In a rare speech, the Queen has delivered a rallying message to the British public urging them to come together amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
The latest television address is only the fifth time she has addressed the nation throughout her 67-year reign as monarch and comes as the UK death toll rises to 4,934.
Speaking from Windsor Castle, where she and Prince Phillip have been self-isolating, the Queen said: “While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. e will succeed — and that success will belong to every one of us.”
She continued: 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.”
She also thanked key workers, saying their hard work “brings us closer to a return to more normal times”.
In her speech, Her Majesty, 93, acknowledged that everyone who was following guidance to stay home was “helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones”.
“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 said.
The speech was later shared on the official Bucking Place Instagram page, garnering great support from the public.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-nHF0Kn4Wy/
“God bless you, your majesty,” one user wrote.
While another added: “Great speech, so [well] timed and so Inspiring xx [well] done yet again, thank you your majesty xxx.”
But it wasn’t just Brits that the Queen’s address touched, with one user from the US commenting: “Bravo your majesty from an American who adores you. Your speech was lovely and inspiring, bringing tears. You made me feel that we would survive this. My 5 month expectant daughter and son in law have been infected and listening to you helped my resolve with the help of Almighty God.”
Her Majesty’s address comes as Prince William and Catherine made some surprise telephone calls to National Health Service workers at two UK hospitals last week, in a bid to thank them for their hard work during this trying time.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke to medical professionals at Queen’s Hospital Burton in Staffordshire, following the death of their colleague Amged El-Hawrani, 55, an NHS consultant who passed away after contracting Covid-19. They also called University Hospital Monklands in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.
“We’d just like to say from the two of us how proud we are of all of you and how amazingly you are all doing under extreme circumstances,” William said. “I know all of you see this as your job and you get on with it, but generally this is a different level and you guys are doing an incredible job.
“The whole country is proud of you, not just us, so thank you for everything you’re doing and all the hours you are putting in.”