King Charles shares first look at Christmas speech after 'breaking tradition'

The royal family has shared a behind the scenes look at the King's Christmas speech. The monarch recorded his address to the public two weeks ago.

It was filmed at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London with Charles, 76, deciding to give the speech from the former hospital in a break from tradition following his cancer diagnosis.

A post on social media from the official royal family page said: "Lights. Camera. Action! The annual Christmas Day tradition - the Sovereign’s Christmas Broadcast - is almost here. Where will you be watching?"

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The footage shows a Christmas tree being decorated along with a brief look at his speech. In the address, the monarch will mention his and the Princess of Wales’s health battles in the first Christmas broadcast in 14 years to be filmed away from the royal estate.

The chapel used to serve London's medical community and is now a space for quiet reflection, discovery and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none.

A Palace source told The Sun: "The King wanted to do things a bit differently this year and reach out into the community rather than just in the royal estates, which is a key theme of his work.

"It seemed logical it must have some healthcare connection, it had to be a community space there to bring communities together, that it was suitably beautiful and festive, and have a royal connection, and be in easy reach of Buckingham Palace.

“He loved the pictures and loved the story behind it and loved the place when he got there. He was completely enchanted.”

Charles personally chose it before visiting for the first time on the day of filming on December 11, when the area close to Oxford Street was closed off.