This year’s Christmas message from King Charles III will come from an extraordinary and symbolic location: the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London. Once the chapel of the Middlesex Hospital, this Gothic Revival treasure will serve as the backdrop for the King’s annual address, reflecting themes of community, healthcare, and unity.
The decision marks a significant departure from tradition. For the first time in over a decade, the Christmas Day broadcast will not take place in a royal palace or estate. Instead, the King has chosen a venue steeped in history and compassion, honoring those who work in healthcare.
A Message Rooted in Compassion and Unity
The King, who has been undergoing cancer treatment throughout 2024, reportedly sought a setting that would resonate deeply with the public. The Fitzrovia Chapel, with its shimmering mosaics and Byzantine influences, embodies a rich connection to health services and the broader community.
This choice also underscores the King’s commitment to building bridges between diverse beliefs and backgrounds, a recurring theme of his reign. In a year where some towns faced division and unrest, the King’s location hints at themes of healing—both physical and social—in his message.
Reflecting on a Challenging Year
2024 has been a transformative year for King Charles. Despite his cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment, the King has maintained a positive outlook, demonstrated by his plans for an active schedule of engagements and international travel in 2025.
The broadcast, recorded earlier this month, shows the King seated beside a Christmas tree that has since been donated to a hospice in Clapham. This gesture reflects the King’s enduring focus on community support and philanthropy.
A Historic and Sacred Setting
The Fitzrovia Chapel, originally built in the 19th century, served the patients and staff of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital. Retained and restored after the hospital’s closure, the chapel reopened in 2016 as a space for exhibitions, community events, and quiet reflection.
Its history adds layers of meaning to the King’s message. The chapel hosted the lying-in-state of literary great Rudyard Kipling before his funeral at Westminster Abbey. This connection to both the arts and healthcare aligns seamlessly with the King’s interests and values.
A Legacy of Christmas Broadcasts
The Christmas speech, a royal tradition since 1932, has occasionally ventured beyond royal estates. In 2010, it was filmed at Hampton Court Palace, and in 2006, at Southwark Cathedral. This year’s choice of Fitzrovia Chapel continues the tradition of connecting the broadcast to themes relevant to the nation.
Looking Ahead
The King’s Christmas message will air at 3:00 PM on December 25, across television and radio, as families across the UK and Commonwealth gather to reflect on the year gone by.
As the nation tunes in, the King’s words from the Fitzrovia Chapel are expected to inspire hope, gratitude, and a sense of unity, underscoring his unwavering dedication to his people during both personal and public challenges.