Why King Charles Chose Westminster Abbey for His Christmas Speech
King Charles delivers a historic Christmas address from Westminster Abbey, reflecting on faith, healing, and unity in a deeply symbolic royal Christmas speech.
This year, King Charles III's Christmas message will be delivered from Westminster Abbey.
The traditional address, filmed in the Lady Chapel of the medieval church in central London, comes after his "good news" earlier this month about responding well to cancer treatment.
The King is expected to speak in the message about life's "pilgrimage" and the lessons learned from it, which will be broadcast at 3 pm on Christmas Day.
Last year's address was given in the Fitzroy Chapel, which was once used by hospital staff, and provided a symbolic setting for the King's message of thanks to healthcare workers.
This year's location is in a chapel beneath the Lady Chapel's famous medieval vaulted ceiling, where 15 previous kings and queens are buried, including Elizabeth I, Mary I, and Charles II.
It also means that for the second year in a row, the Christmas message will not be delivered from behind a desk inside a palace.
The King will be seen standing in front of Christmas trees, which were brought into the Abbey earlier this month to decorate it for the Princess of Wales's carol concert.
Westminster Abbey was also the location of the King's recent Advent service, which included prayers and music from various Christian traditions, including Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox.
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Icons were displayed in the Abbey for that service – and when the King met Pope Leo earlier this year, he presented him with an icon of St Edward the Confessor, a saint with strong connections to Westminster Abbey.
The Advent service and the Vatican visit highlighted one of the King's long-standing causes – his efforts to build bridges between people of different faiths and backgrounds.
The tradition of the monarch's annual Christmas broadcast, which reflects on the year and comments on current events, dates back to 1932, when George V gave the first address on radio. The first Christmas message on television was delivered by Elizabeth II in 1957. It is typically one of the most-watched programs on Christmas Day.
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