On Sunday evening, Queen Elizabeth delivered a televised address (opens in new tab) to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth (and, thanks to the power of social media, indeed the entire world) on the coronavirus pandemic (opens in new tab).

The Queen began by acknowledging the personal and economic hardships that many people have faced since the beginning of the pandemic (opens in new tab). The Queen further thanked the health care workers and all the public who are doing their part to stem the spread of the virus by keeping their social distance (opens in new tab) and staying home as much as possible.

"Self-isolation can be difficult at times. Many people, regardless of faith, find this time of year an opportunity to slow down and indulge in prayer and meditation, and I remember the first broadcast I made in 1940 with the help of my sister," she said, referring to a speech she gave during World War II.

Such speeches by the Queen are rare: at the start of the Gulf War in 1991, after the death of Princess Diana in 1997 (opens in new tab), and after the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.

"We have faced difficulties before, but this time is different. This time we will use the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to join all the nations of the world in a common endeavor." We will succeed, and that success will belong to each of us."

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