Watch and Read: The Queen’s Commonwealth Day Speech
Today, at 5 pm GMT, Her Majesty The Queen made her televised Commonwealth Day Speech on the BBC. The Queen was joined by senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge.
Usually the Royal Family gathers for the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. But for the first time in almost 100 years, the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This comes as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who also attended the annual service will be seen in a highly-anticipated and presumably revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, which many are saying could reveal serious implications about the Royal Family.
The speech by Britain’s 94-year Queen was accompanied by a video featuring the Royal Family’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her speech emphasised the importance of staying in touch with friends and loved ones during these very difficult isolating times.
The Queen’s Speech transcribed:
“Over the coming week as we celebrate the friendship, spirit of unity and achievements of the Commonwealth, we have an opportunity to reflect on a time like no other.
“Whilst experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the front line, who have been delivering health care and other public services in their communities.
“We have also taken encouragement from remarkable advances in developing new vaccines and treatments.
“The testing times experienced by so many have led to a deeper appreciation of the mutual support and spiritual sustenance we enjoy by being connected to others.
“The need to maintain greater physical distance, or to live and work largely in isolation, has for many people across the Commonwealth been an unusual experience.
“In our everyday lives, we have had to become more accustomed to connecting and communicating by our innovative technology, which has been new to some of us.
“With conversations and communal gatherings, including Commonwealth meetings, conducted online, enabling people to stay in touch with friends, family, colleagues, and counterparts who they have not been able to meet in person.
“Increasingly, we have found ourselves able to enjoy such communication as it offers an immediacy that transcends boundaries or division, helping any sense of distance to disappear.
“We have all continued to appreciate the support, breadth of experiences and knowledge that working together brings.
“And I hope we shall maintain this renewed sense of closeness and community.
“Looking forward, relationships with others across the Commonwealth will remain important as we strive to deliver a common future that is sustainable and more secure.
“So that the nations and neighbourhoods in which we live, wherever they are located become healthier and happier places for us all.”
The Queen’s Commonwealth Day speech was pre-recorded at Windsor Castle.
From Australia to Antigua, Canada to Cameroon, the Commonwealth is a remarkable international organisation, spanning every geographical region, religion and culture. It exists to foster international co-operation and trade links between people all over the world.
After 70 years of its existence, the Commonwealth is a remarkable organisation which remains a major force for change in the world today.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent countries, almost all of which were formerly under British rule.
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