Queen Elizabeth II, who turns 94 this month, just delivered a speech to the people of the UK and to the people of many other nations. She speaks to the British people this past weekend in a video speech. She says if they remain resolute, they will be able to overcome the coronavirus outbreak. This means cooperating with self-isolation and lockdown.
This was only the fifth televised address of her entire 68-year reign. That makes this a rare case for her to speak. “Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it,” she says in her address.
Queen Elizabeth II delivers rare speech on coronavirus
The Queen continues, “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.”
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This broadcast comes shortly after the death toll in Britain from the virus had risen by 621 in the last 24 hours to 4,934. A high number of fatalities is expected to continue in the next week. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is among the many Britains self-isolating as he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized for his symptoms. The Queen’s own son, Prince Charles, 71, has recovered after suffering mild symptoms. Britain is in a state of lockdown, similar to many other locations like the U.S., Italy, and Spain.
She commends the healthcare workers and those who are doing their part to stay home
In her speech, her Majesty also thanked those working the front lines like healthcare workers and others who can’t stay home. She thanked them for their “selfless work” and commended them for the “heartwarming stories” across the Commonwealth, for which she is head. These kinds of appearances on broadcast are very rare as she usually does that for as an annual Christmas Day message.
Reports also confirm that the broadcast was done in a careful and safe manner. The Queen and cameraman were both a significant amount of feet away from one another in a large room for the broadcast. The cameraman also wore gloves and a mask and was the only other person present in the room, to ensure the safety of the Queen, who is part of a high-risk group.
“We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return,” the Queen says. “We will be with our friends again; [we] will be with our families again; we will meet again.” Watch the full speech below!