The Queen

PLOT

The 1997 general election has Tony Blair elected as the prime minister from the Labour Party on a manifesto of reform and modernisation. Less than four months later, Diana, Princess of Wales is killed in a car crash at the Alma Bridge tunnel in Paris.

Immediately, her death presents problems for her ex-husband, Prince Charles, and Blair, to accord the mother of a future king that is no longer a member of the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II wonders if Blair will turn his modernisation pledge on to the royal family since he attempts to have her reconsider her views on the funeral plans. Diana's family, the Spencers, called for the funeral to be private.

In the press, Diana is dubbed the "People's Princess"; this begins an outpouring of grief by the general public in broadcasts, and displays of floral tributes so numerous at Buckingham and Kensington Palaces that the main entrances onto the complexes have to be rerouted. The royal family's senior members make no effort to acknowledge Diana's significance to society and remain on holiday at Balmoral. The royal family's popularity plummets, while Blair's approval rises as he responds to the royal family's public outcry of inaction.

Blair's attempts to guide the royal family through the controversy are met with resistance, the Queen describing them as a surrender to public hysteria. Despite the Queen and Prince Philip's indignance toward any sympathy toward Diana or acknowledgment of the country's mourning, he is encouraged by the private secretaries of the Prince of Wales and the Queen to continue with his attempts to change the attitude of the royal family. As England continues its outpouring of grief, Blair attempts to defend the royal family publicly, but his attempts are futile. Blair's compassion earns him overwhelming praise and adoration, while the royal family's indifference earns them fiery condemnation from the people. As England's outrage hits a critical mass, Blair cannot placate the Queen's refusal to acknowledge Diana and the public any longer and reveals to her that 70% of the country believes she is damaging the monarchy, while "1 in 4" people are in favor of ending the monarchy. Blair adamantly insists the royal family fly the flag at Buckingham Palace at half-mast, that the Queen pays her respects to Diana, and gives a public address consoling the country.

Although she is demoralized by the country's reaction and the Prime Minister's suggestions, the Queen comes to realize that the world has changed during her reign. She and Prince Philip return to London, despite their disagreement. The Queen finally pays public tribute on live television to Diana's significance to the nation and society and can somewhat quell England's agony. The royal family attends the public funeral for Diana at Westminster Abbey.

At Blair's next meeting with the Queen, they exchange views about what has happened since their last meeting, including the controversy surrounding Diana's death and the actions that followed. Then she cautions the prime minister that, just as public opinion has changed about how the royal family should react to a new Britain, so must he as he may very well find himself in the same position of changing public opinion.

CAST

Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II

Michael Sheen as Tony Blair

James Cromwell as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Helen McCrory as Cherie Blair

Alex Jennings as Charles, Prince of Wales

Roger Allam as Robin Janvrin

Sylvia Syms as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

Tim McMullan as Stephen Lamport

Mark Bazeley as Alastair Campbell

Michel Gay as Dodi Fayed

Diana, Princess of Wales as herself (archive footage)

Nicholas Owen as himself (archive footage)

Julia Somerville as herself (archive footage)

Martyn Lewis as himself (archive footage)

Trevor McDonald as himself (archive footage)

John Suchet as himself (archive footage)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Based on true events