Personality and image of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II has never given a press interview. Her views on political issues are therefore largely unknown except to those few heads of government in her confidence. Conservative in dress, she is well known for her solid-colour overcoats and matching hats which allow her to be seen easily in a crowd.[1] She attends many cultural events as part of her public role. Her main leisure interests include horse racing, photography, and dogs, especially her Pembroke Welsh corgis.[2]
Public image
Always a popular figure in the UK and many other countries, opinion polls have regularly shown that she has an excellent approval rating. Coinciding with her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen experienced an approval rate in the United Kingdom of 90% in 2012.[3] According to an YouGov poll in January 2014, the Queen was the most admired person in the United Kingdom with almost 20% of the vote. Internationally she was the 17th most-admired woman in the world.[4]
Since she uses little political power in the day-to-day running of her countries outside of her advisory duties, she is, as a result, unlikely to be held responsible for unpopular policies followed by elected politicians. However, her weekly meetings with the Prime Minister of the UK, other meetings with her other prime ministers, and the images of her working at her desk reading government documents, make it appear as if she is not out of touch with her nations. In 2002, the Queen was ranked 24th in the 100 Greatest Britons poll. However, in 1997, she and other members of the royal family were perceived in the tabloid press as cold and unfeeling when they did not participate in the public outpouring of grief at the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.[5] The Queen ignored precedent to bow to Diana's coffin as it passed Buckingham Palace and also gave a live television broadcast paying tribute to Diana.[6]
Elizabeth's public image has noticeably softened in recent years; although she remains reserved in public, she has been seen laughing and smiling much more than in years past, and has shed tears during emotional occasions such as at Remembrance Day services,[7] the memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral for those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, and in Normandy, for the 60th anniversary of D-Day, where she addressed the Canadian troops. During most public performances, she is dressed in solid colours, as this enhances visibility from a distance.
In recent years, Elizabeth has also been portrayed as being a modern grandmother. She is said to have been "addicted" to playing with a Nintendo Wii, which was bought by Kate Middleton for Prince William. She set up her e-mail account and owns both a mobile phone and an iPod.[8] When President Barack Obama visited the Queen and Prince Philip in April 2009, he gave her a personalised iPod, which was pre-loaded with forty "classic" tunes and video footage of her visit to Virginia.[9] The following month, on 21 May 2009, it was reported that video games company THQ had given the Queen a special version of the Nintendo Wii console; instead of the usual colour white plastic casing, the Queen's personalised version was gold-plated.[10]
Personality in diplomacy matters
In matters of diplomacy, Elizabeth is formal, and royal protocol is generally very strict. Though some of the traditional rules for dealing with the monarch have been relaxed during her reign (bowing is no longer required, for example, although it is still frequently performed), other forms of close personal interaction, such as touching, are discouraged by officials. At least five people are known to have broken this rule, the first being Alice Frazier, who hugged the Queen in 1991 during her 13-day United States visit, when Elizabeth, accompanied by Barbara Bush and Jack Kemp, visited a government housing project in Washington.[11] The second was Paul Keating, Prime Minister of Australia, when he was photographed with his arm around the Queen in 1992. The third was the Canadian cyclist Louis Garneau, who did the same thing ten years later, for a photograph with the Queen at Rideau Hall; the Queen appeared to take no offence at Garneau's action.[12] The fourth was John Howard, Paul Keating's successor as Prime Minister of Australia. In 1997 during the Cabot 500 celebrations of Newfoundland and Labrador, the then Premier Brian Tobin placed an arm behind her while walking up a staircase. This was frowned upon in the news regarding to Tobin breaking the royal rule, but the Premier said that he placed his arm around her as an effort to help an elderly woman climb the stairs. In 2009, the Queen initiated an affectionate gesture with First Lady Michelle Obama at a palace reception she attended with President Obama. The Queen rested her hand briefly at the small of the First Lady's back, a gesture that Mrs. Obama returned. It was remarked at the time as unprecedented and described afterwards by a palace spokeswoman as "a mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation between The Queen and Michelle Obama."[13]
Media perception
Elizabeth has attended many cultural events as part of her public role. She has given an annual Christmas message to the Commonwealth every year, apart from 1969, since she became Queen. The Queen's first television message was aired on Christmas Day 1957.[14] In 2001, the Royal Christmas Message was webcast on the royal website for the first time and, in 2006, it was made available as a podcast. Her first appearance on live television in Canada was in Prescott, Ontario, in 1959 when, as Queen of Canada, she opened the Saint Lawrence Seaway.[15]
The journalist and BBC Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys has long stated that his career ambition is to get the first full interview with the Queen. In 2006, the Queen came close to an orthodox interview when she agreed to be portrait-painted by the popular Australian artist and personality Rolf Harris, who engaged in small talk with her, on film, and with palace permission. It was shown on the BBC, CBC, and ABC. However, their conversation ventured little beyond previous portraits of the Queen and royal art history in general, and the Queen's responses to Harris's conversational overtures were notably crisp and monosyllabic. The 1992 BBC documentary on the Queen, Elizabeth R, directed by Edward Mirzoeff on the fortieth anniversary of her accession, attracted record audiences for a factual programme.
The BBC, however, along with RDF Media Group, became the target of Her Majesty's lawyers, Farrer & Co, after the broadcaster aired a documentary trailer for Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work, which was edited in such a way as to make it appear as though the Queen had stormed out of a photo shoot with photographer Annie Leibovitz. The BBC had earlier apologised for the misrepresentation, which was fuelled by BBC1 controller Peter Fincham describing the Queen as "losing it a bit and walking out in a huff"; but, the Queen and Buckingham Palace were not satisfied with the results and pushed to sue for breach of contract.[16]
The Queen is the subject of "Her Majesty", written by Paul McCartney and featured on the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road; McCartney played the song at the Party at the Palace concert during the Elizabeth's golden jubilee in 2002. She had previously also been mentioned in the 1967 Lennon and McCartney song "Penny Lane". In 1977, The Sex Pistols issued "God Save the Queen", which became a controversial hit single, inspiring the punk rock movement with its lyrics suggesting "She ain't no human being", there was "no future" and comparing England to a "fascist regime."[17] The Smiths released the song and album The Queen Is Dead in 1986. The Pet Shop Boys have a track called Dreaming of the Queen. The Queen is the subject of "Elizabeth My Dear", which appears on The Stone Roses' eponymous debut. The Queen also plays detective in the Her Majesty Investigates series of mystery novels by C.C. Benison, which includes Death at Buckingham Palace and Death at Windsor Castle. The Queen is the subject of The Queen and I, written by Sue Townsend. She is referenced in the Travie McCoy song "Billionaire" where he sings that he wants to be "on the cover of Forbes magazine./ Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen."
In 2006, she was portrayed by Helen Mirren in the Golden Globe- and Academy Award-nominated Stephen Frears film The Queen, a fictional account of the immediate events following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The film ended up as the most critically acclaimed film of 2006.[18] Mirren, who had been appointed into the Order of the British Empire in 2003, won the Oscar for her work in the film and, in her acceptance speech, she paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II: "For 50 years and more, Elizabeth Windsor has maintained her dignity, her sense of duty and her hairstyle," she said.[19]
In a 2006 book, Who Owns the World: The Hidden Facts Behind Landownership, Kevin Cahill claimed that Queen Elizabeth II holds ownership of one sixth of the land on the Earth's surface, more than any other individual or nation. This amounts to a total of 6,600 million acres (2.7×1013 m2) in 32 countries.[20] However, this is based on the legal technicality that a crown, as an institution, owns all the territory over which it rules, like any government of a non-allodial state. This land thus does not belong to the Queen personally, but to her, through the Crown, as part of the governments of the respective realms over which she reigns.
Private Eye, the British satirical magazine, has given the royal family working-class nicknames, as though they were characters in a soap opera.[21] Queen Elizabeth II's nickname is "Brenda".[22]
Critics
Campaigner Peter Tatchell criticised the Queen for inviting "royal tyrants to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee". The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is accused of human rights abuses and King of Swaziland Mswati III of living in luxury while his people starve. Saudi Arabia and Kuwaiti royals were also invited and Amnesty International has reported repression in Saudi Arabia against reformists, while Human Rights Watch has criticised Kuwait of the freedom of press. Buckingham Palace said it would not comment.[23]
Quotations
There are few, if any, unofficial quotations attributable to the Queen from the beginning of her reign, since it is deemed a serious breach of protocol to repeat private comments. She has said:
- "I should like to be a horse."[24]
- "What a life one lives."
- "Oh dear, bad doggie. Bad doggie"
- "I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else - I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations."
- "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."
- "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'… This generosity and whole-hearted kindness of the Corporation of the City to Prince Philip and me would be welcome at any time, but at this particular moment, in the aftermath of Friday's tragic fire at Windsor, it is especially so."[25]
- "Work is the rent you pay for the space you take up on earth."
Fictional portrayals
Film
Elizabeth has been portrayed on screen by:
- Steven Walden in drag in the X-rated short film spoof Tricia's Wedding (1971), said to be the very first portrayal of the Queen on film.[26]
- Huguette Funfrock, a French actress who specialises in playing her, in the spoof Bons baisers de Hong Kong (1975), the comedy Le Bourreau des coeurs (1983), and the Hong Kong film Aces Go Places 3 (1984)
- Jeannette Charles, who specialises in playing the Queen, in numerous film and television appearances, including:
- Angela Thorne voiced the character of Queen Elizabeth in The BFG (1989)
- Carolyn Sadowska in The Duke (1999)
- Margaret Eggleton-Kaye in the comedy The Pooch and the Pauper (1999)
- Rachel Wallis in Her Majesty (2001)
- Jeanette Vane in Ali G Indahouse (2002)
- Neve Campbell in the spoof Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004)
- Dame Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Lesley Staples in the straight-to-video Royal Faceoff (2006)
- Elena Safonova in the Russian comedy film A Hare over the Abyss (2006)
- Hrithik Roshan in a Bollywood Film Dhoom 2, sky-dives and lands on a train carrying the Queen. He steals Elizabeth II's crown by disguising himself as the Queen and escapes. (2006)
- Elizabeth Richard in the disaster movie 2012 (2009). She was shown in a cameo while going to one of the arks to save herself and her dogs; in the straight-to-video comedy Never Say Never Mind: The Swedish Bikini Team (2001); and in the American movie What a Girl Wants (2003)
- Freya Wilson as a child in The King's Speech (2010)
- Sarah Gadon as a young Princess Elizabeth in A Royal Night Out (2015)
Television
On television, Elizabeth has been played by:
- Jeannette Charles and Huguette Funfrock many times from the 1970s onwards, mostly in comedic roles
- Stanley Baxter, controversially (at the time) in The Stanley Baxter Picture Show (1972)
- Sheila Steafel in several episodes of the BBC comedy series The Goodies (1975–1977)
- Jo Kendall in an episode of The Goodies entitled "Politics" (1980)
- Margaret Tyzack in the drama Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story (1982)
- Dana Wynter in the drama The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana (1982)
- Sally Grace in an episode of the BBC sitcom Never the Twain entitled "The Royal Connection" (1984)
- Mary Reynolds (uncredited) in the Doctor Who story "Silver Nemesis" (1988)
- Prunella Scales in the BBC drama A Question of Attribution (1992), based on the play by Alan Bennett
- Iris Russell in the drama Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors (1992)
- Carolyn Sadowska in the drama The Women of Windsor (1992)
- Amanda Walker in the drama Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After (1992)
- Anne Stallybrass in the drama Diana: Her True Story (1993)
- Elizabeth Richard many times, including the comedy dramas Giving Tongue (1996) and Gobble (1997)
- Lisa Daniely in the drama Princess in Love (1996)
- Irm Hermann in the German comedy Willi und die Windzors (1996)
- Beth Boyd in the comedy My Government and I (2000)
- Naomi Martin in the Carlton Television drama Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
- Rosemary Leach in the drama Prince William (2002) and the BBC comedy drama Tea with Betty (2006)
- Julia Munrow in the BBC drama Love Again (2003), about Philip Larkin
- Helen Duffy in an episode of the sitcom Hannah Montana entitled "Grandmas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Play Favorites" (2006)
- Dilys Laye in the comedy drama series The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006)
- Jessica Martin briefly at the end of the Christmas special of the BBC series Doctor Who entitled "Voyage of the Damned" (2007)
- Rosemary Leach in Margaret (2009)
- Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Barbara Flynn, Susan Jameson, and Diana Quick in the docudrama serial The Queen (2009)
- Jane Alexander in William & Catherine: A Royal Romance (2011)
- Emma Thompson in the Playhouse Presents episode Walking the Dogs (2012)
Jan Ravens was the voice for a latex puppet caricature of her in Spitting Image (1984–1996), and gave radio and television comedy impressions of her in Dead Ringers. Scott Thompson gave a recurring impression of Queen Elizabeth II on the Canadian skit television show The Kids in the Hall in the early 1990s. Tracey Ullman's depiction of the Queen was among many roles she played on the television series Tracey Takes On.... The Simpsons portrayed the Queen during the episode "The Regina Monologues" (2003). She was also shown in the SpongeBob SquarePants TV movie Truth or Square. She has been portrayed on Saturday Night Live by both Fred Armisen and Mike Myers.
Stage
- Helen Mirren in The Audience (2013)
- Kristin Scott Thomas in The Audience (2015)
Novels
- In the alternate history novel Fatherland by Robert Harris, George VI was deposed when Nazi Germany conquered the United Kingdom and the British Empire in the early 1940s. Most of the Royal Family were forced into exile in Canada and his elder brother Edward VIII was restored to the throne. After George's death in 1952, his eldest daughter Princess Elizabeth was recognised by the governments of Canada, Australia and the United States as the rightful British monarch.
- In the alternate history novel Back in the USSA by Eugene Byrne and Kim Newman in which the United States of America became a communist state in 1917, Edward VIII almost lost his throne over his relationship with Wallis Simpson in 1936. However, the abdication was averted and he and Mrs Simpson eventually married. He remained King until his death in 1972, though with Wallis as Princess Consort rather than Queen. His younger brother Albert, Duke of York was his heir presumptive but he died in 1952. The Duke's eldest daughter Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh died of respiratory disease caused by London fog in 1968 while his younger daughter Princess Margaret was removed from the line of succession to the British throne as she converted to Catholicism and married a lunatic. Consequently, Princess Elizabeth's eldest son Charles, Duke of Cornwall became the heir presumptive. Her mother Elizabeth, Duchess of York was still alive in 1972.
- In the alternate history novel Dominion by C. J. Sansom, the Second World War ended in June 1940, when the British government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Lord Halifax, signed a peace treaty with Nazi Germany in Berlin. Elizabeth II came to the throne upon the death of her father George VI on February 6, 1952.
- In World War Z, the Queen is mentioned but not seen. It is stated that as zombies began to take over the UK, she refused to leave London and move to Canada as the government suggested, mirroring her father's actions during World War II of not leaving. She also opened up all of her houses and castles for displaced people to live and defend themselves.
Documentaries and TV Series
Film
- Royal Journey (1951)
- Royal Heritage (Short documentary) (1952)
- A Queen is Crowned (1953)
- Elizabeth is Queen (Short documentary) (1953)
- Royal Destiny (Short documentary) (1953)
- A Queen's World Tour (1954)
- Royal New Zealand Journey (1954)
- The Queen in Australia (1954)
- The Sceptre and the Mace (Short documentary) (1958)
- Life of a Queen (Short documentary) (1960)
- The Queen Returns (1963)
- The Majestic Life of Queen Elizabeth II (2013)
TV Films and Series
- Royal Family (1969)
- Elizabeth - The First Thirty Years (1983)
- Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen (1992)
- Days of Majesty (1993)
- The Windsors: A Royal Family (1994)
- Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work (2007)
- A Jubilee Tribute to the Queen by the Prince of Wales (TV Movie documentary) (2012)
- Ballade pour une reine (2012)
- Happy and Glorious (and stunt double Gary Connery) in the short film, co-starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, part of the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony (2012)
- Elizabeth: Queen, Wife, Mother (TV Movie documentary) (2012)
- The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (TV Movie documentary) (2012)
- The Diamond Queen (2012)
- The Queen and Her Prime Ministers (TV Movie documentary) (2012)
- Our Queen (2013)
Patronage of charities
The Queen is patron of more than 620 charities and organisations[2] including:
- Campaign to Protect Rural England
- Canadian Medical Association
- The Kennel Club
- NSPCC
- Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children
- Royal School of Church Music
- Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
- Boys' Brigade
- Queens' College, Cambridge
- Visitor of Christ Church, Oxford
- Visitor of Westminster School
- Visitor of Ruthin School
References
- ↑ Cartner-Morley, Jess (10 May 2007). "Elizabeth II, belated follower of fashion". The Guardian (London). pp. p2, G2 section. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "80 Facts About The Queen". Royal Household. Retrieved 18 January 2007.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with the Queen at record high". Ipsos MORI. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
- ↑ http://royalcentral.co.uk/thequeen/the-queen-is-most-admired-person-in-britain-says-poll-22121
- ↑ Alderson, Andrew (26 September 2009). "Criticism of Queen after death of Diana 'hugely upset' Queen Mother". The Telegraph (London). Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ↑ YouTube - Diana Princess of Wales tribute
- ↑ BBC: "Queen's Tears for War Dead"
- ↑ Queen's Wii addiction. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ↑ Obama gives the Queen a personalised iPod. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ↑ Queen has a goldplated nintend Newslite, 22 May 2009
- ↑ "Things a Queen Can't Do". New York Times. 17 May 1992. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ↑ "Family snap breaks royal protocol". BBC News. 16 October 2002. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ↑ Low, Valentine (2 April 2009). "Queen and Michelle Obama - the story behind a touching moment". The Times. pp. p2, G2 sectionlocation=London. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
- ↑ "1950s to the present". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ Department of Canadian Heritage: Test your royal skills
- ↑ Alderson, Andrew; Queen sends in lawyers over 'royal rage' film The Telegraph, 12 August 2007
- ↑ Shone, Tom (13 June 2012). "Queen Elizabeth II as Pop-Culture Target for Warhol, Sex Pistols, and More". Newsweek. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ↑ "The Queen" Reviews RottenTomatoes.com
- ↑ "Mirren 'too busy' to meet Queen" BBC News, 10 May 2007
- ↑ Who Owns The World official website
- ↑ "God Help The Queen" New York Times, 5 October1997
- ↑ Sullivan, Andrew (5 October 1997). "God Help the Queen". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ The Queen's lunch for monarchs attracts controversy BBC 18 May 2012
- ↑ Life Magazine, 20 August 1945, p. 60.
- ↑ "Annus horribilis speech, 24 November 1992 (given at The Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of the Queen's Accession)", Royal
- ↑ "Queens of the small screen". The Independent, 27 November 2009.
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