The Queen

After weeks of campaigning on the road...

Tony Blair and his family, finally strolled the few hundred yards

to the polling station, this election day morning.

Amongst the Labour faithful up and down the country...

there is an enormous sense of pride in Mr. Blair's achievements.

And the confidence that he is about to become

the youngest Prime Minister this century.

Have you voted yet, Mr. Crawford?

Yes, Ma'am...

I was there when they opened,

first in line, at 7 o'clock...

I don't mind telling you...

It wasn't for Mr. Blair.

-Your not a moderniser then? -Certainly not...

We're in danger of losing too much, that is good about this country, as it is.

There is a growing sense of excitement...

I envy you, being able to vote.

Not the actually ticking of the box, although...

it would be nice to experience that once.

But the sheer joy of being partial.

Yes...

Of course one forgets that as Sovereign,

you're not entitled to vote.

No...

Still, you won't catch me feeling sorry for you.

You might not be allowed to vote, Ma'am...

but it is your government.

Yes...

I suppose that is some consolation.

Good morning.

-Shall I draw the curtains. -Yes...

So, did you stay up all night?

Yes, Ma'am.

And was it as expected?

Yes, Ma'am.

Mr. Blair.

By a landslide.

Oh, I see...

They've stopped the traffic, completely...

For Tony Blair's first day of power, in London.

You got the ceremonial with tourists, the official...

and you got a lovely summer's day...

Tony Blair waving to the crowds, people waving to them there...

I guess most of them do know it's the...

the Prime Minister waiting... Lining in the streets there.

The Prime Minister is on his way, Ma'am.

To be, Robin... The Prime Minister to be...

I haven't asked him yet.

He's a hard one to read, isn't he?

Yes... On the one hand his background is quite establishment...

father a conservative, educated at Fettis.

Where he was tutored by the same man as the Prince of Wales.

Well, we'll try not to hold that against him.

On the other, his manifesto promises the most radical modernisation...

and shake up of the constitution in 300 years.

Oh, you mean he is going to try and modernise us?

I wouldn't let it past him...

he's married to a woman with known anti-monarchist sympathies...

you may remember her curtsy, the first time you met.

It could best be described as... shallow.

I don't measure the depth of a curtsy, Robin. I leave that to my sister.

The atmosphere at Downing Street is expected to very informal...

Everyone on first name terms...

at the Prime Minister's insistence.

-What, as in call me Tony? -Yes, Ma'am.

Oh, I don't like that.

Could we send him a protocol sheet?

Funny, I'm actually rather nervous.

Why? You've met her often enough before.

I know, but... never one to one...

and never as Prime Minister.

Well, just remember...

you're a man that's just been elected by the whole nation.

But she's still...

you know...

The Queen.

When we reach the audience room...

I will knock. We will not wait to be called... we shall go straight inside.

Standing by the door, we bow... from the neck...

I will introduce you...

The Queen will extend her hand... you go to her...

bow again... then shake her hand.

A couple of other things...

It's Ma'am as in ham...

not mam as in farm.

And when you're in the presence...

at no point must you show your back.

-The presence? -Yes, sir...

That's what it is called, when you're in Her Majesty's company.

Would you like to sit down, Mrs. Blair?

How nice to see you again, Mr. Blair.

And congratulations.

The children must be very proud?

-I hope so. -You have three, haven't you?

-That's right. -Oh, how lovely.

Such a blessing... children.

Please, do sit down.

Thank you.

Have they shown you how to start a nuclear war, yet?

Ah, no...

Oh, first thing we do. Apparently...

Then we take away your passport,

and spend the rest of the time sending you around the world.

You obviously know my job, better than I do...

Well you are my 10th Prime Minister, Mr. Blair.

My first, of course, was Winston Churchill

he sat in your chair... in a frock coat... and top hat.

He was kind enough to give, a shy young girl like me,

quite an education.

I can imagine...

With time, one has hopefully added experience to that education.

And a little wisdom...

better enabling us to execute our constitutional responsibility.

To advise, guide, and warn the government of the day.

Advise which I...

look forward to receiving.

Yes, we'll save that for our weekly meetings.

If there's nothing else, I believe we have some business to attend to.

Of course...

Your Majesty, my party has won the election...

so I come now to ask your permission to form a govern...

No, Mr. Blair. Mr. Blair, I ask the question.

The duty falls upon me as your Sovereign

to invite you to become Prime Minister...

and to form a government in my name.

And if you agree, the custom is to say yes...

Yes...

Mrs. Blair... Lovely to see you again.

And congratulations. You must be very proud.

-Yes... -And exhausted, I imagine...

Where will you be spending the summer?

-France. -Oh, lovely.

-You'll be at Balmoral, right? -Yes, I can't wait. It's a wonderful place.

You know my great great grandmother Victoria said of it...

in Balmoral all seems to breed...

freedom and peace and make one forget the world and its sad turmoils.

Oh, excuse me.

Oh, yes of course...

I'm so sorry, we're going to have to leave it there.

Not to short was it? 15 minutes...

One doesn't want to be rude.

No, no.

Thank you very much for coming, now fuck off!

I know, what was all that about?

God knows...

Diana. Whatever it is it will be something to do with Diana.

Princess Diana embroiled in more controversy

as she pulls out of a meeting with MP's...

Princess Diana moved today to patch up

her relations with the former royal nanny...

Princess Diana flew to Milan today for the memorial service

for the murdered Italian fashion designer...

Gianni Versace.

Where tonight, another royal controversy sparkles...

after finding herself embroiled in her second controversy this week...

I am not a political figure...

Princess Diana sailed out into the Mediterranean...

in one of Mr. Mohamed al-Fayed's yachts today...

with his son.

A quarter of a million pounds, for photographs

which appear to show the couple embracing...

Once again, her judgement's under scrutiny...

Robin Janvrin.

What?

I want everyone in, ASAP.

Ma'am?

Ma'am?

Ma'am, Mr. Janvrin is here to see you.

What?

Good evening, Ma'am.

I'm sorry to disturb.

But I just had a call from our Embassy in Paris.

It's The Princess of Wales.

Why? What's she done now?

I see, em...

Who are we speaking to then?

Right, well keep me updated.

It's Diana, she's been in a car accident in Paris.

Is it serious?

Apparently... Dodi Fayed is dead.

Let's just recap on the details of those injuries, Maxine.

Yes Nick, what they're saying is...

that the Princess is in the intensive care unit of a south-east Paris hospital.

She has a concussion, a broken arm, and...

What was she doing in Paris? I thought she was supposed to be in London.

Oh, you know what she's like.

Charles, isn't this awful?

What are you going to do about the boys?

Let them sleep until we know more.

Yes, that's sensible.

I should go to Paris. I told my people to start organising a jet.

-What, a private one? -Yes...

Isn't that precisely the sort of extravagance they always attack us for?

How else am I supposed to get to Paris at this time of night?

The airport at Aberdeen will be closed.

Charles...

Use the royal flight.

They keep one plane on permanent standby...

in case I should kick the bucket.

No mummy! That's out of the question. This isn't a matter of state.