The Queen will praise our “quiet good-humoured resolve” in a rare television address on Sunday evening.
In her speech, Her Majesty will reflect her personal experience of other difficult times, and will praise NHS staff and key workers.
The monarch will say: “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.”
She will continue: “I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.
“That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country.”
Her Majesty will address the nation and the Commonwealth on the coronavirus pandemic at 20:00 British time.
The Queen’s speech will be broadcast in the UK on the BBC, ITV, Sky and many other TV and radio stations around the globe.
With the exception of her annual Christmas broadcasts, the upcoming coronavirus speech will be the first time the monarch has addressed the nation since the death of The Queen Mother in 2002.
It is hoped that the 93-year-old monarch’s words will unite people together as a nationwide lockdown in the UK extends into a third week.
Many other European monarchs have already delivered speeches on national broadcasters.
