The Crown

"My husband and I are deeply touched by our welcome here."

- Ma'am? - Yes. How long do we have?

We land in ten minutes.

No. Martin.

- Will there be a microphone? - I'm sure, ma'am.

"Little more than 50 years ago..."

"My husband and I are deeply touched by our welcome here this morning.

Little more than 50 years ago, Nairobi was a savage place,

the home of wild animals and uninhabited

except for the occasional band of nomadic herdsmen.

Now, it is a modern, vibrant city,

a striking tribute to the men and women of all races,

who have made it a great center of commerce and finance.

Now, it remains only for me to pass on the apologies

of my father, King George..."

Who is, no doubt, very jealous indeed that I have come in his place.

He's getting stronger every day.

And he will be here with you all again very soon.

Your Royal Highness, may I present

Senior Chief Waruhiu wa Kung'u of the Kikuyu.

- Hello. - Chief Sironka of the Kipsigis.

- Hello. - Good morning.

- Lembui of the Maasai. - Yes, hello.

- Pelipel of the Turkana. - Such a pleasure.

Oh, gosh, look, I've got that one, and that one, actually.

Oh, Christ, I've got that one too. Look!

Oh, come off it, where did you steal that one from, eh?

Independence is sweeping across the continent.

Their support is important more than ever.

- Yes, thank you. - Oh, like the hat.

It's not a hat. It's a crown.

Breathe in, Your Majesty.

And out.

Well, well.

I tell you, I woke up this morning feeling like a new man.

I think you should enjoy it, sir.

Enjoy every minute while you can.

Well, I intend to.

And I'll head straight to Sandringham if you give me the all-clear to shoot.

Consider it given.

- Sorry, ma'am, can I help you? - Oh, Venetia Scott. I'm new.

It's all right. She's with me. Come along. Thank you.

- He's awake. - Yes, sir.

Actually, he's asked to see you.

Oh.

Uh... Um...

- Prime Minister? - Is that the new girl?

- Yes, sir. Venetia. - Louisa?

- Venetia. - Venetia.

Have they told you terrible things, your colleagues downstairs?

Go on. Be candid.

It is said... you can be difficult.

I can be a monster. Did they say that?

- Yes, sir. - It's true.

But you need to be a monster to defeat Hitler.

- Did Jock give you my box? - He did, sir.

What's in it?

- You'd like me to open it? - Unless you have X-ray vision,

you will need to open it, so as to be able to tell me what's in it.

Well?

- Some papers about rationing. - What else?

Some papers from the Exchequer.

Anything from the Foreign Office? About America or the Soviet Union?

- No, sir. - Oh, very well.

Then start with the Exchequer. Read it aloud.

Don't be alarmed if you hear no response.

I shall be making mental notes.

- "The economic situation... - What?

"The economic situation we have inherited is worse than 1949...

and, in many ways, worse...

Worse than 1947.

Confidence in Sterling is impaired.

And now our latest estimates suggest that in 1952..."

the United Kingdom will have a deficit on its general balance

of overseas payments of between five and 600 million pounds.

Given these circumstances, I'd be interested to hear the PM's views

regarding the chances for recovery.

Either we get rid of him now or we lose the next election

and, quite possibly, lose power for a whole generation.

You must act, Anthony! This is your time.

The country needs a younger, more dynamic man.

And what do you expect me to do? Hmm?

He's the party leader.

And he became party leader on our recommendation.

I can't just push him out.

Then you must go and see the one person who can.

- Welcome to Sagana Lodge, ma'am. - Thank you very much.

Hello.

Are those for me? Thank you very much.

- Karibu. - Thank you.

Apparently, there's a large breeding herd of elephants at Treetops.

- So we've got to get there early. - Not too early, I hope.

And why? What else have you got in mind for our little holiday?

Why does everybody think, just because we're royal,

we like fine dining? Don't they realize we're savages?

Good for nothing but school dinners and nursery food.

It's all right, you can use your fingers.

- Philip. - Look, stop, watch.

Ma'am.

Your Royal Highness.

Kiss me.

Come on.

His Majesty will return from the shoot at 4 p.m.

- Good afternoon, sir. - Good afternoon.

His Majesty wondered if you'd mind accompanying him

on the shoot at Beecher's Club today.

No, not at all.

Still rather wet underfoot, I'm afraid, after the storms yesterday,

but we can provide you with Wellington boots.

- There's no need to worry. - What size are you, sir?

Nine and a half.

Though my riding boots are a ten, and my trench boots were an 11.

Make of that what you will.

Much of this is just a function of age.

He focuses almost entirely

on issues relating to America and the Soviet Union,

so important domestic matters...

are falling behind.

What do you suggest I do?

Well, as sovereign, of course, there is nothing you can do

from a constitutional standpoint.

But, as a friend... as Albert Windsor,

you are the one person I can think of to whom he might listen.

Well, that is where we run into difficulties, I'm afraid.

I no longer am Albert Windsor.

That person was murdered by his elder brother... when he abdicated.

And, of course, Albert Windsor would dearly love

to say to his old friend, Winston Churchill, "Take a step back.

Put your feet up. Let the younger generation have a go now."

But he is no longer with us

and that void has been filled by George the VI

who, it turns out, is quite the stickler,

and... no more allow the sovereign

to interfere with the Prime Minister than stand for office himself.

Even when it's in the national interest, sir?

The national interests? Or Anthony Eden's interest?

The reason I agreed to grant you an audience,

not to hear your grievances about Mr. Churchill

but to communicate mine about you.

Sir?

The PM will step down in time.

And until then, as sovereign,

I do have the right to be consulted, to encourage, to warn.

It is better to be patient and get what you desire in the right time...

than have high office thrust upon you when you are not ready.

I speak from personal experience.

Foreign Secretary.

- Your Majesty. - Sir.

Shall we begin to walk back, sir?

Use the accelerator, we'll be all right. Thank you.

- Are we on foot from here? - Philip. Philip.

- Looks that way, sir. - Thank you. Thank you.

- Your Highness. - Thank you.

I'm your guide. I'll take you to Treetops.

Jolly good. Thank you.

Pass me my rifle. Thank you. And the shells.

But I must ask you to proceed in total silence from here on.

Do not speak unless absolutely necessary

and then, only using a low voice.

Along the way, we may have to use some hand signals.

This means stop and this means freeze.

We'll move in small groups, single file, maximum three at a time.

It's alright. We'll be fine. After you, darling.

Stay close, please, arms length.

Tembo!

White flag.

Go now!

Well, well, well, look at you.

Move slowly around me.

They'll drop the ladder for you and I'll keep him distracted.

No, no, no. You stay with the Princess.

- Philip! - Elizabeth, go. Go!

Right, Your Highness. Stay close. Hold onto my jacket.

It's all right, Elizabeth. Easy, easy, hey, hey, hey!

Hey, hey, hey! Over here! Over here!

Here I am.

Your Highness, very slowly.

Easy, easy, stay with me.

Now keep going, Your Highness, keep going. Quickly.

Hey, hey, stay with me. Away! Away!

Back away. Back you go.

Easy.

You're the king.

Good boy.

Christ.

- Excuse me, old chap. - Sir.

How can you do that?

- You're a bloody idiot. - I am.

Thank you.

- I've been thinking. - Uh-oh.

If Papa's condition should continue to improve,

well, I thought I'd ask if we might return to Malta.

- You can resume your Naval career. - Really?

Hmm.

I know you've missed our life there.

I have.

Well, I have too. Very much.

I'll write to Papa.

- No. - Yes.

- No. - Yes.