PALACE chiefs mysteriously AXED an ITV film crew covering the King’s Christmas speech and handed the job to the BBC instead, The Sun can reveal.
King Charles III recorded his first Christmas message last Tuesday just days before Harry and Meghan’s Netlix docu-series aired.
A rota system meant ITV cameras were booked to capture the historic speech and share the footage with the world’s media.
But plans were ripped up and the BBC were called to make the recording – which is now being a closely guarded secret.
This year’s message, aired at 3pm on Christmas Day, is expected to be “different” to the previous 69 recordings made by Queen Elizabeth II.
Buckingham Palace is not commenting on the telly change and will not even confirm where the filming took place.
An industry insider said: “It was ITV’s turn but they were cancelled and the BBC called instead. No explanation has been given for the last-minute change.”
The King’s Christmas message is set to be a tear-jerker following his mother’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and her funeral in September.
The speech was written in November and December and filmed on Tuesday – before Harry and Meghan’s Netflix docuseries dropped.
The Sussex duo are set to feature in the address coming after the King said: “I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas”, in his first speech after taking the crown.
The BBC, Sky and ITV share the filming on a rota system which allows just a skeleton crew inside Windsor Castle.
The three companies carry it out on a rota which changes every two years.
ITV carried out the Queen’s final speech last year and were booked to do the King’s first one.
Before Queen Elizabeth’s first televised speech in 1957, her predecessor, King George VI, delivered his speeches on the radio.
This will be the first ever televised King’s Christmas speech as King George VI was always transmitted on the radio.
Kate and William gifted ITV the Royal Family Christmas Carol concert amid their row with the Beeb over the Martin Bashir Panorama scandal involving its disgraced interview with Princess Diana.
ITV and BBC have been approached for comment.
