HM the Queen and Lady Thatcher

WHEN SHE WAS IN POWER, it was frequently claimed that relations between HM and Mrs Thatcher were frosty. Well whatever the truth in that, a very old and doddery Margaret Thatcher here pays a birthday tribute to the sovereign:

Tara Palmer Tomkinson: These Boots (Were Made For Walking)

SEVERAL NON-SINGING CELEBS agreed to do BBC TV's Fame Academy, an X-Factor or American Idol style show where wannabe pop stars train and develop. And get kicked out one by one. Tara Palmer Tomkinson is a very posh British "it girl" in the Paris Hilton mould, who counts Prince Charles as a family friend. In the true "do anything" attitude of public school tradition, she here gives Nancy Sinatra's classic a good going-at:~

Tara Palmer Tomkinson Poppadum Flavour Crisps Ad

TARA PALMER TOMKINSON is the only socialite I really like. Here's her Walker's Crisps ad featuring retired footballer Gary Linneker for Poppadum flavour snacks (just shows how much Indian culture has got under the British skin!)

Elizabeth R: 1992 documentary on HM Queen Elizabeth II

This is the entire close-up documentary about HM the Queen as shown on BBC TV back in 1992

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Part 11 of 11 Summer hols in Balmoral, Scotland

Kate Middleton & Chelsy Davy: Paparazzi Queens

Kate Middleton is middle-middleclass girlfriend to Prince William who is second in line to the British throne. South African born upper-middleclass heiress Chelsy Davy is dating Prince Harry who is third in line...

Kylie Minogue Receives Her OBE At Buckingham Palace

An OBE (Order of the British Empire) is an honour bestowed on commoners for achievements in the field of their chosen careers...

Helen Mirren plays "The Queen"

I PARTICULARLY WANTED TO SEE this film when it came out a couple of years ago. But seasons are so very short that this movie, grand enough to attract huge display stacks at the local supermarket on DVD with a free box of chocolates, had been pulled from all our local multiscreens in less than a month. Which is far too short a time for my brain to process information!

Having seen these clips I'd say it falls into the typically annoying film-maker's traps of caricaturing both characters and situation. I mean, as if we're meant to believe the New Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair was interested in PR more than anything else. Of coure he was very much in tune with image, but I think even he had mightier and meatier concerns in his role as PM.

I love the telling set design and contrasts between Her Majesty's stateliness and the Blairs' New Labour New Britain Argos catalogue version of number 11 Downing Street (where they actually lived, though keeping the formal address of number 10. Number 10's private apartments were too pokey for a young family with small kids so they stayed in the Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister's) official quarters next door.

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Helen Mirren always said she was not interested in "impersonating" Elizabeth II, rather to capture her spirit on film, which is what most reviewers consider she achieved remarkably well.

Here's the actual Broadcast to the British People as shown in 2/2 above...