off to see the queen

We went off to see the queen last week - the movie, that is. "The Queen" was nominated for various awards and I think the lead actress won a trophy but I don't keep up with all that celebrity nonsense. But you've got to see the movie.

The royal family probably hated it but it gave us a behind-the-scenes view of what life must be like for Queen Elizabeth and it also lets us know that there is a real personality behind that stoic face. The story takes place right after Princess Diana was killed, which was very stressful for a lot of people including the Queen and her family. She wanted to keep it all private - that is, keep out of it entirely - because Diana was no longer "HRH." Eventually she had to give way, of course. Her ancestors could ignore public opinion, but that isn't the modern way of doing things and Tony Blair was newly elected and anxious to "modernize" UK government.

Who knew that Queen Elizabeth has had ten prime ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill? Who knew that the custom is for the newly elected prime minister to kneel before the Queen so she can ask if he will form her government for her (and the traditional answer is "yes")?

Who knew that she was a mechanic during "the war" (WWII) and is at home behind the steering wheel of a Land Rover, driving over country trails and across rivers?

Who knew that she could become teary-eyed upon seeing a 14-point deer that the hunters (including her grandsons) were after, and would shoo it away? Who knew that she hoped it didn't suffer after being wounded and then killed by somebody from a neighboring estate, in Scotland? Reality or metaphor, the deer scenes are powerful.

And who would know that kilts look like normal clothing when worn by the men of the royal family?

You've got to see the movie to believe all this.