The art of delivering big speeches to celebrate big occasions

This year, Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first British monarch to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee — and in her time she’s overseen many historic events. From her traditional Christmas Day broadcast to a speech acknowledging the shared challenges of the Covid-10 pandemic, the Queen is a remarkable public speaker who marks each occasion with eloquence and poise.

So what can we learn from royal speeches when it comes to delivering important addresses of our own? As the jubilee approaches, we examine the art of giving a powerful speech to mark a unique event.

What makes the Queen a powerful speaker?

One of the most fascinating things about the Queen’s speeches is that we know what she’s going to say — and yet we tune in to watch anyway. News articles reveal the key quotes and themes of her speeches weeks before they’re broadcast. Despite this, in 2021, almost 9 million viewers watched the Queen’s Christmas Day broadcast.

When we watch or listen to the Queen, we’re never bored. This is testament to the power of her presence. As speakers, we’re often taught that movement creates energy — but the Queen is an exception to this rule. She remains perfectly still throughout her speeches, generating energy with the sheer authority of her presence, and the metronomic pacing of her voice.

This technique succeeds with the Queen where it fails with many others. As a leader, her listeners are already largely on her side — so she’s not trying to build or react to the fever of the crowd. As a result, the content of the Queen’s speeches is often less noteworthy than her performance. She rarely makes controversial or persuasive statements. She simply tells us what we want to hear.

How to deliver a memorable speech to mark an important occasion

Few speakers have the natural presence of the Queen, so our content must be just as finely tuned as our performances. But the rules remain the same when delivering a speech to mark a big occasion, whether it’s a jubilee, a wedding, or major corporate news.

Firstly, this isn’t the time to shock your audience. People should already have an expectation of what you’re going to say — the best man should deliver a few jokes; the newly-inaugurated president must talk about delivering on their election promises. You simply need to deliver on these expectations in a memorable way. Choose one or two key messages and make them stick in the mind of your audience, so they go away with a powerful, unified message. Impact doesn’t come from saying a lot — it comes from hitting home.

To this end, it’s essential that you understand clearly what you’re trying to say and use your platform to make your message clear and accessible. Speakers are often taught about building to a crescendo — but when you’re delivering a big statement speech, you’re at the crescendo as soon as you start talking. Make the most of this climatic moment with a sharp, short speech.

Delivering a speech for celebration vs consolation

The Platinum Jubilee is a cause for celebration — but royals and other leaders are often called upon to speak about bad news as well as good. No matter what the tone of your speech is, the purpose remains the same: to give the audience permission to act on their emotions.

Celebratory speeches give the audience permission to celebrate. Consolatory speeches give them permission to mourn. You’re not trying to play with their emotions or take them on a journey; instead, it’s about creating unity of feeling, whether it’s joy or grief.

Consider the eulogy. While funerals are always sad occasions, there are often moments of humour, too. These give mourners permission to find joy in the memories of the person they’ve lost, as well as sadness. A little laughter — with permission — helps many people find the strength to get through difficult times.

Overcoming the fear of public speaking

As The King’s Speech shows, not all royals are natural born speakers. But public speaking is something we can all do if we conquer our fears.

The critical thing is to own what you’re going to say. The words you say have to be your words — whether it’s at work, a wedding, or any other occasion. Don’t try to forge a different personality when delivering your speech. As long as you’re using your own voice, you can relax into your performance as yourself.

This includes your speaking style. You may speak too fast; you may not know what to do with your arms. These are things you can work on and improve without losing your fundamental voice and style. When you give yourself permission to stay true to your own voice, you can overcome the fear of public speaking.

The art of delivering a big speech

Few of us will deliver speeches on the magnitude of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee — but there are many lessons to be learned from the monarch’s ability to unite an audience with her magnetic presence and commanding performances.

Momentous speeches are often the most muted. The audience is already on your side. You’re not trying to influence people, or to speak for 40 minutes. Instead, you should find your core message, and deliver it in a way that resonates with your audience — while staying true to your own voice.