovia Chapel in London served as the location for the speech, which is traditionally broadcast on television and radio at 3 p.m. on Christmas Day in Great Britain. It is the former chapel of the Middlesex Hospital, which closed in the early 2000s. However, the church building was preserved and is now used for exhibitions and community events for people of all faiths.

According to the BBC, it is believed that Charles, who was suffering from cancer, chose the former chapel as a location related to healthcare and the importance of understanding between different religions and backgrounds. It is said to be the first time in ten years that a speech by a British monarch was not made in a royal building or estate.

was also declared the location of the speech on the official account of the “Royal Family”: “In 1928, His Majesty’s grandfather, George VI, laid the foundation stone for the building.” A first image from the recording shows Charles wearing a dark blue suit with a light blue tie. A decorated tree can be seen next to him. “The Christmas tree was donated to the Croydon BME Forum and the ‘Can You C Me?’ project. “Donated by Macmillan Cancer Support and will be installed at the Royal Trinity Hospice in Clapham, the oldest hospice in the UK,” the Instagram post reads.

On December 25, 2023, Charles gave his second Christmas address as king and his first after coronation. In his ten-minute speech, he called for peace, environmental protection, the acceptance of different faiths and good coexistence. The speech was previously recorded at Buckingham Palace on December 7th.

Charles’ cancer treatment is expected to continue next year. This was reported by “Sky News,” among others. According to the report, the palace said that the monarch’s treatment “has progressed in a positive direction and the cycle of treatment will continue into next year.” According to Sky News, the anonymous source added that there was confidence regarding the cancer. This is also reflected in the king’s desire to complete a dense program of public appearances. He will celebrate Christmas as usual with his family in Sandringham.