By Ben Kerrigan-
The Queen has urged the British people to “remain united and resolute” in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, saying “we will overcome it”.
In a moving recorded speech aired on Sunday night, her Majesty spoke of a painful separation people feel with their families as she expressed optimism of success, and asking the country to take comfort from the fact that better days lie ahead.
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In just her fifth televised address to the country and Commonwealth, the Queen said: “We will succeed – and that success will belong to every one of us.”
Speaking from Windsor Castle, the Queen thanked frontline NHS staff, care workers and others for “selflessly” carrying out their essential roles which had brought “us closer to a return to more normal times”. I am 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 front line, 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. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.
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‘I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many 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.
‘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.
Uniting the past, present, and future, the Queen said ”it defines our present and our future”. The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children.
‘Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort.
‘And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation.
SAFETY
The queen reflected on her first broadcast eight decades ago when she was still a teenager. She said:
“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.
COMMON ENDEAVOUR
The queen closed her speech by highlighting the lockdown as a common endeavour that will lead to better days ahead.
“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.
“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.”
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