VIDEO-Coronavirus: Queen delivers historic message to nation from Windsor Castle | UK News | Sky News


You can watch the full speech here if you missed it.


PICTURED: The Queen delivering her historic address.


What happens next?

The Queen has been staying at Windsor for the past two weeks. 

She moved there from Buckingham Palace a week earlier than expected as a precautionary measure. 

She normally stays in Windsor for Easter but it is anticipated she will remain there after the break at least.


How was the speech recorded?

It was an unusual setup at Windsor Castle so that the Queen could record the message while adhering to social distancing.

The message was recorded in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, only after special advice was given by the royal household’s medical team to protect the Queen and adhere to the current guidelines. 

Only one cameraman was allowed in the room wearing gloves and a mask. 

Other technical staff were made to work in a separate room using monitors and speakers. 


The Queen's message has come to an end - analysis from Sky's Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills now on Sky News.





























The Queen's message is getting underway...


Ten minutes until the Queen's message is broadcast - you can follow here and watch live on Sky News.


Latest UK coronavirus headlines

Before the Queen's speech, a reminder of today's main UK coronavirus headlines.

Another 621 hospital patients have died after contracting coronavirus - taking the UK's total to 4,934. You can read more here.

And the government is warning that the UK lockdown may need to be strengthened if people keep ignoring social distancing measures, with many heading outside this weekend. 

Read more here.


When has the Queen done something like this before?

Apart from her annual Christmas message, the Queen has only made this kind of televised address on four other occasions during her 68-year reign.

Those were during the Gulf War, after the deaths of Princess Diana and of the Queen Mother, and to mark her Diamond Jubilee.

This one is more unusual because of the conditions under which it was filmed.

The white drawing room was chosen because it was large enough to allow sufficient distance between the Queen and the only cameraman who was in the room with her, wearing a face mask and gloves.


What do we know about the Queen's address?

Sky News' Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills has reported on some early details about the address.

In her message, the 93-year-old monarch will say: "I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time."

Describing how proud she has been to see Britain pull together, the Queen will also praise NHS staff and other key workers.

She will say: "I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge.



Good evening - what's coming up?

The Queen is to address the nation in a special pre-recorded message from Windsor Castle.

In what is a historic televised address, the monarch will say she hopes the coronavirus crisis will show that "Britons of this generation were as strong as any" as the country responds to the challenges it faces.

The message will be broadcast from 8pm on Sky News.


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