The King's Christmas broadcast features a subtle nod to his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, as the location of his fourth festive message of his reign has been revealed.
For the second-year running, Charles, 77, has chosen to record his speech outside a royal residence, speaking from the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey in London.
In the background of the broadcast are twinkling Christmas trees that have been repurposed from Kate's Together at Christmas carol concert, staged at the Abbey earlier in December before the King's message was filmed.
A number of the trees used at the service have been repurposed or donated to charities, including The Passage homelessness organisation and the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton.
The Abbey's Lady Chapel is the location for Charles' broadcast, a late medieval construction built for Henry VII and the burial place of 15 kings and queens, including Charles II, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots, and it is also the official chapel of the Order of the Bath.
Out of view above the King's head are the colourful banners of the chivalry order's knights, hanging beneath the chapel’s spectacular fan-vaulted ceiling.
© PAIt is understood the monarch asked for a filming location away from a royal setting and suggestions were made by the BBC, which produced the broadcast this year, and the royal household.
Westminster Abbey has a long history as a site of pilgrimage for those paying homage at the tomb of Edward the Confessor, whose shrine lies at the heart of the Abbey built in the King's honour.
© Andrew Parsons / Kensington PalaceEdward, who reigned for 24 years before dying in 1066, was said to be a monk-like monarch believed to have the power to heal and was canonised by Pope Alexander III in 1161 – with his tomb attracting pilgrims over the centuries.
It comes after Charles recorded his message at Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, a former sacred space of the demolished Middlesex Hospital where Diana, Princess of Wales opened London's first dedicated Aids ward. It has seen a surge in visitor numbers for exhibitions and open days since the broadcast on Christmas Day 2024.
What time can you watch the King's speech?
The King's message is one of the rare occasions when he does not turn to the Government for advice and is able to voice his own views.
Written by the monarch, it usually has a strong religious framework, reflects current issues and sometimes draws on their own experiences.
The message will be transmitted on both television and radio at 3pm on Christmas Day.
