queen speech 40 years

6 photos show why Queen Elizabeth declared 1992 a 'horrible year'

• In 1992, Queen Elizabeth II gave a speech at a celebration of her 40th year on the throne. 
• "The Crown" season 5 devoted episode 4 to the Queen's famous "annus horribilis" speech.
• Here are 6 photos showing what happened in what the Queen dubbed as a year of "worldwide turmoil and uncertainty."

On November 24, 1992, Queen Elizabeth II gave a speech at Guildhall in London, England, celebrating her 40th year on the throne.

In the now-famous speech, the Queen references 1992 as her "annus horribilis" or "horrible year."

"1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure," she said, referencing her personal battles, including multiple strained marriages in the royal family and the fire at Windsor Castle. 

"Indeed, I suspect that there are very few people or institutions unaffected by these last months of worldwide turmoil and uncertainty," the Queen continued.

Netflix's "The Crown" season 5 breaks down the Queen's horrid year. Episode 4, appropriately titled "Annus Horribilis" takes a deeper look at the Queen's ruby jubilee speech and foreshadows the tumult to come within the royal family. 

On November 20, 1992, a fire broke out at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.

Windsor Castle is a favorite property of the royal family and serves as the Queen's final resting place . 

According to The Royal Collection Trust a "faulty spotlight" set a curtain ablaze, causing the expansive fire just days before the Queen's "annus horribilis" speech. 115 rooms were destroyed in the fire per the charity's website. 

Per the documentary "Windsor Castle: After the Fire," it took seven fire and rescue services, and 225 firefighters more than 15 hours to contain the flames.

The castle's restoration was completed in 1997, according to the trust. 

"The Crown" season 5 opens with a Sunday Times poll that suggested the public wanted then-Prince Charles to ascend the throne while Queen Elizabeth was still alive.

In January 1990, a Sunday Times poll found that nine out of 10 people felt 'mostly' or 'very' favorable about the Queen's monarchy, according to Town & Country . BBC reporter Hugh Montgomery described the poll as a "blandly positive piece."

In Netflix's fictionalized series, a scene depicts then-Prince Charles holding a secret meeting with then-prime minister John Major about replacing the Queen after a Sunday Times poll shows the UK's dissatisfaction with the monarchy. The episode, titled "Queen Victoria Syndrome," touched on the idea of an outdated monarchy resistant to change. 

All parties involved have denied that such a meeting ever took place.

Major spoke out in October about the fictitious plot to The Guardian via a statement. "It should come as no surprise that this is complete and utter rubbish," a spokesperson for Major told the outlet. 

In December 1992, Princess Diana and Prince Charles legally separated amidst scandal and alleged infidelity.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles tied the knot in July 1981. A year later, they welcomed their firstborn son, Prince William. In 1984, Prince Harry was born. After years of marital issues, the two filed for separation in 1992. 

The New York Times reported that the Royal Palace took "pains" to convey the split was "amicable," despite rumors that both Diana and Charles partook in extramarital affairs.  

In November 1992, an "intimate transcript of a  1989 phone call " between Charles and ex-girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles was released to the public, Insider reports. The then-Prince infamously said "I'll just live inside your trousers or something," in the leaked phone calls. 

Two years later, in 1994, Prince Charles publicly admitted to having an affair with Camilla during an interview  with documentarian Jonathan Dimbleby , Insider reports. That same year, it was speculated that Princess Diana wore the iconic "revenge dress" in response to Charles' interview. 

In August 1996, Charles and Diana officially filed for divorce after 15 years of marriage. The divorce was followed by Diana's tragic death in August 1997 . The Princess died in a car accident in Paris, France. 

After years of marital strain and alleged infidelity, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips legally divorced in April 1992.

Princess Anne and Phillips were married in November 1973 and share two children, Zara and Peter. The royal couple announced their separation in 1989 after love letters between Princess Anne and Commander Timothy Laurence were leaked to the tabloid The Sun, according to Town & Country.

Anne and Phillips were officially divorced in April 1992.

Princess Anne went on to marry Laurence later that same year. Since Anne was a divorcee, she could not remarry in London and although The Church of England did permit divorce, it did not permit remarrying, according to the History Channel. Anne and Laurence held their intimate ceremony in Balmoral, Scotland.

In "The Crown," the Queen was hesitant to sign off on Anne and Laurence's marriage so soon after her divorce, causing a rift between the mother and daughter in the series. In reality, the Queen was in attendance at the Balmoral ceremony and signed off on the matrimony. 

In March 1992, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson filed for separation. In August 1992, Ferguson's cheating scandal made national headlines.

The Duke and Duchess of York got married in 1986 and have two children together, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. After six years together, they legally separated.

Though they had already filed for separation in early 1992, tabloids shared photos of Ferguson's alleged infidelity in August of that year. In the leaked photos, Ferguson's "financial advisor" could be seen sucking and kissing her feet while they vacationed in St. Tropez, The Washington Post reported.  

The couple officially divorced in 1996. Though Ferguson remained iced out from the royal family for years, she is reportedly back on good terms with them. She detailed the scandal and her royal relationships in her 2011 memoir "Finding Sarah: A Duchess's Journey to Find Herself."

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Why did Queen Elizabeth II call 1992 her 'annus horribilis'?

The fifth season of "The Crown," featuring a new cast , will focus on the the royal family's challenges in the 1990s — including 1992, a year the late Queen Elizabeth II deemed her "annus horribilis," or "horrible year."

She uttered the phrase in a speech on Nov. 24, 1992, in honor of the 40th anniversary of her accession , or formal confirmation as monarch.

“1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘Annus Horribilis,’” she said during the speech.

“1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘Annus Horribilis,’” she continued.

So, what made 1992 so ... "horribilis"? We're breaking it all down for you.

Princess Diana was the subject of a tell-all book

Andrew Morton’s bestselling biography, “Diana: Her True Story ,” was released in February 1992. The book contained revelations about Princess Diana's marriage to Prince Charles and her struggles with mental health and eating disorders.

When the book was published, both Diana and Morton refuted claims that she was involved with the book. But after her death in 1997 , Morton revealed Diana had been his primary source, per the New York Times .

Three of her four children separated from their spouses

In 1992, three of the queen's four children separated from their spouses.

Prince Andrew and his wife Sarah Ferguson announced their separation in March 1992. The couple, who share two daughters , finalized their divorce in 1996.

After announcing their separation in 1989 , Princess Anne and Mark Phillips finalized their divorce in 1992. Anne remarried the same year, marrying the queen's former equerry Timothy Laurence in December.

Then, on Dec. 9, 1992, news broke that Prince Charles, now King Charles III, and Princess Diana were separating .

“It is announced from Buckingham Palace that, with regret, the Prince and Princess of Wales have decided to separate. The Royal Highnesses have no plans to divorce, and their constitutional positions are unaffected,” British Prime Minister John Major said in a statement at the time.

The queen recommended Charles and Diana divorce in 1995; the divorce was finalized in 1996.

Windsor Castle caught fire in 1992

On top of her children's marital woes, Queen Elizabeth II also experienced a fire at her home, Windsor Castle, in November 1992.

Per History.com, the fire broke out in her private chapel and spread to 100+ rooms. It took 15 hours and 220+ firefighters to extinguish the flames.

Prince Andrew worked with staff and soldiers to save artwork from the castle during the fire, which ruined a few pieces from the queen's collection. It took five years to fully renovate the castle.

More about Season 5 of 'The Crown'

• Princess Diana and Prince Charles' relationship timeline
• How the cast of Season 5 of 'The Crown' compares to the real life figures
• 'The Crown’ Season 5 time period: The events and years it'll cover

Chrissy Callahan covers a range of topics for TODAY.com, including fashion, beauty, pop culture and food. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching bad reality TV and consuming copious amounts of cookie dough.

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The Queen’s speech 2022: what was in it and what it means

Analysis: The bills included on the government’s agenda for the year and what their aims are

The Queen’s speech , which set out the government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary year, was a mix of new plans, long-made pledges and a handful of held-over bills. Here is what it set out – and what it all means, politically.

What is planned: There are six proposed bills intended to make the UK more competitive or otherwise free and liberal in the wake of Brexit , or tailored to post-Brexit trade deals. The flagship is the Brexit freedoms bill, which allows EU rules to be easily removed. Also planned are the procurement bill, financial services and markets bill, data reform bill, genetic technology (precision breeding) bill and trade (Australia and New Zealand) bill.

Why it’s there: In part this is the sheer logistical necessity of changing regulations in the aftermath of Brexit. But the Brexit freedoms bill in particular is intended to remind voters that Boris Johnson got departure from the EU over the line, seen by the Conservatives as a key success.

Culture wars

What is planned: There are seven bills arguably aimed, in part or whole, at stirring up the Tory base, creating headlines in friendly papers and annoying opponents. A public order bill will specifically target disruptive environmental protesters; a media bill will allow Channel 4 to be privatised; public bodies will not be allowed to boycott certain countries. Arguably the key bill would replace the Human Rights Act with a UK bill of rights. The higher education (freedom of speech) bill makes a return from the last parliament. The levelling up bill promises local people “more of a say over changing street names”. Finally, the conversion therapy bill will ban practices aimed at changing sexuality, but not gender identity.

Why it’s there: This is all part of a wider No 10-led strategy to focus on such divisive issues in the hope of shoring up support among socially conservative voters. Whether there are enough of these to win another election, if more liberal Britons become alienated, remains to be seen.

Energy, cost of living and levelling up

What is planned: Two things – a bill setting out Downing Street’s energy security policy, and the much-touted bill to put into law the strategy for levelling up. The latter is described in fairly broad terms, with commitments including the pledge for more devolution in England and, perhaps more appealing to some voters, giving local people powers to shape planning decisions.

Why it’s there: The planning element is fairly clearly aimed at wooing disillusioned Tory voters, especially in the south of England. Elsewhere, it is more of a question, some might argue, of why there is not more focus on the cost of living, even if in part this is because this is an issue which concerns day-to-day policy rather than legislation.

Environment

What is planned: In legislative terms, only one thing: creating a UK infrastructure bank to “support regional and local economic growth and deliver net zero”.

Why it’s there: As with the cost of living, critics might point to the lack of much else. The 140-page Queen’s speech briefing document has brief mentions of the climate emergency in terms of foreign aid, but that is otherwise it. The only mention of “insulate” is a promise to jail Insulate Britain protesters.

What is planned: A higher education bill and a schools bill, setting out loans for post-18 education and a funding settlement for English schools.

Why it’s there: Education is a perennial feature of Queen’s speeches. The schools funding settlement has been contentious for some time, and could bring debate.

Housing and planning

What is planned: Once again, given the housing crisis, it is a case, perhaps, of what is not said. There are planned bills to create a regulator of social housing, and a renters’ reform bill to abolish “no fault” evictions. More significant are the “blue wall”-friendly measures to allow more local input into planning.

Why it’s there: There appears no consensus in government about how to build more homes, so improving the lot of renters at least does something. And planning has been a political minefield for many years.

Crime and security

What is planned: Yet another permanent fixture of the Queen’s speech. A national security bill – a delayed espionage bill from the previous session – tightens up official secrets law and will require lobbyists and PRs to register work for foreign states. An economic crime bill, revived after the invasion of Ukraine, proposes giving more powers to Companies House, insisting on better identity verification for those who manage, own or control British companies.

Why it’s there: Most of the crime bills are legislative tidying up; the flagship crime-based bill is the public order bill, seeking to further restrict protest. Critics will note there is nothing aimed at easing the backlog of cases in the judicial system.

Everything else

What is planned: A mixed bag of more than a dozen bills taking in areas including transport, including a plan for Great British Railways to simplify the privatised rail system and a law specifically aimed at P&O Ferries, mandating minimum employment standards for seafarers. Two bills concern Northern Ireland, and others are even more specific, such as the planned electronic trade documents bill, which puts electronic documents on the same legal basis as their paper equivalents.

Why it’s there: It depends on the bill. Some, such as the rail bill, are the hobby horse of a particular minister (in this case, Grant Shapps). Others simply adapt legislation for a changing world. A few, such as a bill on modern slavery and people trafficking, have been discussed and delayed for some years.

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Queen Elizabeth II, in her own words: Her most memorable remarks

LONDON — Speeches from Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, punctuated key moments of her 70 years on the throne — giving insights into her family, faith and sense of duty.

Her remarks provide snapshots of what was going on in her personal life and British public life. Here are some of the most memorable.

On her 21st birthday: April 21, 1947

Princess Elizabeth was on a tour of South Africa with her parents and younger sister Margaret when she turned 21 years old. In a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, she dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth, in one of her earliest public addresses.

“This is a happy day for me; but it is also one that brings serious thoughts, thoughts of life looming ahead with all its challenges and with all its opportunity,” the young Elizabeth said.

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Still a princess, she went on to make a profound royal pledge: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

On her Coronation Day: June 2, 1953

The queen ascended to the throne on Feb. 6, 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, but her coronation took place in 1953, when she was 27. Her husband, Philip, had urged that the event be televised for the first time, and millions in the United Kingdom and abroad watched the broadcast by the BBC from London’s Westminster Abbey.

Following the event that placed the royal family firmly in people’s living rooms, Elizabeth, in a broadcast to the nation that evening, reflected on the day’s momentous events.

“Although my experience is so short and my task so new, I have in my parents and grandparents an example which I can follow with certainty and with confidence,” she said. “As this day draws to its close, I know that my abiding memory of it will be, not only the solemnity and beauty of the ceremony, but the inspiration of your loyalty and affection. I thank you all from a full heart.”

‘Annus Horribilis’: Nov. 24, 1992

In 1992, the queen gave a speech in London to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession to the throne, wherein she famously defined the year in Latin as an “annus horribilis” — or a horrible year.

She remarked: “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘Annus Horribilis.’ I suspect that I am not alone in thinking it so.”

Her speech came days after a major fire at Windsor Castle, a royal residence, and after three of her children’s marriages, including that of Prince Charles and Diana, collapsed, generating reams of tabloid headlines that cast a critical spotlight on British royal life.

Maintaining a quintessential British stiff upper lip, the monarch welcomed scrutiny of her role. “Criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life,” she said. “No institution — city, monarchy, whatever — should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don’t.”

She added, “But we are all part of the same fabric of our national society, and that scrutiny, by one part of another, can be just as effective if it is made with a touch of gentleness, good humor and understanding.”

She did not repeat the Latin phrase again publicly, but some royal pundits speculated that she may have been tempted to do so in 2019, after her husband was involved in a public car crash, her grandsons Princes William and Harry publicly fell out, and her second son Prince Andrew became entangled in links to the disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

On the death of Princess Diana: Sept. 5, 1997

After the death of Princess Diana in a car crash in Paris shook the world, the queen spoke to the nation live from Buckingham Palace.

“Since last Sunday’s dreadful news we have seen, throughout Britain and around the world, an overwhelming expression of sadness at Diana’s death. We have all been trying in our different ways to cope,” she said.

“I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her — for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys,” the queen said in an effort to comfort a stunned nation after facing media criticism for being slow to publicly react.

“No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her. I for one believe there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death,” she said.

Diana died at 36 and left behind two young princes, who have both since spoken about how her death affected the way they shape their royal roles and public life.

On the death of Prince Philip: April 9, 2021

Buckingham Palace announced the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on April 9, 2021.

“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband,” the palace statement said . Philip died at Windsor Castle, and his funeral days later and during the coronavirus pandemic was televised globally. The event yielded moving images of the elderly queen, now a widow, starkly sitting alone in keeping with pandemic restrictions.

Elizabeth, whom Philip affectionately called Lilibet, had spoken of him in 1997 when the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, calling him her “strength and stay.”

At the time, she recounted events over the 50 years of their marriage, including the end of the Cold War, the Beatles, humans traveling to the moon, the introduction of television, mobile phones and the internet, and England’s winning the soccer World Cup, as well as “the joys of having children and grandchildren” together.

“All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking. Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner. 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.”

After her husband’s death, she did not directly address the nation, but a phrase resurfaced that the queen had previously sent in a message to the United States following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks: “Grief is the price we pay for love,” she said.

Annual Christmas speeches

The queen gave thousands of speeches at royal engagements to heads of state and diplomats, when inaugurating buildings and boats, and annually at Christmas. The latter grew to become a social staple and British holiday tradition, as her yuletide speeches were peppered with words of wisdom, faith and occasionally personal reflections from the nonagenarian.

“In the old days, the monarch led his soldiers on the battlefield, and his leadership at all times was close and personal. Today things are very different,” she said in her first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957. “I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”

In 1974, her Christmas message alluded to violence in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East, and she encouraged people globally to seek the path of peace and reconciliation. “We may hold different points of view, but it is in times of stress and difficulty that we most need to remember that we have much more in common than there is dividing us,” she said .

In 2002, despite celebrating 50 years on the throne during her Golden Jubilee, she also mourned the death of her mother and sister within a few weeks of each other. In her Christmas message that year, she reflected on the need for humanity amid crisis.

“Our modern world places such heavy demands on our time and attention that the need to remember our responsibilities to others is greater than ever,” she said .

And finally, perhaps for many, a quip that the queen made to her aides, as reported by her royal biographer, may be her most charming comment. “I have to be seen to be believed,” she joked.

Celebration of her Platinum Jubilee: Feb. 6, 2022

In February, the queen reached a historic milestone: becoming the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of her reign. The United Kingdom celebrated during a four-day holiday in June with pomp and ceremony, street parties, musical concerts and military parades.

It was the last time the queen would publicly stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, alongside her family, waving to millions of people who had flocked to see her.

“I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me,” she said, “and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.”

Elizabeth previously celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977, Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

She died at her home in Balmoral Castle, Scotland, at 96.

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Queen’s Speech 2022 transcript: Full text of State Opening of Parliament address delivered by Prince Charles

The prince of wales stepped in for the state opening of parliament after the queen was forced to pull out due to mobility issues.

Prince Charles attended the State Opening of Parliament 2022 in the Queen’s place after she was forced to pull out due to “episodic mobility problems” .

The Prince of Wales delivered the Queen’s Speech instead, with Boris Johnson’s Government pledging to put forward a  bumper legislative programme  of 38Bills.

At 874 words, the address was the shortest speech at a State Opening of Parliament since 2013 and well below the average of 1,091 words of speeches during the Queen’s reign.

It took Prince Charles just eight minutes and 45 seconds to read it on Tuesday , a far cry from the 15 minutes it took the Queen to deliver 1999’s effort.

This marked the third time during the Queen’s reign that she did not deliver the speech in person, having missed the 1959 and 1963 events when pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively.

Queen’s Speech 2022 full transcript

The full text of the 2022 Queen’s Speech delivered by Prince Charles is as follows:

“My lords and members of the House of Commons.

“My Government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families.

“My Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country and support more people into work.

“My ministers will continue to support the police to make the streets safer and fund the National Health Service to reduce the Covid backlogs.

“In these challenging times, my Government will play a leading role in defending democracy and freedom across the world, including continuing to support the people of Ukraine.

“My Government will drive economic growth to improve living standards and fund sustainable investment in public services.

“This will be underpinned by a responsible approach to the public finances, reducing debt while reforming and cutting taxes.

“My ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to its target.

“A Bill will be brought forward to drive local growth, empowering local leaders to regenerate their areas and ensuring everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success.

“The planning system will be reformed to give residents more involvement in local development.

More on Queen's Speech

“My Government will improve transport across the United Kingdom, delivering safer, cleaner services and enabling more innovations. Legislation will be introduced to modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers.

“My ministers will bring forward an Energy Bill to deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy. This will build on the success of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow last year.

“Draft legislation to promote competition, strengthen consumer rights and protect households and businesses will be published.

“Measures will also be published to create new competition rules for digital markets and the largest digital firms.

“My Government will establish the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation, with objectives to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero.

“Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education.

“My ministers will publish draft legislation to reform the Mental Health Act.

“My Government will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth. Regulations on businesses will be repealed and reformed.

“A Bill will enable law inherited from the European Union to be more easily amended.

“Public sector procurement will be simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses.

“New legislation will strengthen the United Kingdom’s financial services industry, ensuring that it continues to act in the interest of all people and communities.

“The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed.

“My Government will continue to champion international trade, delivering jobs across the country and growing the economy.

“Legislation will be introduced to enable the implementation of the United Kingdom’s first new Free Trade Agreements since leaving the European Union.

“My Ministers will encourage agricultural and scientific innovation at home.

“Legislation will unlock the potential of new technologies to promote sustainable and efficient farming and food production.

“My Government will protect the integrity of the United Kingdom’s borders and ensure the safety of its people.

“My ministers will take action to prevent dangerous and illegal Channel crossings and tackle the criminal gangs who profit from facilitating them.

“Legislation will be introduced to ensure the police have the powers to make the streets safer.

“A Bill will be brought forward to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow.

“Measures will be introduced to support the security services and help them protect the United Kingdom.

“My Government will lead the way in championing security around the world. It will continue to invest in our gallant Armed Forces.

“My ministers will work closely with international partners to maintain a united Nato and address the most pressing global security challenges.

“The continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is of paramount importance to my Government, including the internal economic bonds between all of its parts.

“My Government will prioritise support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its institutions, including through legislation to address the legacy of the past.

“My Government will ensure the constitution is defended. My ministers will restore the balance of power between the legislature and the courts by introducing a Bill of Rights.

“Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion.

“My Government will introduce legislation to improve the regulation of social housing to strengthen the rights of tenants and ensure better quality, safer homes.

“Legislation will also be introduced to ban conversion therapy.

“Proposals will be published to establish an independent regulator of English football.

“In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, I look forward to the celebrations taking place across the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth, and to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.

“Members of the House of Commons, estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

“My lords and members of the House of Commons, other measures will be laid before you.

“I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.”

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Queen’s Speech 2022

Her Majesty’s most gracious speech to both Houses of Parliament.

My Lords and members of the House of Commons.

My Government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families. My Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country and support more people into work. My Ministers will continue to support the police to make the streets safer, and fund the National Health Service to reduce the COVID backlogs. In these challenging times, my Government will play a leading role in defending democracy and freedom across the world, including continuing to support the people of Ukraine.

My Government will drive economic growth to improve living standards and fund sustainable investment in public services. This will be underpinned by a responsible approach to the public finances, reducing debt while reforming and cutting taxes. My Ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to its target.

A Bill will be brought forward to drive local growth, empowering local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensuring everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success. The planning system will be reformed to give residents more involvement in local development [Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill].

My Government will improve transport across the United Kingdom, delivering safer, cleaner services and enabling more innovations. Legislation will be introduced to modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers [Transport Bill].

My Ministers will bring forward an Energy Bill to deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy. This will build on the success of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow last year [Energy Security Bill]. Draft legislation to promote competition, strengthen consumer rights and protect households and businesses will be published. Measures will also be published to create new competition rules for digital markets and the largest digital firms [Draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill].

My Government will establish the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation, with objectives to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero [UK Infrastructure Bank Bill].

Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education [Schools Bill, Higher Education Bill]. My Ministers will publish draft legislation to reform the Mental Health Act [Draft Mental Health Act Reform Bill].

My Government will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth. Regulations on businesses will be repealed and reformed. A bill will enable law inherited from the European Union to be more easily amended [Brexit Freedoms Bill]. Public sector procurement will be simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses [Procurement Bill].

New legislation will strengthen the United Kingdom’s financial services industry, ensuring that it continues to act in the interest of all people and communities [Financial Services and Markets Bill]. The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed [Data Reform Bill].

My Government will continue to champion international trade, delivering jobs across the country and growing the economy. Legislation will be introduced to enable the implementation of the United Kingdom’s first new Free Trade Agreements since leaving the European Union [Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill].

My Ministers will encourage agricultural and scientific innovation at home. Legislation will unlock the potential of new technologies to promote sustainable and efficient farming and food production [Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill].

My Government will protect the integrity of the United Kingdom’s borders and ensure the safety of its people. My Ministers will take action to prevent dangerous and illegal Channel crossings and tackle the criminal gangs who profit from facilitating them. Legislation will be introduced to ensure the police have the powers to make the streets safer [Public Order Bill].

A bill will be brought forward to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow [Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill]. Measures will be introduced to support the security services and help them protect the United Kingdom [National Security Bill].

My Government will lead the way in championing security around the world. It will continue to invest in our gallant Armed Forces. My Ministers will work closely with international partners to maintain a united NATO and address the most pressing global security challenges.

The continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is of paramount importance to my Government, including the internal economic bonds between all of its parts. My Government will prioritise support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its institutions, including through legislation to address the legacy of the past [Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill].

My Government will ensure the constitution is defended. My Ministers will restore the balance of power between the legislature and the courts by introducing a Bill of Rights [Bill of Rights]. Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion [Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill].

My Government will introduce legislation to improve the regulation of social housing to strengthen the rights of tenants and ensure better quality, safer homes [Social Housing Regulation Bill]. Legislation will also be introduced to ban conversion therapy [Conversion Therapy Bill]. Proposals will be published to establish an independent regulator of English football.

In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, I look forward to the celebrations taking place across the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth, and to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Other measures will be laid before you.

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

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A Guide to the Queen’s Speech: Crown Jewels, Black Rod and a Mace

Proceedings in the British Parliament on Monday are a nod to hundreds of years of history. But Brexit loomed over the ceremonies.

By Megan Specia and Allison McCann

LONDON — A “hostage,” a search for explosives, heaps of royal jewels and a five-foot silver gilt mace . Welcome to the reopening of Britain’s Parliament, replete with ancient traditions and elaborate rituals, and infused with tension over the country’s looming exit from the European Union.

The restart of government business on Monday started with a speech by Queen Elizabeth II, a significant ceremonial duty that set out the government’s agenda. It paved the way for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s attempts to navigate the Brexit deadline, Oct. 31, to be back at center stage as lawmakers return to Westminster to pick apart his manifesto.

Hours of royal pomp and stagecraft played out in the halls of Parliament as the queen and her entourage made an elaborate guest appearance at Britain’s government buildings.

The opening was rife with ceremony and symbolism, all of it steeped in history — with some elements dating back to the Middle Ages. Here is a guide.

A Gaslit Hunt for Explosives

Some elements of Parliament’s reopening happen behind the scenes, including a ceremonial search of the cellars of government buildings for explosives.

Before the queen’s arrival, her guards, decked out in royal red, trekked down to the cellars, gas lamps in hand. Based on historical precedent, the tradition is a nod to the failed 1605 Gunpowder Plot by Guy Fawkes and his Catholic collaborators to blow up Parliament and, with it, King James I, a Protestant.

Then there is the hostage taking.

A member of Parliament was ceremonially held hostage in Buckingham Palace while the queen visits Westminster, just in case the lawmakers decided not to return her.

This is rooted in the 1600s, when the relationship between Parliament and the monarchy was particularly fraught under Charles I. (He was eventually beheaded at the end of a civil war.)

A Royal Entrance

The queen paraded from her home in Buckingham Palace through the streets of London to the government buildings at Westminster in a horse-drawn carriage escorted by the Household Cavalry, who serve as her mounted bodyguards.

The Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Great Sword of State arrived in their own carriage.

The monarch pulled up to a special passageway — a looming archway known as the Sovereign’s Entrance — that’s reserved just for her.

The Queen’s Royal Threads

Then it was time for a costume change. The monarch headed into the elaborate Robing Room, and emerged wearing the Robe of State, an 18-foot red velvet cape.

Typically, she would also wear the Imperial State Crown, encrusted with 2,868 diamonds and hundreds of other jewels, including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls. Think bling.

It must be heavy, particularly for the 93-year-old monarch. That may be part of the reason she wore the smaller Diamond Diadem instead, though the Imperial State Crown was placed beside her.

Elizabeth is an expert in opening Parliament, having conducted the ceremony dozens of times throughout her reign. The exceptions were in 1959, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew, and in 1963, when she was pregnant with Prince Edward.

Once fully kitted out, she led a procession on the arm of her son Prince Charles through the Royal Gallery, packed with 600 guests, to the chamber of the House of Lords. The Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance, symbols of sovereign power and authority, were carried in front of the queen by two peers. The queen then sat on the throne in the Lords’ Chamber and waited for her remaining audience to arrive.

Slamming the Door in Black Rod’s Face

Sarah Clarke, the jauntily dressed House of Lords official known as the Usher of the Black Rod, named for the black stick that she wields, was then sent from the Lords’ Chamber to summon the lawmakers in the House of Commons.

On approach, the speaker of the House of Commons then — ceremoniously, of course — slammed the door in her face.

This tradition, which dates from the English Civil War of the 1600s, symbolizes the lawmaking body’s independence from the monarchy. After three strikes on the door, Black Rod — who was appointed Lady Usher in November 2017 and took up her duties early the following year — was let in, along with a procession of lawmakers, to listen to the queen’s speech.

Accompanying her was the sergeant-at-arms, whose role dates from the 1400s, carrying the mace : a five-foot, silver-gilt ornamental staff that represents the royal authority of the crown and dates from at least 1559 .

The Queen’s Speech

Then it was time for the main event.

From atop a throne in the House of Lords, the queen set out the agenda and legislative policies of Mr. Johnson’s Conservative Party, typically a formality. She spoke around 11:30 a.m. local time.

The Sovereign’s Throne — elaborately carved wood, gilded, set with crystals and upholstered in royal red velvet — was constructed and designed in 1847. It is based on a throne from 1308 that sits nearby in Westminster Abbey.

The speech, and the aftermath, promised to be anything but routine.

Mr. Johnson lost his majority in Parliament in September after expelling 21 Conservative lawmakers . Legislators had seized control of Parliament, fearful that he was on a path to crash Britain out of the European Union without a deal. The nation’s highest court rebuked him for suspending Parliament unlawfully in his drive to pull the country out of the bloc. Another election is likely sooner rather than later.

So members of Parliament are now likely to pounce on the government’s road map and deny him an affirmative vote.

An earlier version of this article misidentified which crown Queen Elizabeth II wore during her speech. It was the Diamond Diadem, not the Imperial State Crown.

How we handle corrections

Megan Specia is a story editor on the International Desk, specializing in digital storytelling and breaking news. More about Megan Specia

Allison McCann is a reporter and graphics editor on the International Desk. She is based in London. More about Allison McCann

Watch CBS News

Transcript: Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan on "Face the Nation," May 5, 2024

Updated on: May 5, 2024 / 10:39 AM EDT / CBS News

The following is a transcript of an interview with Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan that aired on May 5, 2024.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Your Majesty, thank you for making time for us.

QUEEN RANIA AL ABDULLAH: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Jordan has two field hospitals inside of Gaza, Jordan is helping to get aid into the Strip. The UN estimates that at least 15,000 children have been killed since this war began in October. What is the impact in the region? 

QUEEN RANIA: Well, look, first of all, Gaza in the last seven months has become unrecognizable. Cities have turned into a wasteland. Growing happy children have been reduced to skin and bone. 2.3 million people in a short, in a small area have been going through hell every single day. 1.7 million of them have been displaced, and not just one some of them several times. And they're currently living in conditions that are unimaginable, in makeshift shelters, in tents on the street. A UNICEF was hearing from teenage girls saying that they would rather be killed than live under these conditions. And so many have been killed, almost 35,000 People 70% of them women and children. As you mentioned, almost 15,000 Children, Gaza has the highest, unfortunately, sadly, the highest cohort of child amputees. And every couple of days, we're losing children to starvation. We in the Arab world have been seeing this war live streamed every single day, and it has become central to our lives. And it's been quite devastating. And the impact has been obviously, people are so traumatized by what they're seeing every day, we were traumatized by October 7, but then this war, we feel is not, you know, Israel is saying that this was a defensive war. Obviously, it was instigated by October 7, but the way it's being fought is not in a defensive way. You know, 60% of homes have been destroyed. 80% of schools and health care centers have been destroyed. Are we to believe that they were Hamas operatives and each one of those? You know, so so, you know, the- the impact has been very, very big on us. And I think people, I'm not sure if your viewers know this, but people view the U.S. as being a party to this war. Because, you know, Israeli officials say that without US support, they couldn't launch this war, you know, you turn off the tap and the weapons dry out. So and so there has been anger in our part of the world, not just what- what's happening, but at the world's reaction. When we see these violations, human rights violations and international law violations, and we're watching the World letting it happen. When October 7th happened, the world rightfully condemned and took strong actions, strong positions. We are outraged that the same is not happening when Palestinians are getting killed. And so there is a sense of the selective application of humanitarian law and a sense of unfairness, a sense of our lives don't matter as much. And, you know, this is something I think that's creating a, certainly causing a great loss of credibility to the US, but also causing us to rethink our, our view of the world order, you know. As cruel and-and ugly as the war in Gaza is, the state of our rules-based world order is looking exponentially worse. People are looking at Gaza as a reflection of the rest of the world where, you know, the rules don't matter, where international law doesn't matter, where UN resolutions can be ignored. And I think that sets a very, very dangerous precedent. Because actions like these, they're not only a betrayal for the people of Gaza, but they're actually a betrayal of the safeguards that are meant to keep us all safe.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You said people back home see the United States as complicit in what's happening? 

QUEEN RANIA: They see it as an enabler, you know. So clearly the US is the country that has most leverage over the US- over Israel. And like I said, you know, it is the biggest ally and biggest supporter. And the Arab world is getting- the rest of the world actually is getting mixed messages. On the one hand, the US is demanding that more aid rightfully go back into Gaza. At the same time, they're- they're denying that the starvation is intentional. On the one hand, they are outraged by the attacks on the aid convoys. But at the same time, they're denying that Israel is violating international humanitarian law. There's an expression of concern over civilian deaths, but at the same time, there's a provision of offensive weapons to Israel that are used against Palestinians. So in a sense, you know, you- when you try so hard to thread the needle, you can risk dropping the ball, you can risk letting your values and principles unravel and, and that has a deep impact. So for example, even when the US allowed the UN Security Council resolution on the ceasefire to pass, the next day, there was an announcement saying that it's not it's not legally binding. UN resolutions are absolutely legally binding. And these legal frameworks are there to ensure that all countries adhere to standards of conduct. They're either applicable to everyone or they're not. Either everyone is accountable or no one is. So the next time a country breaks rules, you know, and the US comes and tries to apply more authority, those countries are going to say, well, you made an exception here. So why apply it to us? So I think people, you know, we are seeing Israel falling short of moral standard after moral stand- legal standard after legal standard, and the world is refusing to act. So I think Gaza now is like a microcosm of our new world disorder, of the breakdown of international norms of the return of might is right. And I think that's very dangerous, not just for our region, but for the entire world. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, recently President Biden, just about a month ago, warned Prime Minister Netanyahu that US policy would change, if Israel's behavior and conduct in this war didn't change. Do you believe the US is starting to use the leverage you say it has?

QUEEN RANIA: Well, look, there's definitely been a change in tone and language. And you're right, the President has been warning and has been trying very hard to persuade Netanyahu, for example, to not enter Rafah. But we've seen time and again, Israeli officials, not heeding the warnings or counsel or advice of allies. So, I think it's time that the international community, including the US, really use this political leverage to compel Israel to end the war and to let aid in.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How?

QUEEN RANIA: It's an- it's- by taking measures, right. So again, it's by standing up for international law, saying, for example, the building of illegal settlements is- is wrong. And it has to stop. It's by saying that, you know, we're not going to provide you with offensive weapons, it's by saying, we're not going to continue to use our veto to not hold Israel accountable- accountable, when it breaks the law. Diplomatic pressure is also very, very important. So there are many tools that the US has in order to compel Israel to do the right thing. And I think, for the sake of our world, the US may be Israel's most- closest ally, but a good friend holds a friend accountable. You don't give them a carte blanche when they're not doing the right thing. And I think it does Israel a great disservice when we don't hold it accountable, because it creates a culture of impunity. And that has been the situation for decades, where they feel that they can, they can be the exception to every international law and standard. Either you're part of the international community, and you abide by the rules, or you're a pariah state that's not- that's made an exception to every rule. So, so I think that if you care about your ally, you will actually take action to set them- and that will be for Israel's best interest in the long term.

MARGARET BRENNAN: In the beginning of this war, you were outspoken about the humanitarian concerns very early on, and you are the Queen of Jordan, but you're also Palestinian.

QUEEN RANIA: Right.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You argued people need to understand that Palestinian mothers love their children just as much as Israeli mothers. Why do you feel like that needed to be said?

QUEEN RANIA: Well, because, you know, for decades, the dehumanization of Palestinians, has been an intentional approach that Israel adopted in order to numb people to Palestinian suffering. You know, it's actually quite surprising to see just how deep the undercurrents of dehumanization has run. Israelis have pretty much you know, Arabs are generally accused of teaching hate, Palestinians as well. But it's Israelis have actually walled Palestinians out of sight and out of mind, it's kind of reduced them to nameless, faceless security threats that you have to defend yourself against. They don't learn about Palestinians. They're never introduced to them as real people. Any attempts to bring Palestinian stories into books are-are barred. So this sense of- and we actually saw that, you know, among the people blocking aid into Palestinians were young teenagers, I can't understand how anybody could be so indifferent to human suffering.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You're talking now about some of the protests that are trying to interrupt the shipment of aid into Gaza?

QUEEN RANIA: I'm talking about a deep culture, an omnipresent perspective about Palestinians, that says that Palestinians are subhuman, that they are violent because of something intrinsic in them. It's something in their nature. It's- it's, it's not because there is violence inflicted on them. And so when you reduce people to a violent, people who are different to us, so they're not moral like us, so therefore it's okay to inflict pain and suffering on them because they don't feel it the same way we do. It allows people to do bad things. That's-that's the mental loophole of dehumanization, it allows you to justify the unjustifiable, to do bad things and still see yourself as a good person. And we're seeing that happen in the case of Palestinians, they don't feel the Palestinians, that's why I said the mothers love their children the same way because, you know, it allows you to do bad things and not really have a moral dilemma with it. And that's what- what's happening. But you know, dehumanization works both ways. Because when you lose your ability to empathize towards the other side, you become hardened yourself, it degrades your own, your own humanity. And we're seeing this happening in Israeli society where they're become so hardened. And I just want to urge people to- to understand that this narrative, this propaganda that's been fed this anti-Palestinian racism, that Palestinians do not want peace, that Palestinians only understand the language of violence and force, that is incorrect.

MARGARET BRENNAN: To see Hamas as representing Palestinian people, you're saying, is wrong?

QUEEN RANIA: Absolutely wrong. And also, just to- just to point out that most of the people alive in Gaza today were not alive when Hamas was elected. They were either child- they were not born, or they were children at the time. So absolutely, Hamas does not represent the majority of- of Palestinians. And if Palestinians hate Israelis, it is not because of their religion, or their identity, it's because of the fact that they've only interacted with them as enforcers of a military state. They have only known them to their check- checkpoints and bullets and guns. It's not something that's inherently in them against Jewish people. In fact, I always try to remind people that you know, we have coexisted, Christians, Muslims and Jewish people, for the longest time. That's where the three monotheistic religions were born. And prior to the birth of Zionism, the Muslim majority in Palestine, lived in complete friendship and tolerance with the- with the Jewish minority, there was never an issue of antisemitism there.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you know, historians will argue, antisemitism has been present throughout history, right. And it is hard for people to hear some of what you're saying and not react in that way, where they hear a characterization of criticism of the Israeli government or the Israeli military, and see where you're separating from Jewish people. A lot of people don't hear a difference.

QUEEN RANIA: Antisemitism is absolutely present. And it's- and it's been on the rise, it's been on the surge. And it is the worst kind of bigotry, it is pure hatred. And I always say that Muslims have to be- have to be at the forefront of fighting antisemitism, because Islamophobia is the other side of the same disease, and it's also on the rise. Judaism is a religion of peace. It is the first of the three monotheistic religions. And as Muslims, you know, we- it was- it was Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We all believe in the same God. And the issue is when you try to conflate anti-Israeli policy with antisemitism, right. Antisemitism is when you persecute somebody, or you discriminate against somebody based on their Jewish identity. Israel is a state. It has political policy, political parties. So you can criticize the State of Israel but that's not necessarily antisemitism. So when people stand up and speak against the war in Gaza, when they're talking about the- speak against the collective punishment, when you deprive people of food as a weapon of war, when- when entire populations displaced, when there's indiscriminate bombing. That is not antisemitism, that is speaking against Israeli policy. And I think it would be wrong to hold the Jewish community responsible for the actions of the, or the policies of, Israel. And many Jewish people absolutely reject this- this conflation. They didn't they- they- they want to protect their Jewish identity and say that they- the Jewish faith has existed 3,000 years before the birth of the State of Israel. So it- it predates the State of Israel and- and it's [inaudible] to conflate the religious aspect with the politics. I don't think it serves anybody and it certainly doesn't bring us closer to peace.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, let me ask you about that because, you know, there are protests at colleges across the United States, here in New York, other cities, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. But there is also this perception among some students that they are unsafe, because they are, for example, Jewish students. What do you think of the protests and are you surprised to see young Americans protesting like this?

QUEEN RANIA: First of all, I think it's important to point out that law and order are paramount for everybody. And so, it- it is important for students to abide by the rules of the campus, to not disrupt classes, to not disrupt other students exper- college experience. At the same time, as I said, there is a rise in antisemitism, and it's wrong for any student to have to feel unsafe on campus. That being said, we need to- emotions are running high and I think people are- are losing sight of what these- these students are protesting. For them, the issue of Gaza and the Palestinian conflict is more about social justice. They are standing up for human rights, for international law, for the principles that underpin international law. They're standing up for the future that they're going to inherit. So they're asking their universities to divest from an illegal occupation. But at the same time, may- maybe more importantly, they are suggesting that there is more to the story than we have been told. That there is that the narrative that we have been fed that- that- that Israel is the victim and the Palestinians are- are violent people who deserve what's happening to them. That- that is not the entire story.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Why do you think that's happening on college campuses? Why do you think young people feel this way?

QUEEN RANIA: Well, actually, it's a lot of people feel this way. But college campuses have always been the site of- of activism. You know, young students are learning about these issues at that age. You want to stand up, you're more idealistic, you want to stand up for values you believe in. You're- you're outraged when- when things are not going right, when- when- when what you're taught, and what you believe should be the right thing isn't happening. And so they're expressing their views. But I think to- to paint all these students and all these protests in a- in a broad paintbrush and to vilify them as being, you know, pro-Hamas or pro-terrorism or antisemitic, I think that's inaccurate. And I think it's- it's somewhat patronizing to some of these students, because a lot of people were saying, well, you know, "They don't even know what they're protesting, they're just protesting for the sake of it." A lot of them are well read, thoughtful young individuals who know exactly what they're protesting. They are protesting for justice. And--

MARGARET BRENNAN: --Do you think it will change US foreign policy?

QUEEN RANIA: Well, I- I- I don't- I don't know if it will change US foreign policy. It's certainly a grassroots movement and an ex- expression of a generation that feel that there is a contradiction between the values and principles that they were taught that this country stands for and what's actually happening on the ground. And, again, let's not forget that there are a substantial number of Jewish students who are involved in these protests. And the vast majority of these protests want to be peaceful, they don't want to be destructive. And I think the most important thing is to have genuine engagement with- with- with the students, to have an open debate to hear from them and- and explain to them. I mean, a lot of times they're saying, "Well, these kids, you need education." I think we need to go into this knowing that we need education as well. So it's a give and take. And we saw an example in Brown University, where that kind of healthy debate ended up, you know, sort of calming things down and where it was a win-win situation. So the more you use force, I think the more that inflames the situation.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How are young people in Jordan thinking about this right now? I mean, what is the sentiment in terms of the American unconditional support for the government of Israel?

QUEEN RANIA: I have to say, in one word, there's outrage, you know. There is outrage, because, you know, for most young people, even those who maybe were against American foreign policy, or whatever disagreed with it, we always looked up to the US, you know, as a country of a democratic country, with democratic values, with application of law with freedom of speech, with, you know, human rights, etc. And, as I said, you know, the young people are now feeling extremely disillusioned, how can this be happening, while the US is allowing it to happen, while the rest of the world is- is allowing it to happen? Blatant disregard for international law, and- and- and just, you know, when the US- when- when Israel says, you know, that we are not targeting civilians and then you look at the reality on the ground that we're seeing with our own two eyes, and we're seeing and by the admission of some Israeli intelligence sources, they were saying that they often attacked their targets at night in their homes, with their families, which has led to the deaths of thousands of women and children. We have seen wild- widely spread reports about Israel using AI systems to generate the largest number of targets, prioritizing quantity over quality. And so- the- really by taking humanity out of the equation, in their calculus, it's okay to flatten the entire neighborhood or kill the entire family to get one target. And so the whole principle of proportionality and distinction between- between civilians and combatants has been abandoned in this war. And, you know, when- when Israelis are telling us, you know, "They're dying because Hamas is using them as human shields." Well, you know, you have a place like- like Gaza, which is one of the most densely populated places in the world, being hit by an unprecedented number of dumb bombs, which are untargeted, unguided bombs, or massive bombs, which are the 2000-pound bombs. To put in perspective, in fighting ISIS, the US only used one such bomb, because it's known that it has a very high risk of killing civilians. So you hit the most densely populated place on earth with an unprecedented number of unguided bombs, and mass of bombs, and we are supposed to believe that Israel is trying to avoid killing civilians? It just doesn't- it doesn't add up.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You've had protests in Jordan--

QUEEN RANIA: --Yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Outside embassies and alike. Amnesty International says Jordanian security arrested at least 1,500 people for protesting. Why? Are you concerned there is a threat to the stability of Jordan?

QUEEN RANIA: Not at all. I- we know, since the beginning of this war, we've had thousands of people go out, I think we've had about 1700 demonstrations of people going out, advocating, and- and standing out in solidarity with the Palestinian people. And you know, at the end of the day, Jordan- and most of these demonstrations have been friction-free with the police. And, but- the end- end of the day, Jordan is a country of law and order. So as long as people abide- are abiding by the law, as I said, with the demonstrations here, then they are free to protest. It's only when we see vandalism or attacks on public and private property, that the security forces obviously have responsibility to come in, to step in. But, again, Jordan has been probably at the forefront of countries that have stood up and spoken openly about, in defense of, what's happening, and, you know, in defense of Palestinians, and that's not just the leadership, but that's also the people themselves, the people, the government and the leadership. So we're- we're on the same page on this. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the Director of National Intelligence in this country, Avril Haines, testified, saying there will be a generational impact from the war in Gaza. And that was also a gesture to terror recruitment. How concerned are you that that is what may happen to some of these young people, who you say are just inundated with images of what's happening?

QUEEN RANIA: You know, like I said, it's- it's not just the people who are on the extreme that- that are being enraged by this. It's people who are in the middle as well, people who are westernized, people who studied here, people who- who are suddenly just looking at the world and saying, you know, they're so the solution. They're saying, you know, clearly there are different standards, that humanitarian law is applied selectively, and that our lives don't matter. And that it's okay for- for, you know, almost 15,000 children to be killed, 19,000 to be orphaned. It's okay for- for, you know, the infrastructure to be obliterated. It's okay to use- to stop the delivery of aid and food to an entire population. That is collective punishment. It's a war crime, and it's happening. And so, the young people are saying, you know, I guess the West doesn't like us. So- so, in my opinion, this is probably one of the most radical, large- sorry, largest recruitment event that we've seen in recent history. Because it's turned a lot of people away. And it's making people feel like there's just no justice in this world. And that is a very dangerous place to be.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That is- what you are describing is what Defense Secretary Austin warned Israel about, that you could have a tactical win and a strategic loss in the long term. That's what I hear you saying, that this will lead to more terror recruitment?

QUEEN RANIA: Absolutely. And I- again, I do not need to ask ourselves this- the simple question, is this war making Israel safer? Is it making our world safer? You know, I would argue, after 35,000 people dead, after the obliteration of the civilian infrastructure, in- in Gaza, after the violations of so much, after the rhetoric that we're hearing, you know, from Israeli officials, calling Palestinians human animals, or saying, when the Prime Minister says that Palestinians are children of darkness, that they only understand the rules of the jungle, you know? When officials say we need to find a more effective way than death to inflict suffering on Palestinians. How is that making Israel safer? I mean, you know, how? This is- we need to create- peace is not about politics only, it's about people. It's about culture, it's about state of mind. It's about choosing tolerance over suspicion, it's about choosing compromise and reconciliation over the false promise of victory. And the politics inside of Israel has shifted so far to the right that it's become acceptable. Israelis are surprised when the word genocide is used, because they cannot see Palestinians as anything but as a security threat, that they deserve what's happening to them.You know, in a poll--

MARGARET BRENNAN: They're traumatized after October 7, many Israelis.

QUEEN RANIA: Absolutely traumatized, I understand that. And I understand that, because of my own background, that I would identify with the Palestinian side more, and I- because of that, I challenge myself every single day to put myself in the shoes of an Israeli mother, who is- who has a child that's been taken as hostage, or- or any young Israeli who has been taught and who's heard of the horrible persecution that the Jewish people had to endure in Europe. And- and I tried to empathize and see where they're coming from. And absolutely, you know, we need the hostages to go home as soon as possible. And we need the war to end as soon as possible so that Palestinians can go back to their homes, if they have homes left. So, I understand that- that what happened on October 7 was traumatic and devastating for Israeli society. But the reaction to it has not helped the situation. You cannot just rely on your- this visceral reaction of retribution and revenge. Because then you're just- you know, you're just going into the cycle of violence and just digging deeper in it, and it's just going to keep getting worse. The- Israel could have retaliated through surgical strikes against Hamas. But that's not what we're seeing today. You know, we are seeing a war that is not fought in a defensive way.

MARGARET BRENNAN: When you were at the White House in February, President Biden mentioned that your husband, King Abdullah, and two of your children had participated in airdrops in Gaza. But you've referred to the airdrops as "just drops in an ocean". What is needed at this point to reverse the famine in North Gaza?

QUEEN RANIA: Right, so- so you know, those airdrops were just acts of desperation. And my husband said from day one, they are inefficient, they're costly, and they do not begin to meet the needs of the people of Gaza. But in our calculus, it was anything is better than nothing, right? And, you know, the hunger figures in the Gaza are unprecedented. Every single person in Gaza is hungry, a quarter of the population is starving. And when we saw that devastating attack on the World Central Kitchens, there was a lot of pressure on Israel to allow more food and aid into Gaza. There's been a slight uptick. But really, at the end of the day, there's- they're not even close to meeting the needs of--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, who could distribute that? If- if the war ended, even, would Jordan be able to come in and help with reconstruction?

QUEEN RANIA: So this is- so- so- so this is the thing, you know, I think what that strike did, for example, was stop aid, make lots of agencies suspend their operations because they didn't feel safe working in Gaza. And this after Israel has- has- has bombed flower fields, agricultural land, fishing boats, basically decimating Gaza's ability to feed itself, not just today, but for years to come. And so what is required is a permanent ceasefire that allows the hostages to go back home and people to go back to their homes. We need to put pressure on Israel to open all access points. And the land access is the most efficient way to deliver aid at- at scale. We just streamline the vetting process which now is so complicated and arbitrary. And- and you know, they could find one thing in a truck that they're- don't approve, and the whole truck has to go back. And- and the last thing is that we need to allow aid workers safe access within Gaza, so that they can actually deliver the aid to the people that need it. But if we do not flood Gaza with aid soon then we are going to be facing a mass famine. And I don't know how the world just is happy doing that. It's just- it's- it's a major stain on our global consciousness to see this happening in slow motion, and not do something about it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Jordan has had a peace treaty with Israel since 1994. If Israel goes into southern Gaza into Rafa, as the Prime Minister says he intends to do, will peace hold?

QUEEN RANIA: As you said, we've had peace with Israel since '94. And Jordan always honors the commitments that it signs up to in peace agreements. We will always be on the side of peace and diplomacy. But- but diplomacy requires trust, and a lot of that trust has been eroded over the years because of violations. against people in Gaza and the West Bank. And- and because of the undermining of the Jordanian custodianship of the Christian and Muslim sites in Jerusalem, which are part of this agreement—

MARGARET BRENNAN: What do you mean by that? What's happened?

QUEEN RANIA: Well, time and again, you know, we have violations against Christian sites and Muslim sites by Israeli troops who are not allowing people to go in, who are arresting people, who are not allowing people to pray. We're seeing that happening all the time. And so this is constantly undermining the Hashemite role and custodianship of these holy sites. And so- so there is an issue with that. And with it comes- when when it comes to Rafah, the world you know, there are ongoing daily strikes on Rafah as we speak. But if there was to be a full scale invasion, then you know, the world has warned that there will be a blood- bloodbath for the simple reason that half the population of Gaza is now sheltering in Rafah, we're talking about 50,000 people per square mile. And since the beginning of this war, there was- they were pushed systematically, further and further south. Rafah is the end of the line, there's nowhere else for them to go, there's only a six square mile piece of land that could- could be considered safe zone. So they have nowhere to go. And I don't know how Israel could go in surgically without causing a massive number of civilian deaths. And so I think the world really needs to compel Israel not to do it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Your Majesty, thank you for your time. I'm being told we are out of time. 

QUEEN RANIA: Thank you. 

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Mayor Jones highlights efforts to make St. Louis safer in 2024 State of the City speech

S T. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - In her 2024 State of the City speech Tuesday night, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones highlighted her administration’s efforts to make St. Louis City safer.

“Today, the City of St. Louis is safer, stronger, and healthier than we were last year. And next year, we’ll be safer, stronger, and healthier than we are today,” Mayor Jones said.

The city’s hiring freeze, which has been in effect for over a month, will be lifted if state lawmakers fail to pass any bill over the next three days that affects the city’s earnings tax.

She said they’re taking a holistic approach to crime.

“Yes, crime rates are down in our city. But they’re not where we want them to be. One family affected by gun violence is one too many,” said Jones.

Mayor Jones said the city is looking to address the root cause of crime through a variety of programs and city offices.

St. Louis Hills neighborhood leader Tom Scheifler noticed what Mayor Jones did not say.

“She ignored the critical shortage of police officers patrolling city neighborhoods. This is not an either-or scenario; she should be doing both,” said Scheifler.

Jones also said the Office of Violence Prevention diverted over 550 calls to 911 to behavioral health responders while the Crisis Response Unit helped in over 6,500 cases.

In her speech, Jones also mentioned improved 911 response times over the last year.

“Last year, we answered just over 50% of calls within the first 10 seconds. The national standard is 90%. Today, I’m proud to report that more than 80% of 9-1-1 calls are answered within 10 seconds,” she said.

The mayor spoke for over 40 minutes at the Sun Theatre Tuesday for her annual State of the City address, pointing to new city laws that promise red-light cameras aimed at making driving safer. The mayor and the Board of Aldermen also pushed through separate police accountability initiatives around surveillance this year.

“It will help make our streets safer by holding reckless drivers accountable. We have been working diligently to make sure these technologies will be used to reduce traffic violence, not target already vulnerable populations,” said Jones.

First Alert 4 spoke with a road safety expert, Charles Bryson of Trailnet, who said he also wants the city to do quick-build projects that make it easier to walk and bike in the city.

He also wants the city to complete projects faster.

“She’s done a lot of decent things; the problem is they’ve taken too long,” said Bryson.

We looked back at Mayor Jones’s previous State of the City addresses, last year, she said she would listen to the community and an appointed committee on what to do with the Workhouse.

“This process will engage the community, particularly people who had a direct experience of the Workhouse, to envision what the future of the site should be,” said Jones in 2023.

The committee did not recommend putting homeless shelters on-site. But Mayor Jones has suggested placing tiny homes in that location to support the homeless.

She also said she’d work to help small businesses and streamline the city’s liquor license process. She signed a bill to do that earlier this year.

Scheifler expressed disappointment that Jones did not talk about the homeless. He wants the city to partner with St. Louis County instead of working on ways to build shelters in the city.

Jones outlined her administration’s continuing efforts to use infrastructure projects to make the city safer.

“We’ve taken the historic American Rescue Plan funds from the Biden-Harris administration and are putting them to work on paving, lighting, and traffic calming measures on our roadways,” said Jones. “We aren’t just making it safer to get around in your car. Everyone deserves to feel safe when getting around St. Louis, whether they’re driving, biking, walking or riding public transit. The Green Line, which will also connect to the Red and Blue lines, will give more St. Louisans the ability to move around the city - for jobs, education and entertainment - reducing the need for a car.”

Jones also talked about how her administration is investigating in economic development, the ongoing renovation of the old Killark Plant into a workforce hub for north St. Louis and the hiring website launched by the City of St. Louis.