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When the Queen was photographed through the window of her Rolls Royce on Thursday afternoon, a Dorgi (a cross between a Corgi and Dachshund) seated just as regally beside her, she had her no-nonsense game face on.
A few hours later, safely ensconced in Windsor Castle with her husband Prince Philip, 98, by her side (he choppered down from his retirement cottage on the Sandringham estate, arriving just in time for lunch) Elizabeth II, 93, summoned all her authority to issue her first statement on the novel coronavirus.
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In contrast to an emotional statement issued by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and a dramatic fund raising plea issued by Prince William, this was a masterclass in ice cold royal refusal to panic, a paean to the virtues of the stiff upper lip, a homage to keeping calm and carrying on.
It carried, unspoken in its DNA, the ghost of the royal family’s stoic endurance of German air raids on London that famously destroyed part of Buckingham Palace. The then-queen was said to be secretly relieved because it meant she could look other bombing victims in the eye as she offered sympathy.
“As Philip and I arrive at Windsor today, we know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty,” Her Majesty said in Thursday’s written message.
“We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them.”
“At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.
“We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals—today and in the coming days, weeks and months.”
“Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.”
The Queen, who will turn 94 next month, will remain at Windsor Castle for the coming weeks.
Her Majesty hadn’t planned to leave London until next week for the Easter holidays, but with the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus in London, advisers deemed it would be wiser for her to retreat to Windsor sooner rather than later.
It was reassuring for those who value the sense of social continuity that the royals offer at moments of crisis to note that as soon as the statement was published by the palace, it was immediately posted on Harry and Meghan’s Instagram page, where the formality of the headed note paper and typed missive cut a dramatic contrast to Harry and Meghan’s statement on the disease, issued the day before.
Harry and Meghan’s words were phrased using their customary technique of writing some words in block capitals and others in italicized lower case. It may make no sense in terms of helping the reader apportion emphasis (honestly, try it, you sound like Google translate) but it looks cool and conveys the informality of the Sussex brand.
Harry’s informality was also on display in a message he recorded announcing the cancellation of this year’s Invictus Games for wounded servicemen. From the polo shirt and the opening salutation of “Hi guys,” to the fact that he recorded the message himself in one take, leaning in to the camera (or, more likely, his phone) to start and stop the recording, this was a clear sign of how the newly non-Royal Sussexes want to do things from now on.
In the clip, Harry spoke directly to the competitors, saying: “I know how disappointed you all must be. This is a focus that so many of you need. I would encourage you to maintain that focus as best you can…Please look after yourselves. Please look after your families and please look out for one another… do what you do best, which is reaching out to other people, be it those that still wear the uniform, used to wear the uniform or just those people in your community who you know may be suffering or may be vulnerable during this period.”
He signed off with: “Again really sorry we couldn’t make this happen. But take care of yourselves and I’ll catch up with you soon.”
Meghan, it was reported last week, was sufficiently worried by the coronavirus pandemic to tell reporters that it was the reason she left Archie at home when she made her last trip to the U.K. last week.
What a long time ago that feels now.
Prince William had heretofore been the family’s principal voice on the illness, making a dramatic speech on Wednesday in which he appealed for funds in a video released on behalf of the U.K.’s National Emergencies Trust, a new organization to help “raise and distribute money and support victims at the time of a domestic disaster.”
William said that while he had “dreaded the day” the National Emergencies Trust would be needed, he was “grateful” that the charity exists during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Like every other institution, the Monarchy has shut down (there will be no garden parties or investitures this summer, and even Princess Beatrice’s wedding is on hold)—but, for its principal cast members it is important to carry on as normally as possible for now.
It seems odd to think that less than two weeks ago, Prince William was in Ireland, joking about novel coronavirus with paramedics—before its true global severity had become so brutally apparent.
Now, his and Kate’s children have been pulled out of school, and while for now they are believed to be in London, it is expected to be only a matter of time before they retreat to their country home, Anmer Hall, at Sandringham.
This week, the palace didn’t go one stage further and evacuate the Queen herself to the remote and isolated Sandringham estate, where Prince Philip now usually lives.
To do so would be to panic. And the one thing kings and queens don’t do, as Elizabeth showed so impressively today, is panic.
