The King will pay tribute to his mother in his first Christmas Day TV message, delivered yards from where she rests.
An image showing him recording the speech in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, was released tonight. Charles has pledged to unify his family after a year of scandals.
In a historic moment, the King stands at Windsor Castle during the recording of his first Christmas Day message to the nation.
The monarch will pay tribute to the Queen, who was laid to rest just yards away after her death on September 8.
It comes as he vowed to unify his family after a year of scandal and rows.
The image of Charles at St George’s Chapel was released last night. In a change from the way his mother delivered her speech in recent decades sitting at a desk, the King stands.
The Queen was buried in the George VI Memorial Chapel, within St George’s, alongside the Duke of Edinburgh.
Charles spoke movingly about his “beloved mother” in his first broadcast as King just a day after her death.
He said: “We owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother. For her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example.”
His Christmas message was recorded on December 13. The choir of St George’s Chapel will perform the National Anthem and sing a carol.
In the background a large Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments made from sustainable materials. It reflects the King’s concerns for environmental issues. The tree was later relocated to the Dean’s Cloister in the chapel.
The broadcast was produced by BBC Studios Events. It was ITV ’s turn to record it under a rotating system between that station, the BBC and Sky News, who will all screen the message.
A Palace spokesman said the Beeb was handed the task as it already had “experience of shooting in St George’s Chapel this year”.
Sources said the King wants to “bring his family together” in the coming months after the Prince Andrew and Harry and Meghan crises.
Andrew paid a £12million settlement to Virginia Giuffre who accused him of sexual assault which he denied.
Harry and Meghan caused upset with their six-part Netflix series in which they accused the King of lying and Prince William of bullying them. It was tonight confirmed Charles is at Sandringham in Norfolk, as he prepares to lead the traditional Christmas Day walkabout there.
Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have been invited, along with other family, as part of the healing process.
Charles began the festivities with a donation to the Fuel Bank Foundation, the Palace said tonight. The charity provides emergency aid to people living without heat, light and power in their homes due to rising living costs.
Its head Matthew Cole said: “We are extremely grateful to the King. The money will be used to help keep vulnerable people warm this winter.”
Queen's gift tags up for auction
Two tags signed by the Queen and attached to Christmas presents for her family are for sale at auction.
One is addressed to Prince Andrew from “Mummy” while the other, signed “Lilibet”, was for her nephew David Armstrong-Jones, and are thought to be from the early 70s.
A royal bodyguard passed them to his son-in-law. Bids start at £4,000 at William George in Peterborough, Cambs. The sale ends on January 10.
