The Queen’s message at Easter: We’ll beat virus
THE QUEEN last night issued an Easter message of hope to the nation, insisting that ‘coronavirus will not overcome us’.
In what is thought to be her first broadcast to mark the most important Christian festival of the year, Her Majesty, who i s Supreme Governor of the Church of England, said: ‘This year, Easter will be different for many of us, but by keeping apart we keep others safe.
‘But Easter isn’t cancelled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever. As dark as death can be – particularly for those suffering with grief – light and life are greater.’
While churches across the country remain closed, Easter services will be broadcast across the internet and television tomorrow, including a service from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s kitchen.
The Queen’s message, which was recorded on Friday, went out last night to ensure it did not overshadow today’s religious services.
It is the second broadcast from Her Majesty within the space of a week, following last Sunday’s special televised address to the nation, when 24 million people tuned in to see the Queen evoke the spirit of the Second World War, telling a nation enduring lockdown restrictions that ‘we will meet again’.
Last night, she drew on many of the same themes of hope, while focusing on the Easter message of light and life overcoming darkness and death.
She spoke of the way in which light, such as candles on a birthday cake, is used by people of all faiths – and those of none – to unite us.
The latest broadcast was recorded in much the same way as the one last Sunday, with careful precautions taken to observe social distancing rules. Such recordings at Windsor normally have to be planned with the flight schedule at nearby Heathrow in mind but, given the lack of air traffic during the lockdown, this was less of a consideration.
Today will be the first time in decades that the Queen has missed the annual Easter service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor – a highlight of her year, when she sees her extended family gathered together in celebration. Last year, the Easter service fell on her 93rd birthday and she was greeted with bouquets of flowers by local schoolchildren.
The gothic, 14th Century chapel at Windsor is the site of many royal weddings, including the marriages of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.
A regular church-goer, the last service the Queen was known to have missed was a Christmas Day service at Sandringham in 2016, which was due to a heavy cold. The cancellation of the Easter Service is just one of the many Royal events disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Last week the Queen was forced to break with centuries of tradition by sending Maundy money by Royal Mail instead of handing it directly to recipients. The commemorative coins are usually distributed to elderly members of the Church of England on Maundy Thursday – a ritual which dates back to 1699.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Cambridge wrote to the Church of Scotland, saying he found it heartening to see how the church had ‘reinvented itself digitally to continue providing worship, support and guidance for your congregations’ amid the pandemic.
Prince William, who was appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland by the Queen in January, said: ‘ I have no doubt that this support, as well as other means of offering help, is hugely appreciated at this extremely challenging time, particularly by the elderly, vulnerable, those economically affected and of course those who have so tragically lost loved ones.’
William was due to attend the General Assembly next month, but the event has been cancelled.