The Story of The Queen Movie

The Story of The Queen Movie – The Queen, a 2006 biographical drama film, shows what happened when Diana, Princess of Wales, died in 1997. The Royal Family, in contrast to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Diana’s ex-husband, Prince Charles, who support the desire of the general people for a formal statement of grief, viewed Diana’s death as a private matter that should not be addressed as a royal death. The media, royal protocol about Diana’s official standing, and broader republican issues all complicate the situation further.

The Queen Movie Story / Plot

Tony Blair and the Labour Party won the 1997 general election with a platform of modernization and reform. Diana, Princess of Wales, is killed less than four months later in an automobile accident at the Alma Bridge tunnel in Paris.

Her passing immediately causes issues for her ex-husband Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair on what sort of respect to show the mother of a future king who is no longer a member of the royal family. Since Blair is trying to convince her to change her mind about the funeral arrangements, Queen Elizabeth II is concerned that he would use his modernization commitment against the royal family. The Spencers, Diana’s relatives, request a private funeral.

Diana is given the moniker “People’s Princess” by the media, which sparks a public outpouring of grief in broadcasts and a proliferation of flower tributes at Buckingham and Kensington Palaces that forces the rerouting of the main entrances to the buildings. Senior members of the royal family do not make an effort to recognize Diana’s importance to society since the Queen believes that her responsibility is to protect and console her grandsons after their mother’s passing, so she stays on vacation at Balmoral. As a result of Blair’s response to the royal family’s public criticism of his inaction, the popularity of the royal family falls, while it increases.

The Queen rejects Blair’s efforts to help the royal family through the situation and labels them as a capitulation to popular panic. He is encouraged to continue by the private secretaries of both the Prince of Wales and the Queen to modify the royal family’s attitude despite the Queen and Prince Philip’s outrage at any expression of sorrow for Diana or acknowledgment of the nation’s mourning. Blair tries to publicly defend the royal family as Britain’s outpouring of grief continues, but his efforts are unsuccessful. Blair receives a ton of admiration and praise for his compassion, while the public scorns the royal family for their lack of concern.

The Queen’s refusal to recognise Diana and the public has reached a tipping point, and Blair is unable to appease her any longer. He informs the monarch that 70% of the nation thinks her actions are harmful to the monarchy and that “1 in 4” people support its complete abolition. Blair firmly demands that the monarchy fly the flag at Buckingham Palace at half-mast, that the Queen honor Diana, and that the Queen deliver a speech to the nation comforting it.

The Queen learns that the world has changed throughout her reign despite being demoralized by the nation’s response and the Prime Minister’s recommendations. Despite their disagreement, she and Prince Philip visit London.

The Queen eventually acknowledges Diana’s importance to the country and society on live television, which helps to at least partially ease Britain’s suffering. The public funeral for Diana is held at Westminster Abbey, and the royal family is there.

They discuss what has transpired since their last meeting, particularly the debate around Diana’s passing and the responses that followed, during Blair’s subsequent meeting with the Queen. She then warns the prime minister that he must adapt to changing public opinion just as it has over how the royal family should respond to a new Britain because he may very well find himself in a similar situation.

The Queen Movie 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