Christmas message: King Charles poses alongside replantable tree

King Charles III will deliver his festive message to the nation and Commonwealth standing beside a replantable Christmas tree.

Buckingham Palace has released an image of the monarch in front of a living tree, which is kept in a pot so it can be used next year.

Sustainable decorations are hanging from its branches, an apparent nod to the King's environmental campaigning.

The Christmas message is due to be broadcast at 15:00 GMT on Monday.

The King will deliver his message from a room leading on to Buckingham Palace's balcony, with the Victoria Memorial on the Mall visible over his shoulder.

While it is not known what the King intends to cover in the second festive address of his reign, the self-penned message is likely to touch on issues close to the monarch.

In 2022, the message followed a similar template to the one established by his mother Queen Elizabeth II, combining personal reflections with references to topical issues facing the country and the Christian faith.

The King has continued to speak out on environmental issues since ascending to the throne, including giving a speech at the recent COP28 Climate Change summit in Dubai.

The King and Queen Camilla were seen leaving a church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Christmas Eve morning

It is the first time a replantable tree has been used as part of the backdrop for the annual festive address.

The trees, which advocates say are better for the environment than alternatives, are dug up at the roots and kept in a pot so they can be replanted after Christmas and reused the following year.

Sustainable decorations made of materials like paper, wood and glass, as well as natural adornments like pine cones and dried oranges, can be seen hanging from its branches.

The King and Queen will spend Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk and are expected to attend a church service in the morning.