Queen Elizabeth

Rare footage of Queen Elizabeth as a little girl released in honor of her 94th birthday

Queen Elizabeth II turned 94 on Tuesday, and despite the coronavirus pandemic scrubbing her annual celebrations, those closest to Her Majesty began their day by sending her a ton of love. Prince William and Kate Middleton were some of the first members of the British royal family to acknowledge the reigning monarch’s big day. “Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a very happy 94th birthday today!” the couple captioned a photo of the pair on a stroll with the queen on Instagram. About an hour later, the queen’s supporters were treated to a clip compiled of home videos of Her Majesty throughout her formative years. The one-minute video was posted to the royal family’s official Instagram account and features the queen as a young toddler playing with her late sister, Princess Margaret. Her love of animals is also on display as the rare footage shows adorable clips of her cuddling with puppies and birds. “Happy Birthday, Your Majesty! Thank you for your messages today, on The Queen’s 94th birthday. In this private footage from the @royalcollectiontrust, we see The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) playing with her family, including her younger sister Princess Margaret,” the account captioned the video. “Head of the Commonwealth, Head of the Armed Forces, Head of State in 16 countries and the longest reigning Monarch in British History. Wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Happy birthday, Your Majesty!” the post continues. “To those of you also celebrating your birthdays today at home, with or without your loved ones – we send you many happy returns.” Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie also acknowledged the reigning monarch’s celebratory day. “May today bring joy in a time when families can’t be together celebrating with one another. All my love,” Eugenie wrote. The Clarence House, the office for the queen’s eldest son, Prince Charles, also paid tribute to the queen’s 94th birthday with a slideshow of photographs showing the mother-son duo over the years. As of Tuesday afternoon, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had yet to publicly share their birthday wishes for the queen. Although it’s possible the couple will not make a statement following the shuttering of their Sussex Royal Instagram account. The queen’s birthday comes at a somber time in history due to the coronavirus pandemic, which shuttered the queen’s annual birthday gun salute, as well as her birthday parade, also known as the Troop of Colour, that was cancelled. Last month, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement that the queen departed for Windsor Castle ahead of the Easter holiday due to the COVID-19 crisis. It is likely she is still staying there with her husband, Prince Philip.

We wish the Queen a very Happy 94th Birthday!! To see the pic of her with William and Kate, click on the text above. To see the video of her as a child mentioned above, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heL6Ef70fdo 🙂

Queen Elizabeth: ‘Easter Isn’t Cancelled’, Take ‘New Hope’ from ‘Risen Christ’

Queen Elizabeth II has delivered what is believed to be the first-ever Easter message of her 68-year reign, offering a message of hope to people confined to their homes throughout the holiday by the coronavirus pandemic. The 93-year-old monarch — who also serves as Supreme Governor of the Church of England — recorded this message in the drawing room of Windsor Castle, where she is herself in self-isolation as a result of the pandemic. The Queen recalled how “many Christians would normally light candles together” on Holy Saturday, the sombre day preceding Easter Sunday when Christ lay in his tomb — and, according to Christian teaching, descended into Hades and preached to the dead. “This year, Easter will be different for many of us, but by keeping apart we keep others safe,” the Queen said. “But Easter isn’t cancelled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever. The discovery of the risen Christ on the first Easter Day gave his followers new hope and fresh purpose, and we can all take heart from this,” she added. “We know that coronavirus will not overcome us.” The Queen’s Easter message can be viewed or read in full by clicking here:

Happy Easter! 🙂

Queen Elizabeth addresses coronavirus pandemic: ‘We will succeed’

Queen Elizabeth II gave a rare address to the nation on Sunday, uplifting the spirits of her people in the United Kingdom and offering hope to her country as it faces the devastating coronavirus pandemic. The reigning monarch acknowledged the suffering that many families have endured because of the COVID-19 crisis, which has infected over 42,000 people in the U.K. and killed at least 4,313 of them, according to researchers. The televised address was recorded in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. The location was specifically chosen for the broadcast because it provided enough space between the 93-year-old and the cameraperson, who wore personal protective equipment. “I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time,” Elizabeth shared, “a time of disruption in the life of our country; a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.” The Queen also paid tribute to Britain’s beloved National Health Service and others in essential services, together with around 750,000 people who volunteer to help the vulnerable. “I want to thank everyone on the NHS frontline, 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,” she said. “I’m sure the nation will join me in ensuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.” “I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home,” Elizabeth noted on social distancing, “thereby protecting to help the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Together we are tackling this disease and I want to reassure you that if we remain united in resolute then we will overcome it.” Elizabeth also remarked history will forever remember how the nation rose to the challenge during the crisis. “I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge,” she said. “And, those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any, that the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet, good-humored resolve, and of fellow feeling still characterize this country.” “The pride in who we are is not part of our past,” she continued. “It defines our present and our future. The moments when the United Kingdom has come to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit. And its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children. Across the Commonwealth and around the world we have seen heartwarming stories of people coming together to help others. Be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbors, or converting businesses to help the relief effort.” Elizabeth noted that self-isolating can be challenging for those trying to make sense of the pandemic. However, their efforts to flatten the curve are being recognized and honored. “And though self-isolating may at times be hard,” she admitted. “[But] many people of all faiths and of none are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect in prayer or meditation. It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made in 1940 helped by my sister. We as children spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety.” “Today, once again, many will feel a sense of separation from their loved ones,” Elizabeth said. “But now, as then, we know deep down that it is the right thing to do. While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal.” “We will succeed, and that success will belong to every one of us,” she concluded. “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. But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.” Sunday’s broadcast served as the first time the Queen has addressed the coronavirus on camera. Elizabeth has given yearly Christmas messages but has given an address like this only on three previous occasions. The British royal delivered speeches at the time of the first Gulf War in 1991, before the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, and after the Queen Mother’s death in 2002. The crisis hit close to home for the monarch. Her son and heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, had a mild case of the disease. The Prince of Wales, 71, has since recovered, his office, Clarence House, confirmed.

For more, and to see the video, click on the text above.

Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history

Queen Elizabeth II has reached a major milestone by becoming the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history. She passes Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother, who was on the throne for 63 years and 7 months. Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday that millions of Britons would celebrate the queen’s “historic moment.” “Over the last 63 years, Her Majesty has been a rock of stability in a world of constant change and her selfless sense of service and duty has earned admiration not only in Britain, but right across the globe,” Cameron said. “It is only right that today we should celebrate her extraordinary record, as well as the grace and dignity with which she serves our country.” Buckingham Palace marked the event by releasing an official photograph of the queen taken by Mary McCartney, a photographer who is the daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney. Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952 upon the death of her father King George VI. She was touring a remote part of Kenya when news of her father’s death arrived. Her official coronation came the following year and was one of the first major public events to be televised in Britain. The 89-year-old monarch has cut back on her international travel and has lightened her work load somewhat, but she still carries out many royal duties.

What a milestone! Queen Elizabeth is virtually universally loved by her British “subjects.” We wish Her Majesty the very best and congratulate her on this great achievement.