I don't know if I watched this when it was first shown in 1992 but, watching this in 2023, it struck me as a wonderful portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II. (It is available to watch in the UK on BBC iPlayer until 08 September 2023.)
I guess this is interesting for two main reasons.
First, there are some rather interesting behind-the-scenes moments. Former US President Ronald Reagan, while waiting for some decaffeinated coffee, explains to the Queen that some US federal bureaucrats are paid based on the number of people they oversee and so have no financial incentive to reduce that number (e.g. In the interests of efficiency). The Queen gives a brief response about -- I think -- the problems with democracy, which is either her simply going along with what President Reagan is saying or is a surprisingly political statement. There's also a interesting moment with former Prime Minister Edward Heath who explains that he tried to warn someone of the consequence of their actions but that they would not listen. It's not clear who he is talking about but, from the context, it seems likely it was some leader in the Middle East, possibly in Iraq. I also liked the state visit of Polish President Lech Walesa, where it was clear that the sheer scale of the event must have been quite daunting for him.
Second, it has often been said that the Queen saw it as her duty to serve to the very end -- that she would not contemplate stepping down. And I think it is clear from this documentary that she took her role very seriously and considered her life and role to be inseparable. (I write that not as a monarchist, but as a pragmatic supporter of the current UK constitutional/parliamentary monarchy.)
I guess this is interesting for two main reasons.
First, there are some rather interesting behind-the-scenes moments. Former US President Ronald Reagan, while waiting for some decaffeinated coffee, explains to the Queen that some US federal bureaucrats are paid based on the number of people they oversee and so have no financial incentive to reduce that number (e.g. In the interests of efficiency). The Queen gives a brief response about -- I think -- the problems with democracy, which is either her simply going along with what President Reagan is saying or is a surprisingly political statement. There's also a interesting moment with former Prime Minister Edward Heath who explains that he tried to warn someone of the consequence of their actions but that they would not listen. It's not clear who he is talking about but, from the context, it seems likely it was some leader in the Middle East, possibly in Iraq. I also liked the state visit of Polish President Lech Walesa, where it was clear that the sheer scale of the event must have been quite daunting for him.
Second, it has often been said that the Queen saw it as her duty to serve to the very end -- that she would not contemplate stepping down. And I think it is clear from this documentary that she took her role very seriously and considered her life and role to be inseparable. (I write that not as a monarchist, but as a pragmatic supporter of the current UK constitutional/parliamentary monarchy.)
