[panting]
[birds chirping]
[inhales slowly]
[exhales deeply]
[Camilla sighs]
[bagpipes playing outside]
[exhales slowly]
[bagpipes continue]
[classical music playing on speakers]
[Queen's dresser] You have an investiture ceremony at 11:00,
then lunch with the Commonwealth secretary-general,
so I thought the black shoes and low heel,
which also works well for the first meeting after breakfast.
Remind me.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Lord Chamberlain, and the Duke of Norfolk.
Oh, yes. Did we ever discover what that was about?
[Queen's dresser] They wouldn't say.
That's not normally a good sign.
[radio pips]
[newsreader] Good morning. The time is nine o'clock,
and here are the news headlines for today.
It has been almost two years
since the British and American forces went to war with Iraq.
The justification for the invasion at the time,
that Saddam Hussein had amassed
a huge stockpile of weapons of mass destruction.
Now, with the secretary-general of the UN openly...
It's ridiculous.
...as illegal, the IAEA hasn't been invited to restart full inspections.
Marry me.
Instead, investigations into WMDs
are now carried out by the Iraq Survey Group.
The search for...
That's not a proposal. I can't do that without my mother's permission,
but... I realize, more than anything in the world, I want you to be my wife.
...chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons
have still not been unearthed.
Many people who supported the war are now asking...
That's a complete disaster.
...including the prime minister's claim that Saddam's apparently non-existent weapons
could be deployed within 45 minutes.
[Duke of Norfolk] So the Scots Guards will be here. The Coldstream Guards...
[indistinct overlapping chatter]
Rest on a platform near the High Altar.
Oh...
[Philip exhales]
- Good morning, gentlemen. - [men] Good morning.
[David] Your Majesty.
The purpose of this meeting is,
and it's not because we have any reason to be fearful--
[Philip] Oh, get on with it, David.
That we might really step up our planning of Operation London Bridge.
That's the code name for your funeral, ma'am.
We know what it is, Edward.
Is that really necessary? I recently got a clean bill of health,
and in terms of age, I'm only--
- Eighty. - Yes, all right. Not quite.
A matter of months.
Simply for reasons of prudence and good order.
Why not start with the Duke of Edinburgh?
He's older than me. And, statistically, men tend to die earlier.
Well, that's true, and that's why we've been working on mine for years.
Operation Forth Bridge.
- Oh... Oh, don't say that. - Why?
It's so sad.
[Philip laughs] No!
No, I'm finding it all rather stimulating.
You might too.
It's surprising what it all stirs up. Isn't it, Edward?
Yes. So, with your permission, ma'am, can we make a start?
[gentle instrumental music plays]
As a template, we've used the funeral of the late King George VI.
We would call on an estimated 6,000 military personnel
for the procession.
A tri-service parade embracing each of the armed services,
alongside representatives from the 15 other Commonwealth realms.
[voice fading] The gun carriage will be drawn by the Sovereign's Guard.
They will march at the customary rhythm of 75 paces per minute...
[haunting choral music playing]
[horse hooves echoing distantly]
[soldiers' footfalls echoing distantly]
[haunting choral music continues]
[soldier's commands echoing distantly]
[theme music playing]
- [whistle blowing] - [distant overlapping shouts and chants]
Out, out, out!
[siren whooping]
[shouting and chanting continues]
Out, out, out!
What's going on?
The prime minister's just coming out, sir.
- [man 1] No! Hey! Hey! - [man 2] You war criminal!
- [horn honks] - [man 3] You warmonger!
[all clamoring]
[siren blaring]
[Charles] Remember when he first came to power?
They took to the streets and cheered.
Now they want to impeach him for high crimes and misdemeanors.
And Tony Blair's become Tony B-liar.
One is reminded once again that the career of prime ministers is nasty,
brutish, and short.
He has no intention of stepping down. His ambition is to become
the first Labour prime minister to win a third successive term.
That's the thing.
Once people get a taste of life at the top, they never want to leave.
Is that right?
They just want to keep... on and on.
Yes. Anyway, I'm sure this is not why you've come to see me today.
No.
I've come to make a request I wish I'd made 30 years ago.
To ask your blessing
to marry Camilla.
You can't say this has come out of the blue, Mummy.
She and I have been in love now for 30 years.
And every day of those 30 years, she has been heroic.
You don't think ending her relationship with you once you'd married Diana
would have been "heroic"?
She did.
Camilla is blameless in that regard. She always wanted to keep her marriage.
Then why didn't she?
- Because her husband left. - And why did he do that?
Because he'd had enough, as I understand it,
of reading about her adultery with you in the newspapers.
You and I both know Andrew is no angel. He was serially unfaithful himself.
So, can we agree? There's nothing heroic about any of this.
For years and years, Camilla has suffered judgment and calumny
and never, ever complained. Not once.
That is heroic.
Instead, she's stayed silent.
And loyal, to you and the Crown.
With not a single thank you in return.
- A thank you? - Yes, thank you.
Not just for her discretion, but for loving and making happy
the person who's next in line.
That, surely, is in all our interests.
[indistinct chattering outside]
[Charles] What is he doing?
Planning his funeral.
He wants that as his hearse.
You always said, Mummy, that you couldn't do the job
without Papa by your side.
That he's your strength and stay.
[gentle instrumental music plays]
Camilla is my strength.
And my stay.
I couldn't do it without her.
I will reflect on it,
take advice,
and give you an answer soon.
Thank you.
[indistinct conversations outside]
[door opens]
[door shuts]
It will probably be fine.
- [crow cawing] - [chuckles lightly]
You all have in front of you a first draft of the plans for London Bridge.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Yes, a little heavy at the moment, ma'am,
but it will shrink down nicely as you begin to express your preferences.
My preference would be a quiet service in Scotland,
out of sight, and over in 20 minutes.
[all chuckling]
Perfectly understandable. But this is the funeral
of what we expect to be the longest-serving monarch in history.
People will want to celebrate your reign and mark the end of an era,
not just here, but all around the world.
So, I'd like to start with the logistical contingencies
depending upon where the, uh,
forgive me, ma'am, the, uh... death actually occurs.
[David] If it's abroad, ma'am, or here in the United Kingdom.
I shall do my best to keep it local.
- [all chuckling] - Thank you, ma'am.
The first chapter is if the event occurs on a foreign tour.
Please turn to page ten.
["Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand playing]
- [air gun fires] - [sputters] Watch out!
Are you guys going to Harry Meade's birthday party?
- Definitely. - When is it?
- Next week. - [air gun fires]
- [grunts] Bloody hell! - Should be good. 250 people going.
- Fancy dress. - [William] I hate fancy dress.
[can clinks]
You have to rent a costume, which stinks of other people's BO.
Fucking royal twats.
Meet my brother, life and soul.
- [air gun fires] - Oh!
What's the theme?
- You pricks! - Colonials and natives.
Then there's that.
- [air guns fire] - [can clinks]
Think they could have picked a more offensive theme?
You're such an undergraduate now. You'd have never said that before uni.
- But now I am saying it. - Cliché.
That's me done. I'm out. You fucking idiots!
- Come on, love. - You're shit. You can't fucking shoot me.
Fuck you. Fuck the rich.
- Well, hit him. - [Harry] Hold on. Hold on.
- He's going. - Hold on.
Clip his arse!
[yelps] That's fucking...
- You cunt! - [Guy] Oh my God.
- Beautiful. - [Harry laughing]
Your Royal Highnesses!
I've just had a call from the Queen's private secretary.
[tense notes play]
- Can you come down? - It's never good when they come in packs.
Yeah.
[tense music builds slowly]
[indistinct conversations]
[chattering quiets down]
[tense music ends]
Your Majesty.
My Lord Bishops.
I asked you all here today
because the Prince of Wales has requested my permission to marry Mrs. Parker Bowles.
And I think I'd like to grant it.
And, of course, as head of the Church of England,
that is your right.
But it will not be straightforward.
Or, one suspects, popular?
Why? I was led to believe
the General Synod had eased its stance on the marriage of divorcees.
Oh, it has,
but... many people in this country still believe
that the relationship between the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Parker Bowles
was responsible for the breakdown of a royal marriage.
The Church, I think, needs to be satisfied
that permitting the new marriage
would not, in effect, consecrate a past infidelity.
For the Church of England to be seen to be blessing it
could risk a split in the Anglican Communion.
One suggestion could be that, and I would be interested
in hearing the Archbishop of Canterbury's view,
that the prince and Mrs. Parker Bowles marry in a civil ceremony
and then have a church blessing afterwards.
In a registry office?
In the eyes of the Church, no marriage service is more legitimate than another.
It's more a question of signals.
Appearances.
A condition of the blessing could be some form of atonement.
Quite so. Some acknowledgment
of wrongdoing on the couple's part.
Ma'am.
The service might include a prayer of penitence,
in which the couple join with the congregation
in asking forgiveness for past
wickedness.
I've always taken comfort in the knowledge that God retaineth not his anger forever
because he delighteth in mercy.
Whatever short-term risk the marriage may present
to the integrity of the Church,
one has to imagine it would do less damage
than if I were to die a--
Well, it is going to happen one day.
...and my heir acceded to the throne
while living in sin.
[pensive music playing]
- [door opens] - [indistinct chattering]
Oi-oi.
[indistinct conversations]
- Good afternoon, sir. - Good afternoon, sir.
[indistinct conversations continue]
[man] Your Royal Highnesses, Her Majesty will see you now.
Come on, Harry.
Harry!
[indistinct conversations continue]
[pensive music continues]
Granny.
Thank you both for coming.
Now, I need some air.
Would you be very cross if I suggest we go for a walk?
[dogs barking]
[Elizabeth] I'd like to discuss your dear papa.
- [William] What's he done now? - [Elizabeth] Nothing he's done.
It's what he wants to do.
How would you both feel... about him getting married?
I knew it.
Why can't they carry on as they are?
'Cause Charles will be king one day,
and the last time we had an unmarried king on the throne, it did not end well.
- But what's the-- - William.
Obviously, both of us prefer to think of him with Mummy.
And anything other than that... feels...
Wrong. So wrong.
[William] But, I suppose, this is the reality.
And she does seem to make him happy.
Does she?
[William] And having him happy and settled is good for us.
And, ultimately, good for...
Good for...?
Well, as you say, he is going to be king, isn't he? One day?
Yes.
Plus, then he might finally shut up about it all.
So,
is that a yes?
- Yes. - [Harry exhales]
[Elizabeth] Thank you.
I didn't want to give my blessing until you'd given yours.
Yes, good.
[phone ringing]
Yes?
Ah, yes, of course.
- It's the Queen. - Your Royal Highness.
Yes, put her through, please.
[door shuts]
Mummy.
[Elizabeth] I've spoken to the Archbishop of Canterbury
and the Bishop of Salisbury.
- I can't believe you caved like that. - I didn't cave. I'm just being a realist.
And changing your tune, not saying what you feel.
- That's what being a realist is. - You're such a fucking company man.
I'm just trying to be an adult.
I don't expect you to understand what that feels like.
[Elizabeth] So... congratulations.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mummy.
[receiver clatters]
[breathes deeply]
It's done.
[receiver clatters]
[somber music builds slowly]
[breathes shakily]
[chuckles lightly]
[pensive music playing]
Darling...
[continues indistinctly]
[pensive music rises and fades]
[speaking indistinctly]
How was it with the boys today?
Fine.
- That's a relief. - They supported the idea of the marriage.
Slightly through gritted teeth.
[chuckles]
Harry's more gritted than William's.
[Philip] Hmm. I'm not surprised.
I worry about Harry.
[Philip] Ah, well, we all do.
Some time in the army should sort him out.
Everything all right?
I think so.
Though, as you predicted,
all this talk of my funeral has stirred things up a bit.
Anything you want to discuss?
[Elizabeth] Not yet.
Well, in that case,
good night.
[Elizabeth] Good night.
- [Elizabeth] Wait. Wait. - [snuffling]
[Elizabeth] Thank you.
[bagpipes playing]
[dogs whimpering]
[dogs snuffling]
[dog barks, whimpering]
[dog barks]
[door opens]
Your Majesty.
- You asked to see me. - [Elizabeth] I did.
I hope you know
how much everyone appreciates your beautiful music every day.
I don't mind telling you, there are days when I wake up and it all feels a bit...
Then I hear you play, and all that goes away.
Thank you, ma'am.
They've got me planning my funeral at the moment.
Just as a precaution.
And I'm in the process of choosing the music
and wondered if there was a tune for the pipes you thought might work.
Uh...
[hesitates] There are a number of laments
written for fallen soldiers, ma'am.
"I Will Go Home to Kintail" springs to mind.
"Lord Lovat's Lament."
But is there a particular one that you like?
What, me, ma'am?
Yes, Pipes. You.
[exhales shakily]
Uh... there is...
there is one
that I particularly like.
It's "Sleep Dearie Sleep."
Will you play it for me?
What, now?
Why not?
Inside?
It's a hell of a din, ma'am.
It's not a din to me.
[breathing deeply]
[pipes humming]
["Sleep Dearie Sleep" playing on bagpipes]
[chuckles softly]
♪ Soldier, lie down ♪
♪ On your wee pickle straw ♪
♪ It's not very broad ♪
♪ And it's not very braw ♪
♪ But, dearie, it's better ♪
♪ Than nothing at all ♪
♪ Sleep ♪
♪ Dearie ♪
♪ Sleep ♪
[song ends]
Ta-da! Here we go!
[Harry] What about an astronaut?
- Or a cowboy? - [Harry] No, he's more of a goodie-goodie.
- Or a dick. - I'm going as a lion.
- Oh, the Lion King. - Oh, arf-arf.
I'm going to go as... What about Biggles?
- What's that got to do with colonialism? - [Kate] Will.
Germany had an empire, didn't they?
What about this?
I don't know. Maybe cover the swastika?
Oh, come on. Wearing the outfit doesn't make him a Nazi.
- Isn't that the joke? - How about that wedding dress for you?
Come on. Don't pretend you haven't already thought about it.
[both chuckling lightly]
- Thanks, Harry. Nice touch. - [Kate] Your brother...
- Where's Guy? - Oh, you've got...
- It's so cute. - [Guy] Hello!
The fuck?
Who stole my ganja?
- Oh my God. - Whoo.
- [laughing] - That's my grandmother.
♪ I like the way you move ♪
[all shouting]
["I Like the Way You Move" by Body Rockers playing]
[Guy] Hello, darlings!
Queenie's here!
Hello! How you doing?
- All right, mate? - I'm good.
[laughing]
This is incredible!
Granny, what are you doing?
What am I doing?
I'm being fun!
- They have a band. - They have a band. They--
What are you doing?
Guy. Guy.
- That's naughty. - Is he going onto the stage?
Excuse me! I'm sorry.
["I Want to Break Free" by Queen playing]
Yes! Go on, Guy!
♪ I want to break free ♪
[all cheering]
♪ I want to break free ♪
♪ I want to break free from your lies ♪
♪ You're so self-satisfied ♪
♪ I don't need you ♪
♪ I want to break free ♪
["Phat Planet" by Leftfield playing]
[indistinct conversation]
Fuck.
- Have you got a phone? - Yes, I've got a phone.
[speaking indistinctly]
[camera clicking]
[electronic music ends]
Sir.
Oh shit.
[tense music playing]
[sighs]
Oh, Harry.
God.
[kettle clattering]
[shouting] Fuck! Fuck!
Fuck.
I was a troublemaker at school.
Repeatedly caned by my housemaster.
Six of the best. [exhales]
We all make mistakes in the flushes of youth.
Rarely as gross a misjudgment as this.
A swastika armband two weeks before Holocaust Memorial Day.
There's a great deal of affection in the country for Harry.
An apology, followed by a...
a period of contrition... should pave the way for forgiveness.
Is that the advice you'll be giving yourself over Iraq?
I think we can agree things are not working out too well over there.
My hope is that... the democratic elections scheduled for the end of this month
will form the beginnings of an exit strategy that should allow us
to close this chapter and move on.
Exit strategy.
Ma'am?
That's a subject that's been coming up a lot recently.
You've got to thread it through.
[projector whirring]
No, thread--
Yes, all right, thank you. I think-- I remember now. Thank you.
Must go through...
Thank you.
That's it. That's it.
No, why hasn't it gone through?
It's meant to go under here.
And it hasn't.
That's it. Right about...
Stop that.
No.
Yes!
[projector whirring]
Oh, bingo.
Oh, good.
[gentle instrumental music plays]
[children's laughter echoes distantly]
[somber music builds slowly]
[breathes deeply]
Ma'am.
[inhales sharply]
[exhales and breathes deeply]
Oh! There you are.
- Yes, here I still am. - No breakfast?
Wasn't hungry.
Not like you.
How was Harry?
A bit subdued.
His father's got him mucking out pigs as punishment.
That feels a little Old Testament.
[Philip] I agree.
Harry was foolish to go to that party dressed in that costume,
but he was bloody unlucky
that a fellow guest should go to the newspapers like that.
Yes.
So I phoned the costume rental shop, gave them a piece of my mind.
Why?
[Philip] What will it take to get you to understand, hmm?
Should I draw it in sodding crayon?
The uniform was inaccurate.
The German Afrika Korps never wore swastikas.
[laughing]
A fact I impressed upon the Sandhurst top brass,
who happily agree this latest episode
should not prevent Harry entering officer training.
Oh, well done.
- To ban him would be madness. - [Elizabeth] Mmm.
And would only exacerbate the real problem.
Which is?
[Philip] A lack of a sense of purpose,
due to a failure of responsible parenting.
Yes.
Do you want to discuss anything before I go?
About what?
Well, the funeral. What it might have stirred up for you.
No.
Thank you.
Right, well, I'll be off.
Duty calls.
[sighs]
You coward. Why didn't you tell him?
What you've been thinking since you first started working on your funeral.
In fact, since the golden jubilee.
How tired... no, not just tired,
exhausted you are by it all.
Yes.
[grunts softly]
How ready for a rest.
[somber music builds slowly]
And, at the same time, how ready he suddenly looks.
Who?
Charles.
Oh, him.
Yes.
[footsteps receding]
[water running]
You even have precedent. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was 68
when she stepped down in favor of her daughter.
Charlotte of Luxembourg was also in her late sixties.
That's the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Bicycle monarchies. Not the same thing.
It's exactly the same thing. And, in both cases, a great success.
You've been on the throne for over half a century.
- Longer than any queen. - Apart from Queen Victoria.
How effective was she by the end?
Rheumatic and blind, weak and unwell. Hidden away on the Isle of Wight.
You're almost 80 years old.
So everyone keeps reminding me.
That's nearly 20 years past the retirement age for women.
- No need to go on. - That's what I'm saying.
No need to go on.
Your first loyalty's always been to the Crown.
Sometimes at the expense of being a mother.
Stepping down... is the right thing to do.
As Queen and as a mother.
[man] Your Majesty.
[somber music swells]
[music fades out]
Everyone has now agreed on a date for the wedding.
Ninth of April. At the Guildhall in Windsor.
Oh, we also felt, given your role as head of the Church of England
and the Church's position that marriage is a lifelong commitment,
that it would be wrong for you to attend the ceremony in person.
[Elizabeth] Mmm.
The idea being you can watch the coverage on television
and, uh... and then join everyone for the service at St. George's Chapel.
And the reception at Windsor Castle.
Has the prime minister been invited to the reception?
Yes, ma'am.
- And the leader of the opposition? - Yes.
And the Archbishop of Canterbury?
Yes.
And there will be an opportunity for me to say a few words?
Oh, I'm sure everyone would be delighted. Would you like me to draft something?
That won't be necessary. I'll write something myself.
That's all. Thank you, Robin.
[Harry] You were all for the uniform in the costume shop. Egging me on.
- Suddenly you're Mr. Morality. - [William] Oh, right.
Stabbing me in the back.
How many faces does this man have?
Not sure I like who you're turning into.
- Not sure I like who you've been. - Can you stop bickering? I beg you.
[lilting instrumental music plays]
[Camilla] How was supper?
Well, I'm sad to say it was all rather unpleasant.
- The boys were snapping at each other. - Well, that's just boys.
Can I make one request?
That you don't make my wedding day a misery.
I've waited too long for it.
Yes, but you didn't witness it. It was horrid how they were to each other.
Vicious and unkind.
[Camilla] They're young. Riding the waves of emotion.
Understandable after what they've been through.
[Charles] Are they going to blame me, do you think, and hold me responsible
for the way they've turned out?
Well, being their father, you are responsible.
For making it better.
As soon as they're through tomorrow, everything will be fine.
Well, I do hope so.
And how are you?
Me?
I'm all right.
My sister persuaded me to get a fake tan, so now I smell like the dog's blanket.
[chuckling]
Are you having any last-minute doubts?
Not me.
I'm in.
For all of it?
For whatever being married to you turns out to be.
Well, you might find out what that entails sooner than you imagine.
What's that supposed to mean?
Well, I've been told that the Queen intends to make a speech
at the reception afterwards.
A speech which nobody's seen
and which she's, um... written herself.
It feels like she's planning a big announcement.
My father met with Anne to ask what she thought was in it,
but she's as baffled as the rest of us.
Then Anne rang Andrew, and he went riding with the Queen,
but, well, you know Andrew.
Drew a complete blank.
So if her intention was to set tongues wagging,
she's certainly succeeded.
Don't give it any further thought.
Yes.
Just think about the boys.
Thank you, darling.
[receiver clatters]
[lilting instrumental music ends]
Here.
Dinner was weird.
Yeah.
When he overcompensates like that...
"This can be an exciting new chapter for us all."
Barf. [exhales]
A few years ago, it would have pissed me off.
Now I just don't care.
I heard Granny's going to make a speech at the wedding.
Would you like to know what else I heard?
That she's going to use the occasion to tell the family she's standing down.
- After 50 years in the job. - She'd never do that.
And even if she did, why on Pa's big day?
Because it's the wedding present he most wants?
- He does want it, doesn't he? - Craves it.
[both scoff softly]
For him and for Camilla.
If she did, know what else it would mean?
It would be you next.
That'd make you William the...
Fifth.
Better than Second.
- He was assassinated by his brother. - [chuckles] Was he?
Who, would you believe, was also called Prince Harry.
He had William killed in a shooting "accident,"
then galloped off to Winchester to claim the throne for himself.
[both chuckling softly]
Don't worry, mate. I wouldn't do that to you.
[light instrumental music builds slowly]
[indistinct overlapping chatter]
- Really? - Yeah.
Good spot for it.
And a white one.
For the boys.
[lively overlapping chatter]
[music fades out]
- [crowd chattering] - [jaunty music playing]
[hydraulics hissing]
[girls screaming]
Hello.
Yeah.
Bye.
Hello.
[newsreader] The cheers from the crowds lining the streets of Windsor
can be heard for miles around
as Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles
pass through them on the way to their civil marriage ceremony.
Wonderful scenes here as the royal couple smiles
and waves to the hundreds of well-wishers
who have been waiting since dawn to get the best view
of the happy couple.
And they've just arrived at the Guildhall,
stepping out of the Queen's own Rolls-Royce Phantom VI,
which was originally presented to Her Majesty in 1978.
I don't know what you think you're doing.
[Elizabeth] I'm doing the sensible thing.
The responsible thing.
If we're not careful, if I go on another 20, 25 years,
a tired, white-haired geriatric queen
will hand over to a tired, white-haired geriatric Prince of Wales.
Those are the rules.
But if he were then to go on another 20, 25 years,
it would mean that for the next half century,
the British monarchy would be a very decrepit experience indeed.
Is that the right thing to do to the institution?
Charles is in the prime of his life now.
Honestly, I've never heard so much nonsense.
Have you forgotten the oath that you took? I declare...
...before you all that my whole life,
whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.
You're fit enough to ride and drive. You're fit enough to wear the crown.
You remember what Queen Mary told you.
- Another geriatric. - [door opens]
[lilting instrumental music plays]
Monarchy is something you are, not what you do.
The Crown is a symbol of permanence.
Of stability. Of continuity.
If you step down, you will be symbolizing instability and impermanence.
You'll also be indicating the luxury of choice,
which is the one thing we cannot have
if we claim the Crown is also our birthright.
So you would have a superannuated old lady running the show
while a fit, energetic Prince of Wales watches on,
straining at the leash.
[young Elizabeth] But I don't see you as decrepit.
Since the jubilee, since Mummy's death, I see you as liberated.
Confident.
You say that Charles is in his prime.
Well, I see you in yours.
And admit it.
You sometimes think there's a difference between you and the rest of the family.
Yes.
It comes naturally to you.
They all seem to make such a mess of it.
I didn't say that.
No, but you've thought it.
Privately.
And with good reason.
This system is a dreadful thing to inflict upon people.
It's not natural.
It's not fair.
It's not kind.
But you seem to thrive in it.
And, more importantly, it seems to thrive under you.
So, shouldn't you stay for every single day that you can?
But what about the life I put aside?
[melancholy music builds slowly]
The woman I put aside
when I became Queen.
What sort of question is that?
For years now,
there has been just one Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth.
If you went looking for Elizabeth Windsor,
you wouldn't find her.
She's gone.
Long gone.
You buried her years ago.
[music fades out]
[newsreader] And here they are, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall
facing the public for the first time as man and wife.
No fairy-tale kiss from the happy couple for the onlookers.
Instead, smiles and a brief wave.
Ready?
Yes, I think so.
This, um...
This speech you're about to make.
- Yes? - [chuckles softly]
Everyone's got their knickers in a twist about it.
- [Elizabeth] Have they? - You sure you don't want to discuss it?
Quite sure. Thank you.
Come on.
["Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven" playing on organ]
♪ Praise, my soul ♪
♪ The King of Heaven ♪
♪ To his feet, thy tribute bring ♪
♪ Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven... ♪
[priest] Almighty God,
father of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
maker of all things,
judge of all men.
We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness,
which we from time to time most grievously have committed
by thought, word, and deed against thy divine majesty,
provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.
We do earnestly repent
and are heartily sorry for these, our misdoings.
The remembrance of them is grievous unto us.
The burden of them is intolerable.
Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.
Forgive us all that is past.
Grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life.
In the honor and glory of thy name.
- Amen. - Amen.
[classical wedding tune playing]
[indistinct chattering]
[overlapping chatter and laughter]
Sorry. Excuse me. Beg your pardon. Thank you very much.
Ready for you, ma'am.
Thank you.
Pray silence for Her Majesty the Queen.
[crowd hushes]
Thank you.
I suppose one has to start these things with an introduction.
For those of you who don't know me, I am the mother of the groom.
[all laughing]
Today has been a memorable day,
with a single happy event bringing the whole nation together.
The Grand National steeplechase finished 20 minutes ago,
and the results were as follows. Hedgehunter, the 7-1 favorite,
ridden by Ruby Walsh, trained by Willie Mullins,
won the race by 14 lengths.
Royal Eclair finished second, Simply Gifted third.
[guests laughing]
In other news,
there is a small family wedding in the Windsor area...
[laughter]
...which the police are keeping their eyes on.
Chief Constable Darren Dedds said he was hoping
that displays of excessive exuberance would be kept to a minimum.
Is she looking at you? She is.
[laughter]
She means the boys.
Almost 650 years ago,
the chapel at Windsor played host to the wedding of another Prince of Wales,
Edward, the Black Prince.
The young Edward was widely expected to marry a European princess,
but Edward had other ideas.
He set his heart on a woman he had known his whole life,
slightly his senior,
a mother who had previously been married.
What ensued was a devoted, loving marriage
that would last their whole lives.
[guests] Hear, hear.
Charles,
I know that over the years, it hasn't been easy.
Being Prince of Wales is hardly a recipe for happiness.
History has taught us that.
To be condemned to watch an old parent
do a job one can imagine oneself doing better, for years and years...
[laughter rises and fades]
It is to your great credit that you have filled this vacuum
not, like several predecessors,
with idleness and excess,
but with a great swell of activity and charitable endeavor.
[guests] Hear, hear.
- Harry. She skipped it. - Skipped it?
[Elizabeth] And now,
a word of thanks to Camilla.
It can't have been easy for you either over the years.
But your good cheer and warm humanity work wonderfully in your favor...
[guests] Hear, hear.
...both as a strength and stay for the Prince of Wales...
and as an addition to this family.
Thank you
for your patience and forbearance.
So, now will you all raise your glasses to the young couple?
[guests laughing]
Charles and Camilla.
[guests] Charles and Camilla.
[cheers and applause]
[girl] I'm gonna get you!
- [girls chattering] - Girls! Oi!
[girls laughing]
[girl] This way!
[squeals] No, can't get me!
Nice speech, Granny.
- Thank you. - Though surprisingly short.
Sure you didn't forget half of it?
- I don't know what you're talking about. - [chuckles softly]
What do you think?
[Harry] I've got you!
Lovely.
It's better than the beer cans Harold wanted to tie to the bumper.
[Elizabeth chuckles]
Be kind to him.
In many ways, it's harder being number two than number one.
The system protects number one.
Number two tends to...
Go mad?
I was going to say, "need extra care and attention."
- Got you! - Harry, put me down!
- [man] Ma'am. - Ah.
Photographs.
Very good. Let's go inside, come on.
- Very good. - [William sniffs]
- Come on. - [photographer] Your Royal Highnesses.
Your future Majesty.
[camera clicks]
[photographer] Thank you.
Your Royal Highnesses, thank you very much.
Ladies and gentlemen! Tutti!
Come on.
Girls, if you're gonna have them, keep them down,
and shush. Be quiet.
[chuckles]
[Philip] Charles. Charles.
Where's Harry?
Harry!
- There's the Queen. - Ready for you, Your Majesty.
Right. For goodness' sake! Get out of the way!
[photographer] This way, please, everyone!
Our revels now are ended.
These, our actors, as I foretold you,
were all spirits and melted into air.
For God's sake, take the bloody photograph, will you?
Here we go.
[Philip] Good God.
[photographer] All's well that ends well.
Still, it defines the Crown.
Oh Jesus Christ.
What e'er the course,
the end is the renown.
[Philip] There you go. That's it. All right.
There we go.
[overlapping chatter and laughter]
[photographer] This way, please! This way, everyone, please! Thank you!
Thank you. Well, that was a surprise.
Where did they get those?
[lilting choral music playing]
[overlapping chatter]
[Philip] Ah!
There you are.
[Elizabeth] Yes.
Here I still am.
[Philip chuckles]
Good day, I think.
Oh yes.
I had the winner on three of the four races at Aintree.
How are you planning on celebrating?
Ooh, night on the town?
- Joyriding? Ram-raiding? - [Philip chuckles]
Give Chief Constable Dedds something to worry about after all.
Well done with the speech.
- Thank you. - It was funny.
Don't sound so surprised.
And not a hint of the torment you've been going through.
Was it that obvious?
Yes.
But the right decision has been made.
You will continue as Queen for as long as you possibly can, for one reason.
- Because those are the rules. - No.
Because those that come after you are not remotely ready to take over.
No, but I wasn't either. Remember? I was so young.
Ah, no, no. You were always ready.
You were born ready.
You are one of a kind.
By contrast, this lot...
Mmm?
The good thing is, it's not our problem.
This is where we will be, you and I.
Right under this stone.
We'll never hear the screams from inside there.
Philip.
What?
You know I'm right.
The system makes no sense anymore to those outside it,
nor to those of us inside it.
[breathes deeply]
All human things are subject to decay
And when fate summons
Even monarchs must obey
We're a dying breed, you and I.
Oh, I'm sure everyone will carry on, pretending all is well.
But the party's over.
The good news is,
that while Rome burns and the temple falls,
we will sleep, dearie, sleep.
Oh!
You looked.
[chuckles] Yes.
A piper's lament.
Your sole musical choice.
It's very you.
And your coffin being driven in an old Land Rover is very you.
Oh!
- You looked. - I did.
Well...
I'll leave you to it.
Say one for me?
["Sleep Dearie Sleep" playing on bagpipes]
[regal instrumental music joins bagpipes]
[regal music swells]
[bagpipes rise]
[closing chord rises and falls]
[gentle instrumental music plays]