Royal Central - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Victoria Jones
/ PA Wire / Handout
There was huge anticipation for the first Christmas speech of the reign of King Charles III in 2023 and His Majesty choses a poignant location for the address. The King spoke to country and Commonwealth from the place he said his last goodbye to his mother.
His Majesty recorded his address in the Quire at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, where the final committal service for Queen Elizabeth II took place, just three months ago. It’s also where the King said a final farewell to his father, The Duke of Edinburgh, whose funeral took place there in April 2021.
The tombs of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are located nearby, in the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
The King’s first Christmas address also saw the Choir of St. George’s Chapel sing the National Anthem and a Christmas carol, following a format used by Queen Elizabeth II for many years.
King Charles III’s first speech as Monarch came ninety years after his great grandfather, King George V, delivered the first ever royal Christmas Day address in the UK. It was the first festive address by a king in seven decades.
The Quire was the first part of St. George’s Chapel to be completed and dates back to the 15th century. It contains the Garter Stalls for each Knight and Lady of the Garter as well as their banners.
King Henry VIII, Jane Seymour and King Charles I are all buried beneath the Quire.