‘Made of tough stuff’: Prince Charles’ heartfelt message to Victorians in COVID-19 lockdown
After his own battle with coronavirus, Prince Charles has delivered a heartfelt address to Australians who are dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.
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Prince Charles has delivered an emotional message to Victorians struggling with COVID-19 lockdown, after his own battle with the virus.
“My wife and I have endless admiration for your seemingly unceasing capacity for good humour in the face of great hardship,” the future monarch said, in a video address filmed in his personal study.
“I realise this capacity has been sorely tested this year which has surely been a tremendously difficult one for Australia and especially, if I may say so, for Victoria.
“I can only imagine just how incredibly hard it must be for you all, having had such early success in combating the virus, you now find yourselves in the midst of this second wave with all of its heartbreaking consequences.”
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Prince Charles, 71, recalled his own affinity for Victoria – a state where he had a personal connection, having studied at Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop campus for six months as a schoolboy.
He said Australians were “tenacious” and “made of tough stuff”, and showed “good humour in the face of hardship”.
“It is out heartfelt wish … that in the words of Victor Daley, the 19th century poet who found his voice in Victoria and who was himself no stranger to hardship, ‘you will soon see sorrow go down with the sun,’” Prince Charles said.
He called COVID-19 “dreadful”, saying his heart went out to those who were battling the disease, and the Australians who have lost their lives to it.
Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19 in March, and was forced to self-isolate in Scotland while he recovered.
‘TERRIBLE DEVASTATION’
The Queen has honoured Australia’s Second World War heroes in a special message of thanks on the 75th anniversary of the allies victory over Japan.
In a special message released from Balmoral, her Scotland summer retreat, Her Majesty remembered the joyful scenes when the war was over, and mourned for those who never returned home.
The Queen, 94, who calls herself a member of the war generation, made the poignant comments as families around the world stop to mark the occasion.
“Today we mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, which brought victory for the Allies and finally marked the end of the Second World War,” she said.
“Those of us who remember the conclusion of the Far East campaign, whether on active service overseas, or waiting for news at home, will never forget the jubilant scenes and overwhelming sense of relief.
“Amongst the joy at the end of the conflict, we also remembered, as we do today, the terrible
devastation that it brought, and the cost borne by so many.”
Her husband, Prince Philip, 99, was serving with the Royal Navy as First Lieutenant on HMS WHELP in Tokyo Bay when the surrender was signed.
The Queen included him in her message: “Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today.
“May the memory of their sacrifice and bravery remain with us always.”
The UK stopped at 11am local time to remember those fallen, with Prince Charles attending a service in Staffordshire, England.
He will meet some of the veterans of the Far East campaign, as it was called for British troops, some of whom felt they were forgotten after Europe celebrated victory in May of 1945.
Prince Charles read out a diary entry from his grandfather King George IV, where he recalled the crowds who had gathered outside of Buckingham Palace on this day 75 years ago.
“The Prime Minister and some of his colleagues came to congratulate me on the victorious ending of the war,” King George wrote.
“I saw Winston Churchill later. I wish he could have been given a proper reception by the people. We went out on the Balcony six times during the afternoon & evening. I had a busy day with two important speeches to make.”
Prince William was due to appear in a broadcast on the BBC today where he will thank all those who served.
The program was due to include footage of those who served in the Japanese campaign in the Second World War.
stephen.drill@news.co.uk
Originally published as ‘Made of tough stuff’: Prince Charles’ heartfelt message to Victorians in COVID-19 lockdown