Queen Delivers First Easter Address

Queen+Elizabeth+II+made+her+first+Easter+Address+on+April+11.+Photo+courtesy+of+Wikilmages+from+Pixaby.

Wikilmages

Queen Elizabeth II made her first Easter Address on April 11. Photo courtesy of Wikilmages from Pixaby.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom made her first-ever Easter address on Saturday, April 11 from Windsor Castle. The Queen’s speech was to reassure the country in this chaotic and frightening time. 

Apart from her annual Christmas Day message, the Queen has only made special speeches four times before this. Her earlier addresses were usually during times of grief, such as the deaths of her mother and Princess Diana of Wales.

The Queen spoke about how normally, people who celebrate Easter would gather in church to light candles together. Although that wouldn’t be possible this year, the Queen assured her audience that “we need Easter as much as ever.”

“The discovery of the risen Christ on the first Easter Day gave his followers new hope and fresh purpose,” the Queen said. “We can all take heart from this. We know that [the] coronavirus will not overcome us.”

Six days before her Easter address, the Queen gave a rare speech about COVID-19. She thanked the National Health Service, essential workers, as well as everyone practicing social distancing. The Queen also mentioned how she was reminded of the first broadcast she made in 1940, in which she and her sister spoke to British children who had been evacuated to escape the threats that World War II posed. 

“Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones.” The Queen said. “But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do.”

The Queen ended her address with an encouragement to remain hopeful and look to the future. 

“We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return,” The Queen said. “We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”

As of April 13, the UK has 11,329 Corona related deaths and 88,621 confirmed cases. Health officials continue to urge people to practice social distancing to slow the spread of the virus and protect healthcare workers.