King Charles reveals behind the scenes look into poignant Christmas Day speech that broke from custom

King Charles has revealed the behind the scenes set up of his emotional annual Christmas Day speech. 

The monarch, 76, filmed his special message from a former hospital chapel at Middlesex Hospital in London to emphasise the link with the nation’s vital healthcare community.

The Christmas message was filmed for only the fourth time ‘on location’, rather than on a royal estate. 

During Charles’s speech, he offered an emotional thank you to the ‘selfless’ medics who have supported his family this year during a message to the nation on Wednesday.

The official Royal Family Instagram account have now shared a clip showing how much work went into getting everything perfect for the annual occasion. 

The clip showed the Band of the Grenadier Guards getting dressed in their bold scarlet-red uniform, along with Charles practising his speech. 

Part of the video message was filmed using a drone which flew through the doors of the building before stopping short of the smart guards. 

Members of the team also helped decorate the atmosphere with lit festive trees and decorations to help set the scene.

It also showed Charles discussing with technicians how to use the autocue to read his speech, along with reviewing the footage after it had been filmed. 

The official Royal Family Instagram account wrote: ‘Behind the lens. 

‘A special glimpse into the incredible talent, creativity, and teamwork that brings The King’s Christmas Broadcast to life.’

It has since racked up many likes from royal fans, who commented their thoughts on the post.

One wrote: ‘Such a treat to be taken behind the scenes, great job to everyone involved.’

Another penned: ‘I thought it was a beautiful speech and great to see behind the scenes.’

A third said: ‘Lovely speech including candour about health issues we all face or have loved ones who face – it was both global and personal.’ 

A fourth commented: ‘I loved the speech and it’s great to see how it was filmed. Merry Christmas.’ 

In his annual Christmas Day broadcast, Charles candidly admitted to the ‘uncertainties and anxieties of illness’.

The monarch, who has worked throughout his ongoing cancer treatment, gave an unprecedented glimpse into the depths of his personal battle, as well as that of his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales.

The King, 76, highlighted how much it has meant to him to hear words of encouragement from people who welcomed his decision to make his diagnosis public in the hope that it might help others.

He said: ‘I am speaking to you today from the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London – now itself a vibrant community space – and thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others – often at some cost to themselves.

‘From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed.

‘I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement.’ 

Elsewhere in the speech, Charles also spoke of his ‘deep sense of pride’ at communities across the UK who came together following rioting after the fatal stabbing of three little girls in Southport in July. 

He said: ‘I felt a deep sense of pride here in the United Kingdom when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviours but to repair.

‘To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all.’

Saying that ‘all of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life, be it mental or physical’, he emphasised how it is the degree to which we reach out to help one another, regardless of nationality or faith, that is a ‘measure of our civilisation as nations’.

‘This is what continually impresses me, as my family and I meet with, and listen to, those who dedicate their lives to helping others,’ he added.

His broadcast came just hours after more than 2,000 members of the public, some queuing overnight, gathered at Sandringham to greet the Royal Family for their annual walk to church on Christmas Day.

Kate spoke to well-wishers about her battle with cancer and hugged a cancer patient during a walk with her family in Sandringham.

The Princess of Wales told royals fans she was ‘hugely grateful’ to the hundreds of people who had written to her offering their support after her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

And yesterday she met a cancer patient who travelled to Sandringham to meet members of the Firm, hugging Kate.

Karen Maclean, from North Lincolnshire, spoke with both Charles and Kate and gave the princess a hug.

The 73-year-old, who is retired, said she had had ’20 years of cancer’ and spoke about the disease with the King and his daughter-in-law after their own health issues this year.

‘We just had a little talk about cancer, really,’ said Ms Maclean.

‘I’ve met the King before. He said to me ‘I can remember you’, I’m thinking ‘what!’, like many years ago?’

She said that Charles and Kate seemed ‘very well actually, considering what they’re going through’.

She added after hugging Kate: ‘What a privilege.’

Moments after she took a gift for Charlotte from a little girl, who she wished Merry Christmas, a woman who had worked for Macmillan Cancer Support told Kate: ‘I just wanted to say you are an inspiration to all the patients.’

The Princess of Wales replied: ‘The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families.

‘People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.’

Another woman added, ‘We’re all behind you, never forget that,’ to which Kate replied, ‘Thank you very much, [that’s] so kind, nice to meet you.’