Real reason King Charles chose former hospital chapel for Christmas message revealed by historian
A leading historian has explained why King Charles’s choice of venue for his Christmas speech carries deep significance.
Speaking on GB News, Martyn Whittock said: “I think this is a deliberate attempt by the King to connect with those people who have been so intimately connected with him through his treatment.”
“What’s interesting is that this chapel is no longer used as a church, but it’s now used for community events,” Whittock added.
“The placing of his speech here is actually giving a lot of information,” he noted.
King Charles has broken with royal tradition by choosing not to film his Christmas speech at a royal residence this year.
Instead, the monarch selected the Fitzrovia Chapel, a former hospital chapel in Pearson Square, Central London, as his recording venue.
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The King was reportedly keen to film his third Christmas message at an external location, rather than the usual settings of Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.
The broadcast is scheduled for 3pm on Christmas Day.
The Fitzrovia Chapel is described as “an enchanting jewel of Byzantine inspired architecture.”
The historic building features over 40 varieties of marble and a resplendent golden mosaic ceiling, designed by John Loughborough Pearson.
It operates as a non-denominational chapel, hosting a variety of community activities.
The venue currently serves as a space for weddings, civil partnerships, community gatherings, concerts, fashion shows, and exhibitions.
The chapel also provides a place for quiet reflection and discovery, welcoming diverse communities from all faiths or none.
The choice of venue appears particularly poignant given the King’s ongoing cancer treatment, which was detected following tests earlier this year.
Palace sources indicate his treatment is progressing positively and will continue into 2024.
“I think he’s making the point that this is a place where the whole community can come together,” Whittock explained on GB News.
The King’s message is expected to reflect on global, national and personal challenges, emphasising the importance of community support in overcoming difficulties.
The monarch’s Christmas message has been a royal tradition since King George V delivered the first live address in 1932.
Queen Elizabeth II maintained this tradition throughout her reign, missing only one year in 1969 when she issued a written message instead.
The late Queen typically delivered her festive messages from Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace or Sandringham.
King Charles’s previous Christmas addresses were recorded at St George’s Chapel and Buckingham Palace.