How King Charles III Broke Tradition With Christmas Speech

King Charles III Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images

is breaking Christmas tradition with his annual speech.

The royal family’s official Instagram account shared a photo from Charles’ prerecorded holiday broadcast on Monday, December 23, revealing that this year’s message was filmed in the Fitzrovia Chapel in London. The location appears to have a special connection to the ongoing health crisis Charles, 76, has been experiencing throughout the past year.

“Formerly the chapel of Middlesex Hospital, it is now a space for quiet reflection, discovery and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none,” the Instagram caption read, noting that Charles’ grandfather “laid the foundation stone of the building” in 1928.

This year’s Christmas broadcast was the first time in 14 years that the speech was not filmed on a royal estate. Monday’s Instagram caption also revealed that the Christmas tree featured in the prerecorded package was donated to Croydon BME Forum and Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘Can You C Me?’ project and will be placed in the Royal Trinity Hospice in London.

Related: Palace Gives Update on Charles' Cancer Days Before Scheduled Royal Return  Buckingham Palace has confirmed King Charles III’s official return to public duties amid his cancer battle. “His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis,” a statement released by the palace on Friday, April 26, reads. “To help mark this milestone, […]

Every year, the reigning monarch records a Christmas broadcast that gets played via television and radio at 3 p.m. local time. This year’s message comes nearly a year after Charles announced in February that he had been diagnosed with cancer. (The following month, revealed her cancer diagnosis as well.)

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“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” Buckingham Palace shared in a statement at the time. “His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”

The type of cancer has never been publicly specified. However, Charles has returned to his public-facing duties.

The king is set to continue undergoing chemotherapy in the new year, a recent report revealed on Friday, December 20. The treatment is part of a “managed condition” as his health is already headed in a “positive direction,” ABC News shared at the time.

Related: Look Back at the Royal Family’s Christmas Cards Over the YearsBritain’s beloved royal family has been spreading holiday cheer over the years through their festive season’s greetings cards. Prince William and Duchess Kate often used the special occasion to document their growing family after their 2011 nuptials. The pair, who share Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, showed how much their children have grown […]

Charles proved he was in good spirits that same day when joking with reporters about his wellbeing.

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“I’m still alive,” he joked while at Waltham Forest Town Hall on Friday.

In October, Buckingham Palace confirmed to Hello! Magazine that Charles’ rigorous schedule will not change going into the new year.

“We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high point for us, knowing that we can think in those terms,” the spokesperson said at the time.

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