King Charles III's annual Christmas message from Buckingham Palace includes sustainable touches

King Charles III delivers his second Christmas greeting from Buckingham Palace, in front of a living tree decked up with environmentally friendly decorations.

At 3 p.m., the message will be transmitted. The king will deliver his second holiday message since ascending the throne, but his first since his coronation in May.

The tree’s natural decorations were constructed from wood, dried oranges, brown glass, pine cones, and paper. According to the palace, the tree will be transplanted later.

Throughout most of his life, Charles has advocated for environmental concerns such as wildlife conservation and battling climate change. He addressed at the United Nations’ COP28 climate meeting in Dubai earlier this month.

Last year, in his first Christmas message as monarch, Charles evoked memories of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and paid tribute to the “selfless dedication” of Britain’s public service workers.

Many of those workers spent much of the past year in a fight with the government over pay, creating disruptions in transportation, education and adding to already long wait times at hospitals as doctors, nurses and ambulance workers walked off the job — some for several days at a time — throughout the year.

While Elizabeth delivered her address from a desk, Charles last year stood by a Christmas tree at the church on the grounds of Windsor Castle where his parents are buried.

This year, he will speak from a room in Buckingham Palace that leads to the balcony where members of the royal family assembled after his coronation ceremony.