QUEEN'S STORY, THE (TV)
Summary
This documentary film depicts the life and fifty-year reign of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Born in 1926 into the Windsor family, which has held power since the ninth century, Elizabeth was the favorite grandchild of King George V, who ruled over a quarter of the world's population. She and her sister Margaret were celebrities from birth, though their father George was the king's second son and not expected to take the throne. However, her uncle Edward fell in love with an American divorcée, Wallis Simpson, and after George V's death in 1936, Edward abdicated the throne to be with Simpson, thus making George VI the new king and Elizabeth the future queen. Family friend Michael Mann notes that the abdication had a "traumatic" effect on the family, and the new royals attempted to present a "wholesome" image to the people. Elizabeth and Margaret were homeschooled by a governess and were largely isolated from other children; author Sarah Bradford explains that Margaret was considered outgoing and spoiled, contrasting with Elizabeth's much more reserved nature. Elizabeth expressed a desire to join the war effort during WWII and was finally allowed to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and though the war ended only five months later, Elizabeth was grateful for the chance to "measure" herself and gain confidence.
Elizabeth met Philip Mountbatten in Dartmouth when she was only thirteen, writing to her friend Margaret Rhodes about her instant interest in him. Longtime associate Graham Turner explains that her parents were less than pleased with Philip's German ancestry, among other things, but Elizabeth remained steadfast and George finally agreed that she could marry him after their return from an extended trip to South Africa in 1947. Nelson Mandela comments on a sincere speech made by Elizabeth on her 21st birthday about her lifelong commitment to her duty, and upon returning to Britain, she happily married Philip in November. Rhodes explains that the public was pleased with the "glamour and romance" of the wedding, though Lady Pamela Hicks notes that Philip's sisters were not invited, thanks to their affiliation with Germany. Prince Charles and Princess Anne were born in 1948 and 1950 respectively, though the children were often "left behind" as Elizabeth and Philip attended to their royal duties and the aging King George grew ill. The monarchs embarked on a world tour in early 1952, but the trip was cut short when George died on 6 February, and Hicks describes how Philip broke the sad news to Elizabeth while in Kenya.
Elizabeth returned to Britain to begin her new role as queen, and her coronation was set for the following June, sixteen months after the king's death. The event was considered something of a "delayed victory parade" after the conclusion of WWII, and wartime rations were finally lifted to allow the people more food and celebration. Ladies Glenconner and Rayne describe the glamorous experience of serving as Elizabeth's maids of honor, and footman John Taylor comments on Elizabeth's nervousness and careful practice for the ceremony. Margaret Thatcher describes her memories of watching the procession from the enormous crowd, and Rayne explains that the ceremony went off well and that the party returned to the palace afterwards for an informal tea, stepping out several times onto the balcony to greet the enthusiastic crowds. Elizabeth resumed her world tour in 1953, and Hicks notes that she struggled to overcome her shyness and was criticized for her formal nature, with private secretary Martin Charteris encouraging her to smile more. At the same time, her sister Margaret was involved in a love affair with Group Captain Peter Townsend, whom she was forbidden from marrying because he was divorced, as Wallis Simpson had been. Elizabeth determinedly stayed out of the debate, and Margaret finally abandoned the relationship after two years.
Bradford explains that Elizabeth was considered "old-fashioned" by the 1960s, and press secretary William Heseltine urged her to allow the public greater access to the family via television. Two-thirds of the country tuned in to watch a television documentary celebrating Charles' 21st birthday, and the queen appeared "friendly and relaxed" amongst family. Household member Kenneth Scott comments on the queen's sense of humor, though Bradford points out that the promotion of the "happy family" image would come back to haunt the royals in later years. Hicks notes that Philip's beloved Navy career was significantly minimized by his "nothing" role as Duke of Edinburgh, and he became a strict disciplinarian to his children, particularly to the heir, Charles. Charles hated his time at Gordonstoun School in Scotland and soon developed a "formal" and distant relationship with both parents, though he was close with his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, who encouraged his womanizing ways. Cousin Lady Mountbatten explains that Charles was deeply grieved by his uncle's assassination in 1979 and, despite his ongoing love affair with married childhood friend Camilla Parker Bowles, eventually set his sights on Lady Diana Spencer.
Diana seemed an ideal match for the prince because of her family connections and public likability, and the people were thrilled when Charles proposed in 1981. Their July wedding was a lavish affair and Thatcher reflects that the match appeared to be a good one, but it was soon clear that Diana did not "fit in" with the Windsors and hated her time spent at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and at the "cold and sad" Buckingham Palace as well. Uncomfortable with the family's cold, reserved nature and sure that Charles was having an affair, Diana soon developed bulimia, with Elizabeth uncertain how to repair the situation. She fixated on her duties, including the annual state opening of Parliament, though matters worsened with younger son Andrew's "terrible mistake" in marrying the "undignified" Sarah Ferguson in 1986. The public, suffering a recession, grew to resent the royals' great wealth, and by 1992, the fortieth year of Elizabeth's reign, the marriages of Andrew, Charles and Princess Anne were all failing. Diana began an affair with James Hewitt as Charles carried on with Camilla and then released a book, "Diana: Her True Story," which contained details about her unhappy marriage, and Elizabeth was shocked by the "disloyal and unkind" action.
Embarrassing photos of Ferguson soon surfaced in the press, and Prime Minister John Major finally announced Charles and Diana's separation. Elizabeth was then also deeply shaken by a fire at Windsor Castle, and Major notes his "astonishment" at the people's anger in learning that taxpayers would foot the repair bill. She eventually gave a humbling speech about her "annus horribilis" and volunteered to begin paying taxes, though the gesture was "upstaged" by Diana's public activities. When private tapes depicting his affair with Camilla were made public, Charles explained himself with "damaging" statements about his difficult relationship with his own parents. Michael Parker explains that he arranged an exciting celebration for the fiftieth anniversary of V.E. Day to cull public favor, and the event was well-received by the crowds. Six months later, however, Diana gave a candid and unauthorized interview with "Panorama," and Elizabeth urged their pair to finally divorce, which they did in 1996. In 1997, Elizabeth welcomed new liberal Prime Minister Tony Blair as Diana vacationed with boyfriend Dodi Fayed, though 15-year-old William often fought with his mother about the relationship.
When Diana and Dodi were killed in a car wreck on 31 August, there was a huge outpouring of grief from the public, and Elizabeth was regarded as "cold and out-of-touch" for remaining at Balmoral and not making a public statement. Blair himself gave a speech about "the people's princess" and gently urged Elizabeth to do the same, and though she was concerned about appearing a hypocrite because of her well-known conflict with Diana, she finally arrived at Buckingham Palace and gave a statement about the loss that satisfied most, if not all, of her subjects. Over the following years, Elizabeth softened her public image and regained the people's favor, though she refused to meet with Camilla, who also divorced in 1995, at Charles' birthday party. Turner and others note that the monarchy is becoming "increasingly irrelevant," particularly considering the loss of the colonies and gradual shrinking of the empire over the course of Elizabeth's lifetime, wondering if there will be a significant change after her eventual death. Cousin Margrethe II of Denmark, however, comments on Elizabeth's ongoing "profound dedication" to her role, unchanged since her speech at age twenty-one. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WGBH Boston, MA
- DATE: February 6, 2002 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:45:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:78470
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: Documentary; Biography; Royal families - Great Britain
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 2002
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Denys Blakeway … Executive Producer
- Zvi Dor-Ner … Executive Producer
- Fay Sutherland … Coordinating Producer
- Marcus Kiggell … Producer
- Melissa FitzGerald … Assistant Producer
- Christine Carter … Consultant Producer
- Leonie Jameson … Series Producer
- Howard Davidson … Music by
- Art Malik … Narrator
- Sarah Bradford … Interviewee
- Martin Charteris … Interviewee
- Lady Glenconner … Interviewee
- William Heseltine … Interviewee
- Pamela Hicks … Interviewee
- John Major … Interviewee
- Nelson Mandela … Interviewee
- Michael Mann … Interviewee
- Michael Parker … Interviewee
- Lady Rayne … Interviewee
- Margaret Rhodes … Interviewee
- Margrethe II … Interviewee
- Kenneth Scott … Interviewee
- John Taylor … Interviewee
- Margaret Thatcher … Interviewee
- Graham Turner … Interviewee
- Wallis Simpson
- Edward VIII
- George V
- Elizabeth II
- Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Peter Townsend
- Louis Mountbatten
- Camilla Parker Bowles
- Diana, Princess of Wales
- Sarah Ferguson
- Prince Andrew, Duke of York
- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
- James Hewitt
- Andrew Morton
- Tony Blair
- Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
- Dodi Fayed