The Queen gives a rare, inspiring, unifying speech about fighting coronavirus

You know things are serious when the Queen gets involved. Not that those who have been practising safe social distancing and trying to do their part to help flatten the coronavirus pandemic curve haven’t been taking this seriously. But, as world leaders like Justin Trudeau tell people to stay inside and try to get everyone on board, the royal has also decided to help spread that message in her own, powerful way.On April 5 Queen Elizabeth II took over the airwaves in the U.K. to share a pre-taped address from Windsor Castle, where she’s self-isolating with her husband, Prince Phillip (after learning her son Prince Charles had tested positive for COVID-19). “I’m 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 said in the video, in which she also thanked caregivers and essential workers for “selflessly” putting their own health at risk.

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Her Majesty The Queen addresses the UK and Commonwealth in a special broadcast recorded at Windsor Castle.

A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) on Apr 5, 2020 at 12:00pm PDT

“Together we are tackling this disease and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute then we will overcome it,” she continued in the four-minute address. “I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge… the pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.”For many royal watchers and fans, the address was a welcome relief, especially since the Queen took to the airwaves only hours before U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Queen Elizabeth II’s rare televised address on the Coronavirus was pretty inspiring. As she herself said, it echoed the speech she and her sister Margaret delivered in 1940. Call me sentimental, but I was deeply moved.

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) April 5, 2020

I encourage you to watch Queen Elizabeth’s latest speech. Her first address to the British people was *eighty years ago* at the outset of World War II. As in that crisis, even with many tough days ahead, we will pull through this crisis together. https://t.co/HcWJRoUFoP

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 6, 2020

I’m not even British but watching that address by the Queen on the BBC was very moving.

“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." pic.twitter.com/XVlxobunW9— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) April 5, 2020

Thank you to Queen Elizabeth for her address to her subjects..her nation...and to the rest of us...she is incredible

— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) April 5, 2020

Typically Brits don’t hear much from the Queen, as she reserves her national addresses to Christmas wishes and when there’s a new parliament. In fact, the weekend address is only the fifth time in history that the 93-year-old has ever spoken to her people with such a rallying recording. The last time she did so was to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Before that she taped messages when her mother died in 2002, when Princess Diana died in 1997, and during the first Gulf War in 1991.Although this particular occasion was somber, there’s no denying the message was hopeful. The Queen was at her best self with her green dress and pearls, and she spoke directly to the camera as only someone as seasoned as she is could possibly do.“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,” she continued, calling out the famous World War II song “We’ll Meet Again,” which gave hope to those on the frontlines. “But for now I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.”Well if that isn’t a strong showcase of dignified leadership then we don’t know what is.[video_embed id='1934690']RELATED: People across Canada are showing their appreciation for health care workers[/video_embed]