The King’s speech: Monarch’s Christmas address details revealed

LONDON: King Charles III has decided to deliver this year’s King’s Christmas speech from the Lady Chapel inside Westminster Abbey, according to details revealed on Thursday.

Photographs shared across various media platforms show the monarch recording the address away from a royal palace once again. In recent years, the King has delivered only a small number of Christmas messages from his own residences, choosing instead to speak from locations of historic and spiritual significance.

The Palace said Westminster Abbey was selected this year to reflect a central theme of the message — pilgrimage, the NBC News noted.

Although the King’s Christmas speech is warmly anticipated by Christians and royal followers alike, the contents of the address are traditionally kept secret until its official broadcast on mainstream media on Christmas Day.

Over the years, the King’s speech has been regarded as thoughtful and impactful, often carrying profound messages intended to guide and inspire people in their daily lives.

Before the address is recorded, the monarch also consults the government to determine whether there are any key messages or advice that may be relevant for the public during the festive season.

Westminster Abbey was seen as a fitting setting for this year’s theme, as pilgrims from around the world visit annually to honour the legacy of Edward the Confessor, whose shrine lies at the heart of the Abbey. The Lady Chapel itself is surrounded by 95 statues of saints, dating back to the construction of the chapel in the 16th century.