The Queen has sparked claims she’s finally weighed in on the ongoing Brexit debate as she gave a powerful speech urging the UK to find “common ground” and told people to “respect different points of view”.
According to multiple reports, the monarch gave the hard-hitting speech to mark the centenary of the Sandringham Women’s Institute (WI), and also insisted people should “never lose sight of the bigger picture”.
It’s been interpreted by several major UK newspapers and commentators as alluding to the deep divide in parliament over the issue of Britain leaving the EU, despite Her Majesty being required to always remain publicly politically neutral.
Speaking directly about the Women’s Institute, she commended the organisation for enduring and remaining as strong as ever in a year of deep change.
“The continued emphasis on patience, friendship, a strong community-focus and considering the needs of others are as important today as they were when the group was founded all those years ago,” she said, according to The Guardian.
“Of course, every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities. As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture.
“To me, these approaches are timeless, and I commend them to everyone.”
MPs are due to vote on Prime Minister Theresa May’s new deal for leaving the EU again next week, after her initial deal was rejected by MPs.
While the Queen never makes public statements on the state of politics and is forbidden from airing her own personal views, several commentators claimed her recent speech dropped a number of hints aimed at the ongoing Brexit debate.
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell claimed she was “sending a message” and added: “It is impossible to imagine that the head of state would use a construction of words such as this without it being appreciated that they would be seen as a reference to the current political debate.”
And BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg agreed, adding on Twitter: “Was the Queen talking about the Brexit debate? In a speech today she said people needed to find ‘common ground’ and ‘never losing sight of the bigger picture’. Royals have tried v hard to stay out of the Brexit debate but was she hinting at something here?”
Read more: Theresa May survives vote of no confidence after historic Brexit defeat
The speech echoed the Queen’s Christmas address in many ways, in which she told the nation: “Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding.”
Despite having to remain politically neutral when speaking in public, it’s not the first time the Queen’s words have been interpreted as a hint at politics and she previously sparked a strong reaction in 2014 before the Scottish referendum.
She reportedly told a well-wisher at Balmoral at the time: “Well, I hope people will think very carefully about the future.”