Smiling and ruddy-cheeked, the King looks in good health as he films his annual Christmas message.
For the second time in his reign Charles, 77, recorded it outside of a royal residence, this time inside the Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey, which was described by 16th-century historian John Leland as ‘the wonder of the world’.
The broadcast was filmed earlier this month after the Monarch had been given the good news by his doctors that his cancer treatment will be hugely scaled back in the new year.
Smartly dressed in a pinstriped suit, with a matching blue tie and pocket handkerchief, King Charles appears happy and relaxed as he poses for two official portraits underneath the chapel’s spectacular late medieval fan-vaulted ceiling.
Westminster Abbey – which has enjoyed strong royal links since its inception – continues to be a major church of pilgrimage, a key theme of His Majesty’s message this year.
Pilgrims particularly visit it to remember the life and legacy of Edward the Confessor, whose Shrine lies at the heart of the Abbey.
The Henry VII Lady Chapel is also the burial place of fifteen Kings and Queens including Elizabeth I, Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots.
Below the central aisle is the Hanoverian vault where George II and members of his family are buried. The Stuart vault is in the south aisle where Charles II, William III and Mary II and Queen Anne lie.
Smiling and ruddy-cheeked, the King looks in good health as he films his annual Christmas message inside the Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey
Smartly dressed in a pinstriped suit, with a matching blue tie and pocket handkerchief, King Charles appears happy and relaxed during the broadcast which was filmed earlier this month
Around the walls of the Lady Chapel are 95 statues of saints dating from the building of the chapel in the 16th century, and beneath the hinged seats of the wooden stalls are beautifully-carved misericords, which would have provided support for clergy during services.
At the eastern end is the Royal Air Force chapel, which features a stained-glass window by Hugh Easton depicting the badges of the fighter squadrons involved in the Battle of Britain in 1940.
The King’s Christmas broadcast to the United Kingdom, Realms and the Commonwealth message will be shown on Christmas Day. The BBC has produced this year’s speech.
Charles also recorded his Christmas message away from a Royal residence last year, with it being filmed at Fitzrovia Chapel in London.
Earlier this month the King revealed he had received a major boost in his cancer battle, describing it as a ‘personal blessing’.
In an unprecedented video message, Charles said his treatment would be significantly scaled back in the New Year.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman did not use the word ‘remission’, but confirmed His Majesty has responded ‘exceptionally well’ to treatment following his diagnosis 22 months ago with an undisclosed form of the disease.
He has been receiving weekly treatment ever since.
The Henry VII Lady Chapel was described by 16th-century historian John Leland as ‘the wonder of the world’. It is also the burial place of fifteen Kings and Queens
While medical intervention will continue for the foreseeable future, his doctors have now advised that it will move into a ‘precautionary phase’ and its regularity will be significantly reduced.
His Majesty is now at Sandringham, his private Norfolk estate, with Queen Camilla and his immediate family where they will gather to exchange gifts on Wednesday.
On Christmas Day they will celebrate the festive season with their traditional walk to church, followed by turkey and all the trimmings and parlour games such as charades.
