How King Charles III Is Breaking Royal Tradition With Christmas Speech

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King Charles III has made a royal change.

This year, the monarch recorded the annual Christmas Day message from a new location: the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey, on December 11th.

This is the first time the annual broadcast has been filmed at this particular location, and only the second time since 2006 it wasn’t recorded inside a royal home. The 77-year-old King previously filmed his 2024 message at Fitzrovia Chapel in London.

This year’s Christmas broadcast isn’t the only change – King Charles has now become known as the most active member of the royal family, taking over that role from Princess Anne. According to the official record of royal duties for 2025, the King completed 532 engagements in the last year, which is 50 more than his sister, Princess Anne, who is 75 years old.

This milestone arrives as King Charles undergoes treatment for cancer, a diagnosis Buckingham Palace revealed in February 2024. The King recently shared that his treatments are expected to lessen in 2026, a positive outcome he attributes to early detection, successful treatment, and following medical advice.

He shared that reaching this point in his journey feels like a personal gift and highlights how much better cancer care has become. He said this during Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer event on December 12th, hoping it would offer hope to the many – around half of us – who will face a cancer diagnosis at some point.

The royal highlighted how crucial it is to find health issues early. They also shared that early detection has been key to their own ability to live a full and active life, even while receiving treatment.

His Majesty explained that a little temporary discomfort is a worthwhile trade-off for peace of mind, and for others, it offers the opportunity to find health problems early, leading to potentially life-saving treatment.

He added, “Your life—or the life of someone you love—may depend upon it.”

For a look back at all the royal news from the year, keep reading.

Following Prince Andrew’s decision to step down from using his Duke of York title, King Charles III announced that his brother would also lose his Prince title and be asked to leave his home at Royal Lodge.

Buckingham Palace announced today that King Charles has begun the official process of removing Prince Andrew’s royal titles and honors. He will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has announced he will no longer use the title Duke of York. This decision comes because of ongoing public concern about his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

After talking with The King and my family, I’ve decided the ongoing accusations against me are taking attention away from the important work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Prince Andrew said in a statement. “As I’ve always done, I’m prioritizing my family and country. Therefore, I stand by my decision to step back from public duties, which I made five years ago.”

Andrew stated that, with the King’s approval, he was taking things a step further. He would be giving up his royal title and any honors he’d received. He also reiterated that he strongly denied the allegations made against him.

 

In October 2025, the King and his oldest son attended the Countdown to COP30 event held at the Natural History Museum in London.

The couple took photos outside the museum and then went inside to meet with government officials and activists dedicated to fighting climate change. This event took place ahead of the COP30 World Leaders Summit in Belém, Brazil, in November, which Prince William will attend in place of his father.

In September 2025, Sarah, Duchess of York, stepped down as a patron of Julia’s House after an old email from 2011 to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced. In the email, she referred to him as a friend.

After reports emerged this weekend about the Duchess of York’s communication with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has decided it’s no longer appropriate for her to continue supporting the charity as a patron. The charity has informed the Duchess of this decision and expressed gratitude for her previous contributions, according to The Guardian.

A representative for Ferguson stated the email was sent following a threat made against her by Epstein.

After a 19-month absence, Prince Harry was spotted arriving at Clarence House—King Charles’s home in London—presumably to visit his father before attending another event in the city.

Harry arrived at the house around 5:20 p.m. on September 10th, but Charles had come back just a few hours earlier.

Princess Anne’s son and his girlfriend, Harriet Sperling, announced their engagement on August 1st. They had been dating for over a year. His father is Mark Phillips.

The couple’s representative told Hello! magazine that both families were told together and were very happy about the engagement.

Just a day before turning 78, the royal was made an honorary Vice Admiral by the Royal Navy.

Camilla is the first woman to receive this honorary title. It’s a unique position appointed by the monarch—currently her husband, King Charles III—based on a recommendation from the First Sea Lord, Sir Gwyn Jenkins.

Just hours before she was scheduled to attend, Princess Catherine cancelled her appearance at Royal Ascot, according to Kensington Palace.

The palace said Kate was sad to miss the event, but she’s still working out how to best manage her public appearances as she recovers from cancer.

Prince Harry’s lawsuit seeking extra security ended on May 2nd when a court dismissed it. This came over a year after a previous request for increased protection was denied by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee.

After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stopped being full-time working royals in 2021 and moved to the U.S., their security protection was reduced. However, Harry later asked for security arrangements to be made when he traveled to the U.K.

Prince Harry told the BBC on May 2nd that he was deeply upset by the outcome of his recent legal fight. He stated that, as things currently stand, he doesn’t foresee returning to the UK with his wife and children.

In an interview with the BBC on May 2nd, Prince Harry said his father, King Charles III, isn’t currently speaking to him due to disagreements about security. However, he expressed hope that they could repair their relationship.

Prince Harry expressed a desire to rebuild his relationship with his family, including his father, but indicated it depends on his dad taking the first step. He shares two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with Meghan.

He doesn’t foresee returning to the U.K. with his family anytime soon. He expressed sadness about not being able to share his home country with his children.

Harry explained that his father has significant influence and could potentially solve the situation. He suggested this wouldn’t require direct involvement, but rather allowing professionals to handle things without interference.

After years of fighting, he’s now seeking peace and a chance to make amends. He explained, “Life is short, and my father doesn’t have much time left.”

More than a year after announcing his cancer diagnosis, King Charles wrote on April 29th that going through treatment has shown him the incredible kindness and strength of people.

In a booklet offering support to cancer patients and their families, Charles wrote that receiving a diagnosis is understandably difficult and scary. However, speaking from personal experience, he also believes it can reveal the incredible kindness and strength people are capable of.

He expressed his gratitude to the healthcare workers who cared for him, and shared that the experience deepened his respect for the incredible work done by the organizations and people present, many of whom he’s known and supported for years.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – were absent from the royal family’s traditional Easter service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on April 20th.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined the rest of the royal family in celebrations, but Prince William and Kate chose to spend the weekend with their children at their country home in Norfolk, according to several news sources.

This was the second Easter the couple missed. It happened just a week after Princess Catherine shared news of her cancer diagnosis.

On April 15th, Jason Knauf was appointed the new CEO of Prince William’s environmental initiative, The Earthshot Prize. In a statement on the organization’s website, Knauf expressed his excitement about collaborating with the team and community to promote hopeful solutions for the planet.

He received a promotion almost seven years after he reported concerns about Meghan Markle’s behavior, claiming she bullied two personal assistants and tried to discredit another staff member. Representatives for the Sussexes denied these claims, telling The Times that the story was a deliberate attempt to damage their reputation with false and harmful information.

Buckingham Palace looked into the claims, but the investigation concluded in 2022 with no public announcement of its findings.

William and Kate’s eldest son George attended a soccer match in Paris alongside his dad April 7. 

A father and son happily watched the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa at Parc des Princes stadium.

Graham Craker, a former bodyguard to Prince Harry and Prince William, passed away in April at the age of 77.

Craker was with Princes William and Harry when they found out their mother, Princess Diana, had passed away, and he was present during the funeral.

In 2017, Craker told The New York Post that he saw Prince William acknowledge him during the procession. Craker had been standing near the back of the hearse, and he nodded at William, who seemed reassured that Craker was with his mother during her final journey.

Hugh Grosvenor, the godson of King Charles III, and his wife, Olivia Grosvenor, shared the happy news on March 12th that they are expecting their first child.

A spokesperson announced to The Telegraph that the duchess is pregnant and expecting a baby this summer. The couple expressed their joy and excitement about starting a family.

Prince Frederik, the son of Prince Robert and Princess Julie, passed away on March 1st at the age of 22 following a struggle with a rare genetic condition called PolG mitochondrial disease.

Robert shared in a statement that his son, Frederik, is a superhero – not just to their family and friends, but to a growing number of people worldwide, especially through Frederik’s PolG Foundation. Robert believes Frederik’s strength lies in his ability to inspire others and lead by being a positive role model.

 

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, reached a legal settlement with News Group Newspapers – the company behind both The Sun and the now-closed News of the World – on January 22nd. He had sued them in 2019, claiming their journalists and investigators illegally obtained information about the royal family.

The company agreed to pay significant financial compensation and issued a complete and sincere apology to Prince Harry. They also publicly acknowledged the widespread and intrusive media coverage of both his and his mother, Princess Diana’s, private lives, according to NBC News.

On January 14th, The Princess of Wales shared the wonderful news that her cancer treatment has been successful and she is now in remission.

She shared on X (formerly Twitter) on January 14th that she’s relieved to be in remission and is continuing to focus on getting better. She also noted that adjusting to life after a cancer diagnosis takes time, as anyone who’s been through it understands.

She added that she’s excited about the year ahead and optimistic about what’s to come.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is grieving the loss of her rescue beagle, whom she adopted in 2015, before she met Prince Harry.

On January 7th, she shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about crying so much she’d lost count. She described how she’d often stand in the shower, hoping the water would wash away her sadness or make her feel better, even though she knew it wouldn’t. She ended by saying it was okay to feel those emotions.

Meghan lovingly remembered her dog, Guy, saying, “Thank you for all the years of unwavering love. You brought so much joy to my life.”

 

Edward Pettifer, the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke – who used to be a nanny for Princes William and Harry – was killed in a terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

Prince William and Kate Middleton expressed their shock and sadness following the death of Ed Pettifer. In a message posted on Kate’s Instagram on January 4th, Prince William said they are thinking of the Pettifer family and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.

Meghan Markle, known for her role on the TV show Suits, started her own Instagram account on January 1st. She had previously closed her personal social media accounts just before marrying Prince Harry in 2018.

The next day, she revealed a new Netflix show called With Love, Meghan. A press release described it as a fresh take on lifestyle shows, combining helpful tips and honest chats with both familiar and new friends.

In June 2025, Prince William and Kate Middleton made a special appearance at Wimbledon with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The family shared on Instagram how happy they were to be back at Wimbledon for the Championships finals this weekend. They congratulated Iga Świątek and Jannik Sinner on their victories and thanked everyone who helped make the tournament such a great event.

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2025-12-24 03:49