Her Majesty appeared in a special broadcast called A Celebration for Commonwealth Day, which also featured Kate and William, Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince Edward’s wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
The hour-long program took place to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday – and comes ahead of Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, which airs on CBS in the United States at 8pm-10pm ET on Sunday (12pm-2pm Monday AEDT).
The rival broadcasts by the royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex land amid huge controversy over Megan and Harry’s decision to give a tell-all interview on Palace life.
The Duchess of Sussex is also facing allegations of bullying aides during her time as a working royal, which she strenuously denies, with a spokesperson for the couple saying it is “no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining the Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and the Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience.”
Last month, the Sussexes officially stepped back from royal duties, after announcing they were expecting their second child. Meghan has also won a privacy battle against a UK newspaper over a letter she sent her father, Thomas.
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Here's the Queen's 308-word Commonwealth Day speech in full, so you can peruse the hidden messages at your leisure in the few hours to go until Meghan's big moment:
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.
Whilst experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, 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 frontline who have been delivering healthcare and other public services in their communities. We have also taken encouragement from remarkable advances in developing new vaccines and treatments.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsRead the #CommonwealthDay message by Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth: https://t.co/lLAPFLfQPO
Watch the #Commonwealth Day message by Her Majesty The Queen on the @commonwealthsec YouTube channel: https://t.co/NEqtZ3ywnk #CommonwealthDelivers | @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/qGa8pZY8OH
— The Commonwealth (@commonwealthsec) March 7, 2021
The testing times experienced by so many have led to a deeper appreciation of the mutual support and spiritual sustenance we enjoy by being connected to others.
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. In our everyday lives, we have had to become more accustomed to connecting and communicating via innovative technology – which has been new to some of us – with conversations and communal gatherings, including Commonwealth meetings, conducted online, enabling people to stay in touch with friends, family, colleagues and counterparts, who they have not been able to meet in person. Increasingly, we have found ourselves able to enjoy such communication, as it offers an immediacy that transcends boundaries or division, helping any sense of distance to disappear.
We have all continued to appreciate the support, breadth of experiences and knowledge that working together brings, and I hope we shall maintain this renewed sense of closeness and community. Looking forward, relationships with others across the Commonwealth will remain important, as we strive to deliver a common future that is sustainable and more secure, so that the nations and neighbourhoods in which we live, wherever they are located, become healthier and happier places for us all.
Let's take a look at how the media has responded to the Queen's Commonwealth Day broadcast.
It's hard to deny that the headlines tell a story of a series of devastating put-downs, delivered neatly wrapped up in a bow.
The UK Telegraph has led with: "Queen stresses importance of family to 'transcend division' in message of unity".
The Sun has gone with "Queen praises nation’s ‘selfless dedication to duty’ as Royals brace themselves for explosive Harry and Meghan interview".
And The Mirror has plumped for "Queen stresses importance of staying in touch with family during 'testing times'".
Sky News and the Daily Mail have both noted that Her Majesty hailed "friendship and unity" in the Commonwealth address.
Baroness Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, has spoken in the Abbey's St George's Chapel.
"Let us pledge ourselves afresh to uphold the values of the Commonwealth, that every person possesses unique worth and dignity," she said.
Her words came after singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas performed the Aretha Franklin hit I Say a Little Prayer, backed by members of the ACM Gospel Choir.
The Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, followed up with a prayer "that we might be agents of deeper peace and greater justice".
Finally, the Abbey Choir are singing John Rutter’s For the Beauty of the Earth to close out the royal broadcast.
All in all, it's been a very solemn and regal program calling attention to ideas of "duty", "service" and setting an "example".
Not long now until Harry and Meghan's turn to shine. It will be an extremely different show.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSinger-songwriter Lianne La Havas performs the Aretha Franklin classic I Say a Little Prayer, backed by members of the ACM Gospel Choir pic.twitter.com/Sul5xaLkRL
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) March 7, 2021
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are speaking to "inspirational figures from South Africa, Bangladesh and Malaysia who have been caring for their communities during the pandemic".
Kate noted that there had been a lot of "public recognition" for healthcare workers during the pandemic, but said it was also "sad that it's taken the pandemic" for that to happen.
Picture: BBC
Prince William said he and Kate, both looking deeply serious for most of their Commonwealth Day broadcast, had spoken to many healthcare workers this year.
They must be feeling incredible strain at this moment, with Meghan's interview only hours away, in which she's expected to discuss her rift with Kate.
The Duchess of Cambridge could reportedly be called to give evidence after former aides claimed she witnessed Meghan’s alleged “challenging behaviour” – claims the Duchess of Sussex vehemently denies.
To mark International Women's Day, the Countess of Wessex and broadcaster June Sarpong are speaking to Virginia Khunguni in Malawi and Caitlin Figueiredo in Australia.
Ms Figueiredo spoke of the importance of having women in the room making decisions while Ms Khunguni spoke of the technology challenges in Malawi.
Picture: BBC
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, said "there can be fatigue" talking about women's rights and that she wanted conversations to move to a more level playing field. "It's a win-win, not one against the other," she said.
Now British heptathlete Denise Lewis is speaking of coming together through sport and its power to change lives.
Here's that Queen's speech in full for you to pore over the hidden meaning:
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIn a message to celebrate #CommonwealthDay The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, has paid tribute to communities across the family of nations who've come together in response to the pandemic. In a special programme on BBC One today on Sunday 7th March. pic.twitter.com/XYzgo23GBv
— Dickie Arbiter 🇬🇧 (@RoyalDickie) March 7, 2021
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has spoken about her love of books and their importance during the pandemic.
It's followed by a spoken word performance, Omnipresence by James Massiah.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js‘Be you far or be you near, somehow for me you're always there’: South London poet and spoken word artist James Massiah is reading his piece Wide Eyes. You can find out more about James and his work here: https://t.co/7EdHKvMKER pic.twitter.com/7hP5FAvVYB
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) March 7, 2021
Here's another key line from the Queen: "The testing times experienced by so many have led to a deeper appreciation of the mutual support and spiritual sustenance we enjoy by being connected to others."
There's that idea of connection and mutual support again – something that seems distinctly lacking in royal circles at present.
Camilla's chat is followed by a performance by the New Zealand Youth Choir.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsGraduates of the New Zealand Youth Choir begin singing Maori greeting Kua Rongo in the Abbey, with the performance continued by members of the choir at home in New Zealand pic.twitter.com/PzUOQhHMMd
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) March 7, 2021
Prince Charles has called on viewers of the royals' special Commonwealth Day program to "offer an example to the world".
He praised environmental projects including green hydrogen in Australia and sustainable shipping in Barbados.
The Prince of Wales said that amidst the "heartbreak" of the pandemic the "extraordinary determination, courage and creativity with which people have responded has been an inspiration to us all".
Picture: BBC
The royals are clearly aiming for quiet dignity and poise with their COVID-focused broadcast before the Meghan interview, but there are certainly some pointed lines here.
For example: is it any coincidence that the Queen's short speech praised those delivering healthcare and "public services", following the snarky exchange over how to live "a life of service" with the Sussexes.
Prince Charles has chosen to praise the "remarkable diversity" of the Commonwealth.
He said the pandemic had "robbed countless people of their lives and livelihoods", but hailed the courage and creativity with which people have responded.
He said the pandemic had shown how health and economics are fundamentally connected, speaking of climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js🌍 In this year’s #CommonwealthDay message The Queen
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 7, 2021
pays tribute to the way in which communities across the family of nations have come together in response to the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/rOoUMJLlKg
The Queen said today was an opportunity to "reflect on an experience like no other", highlighting "stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty" that have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth country.
She spoke of online gatherings connecting people despite distance necessitated by COVID-19.
"I hope we shall maintain this renewed sense of community," she said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMi_AFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2NlbGVicml0eS1saWZlL3JveWFscy9yb3lhbHMtbGl2ZS1uZXdzLXRoZS1xdWVlbnMtc3BlZWNoLW1lZ2hhbi1tYXJrbGUtYW5kLXByaW5jZS1oYXJyeS1vcHJhaC1pbnRlcnZpZXctcHJpbmNlLXBoaWxpcHMtaGVhbHRoLWthdGUtbWlkZGxldG9uLWFuZC1wcmluY2Utd2lsbGlhbS11cGRhdGVzL2xpdmUtY292ZXJhZ2UvNGVhZDAyZWVhZmMyNjkxZTQzZGEwNDU4MzU0MWY3MTHSAQA?oc=5
2021-03-07 17:26:42Z
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