"The Queen" - watched it last night

[R1Geezer]

Do you think it was a fairly accurate portayal of events?
One thing I wondered about was when in Balmoral it seems the Queen would just walk off on her own or drive off in a Land Rover, surely in reality she would have a load of Bodyguards, or is Balmoral so secure, all 40000 acres of it, that it doesn't need them?
This is question about a film please don't turn it into a republic v Monarchy debate, thanks!

[New Judge]

There most certainly may be an element of truth.

I have to drive in Norfolk quite a lot, in particular on the A149 north of Kings Lynn, which passes the Sandringham area.

On more than one occasion I have seen Her Maj in her dark blue range rover, usually with just one person in the vehicle. There were no armies of security personnel in following vehicles � indeed there were no following vehicles.

On one occasion around Christmas time (very icy roads) she pulled out in front of me to go from the Sandringham area, across the A149 towards Wolferton. I was very lucky not to collide with her.

As the authorities seem happy to allow her to travel on public roads with just one person accompanying her, I expect she may well roam around heBalmoral estate alone.

[andy-hughes]

I believe that the reason why Balmoral is the Queen's favourite residence is because she gets to lead as close to a 'normal' life as possible.

She gets to be what she is at heart - a country gentlewoman who loves the outdoors.

I do recall seeing her visiting a shop near Balmoral, and buying someting and paying for it with a fiver out of her purse - which is something she would be totally unable to do anywhere else - the Queen's attendents carry money and pay for anything she needs to buy, she never pays for anything in public view.

I believe that the Balomral residents are very protective of the Queen, and would not compromise her enjoyment of 'time off' in any way.

The simple fact is - if you saw the Queen walking down the street, you would simply think "There goes someone who looks exactly like the Queen!"

[happy_face]

After watching the film I got the feeling that the film should have been named "Tony Blair".

Talk about painting him in a golden light and tarnishing the royal family. Yes they're not perfect, but the film was titled the queen so let's watch about the queen.

Apart from that, I found Helen Mirren's portrayal absolutely spot on

[mosesg]

andy-hughes you are spot on they do live a 'normal' life in Balmoral and the locals in the shops in ballater do not let on that they are in their midst. I know a few people who have worked in Ballater or on the Balmoral estate and they say that they are just normal people when they are there. I know of an instance where an american was in a local shop saying wouldn't it be great to see the queen close up and she was standing a few feet away and nobody let on. The army is based at balmoral whilst they are there. but are unobrusive to their daily life.

[Tizzi247]

The film portrayed the queen exactly how I imagined her - I remember the photo in the paper years ago with prince Charles shaking her hand at a railway station. Helen Mirren played her really well.

I imagine Balmoral is the one place she can be normal.

[butterflies]

These are the movie 'mistakes'

http://www.moviemistakes.com/film6237

[Postdog]

New judge, you have to admit, had you collided with her, it would have made a great claim story.

On a similar vein, I once had prince charles car just catch my toe when his driver turned a corner. I guess I would have had fun too if I needed to report it, but fortunately it just caught it, and the rubber gave instead of my toes.