King Charles III to Deliver Christmas Message from Buckingham Palace
On Monday at 3 p.m., King Charles III will be delivering his second Christmas message since ascending the throne and his first since his coronation in May. The message will be broadcast from Buckingham Palace in front of a live tree adorned with sustainable ornaments.
The natural decorations on the tree include wood, dried oranges, brown glass, pine cones, and paper. According to the palace, the tree will later be replanted as part of its sustainability efforts.
Charles has long been an advocate for environmental causes, speaking at the recent COP28 climate summit in Dubai. Last year, in his first Christmas message as monarch, Charles paid tribute to the “selfless dedication” of Britain’s public service workers, evoking memories of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
However, this year’s Christmas message comes amidst ongoing labor disputes involving public service workers. Throughout the year, transportation, education, and healthcare services have been disrupted as workers engaged in strikes over pay.
While Elizabeth delivered her address from a desk last year, Charles stood by a Christmas tree at the Windsor Castle church where his parents are buried. This year, he will deliver his message from a room in Buckingham Palace, leading to the balcony where members of the royal family assembled after his coronation ceremony.