# Elizabeth II has given three televised speeches. I know one. What were the other two? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278 "2020-04-07T15:36:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/1 "2020-04-07T15:36:48Z")
[From the article that starts half-way down here.](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/did-star-wars-actors-anthony-daniels-and-kenny-baker-really-hate-each-other.html/) > [@](#): > > Over the weekend, Queen Elizabeth addressed the nation about the coronavirus crisis. The move was a rare one for the 93-year-old monarch, who has only given three televised speeches during her reign. I believe there is a Christmas address every year and she addresses Parliament once per year, so I presume they mean except for those… I figure this is one of her speeches and the one after the death of Diana was another. What are the “three” televised speeches they are referencing? ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/2 "2020-04-07T15:50:28Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [From the article that starts half-way down here.](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/did-star-wars-actors-anthony-daniels-and-kenny-baker-really-hate-each-other.html/) > > I believe there is a Christmas address every year and she addresses Parliament once per year, so I presume they mean except for those… > > I figure this is one of her speeches and the one after the death of Diana was another. > > What are the “three” televised speeches they are referencing? It appears to be addressed [here](https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52166242). She’s given four other speeches (other than a yearly Christmas message and Openings of Parliament). They were (1) her Diamond Jubilee in 2012; (2) her mother’s death in 2002; (3) Diana’s death in 1997; and (4) the Gulf War in 1991. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/3 "2020-04-07T16:10:45Z")
Many people were not happy that she did not give a speech on Diana right away , she waited a few days. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/4 "2020-04-07T16:14:35Z")
I would have expected the Queen to have addressed the country for other reasons than just those four. Is there some reason to ration this? Is she too busy to address the country more frequently? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/5 "2020-04-07T16:22:51Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I would have expected the Queen to have addressed the country for other reasons than just those four. Is there some reason to ration this? Is she too busy to address the country more frequently? Because if she addresses something, it is **important**. The more often the PM drags her out (and the Gulf War address was undoubtedly at his request), the less impact it has. The other three were direct effect to the the throne, so that is presumably why she addressed them. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/6 "2020-04-07T16:33:00Z")
That list of extraordinary (i.e., other than the Christmas address and the State Opening of Parliament, where she only reads a speech written by the Cabinet for her) addresses is indeed interestingly restrictive. I get the point that you don’t want to inflate away the importance of such a speech by giving them too often, but it is certainly possible to think of other events during her reign that were arguably of similar importance as those that merited a speech. The Falklands War, for instance (after all, it was a case of British territory getting invaded by a foreign nation). ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/7 "2020-04-07T16:41:26Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Because if she addresses something, it is **important**. The more often the PM drags her out …, the less impact it has. Your logic is undeniable. But still, reigning for almost 40 years until her first speech? :eek:😕 Wow… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/8 "2020-04-07T16:52:36Z")
She’s head of state, not head of government. It’s not her function to be supportive of government measures. For example, Labour was initially critical of Thatcher’s Falklands response. The Queen shouldn’t get involved in that political debate. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/9 "2020-04-07T17:49:19Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > … but it is certainly possible to think of other events during her reign that were arguably of similar importance as those that merited a speech. The Falklands War, for instance (after all, it was a case of British territory getting invaded by a foreign nation). Interestingly, or perhaps not, I seem to recall that it was referred to as the “Falklands Conflict” at the time, and calling it a “war” was in some way un-British/disapproved of/looked askance upon.\* Odd, as there were people dashing around getting killed, but that’s how it was. - Yes, prepositions at the end of sentences are sometimes things up with which I put. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/10 "2020-04-07T18:32:09Z")
She wasn’t queen but I know she also addressed the nation on behalf of the relocated children during World War II. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/11 "2020-04-07T18:44:50Z")
I had forgotten about the Christmas message, which she does every year, and which is her chance to summarize the year and give hope for the next year. She can cover a lot of ground in one fell swoop. I agree that if she came out every month and gave a speech that would be a bit much, but people deserve to know what she is thinking since she is Head of State and what she thinks matters to some degree. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/12 "2020-04-07T19:08:51Z")
> [@Carryon](#): > > She wasn’t queen but I know she also addressed the nation on behalf of the relocated children during World War II. She referenced that earlier address (80 years ago!) in her coronavirus speech, accompanied by a [picture](https://www.promipool.com/royals/this-is-how-george-charlotte-and-louis-are-mirroring-elizabeth-and-margaret-s-efforts-as-kids-during-the-war?gallery) of Elizabeth and Margaret during the address. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/13 "2020-04-07T19:20:40Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > She referenced that earlier address (80 years ago!) in her coronavirus speech, accompanied by a [picture](https://www.promipool.com/royals/this-is-how-george-charlotte-and-louis-are-mirroring-elizabeth-and-margaret-s-efforts-as-kids-during-the-war?gallery) of Elizabeth and Margaret during the address. The whole broadcast is here, on the official youtube channel [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VJI9LPFQth4/maxresdefault.jpg "Children's Hour Broadcast") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJI9LPFQth4) ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/14 "2020-04-07T19:25:51Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > She’s head of state, not head of government. It’s not her function to be supportive of government measures. For example, Labour was initially critical of Thatcher’s Falklands response. The Queen shouldn’t get involved in that political debate. I can see that logic, but then again, the same logic would certainly have applied to the Gulf War just as much, which was also very controversial domestically. Apparently it still deserved a speech. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/15 "2020-04-07T20:19:28Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Many people were not happy that she did not give a speech on Diana right away , she waited a few days. See the excellent movie _The Queen_ for what led up to that. Quite interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/16 "2020-04-07T21:24:38Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > I can see that logic, but then again, the same logic would certainly have applied to the Gulf War just as much, which was also very controversial domestically. Apparently it still deserved a speech. The Gulf War in 1991 was pretty well supported by the public at the time: [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232862843\_British\_public\_opinion\_during\_the\_Gulf\_war](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232862843_British_public_opinion_during_the_Gulf_war) The invasion of Iraq is now considered much more controversial (though I believe that has much to do with the benefit of hindsight). ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/17 "2020-04-08T00:32:29Z")
She also gave one [in Canada](https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/queen-elizabeths-1959-dominion-day-message) in 1959. (And a [short message](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLI8fywq2Ec) for Canada, released on new year’s day in 2017, but I don’t know if it was televised.) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/18 "2020-04-08T05:24:38Z")
The distinctive thing is not so much giving a speech or publishing a message: that’s done frequently on visits, opening and unveiling things and so on, but would turn up on radio and TV only incidentally or filleted for news summaries - other than the Christmas speech. What makes these few occasions different is that the fact of being broadcast directly across the major public service channels, usually simultaneously and probably interrupting previously-published schedules. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/19 "2020-04-08T06:08:24Z")
I have to say, as a republican\* that I thought it was a really well-attuned speech, and showed more sense of leadership and moment than anything I’ve heard from either our Prime Minister, who is not a great set-piece speaker, or those snippets of Boris, Trump, Merkel, Macron that have made it onto the news. It helps if you’re in the job for decades and been doing these for 80 years, but now is the time you want it to help. \*in Commonwealth terms thats someone who wants to remove the monarch as the head of state, not an American type of person ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278/20 "2020-04-08T06:16:42Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Because if she addresses something, it is **important**. The more often the PM drags her out (and the Gulf War address was undoubtedly at his request), the less impact it has. > > The other three were direct effect to the the throne, so that is presumably why she addressed them. She’s also thought to find this kind of speech to be a very unpleasant ordeal. A different personality might have seen television as more of an opportunity than a chore. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-ii-has-given-three-televised-speeches-i-know-one-what-were-the-other-two/851278.md?page=2)