Milestones of a reign: The Queen’s address as the pandemic began

The Queen’s historic reign has seen many important moments and some have become milestones, forever associated with Elizabeth II. Among them is a four minute address that has become one of her most famous speeches.

On April 5th 2020, The Queen recorded a special broadcast at Windsor Castle as the coronavirus pandemic dominated lives across the world. Britain was just days into its first lockdown while the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was already ill with Covid. Thousands had already died with the virus and thousands more were in hospital being treated by medics dealing with a disease they were still learning to understand. Meanwhile, millions contemplated a future of furlough and financial hardship.

Against that backdrop, The Queen spoke to country and Commonwealth in an address that would go on to resonate around the world.

In four minutes of carefully chosen words, Her Majesty spoke of the reality that enveloped everyone’s lives as lockdown hit and coronavirus dominated everything. But her emphasis remained on hope. And in a line that struck a chord with millions and which has been quoted many times since, she reminded everyone ” better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”

Her speech also paid tribute to frontline workers who were doing so much to alleviate the impact of the pandemic. At the time, infection rates and death rates were climbing quickly across the UK. The Queen spoke of the bravery of medics and nurses, saying ”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.”

Her speech was beamed around the world and its gentle words of encouragement made global headlines. ”I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge” she said, in another line that became emblematic for many.

The Queen’s extraordinary speech remains a milestone of her historic reign.