The Queen’s ‘physical state and resilience’ at 93 during her rare speech ‘was an inspiration’, her biographer Robert Lacey tells People
- The Queen, 93, spoke to the nation in a historic television address on Sunday
- Royal biographer has now observed how the royal was ‘looking very well’
- Robert Lacey said that her ‘physical state and resilience’ was ‘an inspiration’
- Her Majesty urged Britons to be resolute and said the nation would ‘overcome’
The Queen’s ‘physical state and resilience’ during her rare and historic speech to the nation ‘was an inspiration’, a royal biographer has revealed.
Speaking from Windsor castle on Sunday night, the Queen, 93, delivered a historic rallying cry to the British public, urging them to come together in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in a poignant television address.
Now a royal biographer has revealed how the ‘sober and realistic’ speech showed her ‘grounded optimism’.
Speaking to People magazine, Robert Lacey revealed: ‘The Queen was looking very well. Her physical state and resilience was an inspiration in itself.’
The Queen’s, 93, ‘physical state and resilience’ on-show during her poignant TV address to the nation was ‘an inspiration’, according to royal biographer Robert Lacey
The biographer, author of books Monarch and Majesty, said the speech ‘brought a lump’ to his throat.
The 93-year-old monarch, who is isolating with Prince Philip, told millions of Brits watching from home: ‘If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.’
Her Majesty’s extraordinary intervention is only the fifth time she has addressed the nation during her 67-year reign.
She invoked the spirit of the Second World War, repeating Dame Vera Lynn’s famous words as she promised the nation: ‘We will meet again’.
The royal biographer said the Queen had made ‘the perfect link’ to 80 years ago when discussing her first ever public broadcast with Princess Margaret
Referencing her first ever public broadcast with her sister, Princess Margaret, in 1940, she conjured up the image of young children being sent away as evacuees by their distraught parents in order to protect them from the worst dangers of the conflict and likens it to the enforced separation many families are now facing.
Robert revealed: ‘It was interesting that she made the parallels with 1940, and then went on to explain that it was a different sort of international struggle now that everyone has to take part in. It made a perfect link to 80 years ago.’
He added that her speech was ‘optimistic without false optimism.’
The monarch shared special praise for the NHS, thanking medical workers for their work and sacrifice in the battle against the virus.
Robert also revealed how the speech had been ‘realistic’ and ‘optimistic without false optimism’
She said: ‘I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all.
‘I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.’
In an extraordinary and unprecedented operation, a sole cameraman was permitted to enter the White Drawing Room wearing latex gloves and a surgical mask, standing more than the regulatory two metres away from the elderly monarch.
Aides stressed that the address was ‘deeply personal’ and it was clear that she had been inspired by the speech her late father, George VI, made at the start of the Second World War when he warned of dark times ahead but said he hoped that the British spirit would prevail.