Original subtitles

Now, Anne, what's this?

- A penguin. - Very good.

And, Charles, who do you suppose is surrounded by penguins at the moment?

- Daddy. - Yes, that's right.

That's because he's in the antarctic. And from there,

he goes to the south shetland islands, then he goes on to the Falkland Islands,

and then he goes all the way up here, to Ascension Island.

Now, all these are British overseas territories,

and they have to be visited every once in a while

so they don't feel neglected or forgotten,

and don't get any silly ideas like becoming independent.

- Right, brushed your teeth? - Yes.

- Good. Have you said your prayers? - Yes.

- Jolly good. Right. Night-night. - Night-night, mommy.

Come along, children.

We might put a picture of the Duke of Edinburgh

by the children's bed, so they recognize him when he gets back.

Five months is a long time at that age.

Yes, ma'am.

What's that?

From his royal highness, ma'am.

Footage from the royal tour.

How nice.

We might watch that instead of our next film.

Kensington 3742.

Tommy.

The prime minister returns after three weeks in Jamaica.

Here he is now!

Thank you. Thank you. It's wonderful to be back amongst you.

As you know, lwent away to concentrate on my health.

I'm now fully fit to resume my duties.

Thank you.

Quiet, everyone. Sit down, you two.

- It's starting. - Charles, come on, darling.

Now, he's sent some notes to accompany the footage,

so I'll read aloud.

"Hello, all of you."

- Hello! - Hello.

- "Hello, daddy!" - Hello, daddy!

"I can picture you all perfectly,

"sitting there wishing it was creature from the black lagoon.

"But instead, this is just boring old me arriving..."

- Look, penguins! - That's not daddy, is it?

"At king George island..." Look!

"A hundred miles off the coast of Antarctica..."

- There's your daddy. - Is that daddy?

"And nestled between the white bones of ancient whales.

"Here we've made some new friends, and Mike was rather smitten."

- Look how tame they are. - He's got a beard.

Yes, yes. They're all growing beards.

It makes them look a bit shifty.

No, don't say that. It makes him look like an explorer.

- What's that? - Yes, this is very funny, mommy.

"We've even installed some signage so we can find our way home."

Buckingham Palace. That's good. I like that.

"It's a bit of a commute to the office, though."

"Luckin we found some friends for company,

"the British hunting aerosurvey teams,

"who make excellent tennis companions."

Look, they're all playing tennis. Isn't that silly?

Goodness me.

"Now, some things about huskies that you never knew.

"They have eyes of different colors."

- Like the kaiser. - Mommy.

"But most of all, they really, really like tennis balls."

Yes, we can see that.

"And they have claws to ensure they don't slip on the ice."

Look, now, Philip's on one.

"Joining our family of animals are the penguins

"and seals, who send their love to you all.

"As do I.

"Your loving papa

"and husband,

"Philip."

Good morning.

Tommy?

Your majesty.

I thought you were supposed to be in happy retirement.

I am, ma'am.

Well, then what on earth are you doing here?

Oh, dear. Either you missed the place more than you could bear,

which would be...

- Tragic. - Yes.

Or there's a serious problem, and you've been called in to help.

No. Just a routine matter with colonel adeane, ma'am.

It's hardly routine if he sent one of the royal cars.

Well, in actual fact, that's my car.

We gave you a car?

You did, ma'am. As part of the farewell package.

- Well, not the driver too, surely. - Driver, too.

- Was that me? - I believe so.

Well, you've always held a very special place in all of our hearts, Tommy.

Anyway, I must go.

Windsor, ma'am?

No, sandringham.

Michael's re-arranged a few things to give me a couple of days off.

Quite right.

You did well to bring this to me, Michael.

I've served three generations of the royal family, four monarchs,

and done a good many things to protect them, mostly from themselves,

but this is the first time I shall endeavor

to save someone else's marriage in order to safeguard the crown.

Not that we give a fig about the Parkers or their happiness, you understand.

Not a fig, Tommy.

Dear Philip...

I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed watching the film you sent.

It was lovely to set eyes on you again.

And the children were very impressed by the whales and penguins.

You looked very handsome, I thought, in your whaling outfit,

and hirsute, too.

"And I can never forget what my grandmother said to me

"about being married to a man with a beard."

She goes on, but actually, no, I'm not going to repeat that bit.

Come on. Don't be a spoilsport.

Come on!

Bloody hell!

I think we can safely say a very, very warm welcome

awaits his royal highness' return.

Good morning.

Morning.

First of all, I must thank you

for the way in which you have all carried on without me

and for the manner in which rab has very competently

stood in for me in my absence.

You've kept me informed of all the major decisions

that had to be taken.

In all these months, we have been a united government.

And we shall remain a united government.

But we're not a united government, are we, Anthony?

The war you insisted on has left us as divided as Caesar and pompey

and the country in chaos.

There is no petrol in the pumps. There are no tins on the shelves.

Our allies are aligned against us.

Our international reputation is in tatters.

How adroitly your weather vane spins, Harold.

You were for the war as I remember.

Only as long as it was legal.

You...

Liar.

Liar!

You wanted it every bit as much as I did!

You'd have torn off nasser's scalp

with your own fingernails, given the chance.

Taken the oil from that canal and set the middle east ablaze!

You've lost the trust of the people and of the party.

It's the end of the road.

A road which you willingly led me down!

And would you abandon me?

Here?

All of you.

Come now, Anthony,

you know as well as I,

there is no justice in politics.

Captain lascelles?

Mrs. Parker.

What brings you here?

A retired man must make friends with all the good reading spots in London.

What are you reading, may I ask? Tell me that it's romantic poetry.

Military history.

The campaigns of Napoleon.

- Your son? - Yes.

Lieutenant commander Parker must be very proud.

He might be. If he knew what the children looked like.

He's away again. On tour.

You have my sympathy.

I know from my own wife how difficult that can be,

being left alone with the children for days,

sometimes weeks on end.

Well, I'm sure that strong marriages find a way through it.

I'm afraid it's broken ours.

I am sad to hear that.

Might I ask if you'll hold off on any instruction or public announcement

just a little while longer?

As we both know, the Duke of Edinburgh

is performing important royal duties on this tour,

and we wouldn't want any story breaking in the newspapers

that might undermine his efforts

or impugn the royal marriage.

That's what you came here for, isn't it? This wasn't a coincidence at all.

You came here because you knew it's where I'd be,

and you wanted to put in a word on their behalf. It's pathetic.

Still their round-the-clock lackey, even in retirement.

Sony to disturb you, ma 'am.

I've just had a call from downing street.

The prime minister has requested an audience, as a matter of urgency.

He's on the train and will be with us by 3:00 pm.

Platform one, London train.

Please stand back from the edge.

Eden! Eden!

Thank you.

Eden must go!

Of course, I asked for second opinions. I asked for third opinions.

I implored them to let me carry on.

But I'm afraid the doctors were of one voice, one mind.

The time has come to put my health above the country.

And to...

To offer you my resignation.

I'm sorry if I...

Disappointed you.

Did I suggest that you had?

No, but I...

I think you thought it.

I did think that the decision to go to war was rushed.

And I was sorry to see you lie to the house,

when you told them that you had no prior knowledge

of the Israelis' intentions.

We both know that to be untrue.

But, wrong though it was,

I did have sympathy for you.

To have waited in the wings for so long,

and to have supported a great man like Winston

so patiently, so loyally.

And then to finally have your opportunity

to measure yourself against him.

To do nothing is often the best course of action.

But I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be.

History was not made by those who did nothing.

So, I suppose it's only natural that ambitious men, driven men,

want to go down in history.

Or make history by going down.

I do think the time has now come

where we have no option but to tell her majesty

about the Parker divorce,

and to warn her that regardless of how blameless the Duke of Edinburgh is

or isn't in the matter,

that newspapers will be newspapers,

and questions will now inevitably be asked

about the state of the royal marriage.

I sense trepidation, Michael.

If you'd rather, I can always handle it myself.

No, I'll take care of this.

I'll try to find a moment on the train to mention it to her majesty.

Good luck, Michael.

Sony to disturb you, ma 'am.

The telegram arrived from lord Salisbury,

and the recommendation is that

sir Anthony's successor should be Mr. MacMillan.

Of course. Thank you.

- Yes, what is it, Michael? - It's just to say...

And we could, of course, discuss this on our return

to the palace if her majesty prefers.

No. Do sit down, Michael.

Thank you, ma'am.

But it seems that

Mrs. Parker, who is the wife of lieutenant commander Parker...

Yes, I know who Eileen is.

She has decided to sue her husband for divorce.

Goodness. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?

Yes...

And that while, of course, there is no suggestion whatsoever

of any impropriety on the part of his royal highness,

the Duke of Edinburgh, we should perhaps be bracing ourselves

for one or two irritating headlines.

Why? Whatever for?

What is it that she's alleging?

Cruelty, unlawful desertion and...

Adultery, ma'am.

We're just aware of the fact that lieutenant commander Parker

is his royal highness's private secretary,

he's a close friend. And there is this letter, I believe.

A letter?

Written by lieutenant commander Parker to his fellow members of the lunch club,

bragging about exploits on the royal tour.

What sort of exploits?

I don't need an answer to that question. Thank you, Michael.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mr. MacMillan, your majesty.

Your majesty.

I gather soundings have been taken,

and that you have been chosen by your colleagues

as the man most able to unite the government and lead this country,

following sir Anthony's resignation.

Yes, ma'am.

Congratulations.

Although I fear you've inherited something of a poisoned chalice.

It's true. The storm is now raging against us.

With Eden's war, we've discarded the moral advantage

or any goodwill we once held.

Not to mention the dire economic situation.

It's really been quite ruinous.

But it wasn'tjust Eden's war, was it?

It was a war prosecuted by a government

of which you, as chancellor, were a major constituent part.

I also seem to remember that you were one of the loudest voices

in support of the war in the beginning.

One always has to accept one's own part, ibeheve,

in any mess.

Prime minister.

Your majesty.

Michael, could you ask them to send 'round one of the cars?

Bridge receiving. Go ahead.

D-watch requests permission to leave.

Granted. Affirmative.

- Ship's communication to bridge. - Bridge receiving. Go ahead.

Do you have a moment?

What were you thinking?

You know the rules. No letters to anyone.

I told baron to be discreet.

But somehow, the letter got back to Eileen.

And now she has written to the palace

to give notice of her intention to sue me for divorce.

Which means it's got back to you-know-who.

Yes.

I think we have to assume so.

Don't tease me like that.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

I remember how we used to do this in Malta.

Go grocery shopping together.

Feels like a long time ago.

Yes.

The reason I came here today is...

Because I heard, with great sadness,

that there are difficulties in your marriage.

And I would like to know if there's anything that I

or anyone else can do to help.

My marriage to Mike is beyond help.

I see.

Our separation has been inevitable for some time.

I had intended to divorce Mike years ago,

but because of the attention

surrounding group captain townsend and Princess Margaret,

I decided to hold back.

Thank you.

But that was then. This is now.

What's changed?

Nothing has changed. That's the problem.

It just got worse.

And while some women may elect to put up with this sort of humiliation,

I simply have too much respect for myself

and my children to bear it.

I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.

Then read this.

Don't Bury it, ma'am.

Or sweep it away.

It's there, in black and white.

Might I ask you a favor?

That you hold off your announcement,

just while we work out what to do, in light of this?

I've had enough of favors to you people.

My entire adult life has been favors to you.

You people aren't even remotely aware of the cost of the damage to families

and marriages in your service.

I've instructed a solicitor. That's my decision.

Gentlemen, I would like to make a brief statement

on behalf of my client, Mrs. Eileen Parker.

"Having endured an unhappy marriage for some years now,

"I have come to the sad conclusion

"that a formal separation is the best option for us both.

"My husband has shown no inclination or enthusiasm

"for the responsibilities of parenthood or marriage,

"and divorce remains the only solution."

Thank you.

Mr. Lewis!

Duke's best friend and wife separate. Read all about it! Read all about it!

Sir.

Telegram from my lawyer in London.

His view is, yes, the newspaper coverage is bad,

but it's not disastrous,

and he feels confident it'll all die down in 48 hours.

He thinks we can ride it out.

You and I both know that's wishful thinking.

I've had my own telegram from London.

I hope you're not going to make this next step difficult for me.

You'll have my resignation first thing.

I'll need it now.

I hereby offer my resignation

as principal private secretary to his Duke of Edinburgh.

Effective immediately.

Accepted.

You've worked for me for long enough. You know the rules.

Who we are. How it works.

There is no room for mistakes. There is no room for scandal.

There is no room for humanity.

I think you should probably leave us in Gibraltar.

Might I suggest a policy of "no comment" on all counts,

and especially no letters?

Yes, of course.

Commander Parker!

Did the Duke fire you, sir?

Just a few words? Just a few words, sir.

Piss off.

Go on, piss off.

Go on now. Go on!

Go on, I've got nothing to say. Piss off!

Following the resignation of lieutenant commander Parker,

the British press have fallen into line and been oven/vhelmingly supportive.

But?

I'm afraid the foreign newspapers have not been so kind.

Yesterday, a story broke in the Baltimore sun...

- Where? - Baltimore, mommy.

Claiming that the capital was awash with rumor

that the Duke of Edinburgh was romantically involved

with an unnamed woman whom he met on a regular basis

in the west end apartment of a society photographer, baron nahum.

Nahum is also president of the Thursday club in soho,

of which the Duke of Edinburgh is a founder member.

Anyway, that story has rather lit the touch paper.

The British press has caught on, with the Manchester guardian reporting,

"not since the first rumors of a romance

"between the former king Edward viii and Mrs. Ernest Simpson

"have Americans gobbled up the London dispatches so avidly."

Go on.

The Sunday pictorial, on its front page,

reminds its readers that the royal family

"is loved and envied throughout the world

"because it is a family."

Time magazine has a headline, "too much thursdaying."

It goes on to say,

"not since Wallis Simpson stalked the corridors of Buckingham Palace

"have the eyes of the world been turned so beadily

"towards those chintz drapes."

I say we fly the Duke of Edinburgh back straight away.

That's one thought, your majesty. And it's a good one.

The devil's advocate might argue,

and I'd be interested to hear Michael's thoughts on this,

that the Duke's early return, obviously stage-managed by the palace,

might appear too much of a concession to the newspapers

and pour even more petrol on the flames.

I would agree.

And we don't want that.

So, what then?

What?

Yes?

The admiral would like a word, sir.

That's fine. Tell him he can come.

As a matter of fact, he suggested you go to see him, sir.

- Thank you, sir. - Sir.

But it's something else to attack Chinese currents in a flycatcher

and then put down on the deck of a hermes in a 50-knot wind...

Admiral.

Do come in, commander.

Thank you.

Buckingham Palace has been in touch

regarding your reunion photo-call with her majesty the queen.

With you? Not me?

I'm in command of this ship.

I am her husband.

It's been agreed that her majesty

will fly out to Lisbon a day ahead of schedule.

- As I see it, your instructions... - Instructions?

Are to meet her at the airfield.

They've been quite specific for how the reunion is to be managed.

Thank you.

Tie.

Not that one. One that's fit for an adult.

Those were the instructions.

For god's sake. It has hearts on it.

And the hat, too?

- Yes, sir. - I hate hats.

I believe its value on this occasion is not in its being worn,

but in its being removed.

"In a gesture of chivalry and deference."

Before I enter the aircraft.

Before you reach the stairs of the aircraft.

Michael.

Your hat, sir.

Yes, perhaps it would be prudent to postpone the civic lunches...

Darling.

We'll talk later.

Shall we?

Your majesty!

And here they are. Reunited at last, but for how long?

Your royal highness!

Have you missed her?

And display of a united front to the world.

This will do little to quell rumors of a rift.

Unprecedented scenes here,

as photographers from all over the world...

The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

hide from the world's eyes on board the royal yacht.

Now the eyes of the world turn towards the royal yacht,

on which they have sought shelter.

No, no, no, I see.

Thank you.

That was the palace press secretary.

In his view, the steps that we've taken...

The show we've put on.

The steps that we've taken haven't quite done the trick.

The rumors still haven't gone away.

I think we both agree, it can't go on like this.

So I thought we might take this opportunity,

without children, without distraction,

to lay our cards on the table

and talk frankly, for once,

about what needs to change to make this marriage work.

All right. Who goes first?

Stupid question. If I've learned one thing by now, it's that I go second.

If I am to go first, that's where I'd start.

Your complaining.

-My complaining? 4tsincessant

whining and whingeing like a child...

Are you surprised?

The way those god-awful mustaches

that run the palace continue to infantilize me.

Perhaps if you weren't behaving like an infant...

Giving me lists, sending me instructions.

"Do this, don't do that, wear this, don't wear that,

"say this, don't say that."

Can you imagine anything more humiliating?

Yes. As a matter of fact, I can.

I've learnt more about humiliation in the last few weeks

than I hoped I would in a lifetime.

I've never felt more alone than I have in the past five months.

And why do you think that was?

- Because of your behavior. - Because you sent me away.

- Yes. And why do you think that was? - I don't know. You tell me.

Because you're lost.

You're lost in your role, and you're lost in yourself.

Christ.

Look...

I realize that this marriage has turned out to be something quite different

- to what we both imagined. - Understatement.

And that we both find ourselves in a...

Pfison?

In a situation that is unique.

Our marriage is different to any other in the country

because the exit route which is open to everyone else...

Divorce?

Yes, divorce.

It's not an option for us.

Ever

This restlessness of yours, it has to be a thing of the past.

It's what I need.

And it's what our family needs.

The monarchy's too fragile.

You keep telling me yourself, one more scandal,

one more national embarrassment and it would all be over.

So, what would make it easier on you?

To be in, not out?

What will it take?

You're asking my price?

I'm asking what it will take.

All right.

To make it work,

to make it bearable,

I'll need the respect and acknowledgment of the dreaded mustaches.

Please stop calling them that.

I'll stop calling them that when they don't all have one.

An end to their snobbery and prejudice, no more being sniffed at

for being a foreigner with a background nobody understands.

- Well, you earn their respect... - No.

- With your behavior. - No. No.

I will earn their respect with the only thing

those creatures understand: A gesture, a statement.

Something irrefutable that shuts them up and commands their respect.

Right now, I am currently outranked by my eight-year-old son!

Well, yes, of course. He's the heir to the throne.

I am his father, Elizabeth.

Her majesty the queen

has been pleased by letters patent under the great seal of the realm

bearing the date the 22nd of February, 1957,

to give and to Grant

unto his royal highness, the Duke of Edinburgh,

the style and titular dignity

of a prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern Ireland.

The Duke of Edinburgh shall henceforth be known

as his royal highness, the prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

"O, famous son of england, this is he.

"Great by land and great by sea

"thine island loves thee well

"thou greatest sailor since our world began"

quite marvelous, sir. Thank you.

"Now to the roll of muffled drums

"to thee the greatest soldier comes

"for this is he, 0 give him welcome

"this is he, england's greatest son

"he that gained a hundred fights

"nor ever lost an English gun"

quite magnificent, sir.

Quite marvelous.

Michael? Do you have a moment?

Of course, ma'am.

Sorry it's a bit gloomy.

A bit?

I was never much good around the house without Eileen.

You could have at least put the fire on.

Hey. I've provided whiskey, all right?

I've burnt some sausages. Who do you think you are, royalty?

Here you are.

- To our wives and sweethearts. - May they never meet.

What will you do now? Go back to the Navy?

No. I'm going back home.

The Navy is home.

My other home.

Australia.

Can I come?

But I thought everything was all sorted in your world.

Well, as sorted as it can be. When you sell yourself.

She wants more children.

I told her the last thing the world needs

is more royal mouths to feed.

She said, "you should think of it as a second act."

Of what? A Greek tragedy?

Of her life as a mother.

That makes sense, from her perspective.

Charles isn't a child to her, is he? He's also the crown.

A living embodiment of who will replace her, supersede her.

Loving a child who, through no fault of his own,

represents your own death can't be easy.

- No. - Because she is a little cold with him.

She tries her best.

Might be nice to have a couple of kids that are just kids.

Not mortal threats.

Who she can actually love.

It's the airport driver.

What will I do without you?

I'm always at the end of a telephone.

That's it then?

End of an era.

Thank you for that era.

No. No, Mike.

Thank you.

- Sir. - Philip.

Sir.