A new royal biography has disclosed that Queen Elizabeth II was nearly persuaded to exclude the iconic 'We'll meet again' line from her historic address to the nation during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020. The late monarch, in a heartfelt rallying cry aimed at uniting the country amid the pandemic, initially found the phrase too whimsical for inclusion.
The Historic Covid Address
In April 2020, as the UK death rate approached 5,000 in the early stages of the Covid-19 outbreak, Queen Elizabeth II delivered a powerful speech from Windsor Castle. This marked only her fifth address to the nation during her remarkable 70-year reign. Evoking the wartime spirit of Dame Vera Lynn, she praised NHS staff and urged the public to stay home, concluding with the memorable words: "We will succeed, and that success will belong to every one of us. Many will feel a painful sense of separation. Better days will return. We'll meet again."
Behind the Scenes of the Speech
According to royal biographer Robert Hardman in his new book, Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, the Queen's private secretary, Sir Edward Young, first proposed including the line from the popular Second World War song. Despite its appearance in several drafts sent to Her Majesty, including her daily red box of government paperwork, the Queen crossed it out, expressing concerns that it was overly whimsical.
Hardman writes that Sir Edward eventually pressed the point in person, leading the Queen to relent. This decision resulted in the speech ending with echoes of Vera Lynn's wartime refrain, which became a focal point for global news coverage and front-page headlines worldwide.
Personal Worries During the Pandemic
The biography also sheds light on the Queen's personal anxieties during the lockdown. She was particularly worried about her daughter, Princess Anne, often dubbed the monarchy's hardest-working royal due to her extensive engagements. A former staff member revealed to Hardman that the Queen frequently expressed concern, saying, "Anne's travelling everywhere, and she works so hard, and I've got to tell her to slow down."
Princess Anne proved to be a significant comfort to her mother during this period, participating in video calls with charities and organisations. This support aligned with the Queen's mantra, "one must be seen to be believed," as they navigated the challenges of the pandemic together from their respective locations.
