King Charles III Christmas speech: What time is it and how to watch?
The monarch traditionally records the 10-minute message in advance of it being broadcast and it reflects issues of the year culminating with a festive farewell.
The Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, formerly the chapel of the Middlesex Hospital, is the site of this year’s Christmas Day broadcast.
It’s the first time the Christmas speech has been filmed outside of a royal castle or estate in more than 10 years, and it’s known that the King desired a venue that had ties to the medical community.
The elaborately designed former church from the 19th century is currently used for community events and exhibitions for people of all faiths.
To find out more about the King’s speech this year, read on.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the coronation
Leon Neal / PA Archive
What time is the King’s Christmas speech in 2024?
The speech will be broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Day.
It comes at a time when the king is battling cancer.
He is continuing his regular treatment sessions, as he has been doing for the majority of this year, and he has plans for a busy schedule of engagements and international travel in 2025, which is a sign of a continuing recovery.
The first Christmas broadcast was delivered by George V in 1932.
How can I watch Charles’s address?
The speech is usually shown on BBC One but also on iPlayer and the audio will be on BBC Radio 4 as well as BBC Sounds.
What alternative is there?
If the monarchy is not your thing, Channel 4 has your back.
McCausland’s Alternative Christmas Message will air on Channel 4 at 4.50pm on Christmas Day.
Why is the King’s speech being broadcast from Fritzrovia Chapel?
The King’s choice to record the Christmas message earlier in December at the Fitzrovia Chapel is indicative of the monarch’s ongoing health journey.
The serene and contemplative setting of the chapel provides a moving setting for a speech that will emphasise individual and group resilience in the face of hardship.
