The King will break major royal protocol during Christmas speech following cancer diagnosis

King Charles is set to break royal protocol ahead of his speech on Christmas Day.

If there's one thing that the royals are known for more than any other family, it's traditions.

From exchanging presents on Christmas Eve and playing football to black-tie dinners - significant events such as Christmas always follow strict protocols that have been carried out for decades.

But this year, King Charles has seemingly decided to switch things up.

The monarch's Christmas speech is aired at 3pm on 25 December across radio and television.

And it's usually pre-filmed from a royal palace or estate.

The monarch's Christmas speech is aired at 3pm on 25 December (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

However, this year the King has decided to go against the grain.

This Christmas, he will give his speech from a former hospital chapel, following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

It's the first time in more than a decade that the Christmas speech has been recorded from a location that isn't in a royal palace or estate.

And it's been rumoured that the King chose the location in connection with healthcare.

The location for the traditional broadcast is the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, which was once the chapel of the Middlesex Hospital.

It's now used for exhibitions and community events for people of any faith and none - which also ties in nicely with the King's willingness to bring people together.

King Charles made it known that he aimed to build bridges between people with different beliefs, backgrounds, and religions.

The King will break royal protocol. (Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images)

Despite his ongoing treatment, the 2025 royal calendar is packed full of appearances and engagements - including some overseas trips.

In the run-up to Christmas, King Charles has been out and about meeting people.

He attended a Christmas market in Battersea, a service remembering those persecuted because of their religion, and an event celebrating the diversity of a local community.

The King is also known for being passionate about the environment - and nodded to this in his Christmas speech last year.

He said: "During my lifetime I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home which we all share.

"I find great inspiration now from the way so many people recognise this."

The first Christmas speech broadcast was in 1932 by George V and has been a tradition every year since.

King Charles' pre-recorded speech will air on BBC, ITV and Sky News from 3pm on 25 December.