Queen Elizabeth II: History will remember your actions in virus crisis

In a rare dress to nation, Queen Elizabeth II plans to exhort Britons to rise to challenge of coronavirus pandemic, drawing on wisdom from her deces as Britain's he of state to urge discipline and resolve in a time of crisis.

93-year-old monarch is expected to ackwledge suffering that many families have experienced because of COVID-19 crisis, which has infected over 42,000 citizens in U.K. and killed at least 4,313 of m. She will seek to lift spirits and offer hope to country in its hour of need.

“I am speaking to you at what I kw is an increasingly challenging time,’’ she said, according to excerpts released ahe of remarks that were being brocast Sunday night. “A time of disruption in life of our country; a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many and ermous changes to daily lives of us all.”

queen gives yearly Christmas messs but has given an dress like this on only three previous occasions. She delivered speeches after Queen Mor’s death in 2002, before funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, and at time of first Gulf War in 1991.

queen will laud Britain's beloved National Health Service and ors in essential services, toger with some 750,000 people who volunteered to help vulnerable.

“I hope in years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how y responded to this challenge,” she said. “Those who come after us will say that Britons of this generation were as strong as any.’’

“That attributes of self-discipline, of quiet, good-humoured resolve, and of fellow feeling still characterize this country,” she said, according to excerpts.

crisis has hit close to home for queen. Her son and heir to throne, 71-year-old Prince Charles, h a mild case of disease. She herself left London, epicentre of Britain's outbreak, and took up residence at her home in Windsor with her husband, Duke of Edinburgh.

Both monarch and her 98-year-old husband are among those over 70 whom British government have vised to stay home for 12 weeks.

dress was recorded at in White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. location was chosen specifically because it allowed eugh between monarch and camera person, who wore personal protective equipment.