Queen Elizabeth on Sunday urged unity in a speech commemorating Commonwealth Day a few hours before Oprah Winfrey's CBS interview with Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was expected to air.
The pair is expected to discuss their controversial decision to step down as senior members of the royal family.
“Over the coming week, as we celebrate the friendship, spirit of unity and achievements of the commonwealth, we have an opportunity to reflect on a time like no other,” the queen said at the beginning of the address, which the BBC premiered on YouTube.
The queen stressed that “stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the front line who have been delivering health care and other public services in their communities.”
This was the first time the royal family marked the annual Commonwealth Day only on television due to the coronavirus pandemic, USA Today reported.
Queen Elizabeth reflected in the address that “the need to maintain greater physical distance, or to live and work largely in isolation, has, for many people across the Commonwealth, been an unusual experience,” adding that, “we have also taken encouragement from remarkable advances in developing new vaccines and treatments.”
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.