Queen Elizabeth II is expected to be remembered fondly in King Charles III's first Christmas speech as he celebrates in Norfolk, from where he gave to a charity for people who are struggling with bills.
A photo, taken during the recording of his festive address, was released for Saturday before the traditional broadcast, which is aired on Christmas Day.
King Charles has arrived in Sandringham, his family's Norfolk estate, and made a donation to the Fuel Bank Foundation, a charity for people suffering the cost-of-living crisis.
The royal standard is flying above Sandringham, where King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla will celebrate Christmas Day with family.
In the newly-released photograph, the king is standing while delivering his address. In recent years, the queen recorded her Christmas broadcast sat at a desk, but in previous decades she has also stood for the occasion.
The festive message was recorded on December 13 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
In the background is a large Christmas tree decorated with ornaments made from sustainable materials including paper and glass, as well as natural products such as pine cones.
The picture also shows foliage decorations that have been placed among the stalls in the quire, that feature holly, berried ivy and red skimmia.
The Fuel Bank Foundation said financial donations have been passed on to the charity along with an undisclosed donation from Charles through the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.
-
King Charles III at a Jewish community centre in London ahead of Hanukkah celebrations. AP -
The centre is open to all faiths and is a hub for arts, culture, social action and learning in North London. Reuters -
The king and Dean of Westminster David Hoyle at the 'Together at Christmas' service at Westminster Abbey in London. PA -
Front row left to right, King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Kate, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the service. PA -
The monarch inspects a chicken during a tour of a community kitchen in Harrow, Greater London. Getty -
Another part of the kitchen tour. Getty -
The king visits Westminster Hall to unveil a plaque marking the place of the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot, is knighted at Windsor Castle. PA -
King Charles meets guide dog Bobby at Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford. AP -
The king and queen consort's Christmas card. Getty -
King Charles at St Giles' Church in Wrexham at a celebration to mark the town becoming a city. AFP -
The king and queen consort talk to Wrexham football club owners Ryan Reynolds, left, and Rob McElhenney, right. Getty -
The monarch at the 40th anniversary celebration of Business in the Community at Central Hall Westminster in London. Reuters -
The king at a diplomatic corps reception at Buckingham Palace. Getty -
King Charles makes the traditional namaste gesture on a visit to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Luton. AFP -
The king at an event on the new cable transit system that will connect Luton rail station to Luton Airport. PA -
The king meets schoolchildren in Luton. AFP -
The monarch visits the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile in London. AFP -
King Charles is presented with a maquette of Queen Elizabeth by South Australia Governor Frances Adamson and other Australian officials at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The monarch meets Spain's King Felipe VI at Clarence House in London. AFP -
An audience with Jordan's King Abdullah II at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The king and queen consort are shown a scaled replica of a statue of Queen Elizabeth on a visit to York Minster. AFP -
The king and queen consort formally mark the conferral of city status on Dunfermline in Scotland. AFP -
The king with Prince William and his wife Kate at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. AFP -
Laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in central London. AFP -
The monarch with David Attenborough during a lunch at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The monarch on a visit to Aberdeen. AFP -
Visiting St Bartholomew's Hospital in east London. AFP -
Arriving to reopen the refurbished Burrell Collection museum at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow. AFP -
With trainees during a visit to the Goldsmiths' Centre charity in London. AFP -
Plants a lime tree at Buckingham Palace garden ahead of Cop27. AFP -
With British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, fashion designer Stella McCartney and US climate envoy John Kerry at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The Princess of Wales, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the queen consort listen to the king during a banquet at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Meeting Kuwait's UK ambassador Bader Al Awadi at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Greeting Mr Sunak at Buckingham Palace on his appointment as Prime Minister. AFP -
King Charles walks behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth during a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. AFP -
The king greets then-prime minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace. AFP
“We are extremely grateful for the kind and generous donation from His Majesty the King,” said foundation head Matthew Cole.
“The money will be used to help keep vulnerable people warm this winter, offering some physical and mental respite from the challenges posed by the energy and cost-of-living crisis.”
The charity provides emergency help to people living without heat, light and power in their homes because they cannot afford to top up prepayment gas or electricity meters.
It will be the first time the royal family has spent Christmas at Sandringham since 2019 and will be a poignant period after the death of the queen in September.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children are expected to join the king and his wife, alongside the Princess Royal and her family and the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children.
