'We'll meet again': Queen Elizabeth invokes WW2 spirit to defeat coronavirus

[webfact]

'We'll meet again': Queen Elizabeth invokes WW2 spirit to defeat coronavirus

Michael Holden

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visits the headquarters of MI5, which is the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, at Thames House in London, Britain February 25, 2020. Victoria Jones/PA Wire/Pool via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth told the British people on Sunday that they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute in the face of lockdown and self-isolation, invoking the spirit of World War Two in an extremely rare broadcast to the nation.

 

In what was only the fifth televised address of her 68-year reign, Elizabeth called upon Britons to show the resolve of their forbears and demonstrate they were as strong as generations of the past.

 

“We will meet again”, she pointedly said in a direct reference to the most famous British song from the war years of the 1940s, when she was a teenager. “Better days will return.”

 

“Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it,” the 93-year-old monarch said in the address from her Windsor Castle home where she is staying with her husband Prince Philip, 98.

 

“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.”

 

The broadcast came hours after officials said the death toll in Britain from the virus had risen by 621 in the last 24 hours to 4,934 with high fatalities still expected in the next week.

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is among those in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, and the queen’s own son and heir Prince Charles, 71, has recovered after suffering mild symptoms of the virus.

 

Like many countries in Europe, Britain is in a state of virtual lockdown, with people told to stay at home unless it was essential to go out. Health minister Matt Hancock said even stricter riles might be imposed if the current rules to curb the spread of the virus were flouted.

 

WORLD WAR TWO SPIRIT

Elizabeth thanked those who were staying at home, thereby helping to spare others from suffering the grief already felt by some families, but acknowledged self-isolation could be hard.

 

She also paid tribute to health care staff for their selfless work and commended the “heart-warming” stories of people across the Commonwealth, of which she is head, and beyond for delivering food and medicines to those who needed them.

 

Sunday’s address was an extremely rare as the queen usually only speaks to the nation in her annual televised Christmas Day message.

 

In order to ensure any risk to the elderly monarch herself was mitigated, it was filmed in a big room to ensure a safe distance between her and the cameraman, who wore gloves and a mask and was the only other person present.

 

Elizabeth said the situation reminded her of her first ever broadcast in 1940, when she and her late sister Margaret spoke from Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes to escape bombing raids by Nazi German aircraft.

 

“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,” she said.

 

In the future people could take pride in how they too had dealt with disruption to their lives, and that the wartime stoicism of the British was not something from the past, but part of the present and future.

 

“Those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any,” she said. “That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country.”

 

She concluded by invoking the words of the song “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn from World War Two which became a symbol of hope for Britons during the conflict.

 

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

 

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-06

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[Assurancetourix]

 

[Tug]

What a brave and resolute woman bless you so much history she has witnessed in her reign and now the grand lady rises again such strength blessings to you and your country 

[colinneil]

Hello.... Wake up, these are very trying times, everybody, and i mean everybody needs to pull together.

Please stop with your pathetic i am from Scotland nonsense.

Yes our Queen is trying to invoke the ww2 spirit, and get the BRITISH people pull together.

 

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Edited April 6, 2020 by Rimmer
troll quote removed

[harada]

Very well done, good to see that she hasn't done a runner.

[Justgrazing]

This being only the 5th occasion Her Majesty has spoken to the nation in 67 yrs ( aside Xmas day speeches ) the Queen delivered a unifying message in a calm but resonant style that is her trade mark .. And she also looked well for someone of her age .. 

God save the Queen .. 

[Dexlowe]

9 minutes ago, harada said:

Very well done, good to see that she hasn't done a runner.

???? - yep. ????

[Thongkorn]

14 minutes ago, Dexlowe said:

???? - yep. ????

She never ran from the Nazis in fact she joined the army as a mechanic, She could have gone to Canada, but chose to stay.

Edited April 6, 2020 by Thongkorn

[Kadilo]

Nice words re the NHS etc, but please don’t pretend you have any idea what it’s like for the people who are struggling financially and with families cramped up in tiny homes, no gardens and told not to go out. 

[marko kok prong]

Lovely song ,but it was also used at the end of DR Strangelove.

[jingjai9]

I am jealous, as an American I am starved for true leadership and inspiration. The Queen elegantly delivered a message people need to hear.

[3NUMBAS]

oh no not whale meat again ????

[sawadee1947]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

 

WORLD WAR TWO SPIRIT

Coming from an old outdated grandma living in her own past  secluded world .

Sounds more than stupid. 

[CGW]

3 hours ago, Thongkorn said:

She never ran from the Nazis in fact she joined the army as a mechanic

She's German (Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)

Edited April 6, 2020 by CGW

[GreasyFingers]

14 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

Coming from an old outdated grandma living in her own past  secluded world .

Sounds more than stupid. 

We can only hope that you are the savior of the world.

[Chrysaora]

Very much like Churchill.

[kingdong]

10 minutes ago, Chrysaora said:

Very much like Churchill.

 

10 minutes ago, Chrysaora said:

Very much like Churchill.

Who, the script writer of her speech?we,'ll meet again, doubt it if you,'re over 65 and they're running short of ventilators.

[elliss]

1 hour ago, kingdong said:

 

Who, the script writer of her speech?we,'ll meet again, doubt it if you,'re over 65 and they're running short of ventilators.

 

 That said , people in high places , have the rite contacts .

 Charlie and Boris , with their school boy  snobs and runny nose , are well cared for .

  Thx UK , taxpayers . 

 

Edited April 6, 2020 by elliss

[Number 6]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

we will meet again.”

Pretty sure of herself pushing 100.

[sanuk711]

The Queen was making her speech -- &  I haven't even got the <deleted> turkey in the oven...........................

[Bundooman]

5 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Nice words re the NHS etc, but please don’t pretend you have any idea what it’s like for the people who are struggling financially and with families cramped up in tiny homes, no gardens and told not to go out. Queen of UK. What exactly have you done in your life, Pal?

That's right - have yourself a nasty little sneer at Queen Elisabeth. Who gives a toss at your nasty little snide remark.

Where were you during the Blitz. 
Google what she and her husband bring to the IK in terms of wealth, tourism and interest in the monarchy.

But no. Just your very demeaning little <deleted> remark!

 

[Kadilo]

7 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

That's right - have yourself a nasty little sneer at Queen Elisabeth. Who gives a toss at your nasty little snide remark.

 

 

Clearly you. 

Calm yourself down. Now is not a good time to end up in hospital. 

Take care 

[samsensam]

5 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Nice words re the NHS etc, but please don’t pretend you have any idea what it’s like for the people who are struggling financially and with families cramped up in tiny homes, no gardens and told not to go out. 

 

and that is the great thing about her majesty and the uk, people are free to hold and express whatever opinion they want. the fact that some people use this freedom to show how small minded, ill informed and bitter they are is entirely up to them.

 

i'm no royalist but the queen is someone who has devoted her life to her subjects and i admire and respect her for that.

[Kadilo]

6 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

and that is the great thing about her majesty and the uk, people are free to hold and express whatever opinion they want. the fact that some people use this freedom to show how small minded, ill informed and bitter they are is entirely up to them.

 

i'm no royalist but the queen is someone who has devoted her life to her subjects and i admire and respect her for that.

As you say, you are perfectly entitled to your opinion as I am mine. 
 

Some will be seen as “small minded and ill informed” and some of “her subjects” (55555 say no more) will see it different. 

 

Long may it remain. 

 

[elliss]

14 hours ago, Tug said:

What a brave and resolute woman bless you so much history she has witnessed in her reign and now the grand lady rises again such strength blessings to you and your country 

 

 

    Welcome to the,, new  Virus  World ..

     Keep Charlie indoors , continue the royal blood line ..

  

Edited April 6, 2020 by elliss

[Benmart]

6 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

I am jealous, as an American I am starved for true leadership and inspiration. The Queen elegantly delivered a message people need to hear.

When I am "starving", I take action. In this case, I will vote by absentee ballot.

[bartender100]

Great speech, but unfortunately a huge chunk of the UK population has no alliance to the Queen or the country in fact many don't even speak English, live in their own isolated communities, would not fight for the country, sponge of the NHS and many never ever work

 

Before anyone says it, "a bit like expats in Thailand" barring some bit????

[Justgrazing]

Some quite sad comments aimed at a 93 year old Monarch who is trying to provide the nation with some inspiration at an uncertain time for everyone .. 

The perceived cost of maintaining the Monarchy is but a drop to the income generated for the country by having a Royal Firm .. Tourism , Patronage , Royal Warrant's for Industry are only some of the spin off's to having them .. But despite the status that seems to engender nothing but criticism from some quarters the Firm can't live a normal life as us Joe public's would judge one .. Stifling security wherever they go for fear of assassination with H M being top of the list and the death of member of the family Lord Mountbatten 41 yrs ago showed that some of those who have threatened were not to be taken lightly .. 

England has done Monarchy for near a millennia .. it's what we do and Q E I I is one of if not the finest .. History will record that .. 

[gomangosteen]

The QE2 message was broadcast at 7am for New Zealand; plus she popped a letter of support in the post

 

"kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui"

be strong, be brave, be steadfast

 

 

Edited April 6, 2020 by gomangosteen

[Scott]

Off-topic post reported and removed.