The Queen delivers a message of hope during a rare television broadcast.
Queen Elizabeth addressed the coronavirus pandemic in a rare television address that was broadcast on television across the U.K. on Sunday, April 5, 2020. The Queen delivered a message that had been recorded at Windsor Castle, reaching out to the people and offering a message of grace and hope. She praised the efforts that have been made in the country to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, thanking the NHS front line, those who work essential roles, and grieved for those who had lost loved ones.
Her message was touching and strong, showing the resolve, experience, and wisdom of a woman who has seen many things in her 93 years. She spoke to those of faith, to those of none, the message the same for all. To stand together, we must now stand alone, isolating ourselves without families, reducing the risk of catching or spreading the virus.
“I’m speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time, a time of disruption in the life of our country, a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all. I want to thank everyone on the NHS frontline, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all.”
She spoke with warmth and focused on the need to stand together now more than ever, to beat this new challenge, reminding her country of their bond, strength, and how they have come together in this dire time. The Queen acknowledged that times are hard, but that they would make it through, that better days lie ahead, and that how people act now will be how we are remembered in the future.
"Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it. I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, and those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any, that the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet, good-humored resolve, and of fellow feeling still characterize this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.”
The address was full of elegance and compassion. She reflected upon another time, as a young girl, when she gave her first broadcast in 1940, addressing the children who were displaced from their homes due to war. In that broadcast, as in this one, she expressed pride, hope, and solidarity to do the right thing in this time of great uncertainty.
”It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made in 1940, helped by my sister. We as children spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones, but now as then, we know deep down that it is the right thing to do. While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor. Using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal, we will succeed, and that success will belong to every one of us. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return. We will be with our friends again. We will be with our families again. We will meet again. But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.”
You can watch the full video below.
Her Majesty The Queen addresses the UK and the Commonwealth in a special broadcast recorded at Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/HjO1uiV1Tm
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 5, 2020
The reactions have been touching, with people flooding the page with kind comments and appreciation for her words and commitment behind them. People from all over the world are finding her message inspirational, comforting, and dignified.
This is only the fifth time the Queen has made this kind of broadcast address to the country. Along with the one in 1940, she also did so in 1991, during the Gulf War; in 199, before Princess Diana’s funeral; in 2002, after the death of the Queen Mother; and in 2012, at her Diamond Jubilee.
Did you see the Queen’s broadcast? Share your reactions with us in the comments!