Queen will address nation on Sunday over coronavirus crisis in only her fourth special address as monarch
Queen Elizabeth will be speaking to the nation and the commonwealth about the novel coronavirus pandemic in what will only be the fourth special televised address in her 68-year reign as monarch.
The Queen, 93, has left Buckingham Palace along with her husband, the 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, and is staying at Windsor Castle, from where she will be making her speech.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the broadcast to "the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth" had already been recorded and will air this coming Sunday, April 5, at 8 pm.
"Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak," a royal spokesperson said. "The televised address will be broadcast at 8 pm on Sunday, April 5, 2020. The address was recorded at Windsor Castle."
Besides television and radio, the Queen's address will also be shown on the royal social media channels, including @RoyalFamily on Twitter.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen in the UK — the Department of Health reported that more than 684 people died from the virus on one day on April 2, taking the total death toll in the kingdom to 3,605 — calls had been growing for the Queen to make a public statement.
The outbreak has seen the country placed on lockdown, with only essential services like pharmacies and groceries allowed to remain open, and it has been stressed that they were still at the start of a long and difficult process of recovery.
Royal aides have reportedly been speaking to Downing Street for a fortnight about Her Majesty giving a morale-boosting television address to the public, with Sunday's broadcast being just the fourth time the 93-year-old has given such a speech.
Her most recent special address came in 2002 on the eve of the Queen Mother's funeral and saw her thank the country for their support and the "love and honor" they had shown her mother.
Dressed in all black, she said, "I count myself fortunate that my mother was blessed with a long and happy life. She had an infectious zest for living, and this remained with her until the very end."
She had also addressed the nation in 1997 after the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales, and in 1991, when she spoke about the Gulf War just as allied land offensive began against Iraqi forces occupying Kuwait.
Concerns over the Queen's health were raised after it emerged that one of her footmen had tested positive for Covid-19.
He had reportedly been promoted to a role closer to the Queen six months ago, and his duties are said to have included walking the Queen's dogs, corgi-dachshund crosses Candy and Vulcan and bringing her food.
Last week, her son, Prince Charles, had also tested positive for the coronavirus, but has since recovered and is out of self-isolation.
Buckingham Palace has insisted that the Queen is in "good health" and that every precaution is being taken to ensure hers and Prince Phillip's safety.