The Crown

Your Majesty.

So, it is always the Sovereign who begins the meal.

It is absolutely forbidden to begin

before he, or she, takes their first bite.

Oui, Mademoiselle.

During the meal, when it is the first course,

you must only speak to the person seated on your right until the end.

Time for the Vice-Provost, Lilibet.

Your Royal Highness. Come on.

"There are two elements of the Constitution:"

wrote Walter Bagehot in 1867.

"The efficient and the dignified."

Which is the monarch?

Your Royal Highness?

- The dignified? - Very good.

The efficient has the power to make and execute policy

and is answerable to the electorate.

What touches all should be approved by all.

The dignified gives significance and legitimacy to the efficient

and is answerable only...?

- To God. - Precisely.

Two institutions, Crown and government, dignified and the efficient,

only work when they support each other.

When they trust one another.

You can underline that.

- Do you teach this to your other pupils? - No, just you.

This is what I teach them.

These are exam papers.

- Shouldn't I know all of this, too? - No, Ma'am.

All very undignified.

I see Mr. Einstein has changed his mind again?

- Oh? - The scientist.

No, I know who he is. What exactly has he changed his mind about?

That's rather less clear to me,

but everyone's making a tremendous fuss about it.

At the time of my education, I asked the Vice-Provost

if we shouldn't spend a bit of time on Literature, Philosophy, Science.

He felt I had enough on my plate as it was.

But don't you think I should have learned about it?

Why?

Well, doesn't one have a duty to know certain things?

You have a great many other virtues. You can't be expected to know everything.

Well, no, that's the point, Mummy. I know almost nothing.

You know when to keep your mouth shut. That's more important than anything.

And that would've been fine if I'd gone on to live a normal life.

But now I spend so much time with politicians and statesmen.

You know, I live in dread of being left alone with them.

Your dear papa was just the same.

Be nice to think that one could, if not hold one's own,

then at least not have to steer the conversation

away to dogs and horses every time.

The Prime Minister's on his way, Ma'am.

Well, one good thing about this one is you never have to open your mouth at all.

That's true.

Just smile politely while he drones on and on.

Your Majesty may or may not be aware, but this is my retirement year.

Is it really? How long has it been?

33 years, Ma'am, serving four sovereigns.

One can hardly imagine the place without you.

It's kind of you to say so, Ma'am, but we're well prepared for the transition.

A deputy's long been groomed and made ready.

- Two deputies, right? - Yes, Ma'am.

- A senior and a junior. - An heir and a spare.

Quite.

Well, before we discuss any of that,

I'd like you to know how grateful we all are to you.

- For your years of service. - Thank you, Ma'am.

My father was quite dependent on you. You know that.

And in our short time together, I could see how I could be, too.

But you deserve to put your feet up.

And I think I could work quite well with Martin Charteris.

- Martin Charteris? - Yes.

I assume you'll give that your blessing.

Martin is the junior deputy private secretary, Ma'am, the spare.

Michael Adeane is the senior. The rightful heir.

Yes, but Martin and I have worked together before.

- I'm aware of that. - I'm sure Michael would understand

that I had a pre-existing relationship with Martin and not take it personally.

Martin is a younger man. It's the more natural fit.

If that is Your Majesty's wish.

Prime Minister, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting.

Not at all.

- Oh, but I see you've found company. - Yes.

Honey, Sugar, Pippin, say goodbye. Thank you, Tommy.

Shall we make a start?

One item overshadows every other on the agenda this week, Ma'am.

The Soviets and their H-bomb.

We now have confirmation that they have been testing

in the Kazakh Desert.

It is vital that we act swiftly to secure peace

and vital that we British spearhead the effort.

I have always been the person

everyone wants in a room with the Russians

because Stalin would only talk to me.

With him gone, there is a great danger

that Eisenhower will take it upon himself to run the show.

And that would be bad?

Oh, a disaster, Ma'am. For all the obvious reasons.

Of course.

Remind me. Of the obvious reasons.

Russia...

is a great old empire which demands and deserves respect.

Americans like to wave the big stick and speak with a loud voice.

In the matter of world governance, they are not yet ready.

They need

an experienced and elder power

to guide them, school them.

Yes, we could all do with some school.

To that end, I've asked the Foreign Secretary to go to Washington

to lay plans for a summit meeting between myself and Eisenhower,

to start discussing a unified approach

for how to bring the Russians back into the family.

- Do you think he's up to it? - Eisenhower?

No, the Foreign Secretary.

Anthony is the finest Foreign Secretary this country has had for generations.

Yes, but I've heard he's also a very sick man.

I would hate to think that the country wasn't in safe hands,

being led by healthy men.

We are both fine, Ma'am. I assure you.

Early indications are that the bomb they tested

was a fission and fusion-fueled Sloika design,

based on lithium-six deuteride and uranium-two-three-five

with a yield of 400 kilotons.

Khrushchev claims the weapon is ready for immediate use,

capable of deployment from a bomber aircraft.

He was bragging about it to the Presidium last week.

Do we believe that?

Latest CIA intelligence seems to support it, with the Soviets known to be

ramping up their production of long-range bomber aircraft...

Are you all right, sir?

My bag, please. Give me my bag.

You can do this.

Sir, this really should be done by a doctor.

Just find a vein. Come on!

Now, we can say with confidence that Joe Four's total yield,

why, was in the range of four to 500 kilotons.

Now, intelligence sources indicate the Soviets used the layered design...

similar to our own "Ivy Mike" detonation in '52,

which is consistent with the blast radius.

The British Foreign Secretary.

That gentleman is not just a sleeping man,

it's a sad metaphor.

The second most powerful man

in what was once the most powerful country on Earth.

What's that on his arm?

Looks like blood, sir.

Good God.

Colonel Charteris, Your Majesty.

- You asked to see me? - I did. Do sit down.

Now, as I'm sure you're aware,

Tommy Lascelles will be leaving us shortly to begin his

well-deserved retirement.

And his departure will leave something of a gap.

Yes.

And I was wondering whether you might be interested in filling that gap?

- As what, Ma'am? - My Private Secretary.

- I'd be delighted, but... - But what?

What about Michael Adeane?

- What about him? - He is the natural successor.

I was hoping it might be possible for me to make my own decision just once.

There are two Private Secretaries to choose from.

And I happen to prefer the Junior.

So, shall we say that's that?

Yes. I suppose we shall.

- Good. - Thank you.

Is there anything I can do? In the meantime.

No, no, no. Thank you, Martin.

Actually, Martin...

A tutor.

- Ma'am? - I'd like to engage one.

- Any particular field? - General education.

- I'll come up with some names. - Thank you.

Oh, and, Martin, preferably one, you know, not too stuffy. Sense of humor.

Understood.

I'm no stranger to pain, Winston, but this has become intolerable.

I must have corrective surgery.

And this "corrective surgery," must it really be Boston?

That's where the best man is. The only man.

They're better equipped to deal with gall bladder problems in America.

Due to the high fat diets they have here.

Leaving me without you for the summit with Ike.

- Can't you delay it? - No, I can't.

Besides, you have already stated

your ability to run the ship without me for some time.

In jest, my dear boy, when you become mutinous and presumptuous.

You know how much I depend on you.

- I do. - Well?

But I'd still like to hear you say it again.

- What? - I'd like you to say it again so that...

all the people listening in can hear. You were saying.

That...

I depend on you, Anthony.

What for?

For your judgement.

- What else? - Your integrity. And loyalty.

Louder, please.

Yes, all right! Yes, I need you there, Anthony!

I think we're all agreed, I need you!

And I need the surgery, Winston. It's my life that's at stake now.

I'm sorry.