funny, i'm actually rather nervous.
i know. but never one to one. and never as prime minister.
yes. but she's still, y'know.
the queen.
yes.
the `presence'?
thank you, ma'am.
i hope so.
that's right.
no.
you obviously know my job better than i do.
i can imagine.
advice which i look forward to receiving.
of course.
your majesty, the country has spoken. and i come now to ask your permiss.  e
`yes'.
ou'll be in balmoral, i expect.
i know. what was all that about?
what? how badly?
i see. who are we speaking to there?
right. shell-shocked) keep me posted.
it's diana. she's been in a car accident. in paris.
apparently dodi fayed is dead.
what have i got on this week?
well, let's cancel everything else. this is going to be massive. a beat) i'd better make a statement in the morning.
god, she's only been dead an hour!
". that's how she will remain. in our minds, our hearts, forever." ok, got it.
i thought at church. on the way in.
i've got to go.
yes.
now, now.
good morning, your majesty. may i say right away how very sorry i am - and that the thoughts and prayers of my family are with you at this terrible time and with the two princes in particular.
is it your intention to make some kind of appearance. or statement?
i see.
i don't suppose anyone has had time to think about the funeral yet?
right.
i see.
you don't feel that in view of her high profile and popularity.  . it might be an idea to pay tribute to her life and achievements? or even just to her as a mother?
you don't think a private funeral would be denying them a chance.
to share in the grief?
of course.
her instinct is to do nothing. say nothing. and give her a private funeral.
well, i think it's a mistake.
they screwed up her life. let's hope they don't screw up her death.
e are today a nation in a state of shock, in mourning, in grief that is so deeply painful to us. people everywhere, not just here in britain, kept faith with princess diana.
they liked her, they loved her, they regarded her as one of the people. she was the people's princess, and that is how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and memories forever"
lord airlie.
then perhaps we should plan for any contingency.
absolutely. of course.
`preeecedent?'
where do they find these people?
i'm so sorry, sir. and if there's anything i or my government can do.
i imagine it will be the same here.
i think i understand.
"they liked her. they loved her. they regarded her as one of the people. she was the people's princess, and that is how she will remain in our hearts forever"
". after eighteen years of opposition, of frustration and despair, i am proud, privileged, to stand before you as the new prime minister"
"i want to set an ambitious course to modernise this country. to breathe new life into our institutions. to make privilege something for the many, not the few. so that we become nothing less than a beacon to the world"
tell him to hang on.
good. has anyone told the queen yet?
who?
ood afternoon.
not at all.
well, please thank his highness, and assure him that he can count on my full support. at all times. was that it?
creeping up to me like this. he did it at the airport when he asked me to `deal' with his mother.
who, charles?
what? so it's ok for his mother to take the bullet, not him? shakes head) what a family.
which is?
that's just absurd.
yes, they do.
ot you, too. look. if you want to have a serious conversation about this.
about the constitution.
or about ways in which we as a government could begin to phase out hereditary privileges, then fine.
but spare me the whole"off with their heads" thing.
because it insults your intelligence.
well, maybe now i've grown up. a beat) it's unimaginable this country being a republic. certainly in her lifetime.
because. no would would wear it. no one wants it. it's just. daft.
i'm going to do the washing-up. f
and the bad news?
what about them?
look, i know all this.
don't tell me. there isn't a flag flying at half mast above buckingham palace.
god. will someone save these people from themselves.
because as prime minister of this country, i've really got nothing better to do.
what?
and do what? cut off their heads?
that's just the papers spoiling for a fight.
"people have been yearning for a change in this country." good. "the result is a quiet revolution now taking place. led by the real modernisers. the british people"
`revolution'? not you, too? tails off) who wrote this?
where does it come from?
revolution.
right. you lot. out.
later.
good afternoon, your majesty. i'm sorry to disturb. i was just wondering.
whether you'd seen any of today's papers?
in which case, my next question would be - whether you felt some kind of response might be necessary?
under normal circumstances i would agree, but. p
my advisers have been taking the temperature among people on the streets - and the information i'm getting is that the mood.  . is quite delicate.
no, ma'am. i believe the moment for statements has passed.
i would suggest flying the flag at half-mast above buckingham palace.
and coming down to london at the earliest opportunity.
it would be a great comfort to your people and would help them with their grief.
well, if that's your decision, ma'am, of course the government will support it.
mr janvrin?
i think we should leave god out of it. it's just not helpful.
all right - but first we have to deal with these terrible headlines. i'll see what i can do with the press.
but i can't promise anything. it's not me they want to see.
ask alistair to come and see me will you.
nd cancel whatever i'm doing tonight.
yes.
i told the queen's private secretary i'd do what i could to help with the press.
i know. but allowing her to hang herself might not be in our best interests either.
besides, i think there's something. ugly about the way everyone's started to bully her.
did any of them pick up on our statement of support?
right.
good morning, ma'am.
then i'm sure you'll agree. the situation has become quite critical.
ma'am, a poll that's to be published in tomorrow's paper suggests 70% of people believe your actions have damaged the monarchy and one in four are now in favour of abolishing the monarchy altogether.
as your prime minister, i believe it's my constitutional responsibility to advise the following.
thank god for that.
be right there.
i'm the prime minister. of course i've seen the papers.
you know when you get it wrong, you really get it wrong. a beat) that woman has given her whole life in service to her people - fifty years doing a job she never wanted - a job she watched kill her father. she's executed it with dignity, honour and, as far as i can tell, without a single blemish - and now we line up baying for her blood - why? because she's struggling to lead the world in mourning for a woman who threw everything she offered back in her face, and who seemed, in the last few years, to be committed twenty-four seven to destroy everything she holds dear.
that's not the point. what she's doing is extraordinary. that's how you survive.
now, now.
doubt she'll see it that way.
robin. good to see you.
tony, please.
thank you.
it's good to see you again. after quite a summer.
i meant to tell you at the time but you were being monopolised rather.
i imagine those occasions are quite difficult. twenty-four heads of government each clamouring for a private audience.
also, we haven't had a chance to speak since that week. and i wanted to offer my apologies.
in case you'd felt `manhandled' or `managed' in any way.
the circumstances were exceptional, ma'am. and in the end, you showed great personal strength, courage, and humility. e
that's not true.
i still believe history will show it was a good week for you.
but there are fifty-two weeks in a year, ma'am. and two and a half thousand in a half century.
and when people come to assess your legacy, no one will remember those few days.
not at all.
one or two. but as a leader one has. a different perspective. a beat) i could never have added my voice to the chorus.
which is?
i am.
for about half an hour. but then you came down to london and all that went away.
no. and that must have been difficult.
one forgets. you were so young when you became queen.
well, perhaps that's where i can help.
Well, Ma'am, top of the list is education reform. We want to radically reduce classroom sizes.