Queen to address nation in rare public video during coronavirus crisis

April 3, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. | Updated April 3, 2020 at 1:41 p.m.

by Associated Press

In this image released Tuesday Dec. 24, 2019, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photo, while recording her annual Christmas Day message to the nation, at Windsor Castle, England. Excerpts released by Buckingham Palace of the pre-recorded message to be broadcast on TV on Christmas Day, show the Queen acknowledging that both Britain and her family have endured a difficult year. (Steve Parsons/pool via AP)
In this image released Tuesday Dec. 24, 2019, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photo, while recording her annual Christmas Day message to the nation, at Windsor Castle, England. Excerpts released by Buckingham Palace of the pre-recorded message to be broadcast on TV on Christmas Day, show the Queen acknowledging that both Britain and her family have endured a difficult year. (Steve Parsons/pool via AP)

LONDON -- Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has recorded an address to the nation and the Commonwealth about the coronavirus pandemic.

The palace says the message was recorded at Windsor Castle and will be broadcast on Sunday.

The 93-year-old British head of state has been at her castle home west of London. She relocated from Buckingham Palace because of the outbreak.

Apart from her annual Christmas Day message, the queen has made only a handful of special broadcasts at critical moments of her 68-year-reign. She made special broadcasts during the 1991 Gulf War and after the death of Princess Diana in 1997.

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