Special meaning behind King Charles' choice of location for first annual Christmas address
By Bronte Gossling|
C?hristmas for the British royals will look a little different this year จC it's the first year the family will be marking the occasion without Queen Elizabeth II, but King Charles III's first Christmas address has made it clear she remains in their hearts.
Buckingham Palace today revealed Charles' first annual Christmas message, which ?is set to be broadcast in Australia tomorrow afternoon, was recorded in the Quire of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
This is a first for the historic message จC ?but the tradition-breaking choice of location is quite poignant.
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King George V and King George VI overwhelmingly recorded their messages at Buckingham Palace, with the Queen notably filming from the familiar desk and chair for her first Christmas address.
That doesn't mean the Queen didn't change the set's location every so often. At times, she did film at her Sandringham Estate as well as at Windsor Castle, and notably, ?in 1953, she filmed the message in Auckland, New Zealand, during her six-month royal tour of the Commonwealth with the late Prince Philip.
Windsor Castle was also the location where the Queen recorded her final Christmas broadcast in 2021.?
It has, however, never been filmed in St George's Chapel before, a location that has touching roots to members of the British royal family.
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Both the late Duke of Edinburgh, Charles' father, and the late Queen, Charles' mother, were laid to rest at St George's Chapel, and it's been made clear by other members of the family that the Queen especially will be remembered this Christmas.
In a special video message recorded to introduce ?Royal Carols: Together At Christmas, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, paid tribute to the late monarch and remembered the festive season as something the Queen held dear.
"This Christmas will be our first without Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth," Catherine said in the message. "Her Majesty held Christmas close to her heart, as a time that brought people together and reminded us of the importance of faith, friendship and family, and to show empathy and compassion.
"Her Majesty leaves with us an incredible legacy and one that has deeply inspired many of us. This year's carol service is dedicated to her and to all those who are sadly no longer with us," Catherine concluded, speaking about her second annual Christmas carol concert.
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Buckingham Palace also confirmed that this year's Christmas carol and the British National Anthem will both be performed by the choir of St George's Christmas Chapel during Charles' first Christmas address, with the decorations also holding special meaning.
The Christmas tree ornaments this year have been made from sustainable materials, including paper, glass and natural products such as pine cones, a nod to Charles' passion about the environment. Floral arrangements were also comprised of English foliage, including holly, berried ivy and red skimmia.
After the Christmas message was recorded, the Christmas tree was placed in the Dean's Cloister of St George's Chapel for visitors to enjoy.
St George's Chapel, however, is not just a special place for the Queen and Philip ?จC it's also the same place where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married.
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Following the explosive claims levelled against Charles and Prince William in the Sussexes' Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, as well as Harry's upcoming memoir and two sit-down television interviews, the relationship between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family is said to be fraught.
The Sussexes are not set to spend Christmas at Sandringham with the rest of British royals.
Royal experts, however, have speculated that the Sussexes are likely ?to receive an invitation to Charles' coronation next year as it is what the Queen would have wanted จC though if they attend is another matter.
Australians can watch ?Charles' Christmas address at 4pm and then again at 7.30pm on December 25. Follow along with 9Honey for full coverage.
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