Quotes From Famous Kings’ and Queens’ Speeches
Many monarchs have come and gone in the long and turbulent history of Great Britain, and they have addressed the public in times of war, uncertainty, prosperity, and hope with words that resonated with generations of people in the United Kingdom and beyond.
Of course, many other speeches have largely been lost to time through a lack of written records, and some of the most famous lines from historic speeches are of doubtful origin — or even simply made up. We can thank William Shakespeare for much of that. His plays include a multitude of stirring discourses from various royals, but he was very much exercising his right to poetic license.
Who can forget, for example, Henry V’s rousing speech to the troops on Saint Crispin’s day: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” But there’s no evidence the real king ever made such a speech at the Battle of Agincourt — Shakespeare put his own spin on things (it’s more likely that the real Henry V simply said “Fellas, let’s go!”).
Many monarchs have, however, made pivotal and rousing speeches that have been reliably recorded. The following quotes come from some of the most famous speeches by Britain’s kings and queens, from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II.
Elizabeth I’s rallying speech to her troops gathered outside the village of Tilbury was a defining moment in British history. In 1588, with the Spanish Armada approaching, the queen — wearing a silver breastplate over a white dress — rode out to address her soldiers, in what became arguably her greatest speech.
When Elizabeth I addressed the Palace Council Chamber in 1601, everyone expected her to focus on the economic issues facing the nation. Instead, she talked about love and respect. The address became known as the Golden Speech.
James VI became the first king of Great Britain with the union of the Scottish and English crowns in 1603. He was an intelligent and peace-loving king, but he was very insistent when it came to the divine right of kings — the idea that kings were higher beings than other men.
Despite being mere seconds away from his own execution for high treason in 1649, Charles I’s final address was impressively calm and considered.
On October 26, 1775, George III addressed the British Parliament over growing concerns about rebellion in America. He warned that the revolt in the colony must be ended quickly — but we all know how that turned out.
In 1932, George V delivered the first Christmas Day message by a British monarch, which afterwards became an annual tradition. The speech, which was written by Rudyard Kipling, celebrated the power of wireless communication to connect people around the world.
On September 3, 1939, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. On that day, George VI addressed the nation via radio broadcast. The king dreaded public speaking due to his stammer, but his powerful speech served to inspire his people — and, later, the acclaimed 2010 movie The King’s Speech.
Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas Broadcast in 1991 highlighted the great changes taking place across eastern Europe and Russia, including the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Elizabeth spoke of the importance of democratic traditions and having respect for other points of view.
In 1999, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch reflected upon the start of a new century and a new millennium. Elizabeth acknowledged that the future can be frightening, but that the lessons of history can help us on our path forward. 
