King Charles III is set to use his annual Christmas message to shine a spotlight on healthcare workers, wrapping up a year marked by both his and the Princess of Wales’ battles with cancer.
The King’s Speech, scheduled to air on Christmas Day afternoon, was pre-recorded at the Fitzrovia Chapel in London, situated within the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital. This hospital was where his late first wife, Diana, inaugurated London’s inaugural specialized ward for individuals afflicted with AIDS. The Chapel boasts opulent Gothic Revival architecture, adorned with a gold leaf ceiling embellished with over 500 stars.
Carla Whalen, the chair of the Fitzrovia Chapel Foundation’s board of trustees, remarked, “I presume that this setting, fostering a sense of serene contemplation while also evoking thoughts of health, care, and the medical field, makes it an exceedingly fitting choice.”
Millions of viewers across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth tune in to watch the broadcast. In alignment with the King’s commitment to community engagement, he directed the broadcast production team to select a venue beyond the confines of a royal estate. This departure from tradition is a rarity, as the monarch’s Christmas message is typically recorded at royal residences like Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The last time his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, recorded her Christmas message outside a royal estate was in 2006.
Clear criteria were established for selecting the venue: it had to have ties to healthcare, possess a strong sense of community involvement, and serve as a place of solace and contemplation for individuals of all faiths.
This marks the King’s third Christmas address since ascending the throne following the queen’s passing in September 2022. Notably, it is his first Christmas message since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February.
His treatment necessitated a temporary withdrawal from public engagements for a two-month period. The 76-year-old monarch has gradually resumed his public duties in recent months and appeared in good spirits during a journey to Australia alongside his spouse, Queen Camilla, in October.
The royal family faced significant challenges throughout the year. Shortly after Charles embarked on his treatment, the Princess of Wales disclosed her own cancer diagnosis, prompting her to curtail public appearances as she underwent chemotherapy.
In a voiceover for the broadcast of her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey – recorded earlier this month but aired on Tuesday evening – Kate expressed gratitude for the love and support she has received. “The Christmas narrative urges us to empathize with the experiences and emotions of others,” she noted. “It underscores our vulnerabilities and emphasizes the significance of extending and receiving empathy, underscoring how much we rely on each other despite our differences.”
Meanwhile, Camilla has been grappling with a lingering chest infection in recent weeks, causing her to miss several engagements, including last month’s remembrance service for fallen service members.
