Quotes & Notes for Themes of ‘The Queen’ (2006)
Quotes on Leadership in The Queen
● Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown
● Blair: That woman has given her whole life in service of her people. Fifty years of doing a job she never wanted.
● Blair: What she’s doing is extraordinary. That’s how you survive.
● Queen: Something’s happened. There’s been a change, some shift in values. When you no longer understand your people, Mummy, maybe it is time to hand it over to the next generation.
○ Queen Mother : Don’t be ridiculous. Remember the vow you took?
○ Queen: I declare that my whole life, rather it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.
○ Queen Mother: Your whole life. That is a commitment to God, as well as your people.
○ Queen: But what if my actions are damaging the crown?
○ Queen Mother: Damaging it? You’re the greatest asset this institution has. One of the greatest it has ever had. The problem will come when you leave. But you mustn’t think about that now, certainly not today.
○ Queen: Oh, Mummy.
○ Queen Mother: You must show your strength, reassert your authority. You sit on the most powerful throne in Europe, head of an unbroken line that goes back more than a thousand years. Do you really think that any of your predecessors would’ve dropped everything and gone up to London because a bunch of hysterics carrying candles needed help with their grief? And as for Mr Blair and his Cheshire Cat grin…
● Queen: And it is my belief that they will any moment reject this… this ‘mood,’ which is being stirred up by the press, in favor of a period of restrained grief, and sober, private mourning. That’s the way we do things in this country, quietly, with dignity. That’s what the rest of the world has always admired us for.”
● Artist: You may not be allowed to vote, ma’am, but it is your government.
● Queen: Ever since Diana, people want glamour and tears, the grand performance, and I’m not very good at that. I prefer to keep my feelings to myself. Foolishly I believed that’s what people wanted from their Queen. Not to make a fuss nor wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve, duty first, self second. It’s how I was brought up. It’s all I’ve ever known…I was. A girl. But I can see the world has changed. And one must modernise’.
● Phillip: Who does he think he’s talking to? You’re the Sovereign, the Head of State. You don’t get dictated to.
● Queen: I think the less attention one draws to it, the better.
● Blair: The circumstances were exceptional, Ma’am. And in the end, you showed great personal strength, courage, and humility. … I still believe history will show it was a good week for you.
○ Queen: You’re confusing humility with humiliation.
○ ELIZABETH And an even better one for you, Mr Blair.
○ TONY But there are fifty-two weeks in a year, Ma’am. And two and a half thousand in a half century.
○ TONY And when people come to assess your legacy, no one will remember those few days.
○ ELIZABETH Really? You don’t feel that what respect or affection people might once have had for.. ( She wants to say `Me’, but instead says) this institution has been diminished?
○ TONY Not at all.
● Queen’s address: Since last Saturday’s dreadful news we have seen, throughout Britain and the world, an overwhelming expression of sadness at Diana’s death. We have all been trying in our different ways to cope. The initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings. Disbelief, incomprehension, anger and concern for those who remain. We have all felt these emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart. I hope that tomorrow we can all, wherever we are, join in expressing our grief at Diana’s loss, and gratitude for her all-too-short life. May those who died rest in peace and may we, each and every one of us thank God for someone who made many, many people happy. (a haunting, elegiac hymn..)
● Queen: One — lower the flag to half-mast above Buckingham Palace and all other Royal residences. Two — leave Balmoral, and fly down to London at the earliest opportunity. Three — pay respects in person at Diana’s coffin. And four — make a statement via live television to my people and the world. Swift prosecution of these matters, he felt, might, just might avert disaster.
● Blair: Ma’am, a poll that’s to be published in tomorrow’s paper suggests 70% of people believe your actions have damaged the monarchy and one in four are now in favour of abolishing the monarchy altogether.
● HEADLINES: The Sun — “Where is our Queen? Where is her flag?” (takes another paper) The Express, “Show us you care”, with a picture of a grumpy Queen. (takes another paper) The Mail — “Let the Flag Fly at half- mast”, and inside, “The Queen should be here to show her respects.”
● Phillip: This reminds me of one of those films. A few of us in a Fort. Hordes of Zulus outside. So it’s VITAL you hold firm. Stick to your guns. You wait. They will come to their senses soon. They HAVE to.
● Tony: I know…but allowing her to hang herself might not be in our best interests either. Besides, I think there’s something…ugly about the way everyone’s started to bully her.
● Prime Minister, I understand how `difficult’ her behaviour must seem to you..how `unhelpful’..but try to see it from her perspective. She’s been brought up to believe its God’s will that she is who she is. She won’t have seen anything like this since the Abdication…And I cannot emphasise enough what affect that had on her. Unexpectedly becoming King as good as killed her father.
Storytelling
Archival footage acts as a means to provide context for the events of the film
The TV in the state room at Buckingham Palace is the only modern item in the room, with the commentary moving from non-diegetic to diegetic as we see the Queen watch the news in an over-the-shoulder shot.
The omniscient presence of media is indicated by the Queen reaching for a newspaper as soon as she wakes up, with the scene cutting to a news report about Blair’s victory
● SPENCER (ON TV) …this is not a time for recriminations, however I would say that I always believed that the press would kill her in the end. But even I could not imagine that they would take such a direct hand in her death as seems to be the case. It would appear that every proprietor and editor of every publication that has paid for intrusive and exploitative photographs of her has blood on his hands today… ALASTAIR Not the press, mate. You’ve got the wrong villain.
● ELIZABETH (cont’d) No. I believe a few over-eager editors are doing their best to sell newspapers..and it would be a mistake to dance to their tune.
● QUEEN reject this ‘mood’ that is being stirred up by the press’
Parenthood
Blair is first seen with his family by his side, hugging his wife and waving to the public. We do not see such causal, physical gestures between the members of the royal family, highlighting their formal relationship.
In all of Charles and the Queen’s interactions, they are at odds.
The Queen categorically disagrees with Charles going to Paris.
● The QUEEN’s FACE in close-up. Her eyes flicker as she watches something intently. The REVERSE ANGLE to see: a half-open door. SILHOUETTES inside. The sound of male voices. Whispering. Speaking softly.
● Our CAMERA stays on the QUEEN’s FACE. A distant flicker of pain at the unrestrained intimacy and affection between them.
● The QUEEN goes up to CHARLES and stiffly, poignantly, tries to touch him. But cannot. Is unable. She withdraws her hand.
The Queen cannot show her son physical affection, though she makes an attempt, it is simple not in her nature.
She takes on a more distant role in caring for her grandchildren by telling a footman to take the radio and television from the boys’ rooms.
● ELIZABETH The children have to be looked after.
● CHARLES Look, whatever else you may have thought of Diana — she was a wonderful mother. ( a beat) She adored those boys. And never let them forget it. (a beat) Always warm. The QUEEN’s hands tighten on the steering wheel.. CHARLES And physical. (a beat) Never afraid to show her feelings.
● CHARLES (cont’d) Why do they hate us so much? ELIZABETH Not `us’, dear.
Emotions
In one the first scenes, the Queen looks at the camera before the title card is revealed, with a motif to suggest that there is more to the Queen than meets the eye.
Ironically, Elizabeth describes Bair as ‘a hard one to read.’
After hearing about Diana’s death, lets out a strangled cry and shouts ‘No!’
The public’s emotion are on full display as they sit outside the Palace with grim expressions and tears
Suddenly, almost imperceptibly, we notice her shoulders are shaking. Not dramatically, but enough to suggest what is happening. The QUEEN — away from the world — is crying. We only see her back. Presently, she reaches into her jacket pocket, produces a handkerchief, and dabs her eyes. Gradually, she composes herself.
● ELIZABETH As a matter of fact, it’s how I think best. On my feet. I’ve never been one for sitting around endlessly. A good walk and fresh air sorts everything out..
Relationships
The Queen is initially in a position of power over Blair, describing him as ‘Prime Minister to be,’ because she hasn’t ‘asked him yet.’
Ironically, Blair ‘advise, guide and warn[s]’ the Queen, rather than the other way around.
The Queen’s deputy Private Secretary, Robin Janvrin, is referred to by the Queen by his first name. She is relatively off-guard with him, even making jokes about Blair’s tutor being the same as the Prince of Wales, her sister’s judgement of the ‘depth of a curtsey,’ and sending Blair a protocol sheet. This indicates that the Queen is not simply the humourless, stern figure she is perceived to be.
Sarcasm: So..Have we shown you how to start a nuclear war yet?… First thing we do, I believe. | It is unexpected and throws Blair off.
● AIDE #2 Because he knows that if the Queen continues to get it wrong over Diana, it won’t be long before the Royals become public enemy no 1. (a beat) Terrified of being shot, apparently. He probably thinks if he’s seen to be on our side, the Queen will be the one left in the firing line.
● TONY What? So it’s OK for his mother to take the bullet, not him? (shakes head) What a family.
● CHIRIE It’s not a mother thing, is it … I mean, you always say how stoical she was, old-fashioned, uncomplaining, lived through the war, I mean come on, who does that sound like?
● ELIZABETH (cont’d) Was there anything else? JANVRIN opens his mouth, wants to say something to comfort her..but realises it would be inappropriate.
● ELIZABETH I gather some of your closest advisors were less fulsome in their support..
○ TONY One or two. But as a leader I could never have added my voice to the chorus.
Service
● ELIZABETH: I rather envy you being able to vote. (a beat) Not the actual ticking of the box, although, I suppose, it would be nice to experience that ONCE. (a beat) But the sheer joy of being partial
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The Queen walks through ornate decorations and gilded mirrors, the very picture of wealth and luxury.
● ELIZABETH With time, one has hopefully added experience to that education, and a little wisdom — better enabling us to execute our constitutional responsibility. (a pointed addition) To advise, guide and warn the government of the day.
● ELIZABETH Mr Blair, the people have elected you to be their leader. And so the duty falls on me, as your Sovereign, to ask you to become Prime Minister, and form a government in my name.
● TONY God. Will someone save these people from themselves?
● ELIZABETH “I declare that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” QUEEN MOTHER Your WHOLE life. That’s a commitment to God as well as your people.
● QUEEN MOTHER Damaging them? My dear, you are the greatest asset this institution has. One of the greatest it has EVER had. The problem will come when you leave, but that’s not for you to worry about — and certainly not today.
● TONY That woman has given her whole life in service to her people — fifty years doing a job she NEVER wanted — a job she watched kill her father. She’s executed it with dignity, honour and, as far as I can tell, without a single blemish — and now we line up baying for her blood — why? Because she’s struggling to lead the world in mourning for a woman who threw everything she offered back in her face, and who seemed, in the last few years, to be committed twenty-four seven to destroy everything she holds dear.
● NEWS It’s incredible. Who could’ve imagined such scenes?
● CHERIE I hope she shows you some respect this time. It’s quite a debt of gratitude she owes you.
Public perception/image
The first frame of the film depicts people cheering for Blair’s election victory. The people’s perception drives the events of the film
The first shot of the Queen contrasts Blair’s; it is a medium close-up of her alone with a dark background, posed for her portrait in regal clothing. Her self-consuming role of Queen relies on her reputation, and from the onset, she is posed, ever-conscious of her appearance as Queen. She is stiff and sober. Blair, on the other hand, is more relaxed and cheerful as he celebrates his soon-to-be victory. Blair is seen among the public, the Queen is somewhat alone in her palace.
Panning shot of the Queen’s outfit with the music reaching a crescendo when the camera reaches her face and she looks at the camera.
● CHERIE Diana, whatever it is, it will have to do with Diana. *DONG* cut to archival footage of Diana attempting to cover her face from the paparazzi.
● COMMENTARY about her controversies, boyfriend CUT TO paparazzi and spectators outside the hotel.
The reporters speaking in different languages in front of the hotel connotes the sheer scale of Diana’s popularity
● ELIZABETH private matter… private funeral
● BLAIR her instinct is to do nothing
● TONY (ON TV) They liked her, they loved her, they regarded her as one of the people. She was the people’s princess, and that is how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and memories forever..”
Jarvin believes that Blair’s speech is ‘a bit over the top,’ yet it resonates with members of staff at the balance, who have tears rolling down their cheeks. This illustrates the dissonance between the public and monarchy in terms of their attitude towards Diana
● ALASTAIR This lot call you “The Nation’s Mourner in Chief”, this lot say you’re “The only person who has correctly judged the mood of the country”. Even the “Mail” was impressed.
● QUEEN Maybe they shouldn’t take their gun. I mean if a photographer were to see them, it might send out the wrong signal
● QUEEN MOTHER If there is a photographer out there, he could be the first kill of the day.
● CHARLES Isn’t it possible..that to some people…the Royal Standard is just.. ..a flag? And that the flap pole being bare sends out the wrong signal.
● “Show us there’s a heart in the House of Windsor,” says the Sun.. .
● It’s proof the Royals are not like us”, the Mirror
● . “Time to change the Old Guard at Buckingham Palace”. Express
● “THE INDEPENDENT” “One can’t help wondering who’s advice they are taking, for it’s clearly the wrong advice…”
● INDEPENDENT: THE WINDSORS STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND Us
● TONY ..my advisers have been taking the temperature among people on the streets — and the information I’m getting is that the mood.. (choosing words carefully) …is quite delicate.
● PUBLIC They made a serious mistake.. The family should’ve come down to Paris Sunday afternoon, all of them. That girl’s been left on her own up there, and that place is empty.
● PRINCE PHILIP This reminds me of one of those films. A few of us in a Fort. Hordes of Zulus outside.
● PRINCE PHILIP So it’s VITAL you hold firm. Stick to your guns. You wait. They will come to their senses soon. (a beat) They HAVE to.
● The Sun: Where is our Queen? Where is her flag?
● The Mirror: Your people are suffering
● The Express: Show us you care + picture of ‘grumpy’ Queen
● The Mail: Let the flag fly at half mast: the Queen should be here to show her respects
● ALASTER But the flip-side is… “Blair more popular than Churchill shock.”
● The Guardian: Blair defends stoical Royals
● TONY Then I’m sure you’ll agree. The situation has become quite critical.
● TONY (CONT’D) Ma’am, a poll that’s to be published in tomorrow’s paper suggests 70% of people believe your actions have damaged the monarchy and one in four are now in favour of abolishing the monarchy altogether.
● ELIZABETH (cont’d) Swift prosecution of these matters, he felt, might, just might avert disaster.
● THE TIMES Palace bends knee to Blair
● ALASTAIR I made a couple of changes. So it sounds like it comes from a human being
● NEWS It’s really as if the public and the royal family have had a bit of a quarrel this week, and now it’s being healed in some measure
Address: large camera crew and makeup artists indicate that the address is simply another performance, like her looking at the flowers
● ELIZABETH (cont’d) “So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.”
Ironically, the speech is written and edited for her, so it is not really from her heart
● CHERIE “Heart”? What “heart”. She doesn’t mean a word of this.
● TONY That’s not the point. What she’s doing is extraordinary. That’s how you survive. CLOSE UP OF BLAIR, showing how the speech genuinely resonates with him
Haunting opera song, with the funeral being broadcasted for the public to view.
Diana looks at the camera in archival footage at the end of the film, mirroring the Queen at the beginning
● CHERIE Mr “Saviour of the Monarchy.”
Privilege
● CHERIE curtseys awkwardly, reluctantly, shallowly..
● A uniformed EQUERRY leads TONY and CHERIE through corridors, and up a grand staircase..
● ELIZABETH Isn’t that precisely the sort of extravagance they attack us for?
A full shot of the pair reveal the high ceilings, portraits, stag’s antlers on the wall and vintage furniture of the Queen’s study, in stark contrast to Blair’s untidy, smaller study with toys.
Elizabeth is unaware of the huge amount of flowers blocking, the gate, indicating how thoroughly she has misjudged the ‘mood’ of the people.
● CHIRIE A bunch of freeloading, emotionally retarded…nutters. TONY (rolls eyes) That’s just absurd. CHERIE Why? They exist in a ludicrous cocoon of privilege and wealth. They don’t pay tax… The Queen alone costs us 30, 40 million a year
● PRIVILEGE You don’t get dictated to.
● REPORTER She said you’re detached, elitist people and you’ve gotta get out there amongst the people
● We have a wonderful new Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who’s compassionate…breath of fresh air, and I feel he will do something about this
● CHERIE Why? Don’t you think she deserves it? Sitting up there on her 40,000 acres.
● PRINCE PHILIP (cont’d) Sleeping in the streets and pulling out their hair for someone they never knew? … And they think we’re mad?
Nature
The fast moving river represents the ever-changing mood of the people, which presents an obstacle to the Queen. She initially feels confident she can cross the river, and then finds that her approach does not work. Similarly, the Queen must alter her approach to dealing with the public.
The moment of silence after the Land Rover breaks down gives the Queen a moment of blissful peace, as she listens to the sound of the river and birds. The wide shot depicts the serenity of the scene and the warm colours reflect the Queen’s momentary peace. It is this moment we hear the Queen cry, with a medium close-up of her back. Her face is intentionally not shown to represent the Queen’s private, closed-off personality. A beautiful stag comes into view.
The stag represents to the Queen what Princess Diana represents to the British public: the epitome of grace and ‘beauty’, yet hunted to death. Since stags rarely come in close proximity to humans, especially ones being hunted, the situation is unprecedented, reflecting the nature of the Queen’s predicament. This moment serves to catalyse the Queen’s internal transformation, as she is able to empathise with the stag. The slow, mellow score of this scene emphasises the Queen’s vulnerability and appreciation of the stag. This score is repeated when the Queen examines the body of the stag, as she touches the wounded head — a level of physical contact she cannot even express with her son.
At the end of the film, Blair and the Queen walk to the gardens and out of the frame as the zooms out to a long shot of the fountain.
