Charles breaks from royal tradition with King's Speech – as he'll reflect on 'extraordinary year' after cancer diagnosis
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THE King has recorded his Christmas message away from the royal estate in a rare break with tradition.
King Charles filmed the speech almost two weeks ago at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London.
It marks the first time in 14 years that the speech has not been filmed on a royal estate.
The chapel used to serve London’s medical community and it is thought Charles’s decision was a nod to his cancer battle.
It comes amid reports that Charles’ cancer treatment will continue into next year.
The King’s recovery is “moving in a positive direction” but is still ongoing, Sky News reports.
A source told the broadcaster: “His treatment has been moving in a positive direction.
“As a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into next year.”
The King, who is still considered a “newbie monarch” in comparison with his mother’s record-breaking tenure, has endured a difficult second year as sovereign.
He was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with ongoing treatment, while his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also being treated for the condition.
But a source said brave Charles had coped with the past year with a “determination to be as public as he was able” to reassure the nation about how much he could still do.
He has also been buoyed by Queen Camilla’s support.
A source said: “Her natural warmth, resilience and sense of humour, as I’m sure any patient will tell you, is a wonderful thing to have.
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“Of course it’s been a stressful year for Her Majesty, too, but there was never a sense of despondency.
“Only a determination that they would get through this, as with so many other challenging issues in the past.”
Last week Kate and Wills skipped King Charles’s pre-Christmas lunch – after Andrew pulled out amid the alleged Chinese spy scandal.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were in Norfolk as planned.
The Sun exclusively revealed insiders had urged Andrew to “uninvite himself” from the family’s pre-festive bash.
He was due to attend the lunch at the palace but a source said: "He is under pressure to step away."
King Charles makes major change to Sandringham country estate which could save him some serious money
Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor
GREEN-MINDED King Charles has built a solar farm so sunbeams power his 150-room country pile.
Our exclusive picture shows 2,000 solar panels in rows on a former horse grazing paddock at Sandringham.
They occupy 2.3 hectares and will create enough energy to heat and light the main house and buildings on the Norfolk estate.
Any surplus will be returned to the National Grid.
The King already has solar panels on the roof of Windsor Castle where he has turned down the heating as he strives to make the Royal Household net zero by 2030.
He has put in a smart meter at Balmoral, his cars are electric and two royal fleet Bentleys are being converted to run on biofuel.
The source said: "The King has talked of fighting climate change for decades.
"He practices what he preaches and does all he can."
The Sandringham solar panel planning application to King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council pointed out that they were "well screened" by existing vegetation.
They are expected to last 40 years when they will be removed and the field returned to grazing.
He was due to attend the lunch at the palace but a source said: "He is under pressure to step away."
