More than 22 million people watched the Queen’s “inspirational” and “galvanising” coronavirus TV address to the nation last night, it was revealed today.
Mail Online reports: “Her Majesty’s highly personal speech evoked Britain’s stoicism during the Second World War with viewers admitting they had a lump in their throat and tears in their eyes as she echoed Dame Vera Lynn’s words: ‘We will meet again’.
“Royal commentators said her ‘deeply moving’ words will have inspired confidence and boosted morale in an intervention being hailed as the ‘finest moment’ in her 68-year reign.”
Dickie Arbiter, who was the Queen’s press secretary from 1988 until 2000, told Mail Online: ‘The Queen’s words will have galvanised and moved millions of people watching at home.
“This was a deeply personal speech – this was her message, in her own words. She was speaking to the nation as the head of state but also as a mother, whose eldest son Charles has been fighting off the virus, and as a wife who is self-isolating with her husband Prince Philip.
“They are both well into their nineties and in the most vulnerable age group. Her speech was powerful because we are all going through the same thing’.”
Royal commentator and author Penny Junor said the Queen had shown the nation she is “with us in this dark hour”.
“I thought it was superb. In the Second World War during the Blitz, the King and Queen chose to stay in London and stood shoulder to shoulder with the British public. There’s the same feeling of solidarity here. It’s reassuring. It’s calm, and the wisdom it shows is very inspiring.”
According to the report, 22 million viewers translates into three out of four people watching TV on Sunday night tuned in at 8pm, “comfortably putting it in the top 20 most watched special broadcasts of all time in Britain”.Speaking from Windsor Castle, the monarch urged the country to pull together to fight coronavirus, saying: “If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it” and that “better days will come again”.
And she echoed Second World War heroine Dame Vera Lynn, promising anguished families separated by the crisis: “We will meet again”, a moment many among the viewers said reduced them to tears as millions stay at home missing their family, friends and loved-ones.
Royal author Phil Dampier said: “I thought the Queen’s address was just perfect. As always she said so much using so few words, a lesson to many politicians and pundits.
“She never makes a speech more than eight minutes long and this was only half that.
“But the less is more approach works as the whole world hangs on her every word. It was broadcast in France the US and dozens of countries not in the Commonwealth.
“She is probably the most famous and admired woman in the world and because of her experience everyone listens to her.
“Her pay off line, ‘We will meet again’ probably brought a lump to many throats. If anyone else had invoked Vera Lynn it would have sounded cheesy and insincere, but with the Queen it sounded just the right note.
“I’m sure NHS staff, shop workers and many others would have found comfort in her words.”
Her historic – and emotional – intervention is only the fourth time she has addressed the nation in a TV broadcast at a time of national importance, the report added.
“Her first was at the time of the first Gulf War in 1991, then on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 and finally when her mother, the Queen Mother died, in April 2002. In happier times, at the time of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, she also gave a short TV speech,” the report said.
“Evidently touching the hearts of many, a tidal wave of support for the monarch flooded social media, with much of the country seemingly re-energised to pull together and beat back coronavirus.”
The Queen’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie praised her speech, posting on Instagram: “Thank you for your words, they bring us together and unite us in our effort to overcome.”
Eugenie’s mother Sarah, Duchess of York – the ex-wife of the Queen’s son the Duke of York, said: “Her Majesty’s words touched my core and inspired us to never give up.”
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan, who has been scathing of the government’s handling of the health emergency, heaped praise on Her Majesty.
He tweeted: “A magnificent speech from a magnificent lady. Thank you, Your Majesty – this was your finest moment as our Monarch.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote: “A striking and important message from Her Majesty the Queen on coming together and standing with all nations to tackle #coronavirus. Such strength to draw on – a vital reminder that we will succeed and better days will return.”
New Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “The Queen speaks for the whole country and our determination to defeat the coronavirus.”
The Queen spoke about the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus pandemic, saying: “While we have faced challenges before, this one is different.”
Throughout the UK, youngsters have painted and drawn rainbows and hung them in their windows to raise the spirits of passers-by, while thousands across the country have taken part in the Clap for Carers tributes.
The Queen said: “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.
“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 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. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, 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.
“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.
“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.”
