This past November 1, Queen Elizabeth kicked off the United Nations Climate Change Conference at this year’s Conference of Parties celebrated in Glasgow, Scotland. Although the Queen was scheduled to give a live speech, last week it was announced that sadly, she had to cancel official events including the COP, for health issues. Still, regal as ever, Queen Elizabeth delivered a compelling speech to welcome all the dignitaries to the summit and to voice a call for immediate action to reverse the rapid pace of climate change devastation.
Honoring Prince Philip
The Queen opened up her four-minute speech by remembering and honoring her late husband, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, to whom, as she mentioned, “the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband.” Fittingly dressed in bright green for the occasion, and next to a photograph of Prince Philip surrounded by monarch butterflies, the Queen remembered her husband’s concern for the planet’s situation.
“I remember well that in 1969 he told an academic gathering, ‘if the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment it is as certain as anything can be that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time.’ If we fail to cope with this challenge all the other problems will pale into insignificance.”
Did the Queen shun Prince Harry?
One thing that most people noticed about the Queen’s speech is the evident omission of Prince Harry in the speech, even when he has been quite vocal about climate change in the past years. Still, the Queen voiced how proud she was of Prince Charles and Prince William for taking over her husband’s concerns and work in encouraging people to do something for the planet.
“It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them.”
The Queen’s speech
Now, while it’s evident that Harry was left out on purpose, let’s also focus on what’s important about the speech. The Queen talked about the difference between politics and statesmanship, arguing that the first is the one applied to current populations and the latter to those of the future. She urged the world leaders attending the Conference to practice statesmanship and take action today to ensure a better future tomorrow.
“It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit, written in history books yet to be printed, will describe you as the leaders who did not pass the opportunity; and that you answered the call of those future generations. That you left this conference as a community of nations with a determination, a desire, and a plan to address the impact of climate change; and to recognize the time for words has now moved to the time for action.”
Photo: TW: @RoyalFamily