Notable quotes of Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, who died on September 8 aged 96 and whose funeral was taken place yesterday, never gave an interview during her 70-year reign, but her regular public speeches sometimes gave an insight into her private thoughts.  Here is a selection of extracts from speeches, addresses and contributions to documentaries given by the queen:

FIRST TV CHRISTMAS BROADCAST IN 1957

"When peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place. My sister is by my side and we are both going to say goodnight to you. Come on, Margaret. Goodnight, children. Goodnight, and good luck to you all."

WARTIME BROADCAST, OCT 13, 1940

"We cheered the king and the queen on the balcony and then walked miles through the streets. I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief. I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life."

SPEECH ON CORONATION DAY, JUNE 2, 1953

"Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of disagreements."

DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA, SEPT 1997

"He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."

TRIBUTE TO HER HUSBAND PRINCE PHILIP

"For I know that, despite the huge constitutional difference between a hereditary monarchy and an elected government, in reality the gulf is not so wide ... And each, in its different way, exists only with the support and consent of the people. That consent, or the lack of it, is expressed for you, prime minister, through the ballot box. It is a tough, even brutal, system but at least the message is a clear one for all to read. For us, a royal family, however, the message is often harder to read, obscured as it can be by deference, rhetoric or the conflicting currents of public opinion. But read it we must."

CHRISTMAS BROADCAST 2021

"As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service."