King Charles III surprised viewers this Christmas by broadcasting his holiday address from the historic Lady Chapel of Westminster Abbey, marking a first for the monarch’s annual speech.
The Christmas Address
For this year’s holiday address to the nation, which airs on Christmas Day, the monarch chose a new venue. The broadcast was filmed at the Lady Chapel of Westminster Abbey on Dec. 11.
A First-Time Location
It is the first time the speech has been recorded in that setting and only the second occasion the Christmas speech was held outside a royal residence since 2006. The 77-year-old previously filmed his 2024 address at Fitzrovia Chapel located at London’s Pearson Square.
The Hardest-Working Royal Title
Beyond the location change, King Charles officially took over the unofficial title of hardest-working royal from Princess Anne. According to the Court Circular of 2025, the official record of royal engagements, the King carried out 532 engagements over the last 12 months, 50 more than his 75-year-old sister.
Engagements in Context
The tally of 532 engagements highlights the King’s continued public duties amid his ongoing cancer treatments. Buckingham Palace first shared news of his cancer diagnosis and treatment in February 2024.
A Message of Hope
During Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer special on Dec. 12, the King said, “This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years,” he added. “testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50 percent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.”
He continued, “I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case, enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.”
He also remarked, “A few moments of minor inconvenience are a small price to pay for the reassurance,” or, for some, are given the chance to enable early detection, with the life-saving intervention that can follow.
Finally, he added, “Your life-or the life of someone you love-may depend upon it.”
Upcoming Treatment Schedule
The King announced that his treatments would be reduced in 2026 “thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders.'”
Key Takeaways
- King Charles III filmed his Christmas address from Westminster Abbey’s Lady Chapel for the first time.
- He surpassed Princess Anne with 532 royal engagements, earning the title of hardest-working royal.
- The King’s public statements underscore the progress in cancer care and the importance of early detection.
King Charles’s holiday broadcast and candid discussion of his health mark a significant moment for the British monarchy, blending tradition with a personal narrative of resilience and hope.
