When the Queen Spoke to the Nation

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Kirsty Young

Liz Hartford

Factual

BBC One - When the Queen Spoke to the Nation

The remarkable story of when the Queen spoke directly to the nation.

Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. She lived her whole life in the public eye yet she remained an enigmatic figure throughout. The Queen never gave interviews but there was one way we could discover what was deeply important to her - through her speeches. This film looks back at the Queen’s annual Christmas Day messages, and the handful of momentous occasions when the Queen made rare special addresses and spoke directly to the nation at times of crisis, commemoration and celebration.

This film tells the story of how a very private Queen was able to use the public platform of these speeches to deliver powerful messages to Britain and the Commonwealth that truly reflected her core values and beliefs.

As a young girl, Princess Elizabeth witnessed her grandfather King George V and her father King George VI reinforce the bond between the monarch and the people through their radio addresses. The Queen would continue and evolve the tradition, as she sought to transform the institution from a more revered, magical monarchy to one driven by public service.

The Queen’s speeches reveal a monarch who grew with confidence over the years. Her early broadcasts were a struggle as she was shy, and wasn’t a natural orator - the switch to television technology also brought additional pressure. But with the help of her husband, Prince Philip, she was able to overcome her nerves, and early criticism of her oratory skills, to be later known as ‘One take Windsor’ by palace insiders.

As a constitutional monarch, the Queen wasn’t political in her speeches and every word had to be carefully chosen to avoid controversy. Keeping the prime minister on side, and the public, at times proved a challenge. However, the Queen didn’t shy away from tackling difficult subjects, speaking of the importance of religious tolerance, healing divisions and forgiveness.

During her long reign, aside from her Christmas messages, the Queen spoke directly to the country on just a few significant occasions.

This film looks back at the circumstances surrounding these remarkable broadcasts and hears from those involved. These include the first Gulf War speech made in 1991, the address the Queen made on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and an address to the nation during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 that gripped the nation.

From her special broadcast to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day to her Diamond Jubilee speech celebrating 60 years on the throne, through these rich and unique archives, a picture emerges of a monarch who used her words sparingly yet effectively to inspire and unite the nation and Commonwealth.

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