Monarch records annual address in a former hospital chapel, marking a year of change.
King Charles has chosen to record his annual Christmas message from a unique location, stepping away from the traditional royal estate settings. Instead, he filmed his address in the Fitzrovia Chapel, a former hospital chapel situated in central London.
The chapel, originally built for staff and patients of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital, is a small but significant venue. It holds personal meaning for the King, especially at the close of a year marked by significant challenges. This year’s choice is poignant, given the King’s ongoing cancer treatment, which he will continue into the new year. His diagnosis came shortly before the Princess of Wales also revealed her battle with cancer, undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
Although no longer used for religious services, the chapel remains a cherished community space. The King’s decision to record his message here, rather than within the royal estate, is a departure from the norm. However, it’s not the first time a royal has opted for a non-traditional location. The late Queen Elizabeth II recorded three of her Christmas messages outside royal residences, including at the Royal Albert Hall in 1989 and Southwark Cathedral in 2006.
The Christmas message itself reflects on the year gone by, and this year, it comes after a period of great upheaval for the royal family. While the King has shown resilience, subtle adjustments have been made to accommodate his health. His choice of the Fitzrovia Chapel, with its deep associations with health, underscores the personal significance of the setting at the close of an unpredictable year.
