Classic Albums: Queen - The Making of 'A Night at the Opera' Page #5

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to change.'

It's unimaginable,

this country being a republic.

- Certainly in her lifetime.

- Why?

Because no-one would wear it.

No-one wants it.

It's just... daft.

- It's not a mother thing, is it?

- What?

Well, if she were alive now,

your mother would be the same age.

You always say how stoical she was -

old-fashioned, uncomplaining,

lived through the war.

- Who does that sound like?

- I'm going to do the washing up.

That's the stalking party off.

Right, we'd better have a look

at those papers.

"Show us there's a heart in the house

of Windsor," says The Sun.

"It's proof the royals

are not like us," The Mirror.

"Time to change the old guard

at Buckingham Palace," Express.

"One can't help wondering

whose advice they are taking,

"for it's clearly the wrong advice."

I'll try not to take that personally.

People have yearned for change

in this country.

The result is a quiet revolution

led by the real modernisers,

the British people.

Revolution? Who wrote this?

- Where does this come from?

- Where does it come from?

- You've won a huge majority.

- People want a change.

Why? What did you think it meant?

Hurry, dear. Your tea's getting cold.

- Is that it?

- Yes, ma'am.

Just the letter of condolence to the

widow of the ambassador to Brazil.

Thank you.

Tea.

Mr Janvrin, the Prime

Minister wishes to speak to Her Majesty.

Ma'am,

apparently the Prime Minister

is on the phone.

Tell him to call back.

No, no. It's all right. I'll take it.

- Prime Minister.

- Good morning, Your Majesty.

Sorry to disturb, but I was wondering

if you'd seen today's papers?

We've managed to look

at one or two, yes.

'In which case, my next question

would be whether you felt

'some kind of response

'might be necessary? '

No. I believe a few over-eager editors

are doing their best

to sell newspapers.

It would be a mistake

to dance to their tune.

'Under normal circumstances,

I would agree,

'but...

Well, my advisors have been'

taking the temperature

among people on the streets,

and... well, the information I'm getting

is that the mood

'is quite delicate.'

So, what would you suggest,

Prime Minister?

- Some kind of a statement?

- 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 of great comfort

to your people.'

And would help them with their grief.

"Their grief"?

If you imagine

I'm going to come to London,

before I attend to my grandchildren,

who've just lost their mother...

then you're mistaken.

I doubt there is anyone who knows

the British people more than I do,

nor who has greater faith

in their wisdom and judgement.

And it is my belief that they will,

at any moment, reject this... this mood,

which is being stirred up by the press

in favour

of a period of restrained grief

and sober, private mourning.

That's the way we do things

in this country -

quietly, with dignity.

It's what the rest of the worid

admires us for.

If that's your decision, ma'am,

the government will support it.

- Let's keep in touch.

- Yes, let's.

Bloody fool!

And now your tea's gone cold.

Tony, Robin Janvrin on One.

He was listening in.

Robin?

I understand how difficult

her behaviour must seem to you,

but try and see it

from her perspective.

She's been brought up

to believe it's God's will.

'She is who she is.'

I think we should leave God out of it.

It's just not helpful.

She hasn't seen anything like this

since the abdication,

and I cannot emphasise

the effect that had.

Unexpectedly becoming king

as good as killed her father.

'I'm afraid she's in a state of shock.

'This public reaction

has completely thrown her.'

All right, but first, we have to deal

with these terrible headlines.

- I'll do what I can with the press.

- I'm grateful, Prime Minister.

I can't promise anything.

It's not me they want to see.

Ask Alastair to come and see me.

Cancel what I'm doing tonight.

- Good morning.

- Your Majesty.

Thomas, where have they gone?

- Up to Abergannie Ridge, ma'am.

- All that way?

- Remind me, that's right at the fork?

- That's right, ma'am.

You follow the track for about a mile,

and you come to...

The river.

- One of the lads will drive you.

- No, I'll manage. Thank you.

Bugger it!

Oh, how stupid!

- 'Hello, Thomas.'

- Hello, ma'am.

I've done something foolish.

I've broken the prop shaft.

- Are you sure, ma'am.

- Yes, of course I'm sure.

It's the front one.

Lost the four-wheel drive.

Don't forget,

I was a mechanic during the war.

- Are you all right?

- I'm fine.

- We'll come out straight away.

- Thank you very much.

I'll wait by the car. You are kind.

Bye.

Oh, you're a beauty.

Shoo! Shoo! Go on!

Go on.

Go on!

There are news crews outside waiting

for you to speak to the people.

- Yes.

- What's all that about?

I told the Queen's private secretary

I'd try to help with the press.

Why? Don't you think she deserves it,

sitting up there on her 40,000 acres?

Yes, 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.

The first thing that you obviously

think about...

is the rest of your family, and I...

When's she coming to London, Mr Blair?

- 'She's our figurehead.'

- 'She is.'

'She wanted me to pass on

to the people crowding around... '

'In a spare moment, the Prime

Minister went down Downing Street... '

- How are the boys?

- Not so good tonight.

A lot of slamming doors.

- I think they saw the papers.

- Oh, no!

I'll take them out

early again tomorrow morning.

Perhaps they'll take it out

on the stag.

'What do you think

of the royal family? '

'They've made a mistake.'

- Pardon?

- They've made a mistake.

- 'Why? What do you mean? '

- 'Well, they should've came.

'The family should have come down

to Buckingham Palace on Sunday,

'all of them.

'That girl's been left on her own.

'She's on her own

and the place is empty.'

Oh, please!

Sleeping in the streets

and pulling out their hair?

For someone they never knew?

And they think we're mad?

- Have you seen the funeral guest list?

- No.

I suggest you keep it that way.

A chorus line of soap stars

and homosexuals.

Apparently,

Elton John is going to be singing.

That'll be a first

for Westminster Abbey.

Condolence books are being signed

in embassies all over the worid,

and in London alone,

the number has reached 40.

It reminds me of one of those films -

a few of us in a fort,

hordes of Zulus outside.

So, it's vital you hold firm.

Stick to your guns.

You wait.

They will come to their senses soon.

They have to.

Come on, move over, Cabbage.

'It's six o'clock

'on Thursday 4th September.'

'As people start camping out on the route

of Princess Diana's funeral cortge,

'people are asking why the Queen

hasn't addressed her subjects? '

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