LONDON — LONDON (AP) – King Charles III The annual Christmas message is expected to be used to highlight health workers, as both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer at the end of a year.
His King’s Speech, to be delivered on Christmas Day evening, was recorded at London’s Fitzrovia Chapel, which was part of the now-demolished Middlesex Hospital, where his first wife, Diana, opened London’s first AIDS ward. The building is decorated in the Gothic Revival style and has over 500 stars on a gold leaf ceiling.
“I think this space, being a quiet reflection, but also thinking about health, about care, about the medical profession, would be a pretty good choice,” said Carla Whalen, chair of the Fitzrovia Chapel Foundation board of trustees.
The broadcast is watched by millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth.
In keeping with the king’s desire to join the community, he instructed the team organizing the broadcast to find a site away from the royal estates. It is rare when the monarch’s Christmas message is not recorded at one of the royal residences, particularly Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. Lately his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II engraved her message on the outside of the royal estate It was in 2006.
The criteria were clear: the building had to have health connections, a strong community presence and a place of calm and reflection for those of faith or not.
This is the king’s third Christmas speech since his accession to the throne After the Queen’s death in September 2022. It is the first since him He was diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer in February
His treatment forced him to withdraw from public appearances for two months. The 76-year-old monarch has slowly eased back into public life in recent months, and was in good spirits during a tour in Australia with his wife, Queen Camilla.
It has been a difficult year for the royal family. A few weeks after Charles began treatment, the Princess of Wales announced hers a cancer diagnosis, which sidelined him for much of the year because he underwent chemotherapy.
Voiceover for his show annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbeywhich was recorded this month but aired on Tuesday evening, reflected the love and support Kate has received.
“The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others,” she said. “It also reflects our vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as how much we need each other. about our differences.”
Meanwhile, Camilla has had a lingering chest infection for the past few weeks and has been unable to attend a number of events, among others. last month’s memorial service for fallen service workers.
The royal family, including Prince William and Kate and their three children, will spend Christmas Day at the Sandringham Estate in eastern England.
Charles’ brother Prince Andrew is not expected, according to UK media, in a bid to prevent further embarrassment to the royal family after a revelation. A suspected Chinese spy who had business dealings with the Duke of York It was banned from the UK because it poses a threat to national security.
