The Queen

The ladies have gone to the cinema to see "The Queen". I decided not to go as I wasn't sure that I would be able to remain quiet whilst watching President Blair manipulating Her Majesty into behaving in a manner completely out of character. I imagine they will see a nauseating pandering to popularism portrayed for purely political ends.

The Queen is a 2006 Pathé Pictures film directed by Stephen Frears, written by Peter Morgan and produced by Scott Rudin.

The film begins on the eve of Tony Blair's election as the United Kingdom's first Labour Party Prime Minister in eighteen years. While posing for an offical portrait, the Queen makes small talk with the artist and expresses her regret about not being allowed to vote. Queen Elizabeth is slightly wary of the new prime minister and his pledge to "modernize" the country, but Blair promises to respect the independence of the royal family. Blair visits Buckingham Palace for the first of his weekly audiences with the Queen, at which she asks him to form a government.
A few months later, Diana, Princess of Wales is killed in a car accident while visiting Paris with her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed. Britons immediately erupt in an intense state of grief, with thousands lining up to pile flower bouquets in front of Buckingham Palace. Blair delivers a passionate speech following Diana's death, written by his director of communications, Alastair Campbell, in which Blair praises Diana as "the people's princess."
Meanwhile, the British royal family is vacationing at Balmoral Castle, their estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Diana's death sparks mixed feelings in the royal household. Diana never had been much beloved by them while she was alive. The Queen is quick to remind her family that since the previous year, when Diana divorced her son, the Prince of Wales, Diana ceased to be a member of the royal family deserving of any special attention from them. The Queen repeats this position to Blair, insisting that any mourning of Diana should remain a "private matter" handled by the late princess's own family and not by the Crown.
The Queen assumes that the intensity of the public's mourning will decrease over time, but her assumption never pans out. Flowers continue to pile up outside the Palace. As the days progress over the course of that week, the British tabloids begin to criticize the royal family for failing to offer any sign of public condolence. In contrast, Blair's popularity rises sharply, which delights some of the Prime Minister's more republican-minded advisors, including his wife, Cherie, who see the royal family's "aloofness" as proving their uselessness.
Blair, however, does not share these sentiments. He wants to save the royal family "from themselves" before it is too late. Cherie Blair also speculates that her husband sees something of his late mother in the Queen, both of whom came of age during World War II. Accordingly, he gives the Queen a list of very strong words of advice, outlining a schedule of public acts she and her family should perform to regain the public's respect. These include hosting a public funeral for Diana at Westminster Abbey, flying a Union Flag at half-mast over Buckingham Palace, and a live, televised address by the Queen to the nation to commemorate Diana.
Blair's demands outrage the royal family, especially the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother. Both view his suggestions as having no basis in protocol, but rather simply the unreasonable demands of an ignorant populist. The Queen, too, shares such sentiments, but ultimately she feels weak and frustrated, leading her to decide to give in. However, Prince Charles, during a brief conversation with Blair when Diana's body returns to London and later through back-channel contacts, admits that his mother does not understand that her contemporary subjects want a more public expression of grief. Speaking with her mother, the Queen admits she may no longer understand the present generation, which may be harming her ability to do her job. Her mother disagrees and encourages her to go on with her reign.
The Queen returns to London and goes on live television to give a speech praising Diana's life and work. This gesture, though mild, seems to appease the public.
Several months later, the Queen has regained her popularity, though she believes she never has quite recovered from "that week." Meeting with Blair, she cautions him that she has learned that all popularity is fleeting.

I have been a life long royalist and a particular admirer of the present queen. She has always seen her contribution as a particular vocation from God. Her dedication speech on her 21st birthday is a commitment from which she has never wavered. Her Christian faith and practise are key to her life. When she and Prince Philip toured Yorkshire as a young couple I followed them everywhere on my cycle. Whilst serving my national service period in the RAF I was given the proud duty of participating in the London ceremonies at the coronation. As an Anglican priest I have willingly renewed an oath of allegiance each time I have taken up a new appointment. Frequently I lead public prayer for Her majesty and other members of the Royal Family.

According to Press Reports this weekend the Queen and Prince Philip are staying with friends in Suffolk(she normally spends her weekends privately and this one is no exception). However the press became interested because in order to get to Suffolk the couple eschewed a royal car or helicopter and took the 5 pm train from Liverpool Street along with regular commuters who were surprised to see them in the carriage with them. On arrival at Ipswich they transferred to a car awaiting them in the station car park and the Duke drove the Land Rover the 7 miles to their friends' home at Helmingham Hall.