I have always found the image of the Queen reassuring

Rating: 8/10 (31 January 2007)

I enjoyed the film The Queen. I have always found the image of the Queen reassuringly consistent and Helen Mirren's portrayal was true to this image. My favourite scene was where she breaks down in her land-rover and sees the noble stag which Prince Philip and the boys are hunting and attempts to scare it away, so they will not kill it. Later she hears from Prince Philip the stag has been killed on a neighbouring estate. When she sees its fine head in the rotunda cold room on the neighbouring estate and its carcass hanging up, she asks who killed it. The reply "a City of London financier" speaks volumes. Times have changed. Time was, when only the monarch could kill a royal beast like that. But the tradition of the Queen having to ask permission to enter the City of London is still in place and she still does not have power there. But boffins from the City can kill royal beasts. She must accept this and take her (for me) reassuring image to London to remind the many mourners for Diana she is still there for all of them. Which she does and it is beautifully portrayed by HM (interesting initials for the part those, it never occurred to me before). The Queen never loses her integrity and dignity in doing this. Money may be able to buy royal-type privileges, but it cannot buy integrity and dignity. In this scene, and in many other scenes in this film, this message came over to me. I thought it well thought out and well written for this reason.