King Charles III‘s Christmas message is to relocate away from a palace or estate for the first time in more than a decade.
The monarch will this year deliver the annual speech from a former hospital chapel to mark a year in which he has been undergoing cancer treatment and to pay tribute to the National Health Service, the BBC reported.
The King’s speech will take place from the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, which once served as the chapel of the Middlesex Hospital.
The move is a break from tradition. The annual Christmas message, a ratings-grabber that has been airing for nearly 100 years, normally takes place in a royal palace or estate.
The BBC reported that the King wanted a location with a healthcare connection. He has been undergoing cancer treatment this year and is understood to be recovering well, with a busy schedule planned for this year. The past 12 months have also seen Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton receive treatment for cancer.
Airing on the BBC and ITV, the Christmas day message is regularly one of the most-watched UK broadcasts of the holiday season. Last year’s speech saw the King focus on volunteers and the protection of the planet.
