The Queen (2006)
Roger Allam: Robin Janvrin
Photos
Quotes
-
[Cherie has just offered a shallow curtsy. The Queen looks at her and smiles]
HM Queen Elizabeth II : Mrs. Blair, lovely to see you, and congratulations.
[the Queen shakes Cherie's hand]
HM Queen Elizabeth II : You must be very proud, and exhausted, I imagine. Where will you be spending the summer?
Cherie Blair : Erm, France.
HM Queen Elizabeth II : Oh, lovely.
Tony Blair : You'll be in Balmoral?
HM Queen Elizabeth II : Yes, yes, I can't wait. It's such a wonderful place. My great-great-grandmother Victoria once said 'Balmoral always seems to breathe peace and make one forget the world and its sad turmoils'.
Robin Janvrin : [comes into room] Your Majesty?
HM Queen Elizabeth II : Oh, excuse me.
[Robin whispers something inaudible into the Queen's ear]
HM Queen Elizabeth II : [to Tony and Cherie] I'm so sorry, we're going to have to leave it there.
[she shakes both their hands and they exit without showing their backs]
HM Queen Elizabeth II : [to Robin] It wasn't too short was it? Fifteen minutes, one doesn't want to be rude.
Robin Janvrin : No ma'am.
-
Robin Janvrin : The Prime Minister is on his way, ma'am.
HM Queen Elizabeth II : To be, Robin, Prime Minister to be. I haven't asked him yet.
-
Robin Janvrin : The atmosphere at Downing Street is expected to *very* informal. Everyone on first name terms - at the Prime Minister's insistence.
HM Queen Elizabeth II : What, as in call me Tony?
Robin Janvrin : Yes, Ma'am.
HM Queen Elizabeth II : Oh, I don't like that. Could we send him a protocol sheet?
-
Robin Janvrin : His manifesto promises the most radical modernization and shake up of the constitution in 300 years.
HM Queen Elizabeth II : Oh, you mean he's going to try and modernise us?
Robin Janvrin : 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.
HM Queen Elizabeth II : I don't measure the depth of a curtsy, Robin. I leave that to my sister.
-
Robin Janvrin : 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 it's God's will. She is who she is.
Tony Blair : I think we should leave God out of it.
-
Robin Janvrin : I've just spoken to our Ambassador in Paris, ma'am. I'm afraid it's not good news.
-
HM The Queen Mother : I supervised those plans myself.
Robin Janvrin : Indeed. And the Lord Chamberlain was at pains to stress that the spirit of the occasion will be quite different. For example, the suggestion is that instead of 400 soldiers, 400 representatives of the Princess' various charities march behind the - coffin. And instead of foreign heads of state and crown heads of Europe, the guests would include a sprinkling of actors of stage and screen, fashion designers, and other - celebrities.
HM The Queen Mother : Celebrities?
