Queen Elizabeth II has issued a special statement to Canadians offering best wishes and congratulations on the 150th anniversary year of Confederation.
The Queen said in the videotaped message, delivered half in English and half in French, that Canada has 鈥渆arned a reputation as a welcoming, respectful and compassionate country.鈥�
The Queen added: 鈥淔ifty years ago, on the eve of the Centennial, I encouraged Canadians to continue to embody the values of equality, freedom and inclusion.鈥�
鈥淭oday, these values remain deeply rooted in the Canadian experience,鈥� the Queen went on. 鈥淵our country, while still young, has the maturity needed to follow its passions.鈥�
鈥淭hroughout the coming year, you will have the opportunity to remind the world of the importance of protecting those values and of passing them on to future generations,鈥� the Queen added.
Royal commentator Richard Berthelsen told 麻豆传媒 Channel on Sunday that it鈥檚 clear the video was recorded at the same time as the Queen鈥檚 Christmas message. He noted that she was wearing exactly the same clothing but 鈥渨ith the addition of the maple leaf brooch.鈥�
Berthelsen said the Queen was 鈥渧ery kind鈥� to prepare and deliver the message, despite a cold that
The Queen, 90, has not been seen in public since Dec. 9, according to Berthelsen, who called the absences from church a 鈥渁 little bit unusual.鈥�
Berthelsen said that it is 鈥渁bsolutely remarkable鈥� to think that Elizabeth has been Queen of Canada 鈥渇or almost half of the country鈥檚 history.鈥�
Berthelsen said he expects the Queen to celebrate Canada鈥檚 sesquicentennial in the U.K., while other high-profile members of the royal family will visit at Canada Day.
鈥淚 think if the Queen were just maybe a tad younger we鈥檇 be seeing her in Canada this year,鈥� he added.
