King Charles to break with tradition for 2024 Christmas message

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles will deliver his Christmas address from a church with links to the medical community, a break from tradition and a decision made while he continues to receive treatment for cancer. The 76-year-old monarch revealed in February that he was battling an unspecified form of cancer and resumed public duties in April.

Last week, a royal source told CNN that his "treatment is progressing positively" and that it "will continue into the New Year." The annual festive broadcast is typically recorded at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. However, this year, the British monarch has chosen to record this year's address at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, which was once a hospital chapel before being dismantled in 1924.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the location on Monday afternoon, after The Telegraph first reported the news. Charles' decision marks the first time in over a decade that the address will not be recorded at a royal estate. The last time the address was recorded outside of a royal residence was in 2006, when the late Queen Elizabeth II recorded her message at Southwark Cathedral.

Fitzrovia Chapel is a richly decorated Grade II listed building, featuring Byzantine architectural elements. According to Buckingham Palace, it "is now a space for quiet reflection, exploration and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none." The venue also has a unique royal connection, with King Charles' grandfather, the Duke of York – later King George VI – laying the foundation stone during its reconstruction in 1928 and returning to help open the building after its completion in 1935. The chapel underwent restoration between 2013 and 2015.

The choice of location reflects the King's deep spirituality and will be seen as a fitting choice given the health challenges both he and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, have faced this year. The monarch's annual address is traditionally recorded in early December and broadcast on television and radio at 3 pm on Christmas Day (2 am Boxing Day AEDT).