Queen Elizabeth II's Remarks to the people of the United
States
en.wikisource.org /wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_II%27s_Remarks_to_the_people_of_the_United_States
Here on July 6, 1976, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain presented the Bicentennial Bell to the
people of the United States, in these words:
I speak to you as the direct descendant of King George III. He was the last Crowned Sovereign to rule in this
country, and it is therefore with a particular personal interest that I view those events which took place 200 years
ago.
It seems to me that Independence Day, the Fourth of July, should be celebrated as much in Britain as in
America. Not in rejoicing at the separation of the American Colonies from the British Crown, but in sincere
gratitude to the Founding Fathers of this great Republic for having taught Britain a very valuable lesson.
We lost the American Colonies because we lacked that statesmanship "to know the right time, and the manner of
yielding, what is impossible to keep".
But the lesson was learnt. In the next century and a half we kept more closely to the principles of Magna Carta
which have been the common heritage of both countries.
We learnt to respect the right of others to govern themselves in their own ways. This was the outcome of
experience learned the hard way in 1776. Without that great act in the cause of liberty performed in
Independence Hall two hundred years ago, we could never have transformed an Empire into a Commonwealth!
Ultimately peace brought a renewal of friendship which has continued and grown over the years and has played
a vital part in world affairs. Together we have fought in two world wars in the defence of our common heritage of
freedom. Together we have striven to keep the peace so dearly won. Together, as friends and allies, we can face
the uncertainties of the future, and this is something for which we in Britain can also celebrate the Fourth of July.
This morning I saw the famous Liberty Bell. It came here over 200 years ago when Philadelphia, after London,
was the largest English speaking city in the world. It was cast to commemorate the Pennsylvania Charter of
Privileges, but is better known for its association with the Declaration of Independence.
Today, to mark the 200th anniversary of that declaration, it gives me the greatest pleasure, on behalf of the
British people, to present a new bell to the people of the United States of America. It comes from the same
foundry as the Liberty Bell, but written on the side of this Bicentennial Bell are the words "Let Freedom Ring".
It is a message in which both our people can join and which I hope will be heard around the world for centuries
to come.
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