queen speech 1947

April 21, 1947 – Princess Elizabeth’s Incredibly Powerful 21st Birthday Message Transcript

Speaking from South Africa on the occasion of her 21st birthday in 1947, Princess Elizabeth dedicates herself to the service of the Empire and calls upon its young people to support her in the endeavor. Read the transcript here.

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Speaker 1: ( 00:00 ) Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth speaking from South Africa on her 21st birthday marks the occasion with this simple, but historic message.

Princess Elizabeth: ( 00:08 ) Let me begin by saying thank you to all the thousands of kind people who have sent me messages of goodwill. This is a happy day for me, but it is also one that brings serious thoughts, thoughts of life looming ahead with all its challenges and with all its opportunity. Will you, the youth of the British family of nations, let me speak on my birthday as your representative? Now that we are coming to manhood and womanhood, it is surely a great joy to us all, to think that we should be able to take some of the burden off the shoulders of our elders who have fought and worked and suffered to protect our childhood. If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, a high courage and a quiet heart, we shall be able to make of this ancient commonwealth, which we all love so dearly an even grander thing, more free, more prosperous, more happy, and a more powerful influence for good in the world then it has been in the greatest days of our forefathers.

Princess Elizabeth: ( 01:27 ) To accomplish that, we must give nothing less from the whole of ourselves. There is a motto which has been born by many of my ancestors, a noble motto I serve. Those words were an inspiration to many bygone airs to the throne when they made their nightly dedication as they came to manhood. I cannot quite do as they did. But through the inventions of science, I can do what was not possible for any of them. I can make my active dedication with a whole empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now, it is very simple. I declare before you all with my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong. But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone, unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do. I know that your support will be unfairly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.

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Princess Elizabeth's 21st Birthday Speech

On her twenty-first birthday, 21 April 1947, Princess Elizabeth was with her parents and younger sister on a tour of South Africa. In a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, the Princess dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth.

On my twenty-first birthday I welcome the opportunity to speak to all the peoples of the British Commonwealth and Empire, wherever they live, whatever race they come from, and whatever language they speak.

Let me begin by saying 'thank you' to all the thousands of kind people who have sent me messages of good will. This is a happy day for me; but it is also one that brings serious thoughts, thoughts of life looming ahead with all its challenges and with all its opportunity.

At such a time it is a great help to know that there are multitudes of friends all round the world who are thinking of me and who wish me well. I am grateful and I am deeply moved.

As I speak to you today from Cape Town I am six thousand miles from the country where I was born. But I am certainly not six thousand miles from home. Everywhere I have travelled in these lovely lands of South Africa and Rhodesia my parents, my sister and I have been taken to the heart of their people and made to feel that we are just as much at home here as if we had lived among them all our lives.

That is the great privilege belonging to our place in the world-wide commonwealth - that there are homes ready to welcome us in every continent of the earth. Before I am much older I hope I shall come to know many of them.

Although there is none of my father's subjects from the oldest to the youngest whom I do not wish to greet, I am thinking especially today of all the young men and women who were born about the same time as myself and have grown up like me in terrible and glorious years of the second world war.

Will you, the youth of the British family of nations, let me speak on my birthday as your representative? Now that we are coming to manhood and womanhood it is surely a great joy to us all to think that we shall be able to take some of the burden off the shoulders of our elders who have fought and worked and suffered to protect our childhood.

We must not be daunted by the anxieties and hardships that the war has left behind for every nation of our commonwealth. We know that these things are the price we cheerfully undertook to pay for the high honour of standing alone, seven years ago, in defence of the liberty of the world. Let us say with Rupert Brooke: "Now God be thanked who has matched us with this hour".

I am sure that you will see our difficulties, in the light that I see them, as the great opportunity for you and me. Most of you have read in the history books the proud saying of William Pitt that England had saved herself by her exertions and would save Europe by her example. But in our time we may say that the British Empire has saved the world first, and has now to save itself after the battle is won.

I think that is an even finer thing than was done in the days of Pitt; and it is for us, who have grown up in these years of danger and glory, to see that it is accomplished in the long years of peace that we all hope stretch ahead.

If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, a high courage, and a quiet heart, we shall be able to make of this ancient commonwealth, which we all love so dearly, an even grander thing - more free, more prosperous, more happy and a more powerful influence for good in the world - than it has been in the greatest days of our forefathers.

To accomplish that we must give nothing less than the whole of ourselves. There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors - a noble motto, "I serve". Those words were an inspiration to many bygone heirs to the Throne when they made their knightly dedication as they came to manhood. I cannot do quite as they did.

But through the inventions of science I can do what was not possible for any of them. I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole Empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple.

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.

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1947: elizabeth’s 21st birthday speech - the crown.

There are homes ready to welcome us in every continent of the earth. Before I am much elder, I hope I shall come to know many of them. Although there is none of my father’s subjects, from the eldest to the youngest, whom I do not wish to greet, I am thinking especially today of all the young men and women who were born about the same time as myself and have grown up like me in the terrible and glorious years of the Second World War. Will you, the youth of the British family of nations, let me speak on my birthday as your representative? 

Now that we are coming to manhood and womanhood, it is surely a great joy to us all to think that we shall be able to take some of the burden off the shoulders of our elders, who have fought and worked and suffered to protect our childhood. 

To that generation, I say we must not be daunted by the anxiety and hardships the war has left behind for every nation of our Commonwealth. We know these things are the price we cheerfully undertook to pay for the high honor of standing alone seven years ago in defense of the liberty of the world. 

If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, a high courage and a quiet heart, we shall be able to make of this ancient Commonwealth, which we all love so dearly, an even grander thing. More free, more prosperous, more happy, and a more powerful influence for good in the world than it has been in the greatest days of our forefathers. 

To accomplish that, we must give nothing less than what my father, King George, the first head of the Commonwealth, calls “the whole of ourselves”. 

There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors. A noble motto. “I serve”. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple. I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of  our great imperial family to which we all belong. 

God help me make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.

Groups audience: 

The Queen in her own words: How she led Britain through highs and lows

Elizabeth made a number of special broadcasts at times of hardship in the UK and abroad.

By Lara Keay, news reporter

Monday 19 September 2022 12:07, UK

Throughout seven decades as Queen, Elizabeth recorded a Christmas message every single year except for one – 1969.

Each time she would reflect on the events of the past year, and praised the resilient spirit of the British people through times of war, violence and hardship.

She made just five special, unscheduled broadcasts throughout her reign, which included one after the death of Princess Diana and another during the coronavirus lockdown.

Here Sky News looks back at some of her most memorable quotes.

October 1940: Second World War

The Queen gave her first public speech at the age of just 14.

Still Princess Elizabeth, she spoke on the BBC's Children's Hour during the war, urging people to have hope it would end soon.

"We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace.

"And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place."

April 1947: Her 21st birthday

Princess Elizabeth gave a speech to mark her milestone birthday, unbeknownst to her that she would become Queen upon the death of her father just five years later.

"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

June 1953: After her coronation

The Queen addressed the nation on the evening of her coronation.

She said it should serve as a symbol of hope and possibility for the future.

"I am sure that this, my coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendour that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God's grace and mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen."

December 1957: First televised Christmas message

Her Christmas message in 1957 was the first ever to be televised.

She used the opportunity to share her feelings about how quickly technology was changing.

"That it is possible for some of you to see me today is just another example of the speed at which things are changing all around us.

"Because of these changes I am not surprised that many people feel lost and unable to decide what to hold on to and what to discard.

"How to take advantage of the new life without losing the best of the old."

December 1966: Women's struggles

The Queen used her Christmas broadcast in 1966 not to congratulate England's World Cup-winning football team, but instead to address challenges faced by women in the UK.

Abortion was still illegal and gender discrimination was still rife in the workplace at the time.

"It is difficult to realise that it was less than 50 years ago that women in Britain were first given the vote, but parliament was first asked to grant this 100 years ago.

"Yet, in spite of these disabilities, it has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the harsh progress of mankind."

December 1972: Troubles in Northern Ireland

Following Bloody Sunday, the Queen spoke of violence in Northern Ireland during her Christmas message in 1972.

"Every day there are reports of violence, lawlessness, and the disregard for human life.

"I want to send a special message of sympathy to all those men, women and children who have suffered and endured so much.

"But there is a light in this tragic situation. The people are steadfastly carrying on their ordinary business in their factories and places of work."

February 1991: Gulf War

One of the five special televised broadcasts made by the Queen was recorded at Buckingham Palace in 1991 while British troops were fighting in the Persian Gulf.

"As they, with our allies, face a fresh and yet sterner challenge, I hope that we can unite, and pray that their success will be as swift as it is certain and that it may be achieved with as small a cost in human life and suffering as possible.

"Then may the true reward of their courage be granted - a just and lasting peace."

December 1992: 'Annus Horribilis'

In 1992, the Queen experienced three of her four children's marriages break down, a fire at Windsor Castle and a book detailing Charles and Diana's turbulent relationship.

She made no secret it was a year she would rather forget.

"1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'. I suspect that I am not alone in thinking it so."

September 1997: Death of Princess Diana

Following Diana's death, the Queen made an unprecedented speech paying tribute to her.

Despite this, she was widely criticised for much of her reaction.

"I want to pay tribute to Diana myself.

"She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness

"I for one believe there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death. I share in your determination to cherish her memory."

November 1997: Golden wedding anniversary to Prince Philip

When the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated 50 years together in 1997, an anniversary dinner was arranged at Banqueting House in London.

She paid an emotional tribute to him, despite his dislike of compliments.

"He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."

September 2001: 9/11 attacks in New York

The Queen's message of condolence to the families of victims lost in the 9/11 attacks was widely reused on the death of her husband, Prince Philip.

"Nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love."

April 2002: Death of the Queen Mother

Another of the Queen's five special broadcasts took place on the eve of her mother's funeral.

This was also the year she celebrated her Golden Jubilee.

"My family and I always knew what she meant for the people of this country and the special place she occupied in the hearts of so many here, in the Commonwealth and in other parts of the world.

"But the extent of the tribute that huge numbers of you have paid my mother in the last few days has been overwhelming. I have drawn great comfort from so many individual acts of kindness and respect."

December 2005: 7/7 bombings in London

The terror attacks of July 2007 were the main subject of the Queen's Christmas message that year.

"I have sometimes thought that humanity seemed to have turned on itself - with wars, civil disturbances and acts of brutal terrorism.

"These human tragedies provided the headline news; they also provoked a quite remarkable humanitarian response.

"People of compassion all over the world responded with immediate practical and financial help."

June 2006: Football

Sir David Richards, then-chairman of the Premier League, was knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2006. As she bestowed the honour on him, she gave her thoughts on the 'beautiful game'

"Football's a difficult business, and aren't they prima donnas? But it's a wonderful game."

December 2008: Financial crash

The Queen addressed those who had suffered the effects of the 2008 global financial crisis in her Christmas message that year.

"Some of those things which could once have been taken for granted suddenly seem less certain and, naturally, give rise to feelings of insecurity.

"Over the years, those who have seemed to me to be the most happy, contented and fulfilled have always been the people who have lived the most outgoing and unselfish lives; the kind of people who are generous with their talents or their time."

December 2012: London Olympics

As well as her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen reflected on a "splendid summer of sport" in her 2012 Christmas message.

"All those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes.

"We were reminded, too, that the success of these great festivals depended to an enormous degree upon the dedication and effort of an army of volunteers.

"Those public-spirited people came forward in the great tradition of all those who devote themselves to keeping others safe, supported and comforted."

September 2015: Becoming the longest-reigning British monarch

On 9 September 2015, the Queen surpassed her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria as the longest-serving monarch in British history.

At that point she had served as Queen for 23,226 days - more than 63 years - beating Victoria's record.

She acknowledged the moment as she opened a railway in the Scottish Borders.

"Many... have kindly noted another significance attaching to today, although it is not one to which I have ever aspired. Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception."

December 2016: More Olympic wins in Rio

At the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Team GB won 67 medals and 147 Paralympic medals.

"To be inspirational you don't have to save lives or win medals.

"I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things: volunteers, carers, community organisers and good neighbours; unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special.

"They are an inspiration to those who know them."

April 2020: Coronavirus

After the prime minister imposed a national lockdown in late March, the Queen organised for a special broadcast to made at Windsor Castle.

It was filmed by a single cameraman in full personal protective equipment.

"Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.

"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."

May 2020: 75th anniversary of VE Day

The Queen was just 19 when victory was declared in Europe and the Second World War came to an end.

She and her sister Margaret were permitted to go incognito to celebrate with the crowds in London.

But in lockdown, anniversary celebrations were unable to go ahead as planned.

"Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish.

"Instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps. But our streets are not empty; they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other.

"And when I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire."

November 2021: COP26 conference on climate change

The Queen was unable to attend the COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow as planned, following a short stay in hospital and doctors ordering her to rest.

While Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge took her place, she recorded a video message for delegates instead.

"For more than 70 years, I have been lucky to meet and to know many of the world's great leaders. And I have perhaps come to understand a little about what made them special.

"It has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics. But what they do for the people of tomorrow - that is statesmanship.

"I, for one, hope that this conference will be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship."

June 2022: Platinum Jubilee

The 96-year-old Queen was unable to attend most of the events planned for her Platinum Jubilee due to mobility problems.

However, she did appear to acknowledge crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony, where she appeared alongside another potential monarch - Prince George.

Prince Charles and Prince William spoke on her behalf, thanking the hundreds of thousands of people who took part and spectated, but she did release a statement to express her gratitude.

"When it comes to how to mark 70 years as your Queen, there isn't a guidebook to follow. It really is a first.

"But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee.

"While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all. I have been inspired by your kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come."

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King Charles Pays Tribute to Queen Elizabeth's Iconic 1947 Speech

"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service."

The royal family hosted a banquet last night to welcome South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to the United Kingdom, and during his speech, King Charles III made sure to pay tribute to his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died just two months ago.

"South Africa, like the Commonwealth, has always been a part of my life. My mother often recalled her visit in 1947, the year before I was born, when, from Cape Town on her 21st birthday, she pledged her life to the service of the people of the Commonwealth," the king said, recalling Queen Elizabeth's iconic speech.

On April 21, 1947, while on a trip to South Africa, Queen Elizabeth—then Princess Elizabeth—made an oath to the nation. She famously said , "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong." Five years later, her father, King George VI, died, and she became the United Kingdom's queen. She would go on to rule for more than 70 years, becoming the U.K.'s longest-reigning monarch.

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"The late Queen had the great pleasure of hosting Presidents Mandela, Mbeki, and Zuma for State Visits to the United Kingdom, at all of which I was present. On each of those occasions, she expressed her admiration for your country and its people, its vibrancy, natural beauty, and diversity," King Charles continued, adding that the late queen always spoke warmly of her 1995 visit to South Africa, which she attended as a guest of then President Nelson Mandela.

Read King Charles's full speech below.

President Ramaphosa,

Avuxeni, Dumela, Sawubona, Molo, Molweny, Ndaa. My wife and I are delighted to welcome you to Buckingham Palace this evening.

South Africa, like the Commonwealth, has always been a part of my life. My mother often recalled her visit in 1947, the year before I was born, when, from Cape Town on Her twenty-first birthday, she pledged her life to the service of the people of the Commonwealth.

It is therefore particularly moving and special that you are our guest on this, the first State Visit we have hosted. If I may, I would like to give you our belated but very best wishes for your birthday last week.

The late Queen had the great pleasure of hosting Presidents Mandela, Mbeki and Zuma for State Visits to the United Kingdom, at all of which I was present. On each of those occasions, she expressed her admiration for your country and its people, its vibrancy, natural beauty and diversity.

And she always talked warmly of her return to your country in 1995, as the guest of President Mandela, after the momentous events – driven from within South Africa and supported by so many around the world, including here in the United Kingdom – that brought democracy to your country.

During one of my own visits to South Africa, in 1997, President Mandela told me that he had conferred on my mother a special name – Motlalepula, meaning “to come with rain.” I have been reassured that this was a mark of the particular affection President Mandela felt for the Queen... rather than a remark on the British habit of taking our weather with us!

I know that President Mandela was a friend and mentor to you, Mr. President, and that your own brave and skillful negotiations helped to lay the foundations of modern South Africa.

The determination of people in South Africa to continue the legacy of the great men and women who have built your democracy is truly inspiring. It is our responsibility as leaders, and as partners in the U.N. and G20 as well as the Commonwealth, to create the opportunity, prosperity and security that will allow them to do so. This is what I know you are seeking to achieve, Mr. President, through your Adopt A School Foundation and what the United Kingdom seeks to support through our Chevening Scholarship programme which enables South African students to further their studies in universities across the United Kingdom.

It is only by working together across our countries and our generations that we will tackle some of the greatest challenges of our times. For instance, our collaboration in science and innovation is literally vital in order to protect our people’s health by preparing for future pandemics. Perhaps, above all, we must find and implement practical solutions to the twin, existential threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. To this end, I am proud that the United Kingdom, along with France, Germany, the United States of America and the European Union, have established a lasting partnership with South Africa by supporting your ambitions for a Just Energy Transition to a sustainable, green, economically vibrant future, and that our countries are committed to ensuring an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework in Montreal this December. These are examples of our crucial modern relationship.

Of course, that relationship goes back centuries. While there are elements of that history which provoke profound sorrow, it is essential that we seek to understand them. As I said to Commonwealth leaders earlier this year, we must acknowledge the wrongs which have shaped our past if we are to unlock the power of our common future.

Today, the links between our countries run deep, with extensive family, professional and cultural ties. This month in London, for example, one could visit the Royal Academy where the major exhibition is a tribute to a South African artist, William Kentridge; or one might go, as my wife and I did, to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, to see the Africa Fashion Exhibition which celebrates the daring, innovative style of South African designers; or, this weekend, one might choose to travel to Twickenham where English supporters will hope not to have to relive those extraordinary eighty minutes in 2019 when Siya Kolisi led and inspired your country to victory!

Indeed sport, which has done so much to define South Africa’s modern history, is inescapable in our relationship, and it is forging new paths. In women’s football, this year, Banyana Banyana brought home the Women’s Africa Cup, while our own Lionesses won the European Championship.

Mr. President, your Visit offers an opportunity for us to chart a path forward together, investing in each other’s potential, and facing the challenges of our world together, as partners, and as friends, striving for equality, justice and fairness for all. At the turn of the year the world paid tribute to the life and legacy of a great South African, former Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Amongst his many memorable teachings, I am often reminded of one saying in particular – “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” I believe that is a vital lesson for us all, and an important thread in the partnership between our countries.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we commit to continuing on that journey, I invite you all to rise and drink a toast to President Ramaphosa, and to the people of South Africa.

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.

Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper's Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets. 

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Queen Elizabeth II’s historic speech in which she swore devotion to her people

On August 4, 1947, the then heir to the throne, Princess Elizabeth, made history as on her 21st birthday she gave a historic speech in which she swore an oath of devotion to the British people years before assuming the throne that gave her the title of Queen Elizabeth II.

During the message, broadcast on BBC radio, Elizabeth II demonstrated her commitment to her country and the Commonwealth. She addressed the speech during a tour in South Africa, and her words touched the entire United Kingdom, as she mentioned her intentions to serve the people throughout her life.

“Will, you, the youth of the British family of nations, let me speak on my birthday as your representative? […] If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, a high courage, and a quiet heart, we shall be able to make of this ancient commonwealth, which we all love so dearly, an even grander thing – more free, more prosperous, more happy and a more powerful influence for good in the world – than it has been in the greatest days of our forefathers.”

One of the most striking phrases of the then princess, and which remained in the memory of her subjects, was when she affirmed her devotion to Great Britain and assumed all her responsibilities:

“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

It is said that such words moved his grandmother, Queen Mary of Teck, to tears; however, historical data revealed that the author of his words was Dermot Morrah, a writer for The Times newspaper. Despite this, the emotional moment remained in the country’s collective memory and throughout her reign, her main manifesto, as she did what she promised until her death on September 8, 2022.

Story originally published in Spanish in Cultura Colectiva

Isabel Carrasco

History buff, crafts maniac, and makeup lover!

© Cultura Colectiva 2023

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The Seven Most Memorable Speeches Given By Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II's annual Christmas address may have been the most famous, but her 21st birthday one is even more powerful.

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, of England on tour of South Africa in 1947

As a world leader for over 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II had to make a lot of speeches.

Some of her most powerful addresses came before she even officially took the throne, and continued through regular speeches on Christmas and in moments of crisis. Even just months before her death at age 96 , the queen was still speaking to the nation, reminiscing fondly about her husband, Prince Philip .

Here are some of her most memorable.

1947 Birthday Message

View this video on YouTube

Though she wouldn’t be queen until 1956, Princess Elizabeth delivered a message on her 21st birthday in South Africa in which she dedicated her life to serving the British Empire.

1997 Tribute to Princess Diana

After Princess Diana’s death, Queen Elizabeth honored her daughter-in-law’s unforgettable life with remarks at Buckingham Palace, even though the pair had a notoriously difficult relationship.

“In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness,” Queen Elizabeth said. “I admired and respected her for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”

2020 COVID-19 Broadcast

In an April 2020 address livestreamed from Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth acknowledged the toll the COVID-19 pandemic had taken on the world and encouraged others to persevere.

She ended the broadcast with the now iconic line, “We will meet again.”

1940 BBC Children’s Hour Broadcast

At just 13 years old, Princess Elizabeth delivered her first-ever public speech on the radio. a morale-boosting message addressed to fellow young people affected by World War II.

“And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place,” she said.

1960 State Opening of Parliament

To kick off the parliamentary year, the queen highlights priorities for the upcoming months. Queen Elizabeth delivered a particularly rousing speech in 1960, which was also the first one filmed in color.

“My armed forces will continue to make their contribution to the safeguarding of world peace,” she said. “The friendship which links us to our great ally, the United States of America, is a powerful element of the defense of peace.”

1957 Christmas Broadcast

Queen Elizabeth delivered her first Christmas address to the UK in 1957, in what became a national tradition that has also served as a unifying event at the end of each year. She wasn’t the first to broadcast a Christmas speech, but she was the first to have her speeches televised, 25 years after her grandfather King George V’s appeared on the radio.

“Twenty-five years ago, my grandfather broadcast the first of these Christmas messages,” she said. “Today is another landmark, because television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day. My own family often gather round to watch television, as they are at this moment, and that is how I imagine you now.

“I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct. It’s inevitable that I should seem a rather remote figure to many of you, a successor to the kings and queens of history, someone whose face may be familiar in newspapers and films but who never really touches your personal lives. But now, at least for a few minutes, I welcome you to the peace of my own home.”

2021 Christmas Broadcast

In her final Christmas speech, Queen Elizabeth honored her late husband, Prince Philip, with a heartfelt address.

“His sense of service, intellectual curiosity, and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation were all irrepressible,” she said. “That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.”

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The Queen’s heartbreakingly simple act after Prince Philip died has been revealed

The pair had the longest royal marriage in history.

Rhiannon Ingle

Many people will remember images of the late Queen Elizabeth II when she attended her husband Prince Philip's funeral under Covid restrictions.

Due to strict social distancing restrictions, the late monarch was forced to attend the ceremony at St George's Chapel completely alone and masked up in April 2021.

While people across the globe had to endure similar situations when their loved ones passed, Brits were particularly upset when seeing the Queen mourn for her husband of nearly 74 years.

The Queen also reportedly had an equally 'heartbreakingly' simple act after Prince Philip died.

Her close friend and senior dresser, Angela Kelly, reportedly revealed the act to royal author and former MP, Gyles Brandreth, who wrote about it in his book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait .

An excerpt of the book saw the expert writing: "Immediately after Prince Philip's funeral, she returned to her apartment in Windsor Castle in silence."

It continued: "'I helped her off with her coat and hat', her dresser, Angela Kelly, remembered, 'and no words were spoken'. The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her thoughts'."

Speaking in a speech in 1997 to mark the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, the Queen referred to Philip as her 'strength and stay'.

She said: "All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking. Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner.

"He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."

The late monarch died in September 2022 at the age of 96 , and ruled for an impressive seven decades.

She first met Philip in 1934 at the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark to Prince George, Duke of Kent. Their engagement was officially announced on 9 July 1947 and they tied the knot officially just a few months later in late November.

This marked the very beginning of what would become the longest royal marriage in history.

The pair went on to have four children together; Charles who was born the year after they wed in 1948, Anne born a few years later in 1950, Andrew born a decade later in 1960 and their youngest child, Edward, born in 1964.

Topics:  Coronavirus , Covid-19 , News , Royal Family , The Queen , UK News

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.

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Late Queen's devastation laid bare with simple act after Prince Philip's funeral

After the late Queen Elizabeth said her final goodbyes to Prince Philip, her total devastation at the loss of her husband was laid bare with one heartbreakingly simple act

• 06:00, 29 Aug 2024
• Updated 08:19, 29 Aug 2024

There would never have been a good time for the late Queen Elizabeth to lose her beloved husband Prince Philip , but when he passed away during the Covid pandemic strict social distancing restrictions were in place. As mourners up and down the country experienced, many of the usual comforts that would be sought after during a time of grief were unavailable - and this was as true for the late Queen as everyone else who lost someone they loved during that difficult period.

The image of the late Queen sitting alone at Philip's funeral in St George's Chapel, wearing a mask and dressed entirely in black, will likely go down in the history books as encapsulating the isolation experienced by so many during the pandemic. The former monarch seemed so small in her solitude that she was almost swallowed up by the empty space on the pews around her but despite her visible grief at the funeral, it was a private act afterward that laid bare the depth of the devastation.

The late Queen's close friend and Senior Dresser - Angela Kelly - revealed the simple act to Gyles Brandreth, in his book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait. Brandreth - royal author and former MP - is a longtime close acquaintance of the former Queen and Prince Philip. The intimate detail of how the late Queen responded to the aftermath of her husband's funeral was shared in an excerpt published ahead of the book's release in the Daily Mail.

"Immediately after Prince Philip's funeral," the expert wrote. "She returned to her apartment in Windsor Castle in silence. 'I helped her off with her coat and hat,' her dresser, Angela Kelly, remembered, 'and no words were spoken. The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her thoughts.'"

Elizabeth and Philip were married in November 1947, when she was still a princess aged 21. Philip had to give up his Greek and Danish royal titles. The pair had first met over a decade before, when she was just a child, at a royal wedding, and when she was a teenager the pair began to exchange letters, with royal biographers claiming that despite her young age Elizabeth was smitten from the start.

The couple quickly welcomed two children - King Charles and Princess Anne - but when Elizabeth's father died unexpectedly early she took the throne and became monarch at just 25 years old. Throughout their long marriage, Philip was a great source of support to the late Queen and was said to run things privately within the family itself, whilst he deferred to her as head of state in the public realm. In 1997 during a speech to mark the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, Elizabeth famously referred to him as her "strength and stay" explaining how much he helped her behind closed doors.

"All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking. Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner," the late Queen said in her speech. "He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."

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