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The Crown S06E06 [Full Movie] [Hot 2026]Full EP - Full
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00:21And so, Coronation Day is upon us for the first time since 1953.
00:31A three-day people's festival has been declared with concerts and street parties up and down
00:37the country.
00:43The former queen is understood to be devastated and is unlikely to attend the service.
00:53Many had been unable to imagine life without Elizabeth II.
00:58But after almost 50 years on the throne, it's out with Queen Elizabeth and in with King Tony.
01:10New Britain has a new royal family.
01:13The Labour Party.
01:21The King leaves the Abbey to the strains of the new national anthem.
01:26You can walk my path, you can wear my shoes, not to talk like me, and be an angel too.
01:42I'm singing it now, please.
02:01And for the usual rounds and controversies of political office.
02:07the Prime Minister's personal satisfaction ratings
02:10rose by one point to an extraordinary 66%.
02:14The moment we'll join our colleagues at the World Service,
02:17but in the meantime, on behalf of everybody at Broadcasting House,
02:21good night.
02:22Oh, see, oh, gracious, we don't leave another queen
02:32Oh, say it's a queen
02:38Silver, victorious, happy and glorious
02:47Long to reign over us
02:53Oh, say it's a queen
03:04I'd like to talk briefly about the Prime Minister, if I may
03:10Historically, I've not worried too much about Prime Minister's popularity.
03:13It tends to come and go very quickly, but I have a feeling that could be different with Mr. Blair
03:20People really do seem to love him and see him as a true son of England and a unifying national
03:26symbol in a way they used to see
03:28Well, me. And with Mr. Blair scoring higher than me in every survey one can find, perhaps now is the
03:38time
03:39Ma'am?
03:40To find out what seems to have gone wrong and how we could... I could do better.
03:47I understand the impulse, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.
03:54The Crown doesn't ask existential questions of itself.
03:58Perhaps it should.
03:59It suggests a loss of confidence. It's putting blood in the water.
04:04It's just information, Robert.
04:07I agree. And I think, finally, I'm ready to hear it.
04:31The focus groups you asked for, ma'am, have now been conducted in Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff.
04:42I can now reveal...
04:43Manchester...
04:44...but the subject is...
04:45...and Liverpool.
04:47The British royal family.
04:50Professional liabounds.
04:51More than 2,000 subjects over the age of 18 were asked a series of yes or no questions about
04:58the monarchy.
04:59I consider the royal family to be an important part of British society.
05:04Yeah, I'll go along with that.
05:05I think you're being quite disrespectful.
05:07Followed by some, at times, spirited debate.
05:10Keep it civil, please.
05:12Having reviewed the data, the pollsters have now presented their findings.
05:18Asked if the royal family were out of touch with ordinary people, 69% said yes.
05:26Badly advised, 62% said yes.
05:32Asked if they were wasteful of public money, 54% said yes.
05:37Asked if they lacked compassion, 53% said yes.
05:44Asked if they had failed the Princess of Wales as badly in death as in life, a sobering 66%
05:52said yes.
05:55Asked if Britain should have a smaller, more informal monarchy like the Netherlands or Scandinavia, 54% said yes.
06:04And when asked if the monarchy should continue in its present form, the proportion that agreed was just 10%.
06:13I'd like to propose my own survey.
06:16How many of us think that polls are a daft idea in the first place?
06:21I don't see why we should have to listen to these people.
06:24Because we might actually learn something.
06:26And the sample, as I understand it, is selected to represent society as a whole, isn't it?
06:30It's still a folly to subject something as enduring as the monarchy to the whims of marketing men.
06:36I do think it's significant that our low numbers come at the same time that we have a Prime Minister
06:42of conspicuous popularity.
06:45Yes.
06:47Only Winston, at his height, had this kind of support.
06:50Have you learnt nothing in the time you've been on the throne?
06:53Prime Ministers come in on a blaze of popularity and goodwill.
06:57And leave on a stretcher a few years later with their reputations and usually their health in tatters.
07:02Yes, exactly.
07:04Well, I think this one might be different.
07:34Western economy can beä»cak with mankindTalk.
07:38A late man ģ“ź² reasonably poor.
07:42It's very freakier than my child is going home to eat.
07:43And have you been toize and ŃŠ»ŃŃŠ°Š¹ards?
07:44Now, while you have this island, I will keep people whoå®¢č¦ Stanford j pathetic and curald were in other ways.
08:028um Bilduco, in the hunt for sun will front as a koeler.
08:25Okay.
08:35Good evening.
08:38We hoped never to see war in Central Eastern Europe again in our lifetimes.
08:46Sadly, it has come, and it has consequences for the whole world.
08:54Tonight, NATO allies launched an offensive against Serb military targets.
09:04Slobodan MiloÅ”eviÄ is a monstrous dictator carrying out the systematic and violent persecution of innocent civilians.
09:14He has to be stopped.
09:16We have a moral duty to ensure he does not succeed.
09:25To all of us in free countries who think this is a remote conflict and someone else's problem, I say
09:33this.
09:34If you value your freedom, you cannot remain neutral.
09:40This is your war, too.
09:52It's encouraging that our NATO partners have come together like this against the Serbs, but, well, moral purpose is one
09:58thing.
09:59Military success is quite another.
10:02Every bombing target has to be approved by committee, which makes decisions agonizingly slow.
10:08We thought this aerial campaign would be over in days.
10:11Instead, two weeks and little or no progress has been made.
10:15The Serbs are laughing at us.
10:17I read that the problem was cloud cover.
10:21American stealth bombers need good conditions to see their targets.
10:24The most sophisticated weaponry in the world, and it can't handle the weather.
10:29Which is why we ultimately need ground troops.
10:32I proposed to President Clinton a limited invasion of 80,000 troops, which would drive Serb forces out of Kosovo
10:38and create safe havens for refugees to return.
10:41But he said most Americans can't point to Yugoslavia on a map, so why put U.S. servicemen's lives at
10:46risk?
10:47Yes.
10:48It's most frustrating.
10:50But I won't give up, Marley.
10:53This is the right thing.
10:58Mr Blair was unusually resolute today.
11:02In my experience, Prime Ministers tend to be either domestic or foreign policy focused.
11:09At this early stage, I'd say Mr Blair falls very firmly into the latter camp.
11:14Yes.
11:15Statesman syndrome.
11:18Which am I, do you think?
11:20The domestic or foreign policy queen?
11:23Good question, ma'am.
11:26And it's not immediately obvious.
11:28The Commonwealth of Nations is such an article of faith to you, so I'm inclined to say foreign.
11:32For you, sir.
11:35Who else, off the top of their heads, for example, will be able to reel off the name of the
11:38president of Malawi?
11:41Michele Maluzzi.
11:42And the next member state to have general elections?
11:45Fiji.
11:46Their first since readmission.
11:48But despite all that, it's your interest in every part of the British Isles that I think ultimately makes you
11:53a domestic queen.
11:54Take today's engagement at the Women's Institute.
11:57Composing the speech, composing the speech yourself, with, if I may say, evident enthusiasm.
12:01Of course.
12:03The uncomplaining, hard-working countrywomen of Middle England, you underestimate them at your peril.
12:10And if the sea in ancient times walk upon England's mountains free, and cross the wall in the land of
12:28the sea,
12:29and cross the wall in the land of the sea, and cross the wall in the land of the sea.
12:50The Women's Institute movement came to Britain in 1915.
12:57Since its humble beginnings in a Welsh garden shed, our membership and our goals have reached new and remarkable heights.
13:07I've been a member of the WI for longer than I've been queen.
13:13Many of you will remember how vital we were to the war effort.
13:18From growing produce to hosting evacuees.
13:22I have fond memories of collecting rose hips for rose hip syrup.
13:27Do you remember the rose hips?
13:29Yes.
13:30For vitamin C deficiency.
13:31That's good.
13:35There are approximately 250,000 members of the Women's Institute in the United Kingdom.
13:43Roughly, the population of Hull.
13:47Can you imagine a city run and populated entirely by the WI?
13:53It would have the tidiest streets in Britain.
13:57Everything would run on time.
13:59And we would take all the men's jobs.
14:12No, I'm not, no, I'm not trying to patronize you.
14:14I'm not trying to make you look, yeah.
14:17Yeah, yeah, I understand.
14:19All right.
14:20Okay, bye-bye.
14:24And then he said, answer me this, Tony.
14:27No, no, please don't do the accent.
14:29How many ground troops are you all prepared to come in?
14:33So I say, look, Bill, we can talk about numbers all day.
14:38This is about the bigger picture.
14:39What if Milosevic wins?
14:41NATO's credibility is at stake.
14:43To which he said...
14:44NATO's credibility is already a busted flush.
14:47So you're allowed to do the accent.
14:48I do it better.
14:50He knows the fact you're coming to him like this
14:53means that NATO's air campaign has failed.
14:56But we still won't do what it takes,
14:57commit American ground troops.
15:00It's worried about it looking like another Vietnam
15:02with no political upside for him domestically.
15:05Well, you're never going to persuade the White House
15:07by appealing to their interests.
15:10So do what you do best.
15:14Appeal to their consciences.
15:26While we meet here in Chicago this evening,
15:30terrible things are happening in Europe.
15:36No one who has seen what has happened in Kosovo
15:40to those refugees can be in any doubt
15:43that NATO's military action is justified.
15:51But we must do more than simply make our case.
15:56We must also succeed.
15:59For that, we depend on you.
16:03The United States.
16:06You are the most powerful country in the world
16:11and the richest.
16:14You are a great nation.
16:18And it must be difficult and sometimes irritating
16:24to find yourself the recipient of every demand.
16:27To be called upon in every crisis.
16:30To be expected always and everywhere
16:33to do what needs to be done.
16:36The cry,
16:38what's it got to do with us,
16:39must be heard fairly regularly.
16:43Yet those nations which have the power
16:47have the responsibility to use it wisely.
16:51We need you.
16:55We need America engaged.
17:00And so I say to you,
17:02never fall again
17:04for the doctrine of isolationism
17:06because the world truly cannot afford it.
17:10Stay, please,
17:13a country outward-looking
17:14with the vision
17:16and the imagination
17:17which is the very best of your nature.
17:20And realize, too,
17:22that in doing so,
17:23you will find in Britain
17:24a friend
17:25and an ally
17:27that will stand with you,
17:30work with you,
17:33fashion with you
17:34the design of a future
17:36built on peace
17:37and prosperity for all,
17:40which is the only dream
17:42that makes humanity
17:44worth preserving.
18:04A resounding success
18:05for the Prime Minister in America.
18:08The New York Times
18:10says the Prime Minister
18:11has a new nickname,
18:13King Tony.
18:15The Wall Street Journal
18:16has come out
18:17in emphatic support
18:18of his attempts
18:18to persuade a reluctant White House,
18:21but I think the best summary
18:22is from the Chicago Sun-Times.
18:24It claims Mr. Blair
18:25has beguiled the city
18:27with his charms,
18:28leaving Americans
18:29pining to have him
18:30as their president instead.
18:33Goodness.
18:34I gather President Clinton
18:35is now considering ground war,
18:37which would leave Milosevic
18:38and his Serb forces
18:40with the option
18:41to either fight
18:41and face total annihilation
18:44or else withdraw.
18:46And I suspect even they
18:48are sensible enough
18:48to choose the latter.
18:50So?
18:52The Prime Minister
18:53pulled it off.
18:54So it seems.
18:56This is an extraordinary
18:58political feat.
19:21The Prime Minister,
19:23Your Majesty.
19:24Your Majesty.
19:28I hope you didn't slip
19:29on the way here.
19:31Ma'am?
19:32It can't be easy
19:34walking on water.
19:37Please,
19:38do sit down.
19:40So,
19:40you insisted
19:42the West
19:43no longer stand by
19:45while genocide
19:45and slaughter
19:46take place
19:48and pulled it off
19:49without a single
19:50NATO casualty
19:51in combat.
19:52Great credit
19:53must go to the Americans
19:54when they signaled
19:55their openness
19:56to a ground invasion.
19:57Milosevic realized
19:58the game was up.
19:59But Clinton's
20:00change of heart
20:00is in great part
20:01thanks to you.
20:03It's one thing
20:04to have popularity.
20:06It's quite another
20:07to have influence.
20:09So I offer you
20:10my congratulations.
20:12You are,
20:13at this moment,
20:14by some margin,
20:15the most celebrated
20:16leader on the world stage.
20:17with remarkable instincts.
20:20And so,
20:23in the light of that,
20:26it's no secret
20:27that the crown
20:28has not had the best time
20:30of it in recent years.
20:31Often our values
20:33and those of the country
20:34have not been
20:34perfectly aligned.
20:36You,
20:37on the other hand,
20:39since you entered
20:39number 10,
20:40you've shown
20:41an uncanny ability
20:42to read the mood
20:42of the country
20:43better than anyone.
20:47and so I can't help
20:49but ask,
20:54what would you do
20:57to turn things round
20:58for us
21:00if you were in charge?
21:04If I were in charge
21:06of the monarchy?
21:08If you were in my shoes.
21:12If I were king?
21:15Yes.
21:20Goodness.
21:23For someone who so rarely
21:24puts a foot wrong,
21:25this seems to be
21:26a dangerous loss
21:27of judgment.
21:28She's asking for advice,
21:29Robert.
21:29She doesn't need to take it.
21:31But who is she asking?
21:32The prime minister.
21:33An avowed reformer
21:34and modernizer.
21:35Her chief advisor.
21:37I'm her chief advisor.
21:39Actually,
21:42constitutionally,
21:42Robert,
21:42I think you'll find
21:43he is.
21:48Can we walk through
21:49the five big changes
21:51that we want to make?
21:52Modernization.
21:52We reduce expenditure.
21:54Everyone's doing it.
21:55It's only fair
21:56that the queen
21:56is doing it as well.
21:58Some examples.
21:59Listen to this.
21:59Royal train.
22:01Ā£1,500
22:01for catering per journey.
22:03This is the time
22:04to get them in line
22:05with new labor.
22:06Honestly,
22:07it's an anachronistic,
22:09unrepresentative feudal system
22:10based on a thousand years
22:12of hereditary privilege.
22:13You'd be better off
22:14trying to modernize Stonehenge.
22:16Let's do the monarchy first
22:17and then we can get around
22:18to prehistoric monuments.
22:20Aren't those two things
22:21the same?
22:23Okay, I know it's unexciting,
22:25but administrative reform.
22:26We run the royals
22:27like we run the civil service.
22:28Yes.
22:30Accountability.
22:31There's nothing else
22:32that matters.
22:33It's just that.
22:34I mean,
22:34not being allowed
22:35to marry a Catholic.
22:37Pretty sure Article 12
22:38of the Human Rights Act
22:39states that people
22:39have the right
22:40to marry whoever they want.
22:41Says the Queen's Council.
22:42Well, that's wrong too.
22:43I should be called
22:44Senior Council.
22:45I think we can spin it
22:47like this.
22:47It would look really good
22:49if it came from the palace
22:50that they're prepared
22:51to tighten the purses.
22:52She knows that
22:53there has to be a change.
22:54Yes, yes.
22:56The voters don't want
22:57to take down the monarchy.
22:58A version of that
22:59in the dossier.
23:01It's all wrong, Tony.
23:02Seriously?
23:05Wrong.
23:08Needs changing.
23:19I'd like to start
23:20by thanking you
23:21for giving me
23:21the opportunity
23:22to do this.
23:24I'm ashamed to say
23:25most of the time
23:25we don't think seriously
23:26about the monarchy
23:27in this country.
23:28We just subject you all
23:29to a lot of hurtful
23:31and frivolous gossip.
23:33Really?
23:33I hadn't noticed.
23:37But having consulted
23:38with my closest advisers,
23:41we do all agree
23:43that the institution
23:44is in need of some reform.
23:46That much was clear
23:48after the death
23:48of Diana,
23:49Princess of Wales,
23:50when we saw
23:51an outpouring of grief
23:53turn into a mass movement
23:54for change.
23:56So,
23:57I thought we might
23:58start with something
24:00I know you're
24:01already considering.
24:02Primogeniture.
24:04Yes.
24:06Demoting eldest daughters
24:07in the line of succession,
24:08I think we can all agree,
24:10makes little sense
24:11in a modern society.
24:12As an eldest daughter
24:13myself,
24:14I don't object
24:14to that in principle.
24:16But to turn over
24:17centuries of royal legislation
24:19is no small task.
24:21You'd have to consult
24:22with the 15 other countries
24:24where I'm head of state.
24:27Where the will is there,
24:28these things
24:28can usually change quickly.
24:31Another area
24:32is transparency.
24:34My government
24:34will soon be introducing
24:35a Freedom of Information Act.
24:37I believe the monarchy
24:38might benefit
24:39from something similar.
24:40An annual report
24:41setting out performance,
24:43assets, salaries,
24:44total accountability.
24:46Think of the crown
24:46as a public limited company
24:48and the people of Britain
24:49as shareholders,
24:51not subjects.
24:52I see.
24:56It's now nearly 300 years
24:58since William III
24:58signed the Act of Settlement
25:00to secure a Protestant monarchy
25:01and there have been
25:04growing calls
25:04for a review
25:06of some of the more
25:08anti-Catholic provisions
25:09which surely have no place
25:11in a plural society
25:12like ours.
25:14I can understand
25:16permitting members
25:17of the royal family
25:18to marry Catholics
25:20but for Catholics
25:21to be in the direct line
25:22of succession
25:23would open the way
25:24to a Catholic monarch.
25:26Well, of course
25:27there'll be technical issues.
25:28Slightly more than
25:29technical issues.
25:30It would be the disestablishment
25:32of the Church of England.
25:35But we have to be willing
25:36to look at the big questions.
25:38There's no use
25:38nibbling around the periphery.
25:40Should it be the monarch's role
25:41to appoint the prime minister?
25:43Of course.
25:44It's a government
25:45in the sovereign's name.
25:47But to be able
25:48to dissolve parliament,
25:49to give laws royal assent,
25:51they don't in Sweden.
25:52These functions
25:53can be carried out
25:54by the Speaker
25:54of the House of Commons.
25:56Should the monarch
25:56be commander-in-chief
25:57of the armed forces?
25:58Again, they aren't in Sweden.
26:00They aren't in the Netherlands.
26:00Which brings me
26:02to the matter
26:02of pomp and splendor.
26:05I've been looking
26:06at some of the ceremonial offices
26:08in the royal household.
26:10And they include
26:12a hereditary grand falconer.
26:14Dear Murray,
26:15what about him?
26:17Does the job really
26:18need to depend
26:19on birth, not merit?
26:24The Queen's herb strewer,
26:26the washer
26:26of the sovereign's hands?
26:28That is only once
26:30per reign,
26:31and only when I'm
26:31in residence
26:32at Holyrood House.
26:34Still, a royal barge master
26:36and 24 watermen,
26:37even though there hasn't
26:38been a royal barge
26:39since 1849.
26:41A warden of the swans?
26:43Someone has to oversee
26:44the swans in England's
26:45inland waterways,
26:46over which the crown
26:47has an ancient
26:48prerogative right.
26:49But is that prerogative right?
26:52I understand that the role
26:54dates from the 12th century
26:55as a way to claim swans
26:57as delicacies for royal banquets.
26:58Now that the swan
26:59has, one imagines,
27:00fallen out of the
27:01culinary repertoire,
27:02how does one justify
27:03the role today?
27:04Kings and queens
27:05might not be eating
27:06them anymore.
27:07Someone has to care
27:08for them.
27:09We check them
27:10for injuries,
27:12maintain their habitat,
27:15ring them with tags
27:16from the British Trust
27:16for Ornithology,
27:18conservation.
27:20And that's before we get
27:21to the most anachronistic
27:22of all ceremonies,
27:24the state opening
27:24of Parliament.
27:25Do we really need
27:26ten heralds,
27:27including the Rouge Dragon
27:28Percevant and the
27:30Maltravers Herald
27:31Extraordinary,
27:33the gold stick in waiting,
27:35the silver stick in waiting,
27:36the gentleman usher
27:37of the Sword of State?
27:40I think what we're
27:42suggesting is a purge
27:45of honorifics,
27:46a bonfire of sinecures
27:48might be a useful concession
27:52and PR victory.
28:01I obviously need to give
28:02all this careful thought.
28:04Your Majesty.
28:14So, how was it?
28:18A little frosty.
28:20I bet.
28:22We should promise
28:22to give our proposals
28:23some further thought.
28:25No.
28:26Well, if she doesn't
28:27and the people get fed up
28:28with them,
28:29she'll only have herself
28:29to blame.
28:32Britain isn't mature enough
28:33as a country and a democracy
28:35now to live without
28:35this nonsense.
28:39Preservation of the monarch
28:40is her life's work.
28:43She must know that
28:44they have to change
28:45in order to survive.
28:48They don't want to change,
28:49Tony.
28:51I mean, she probably thinks
28:52the only way to survive
28:54is to double down
28:56on the madness.
28:58Like the Catholic Church.
29:00Let's not bring the church
29:00into this.
29:01Well, they modernized
29:03and the old guard
29:05has never forgiven them
29:05for it.
29:07Why?
29:08Because they got rid
29:09of the Latin
29:09and the incense
29:10and the miracles
29:11and the mystery
29:12and people stopped coming.
29:17This is different.
29:18Is it?
29:19Ā£758 million
29:21off to the project
29:22is money well spent.
29:33Mr Hawkins next, please.
29:36Yes.
29:40Please,
29:41make yourself comfortable.
29:45Swans.
29:45That's it.
29:46I'm the warden
29:47of the swans.
29:49It says here
29:50your role is
29:51one of the oldest
29:51in the household.
29:53That's right, sir.
29:54We've gone through
29:54several incarnations
29:56over the years.
29:57Keeper of the King of Swans,
29:59the King's Swanmaster,
30:00and now
30:01the warden
30:01of the swans.
30:07And what is
30:08your precise title?
30:10I am
30:11the Queen's Herbstrawler.
30:12The Queen's Guide
30:13to the Suns.
30:15Yeoman of the
30:15Glass and China Pantry.
30:18Could you tell us
30:19what your role
30:20involves
30:20day by day?
30:22It's my job
30:23to supervise
30:25the glassware
30:25and earthenware
30:26across all
30:27the royal palaces.
30:29I oversee stocks,
30:30I guard
30:32against any
30:33damage
30:34and breakages.
30:35What have you
30:36got there?
30:37Laws,
30:38orders,
30:38and customs
30:39of Swans.
30:41The authoritative
30:42text
30:43of what was then
30:44the Keeper
30:44of the King's Swans
30:45has been guiding
30:47us for centuries
30:48since 1482
30:49by my reckoning
30:50of the reign
30:50of Edward IV.
30:52I've seen the bay
30:52change in all manner
30:53of ways.
30:54News of high tides
30:55and heavy rainfall
30:56will change
30:57sands beyond
30:58recognition.
30:59Believe me,
31:00I've seen
31:00shallow gullies
31:02turn into
31:02deep ravines.
31:04What is your
31:04official title?
31:06Astronomer royal.
31:07Piper.
31:07It's the sovereign.
31:08Lord High Admiral
31:09of the Wash, ma'am.
31:10My responsibilities
31:11also include
31:13folding all
31:14170
31:15of the
31:16embroidered
31:17white linen
31:18napkins.
31:19Oh, that's you?
31:20Yes, ma'am.
31:21You are clever.
31:22How on earth
31:23do you do that?
31:24Few have truly mastered
31:25the Dutch
31:27bonnet napkin fold.
31:29The Swan
31:30is a pure
31:32and graceful
31:34beast.
31:37How's your
31:3715th century
31:38calligraphy, Robert?
31:40A little rusty.
31:45Her feathers
31:46are white
31:47as snow
31:48and as brief
31:50in duration.
31:53For she
31:54signifieth
31:55the past
31:56in nature
31:56of fair
31:58things.
32:00For though
32:01we wish
32:02our splendor
32:03to be
32:04everlasting,
32:05no thing
32:07must remain
32:08of what
32:09is past.
32:16The longer
32:17it went on,
32:18the heavier
32:19my heart
32:19became.
32:20I agree.
32:22I agree.
32:23A sense
32:23of pride
32:24in the tradition.
32:28I think
32:28my favourite
32:30was the
32:31yeoman bed
32:31hanger.
32:32Yes.
32:34Or the
32:35Lord High
32:35Admiral
32:35of the
32:36wash.
32:45so they
32:45don't want
32:46Blackrod
32:46knocking on
32:47the door
32:48or the
32:48Lord
32:49Great
32:49Chamberlain
32:50walking
32:50backwards.
32:51They've also
32:51suggested
32:52getting rid
32:53of the
32:53cap of
32:54maintenance.
32:55Presumably
32:56on the grounds
32:56that it can only
32:57be worn
32:57by a peer
32:58of the
32:58realm.
32:59But it's
32:59so full
33:00of colour
33:00and character
33:02and a
33:03glorious
33:03sea of
33:04millions.
33:05I think
33:05from a
33:06PR standpoint
33:07it might
33:08be sensible
33:08to make
33:09one or
33:09two
33:09concessions.
33:10Really?
33:11Leave us
33:11less open
33:12to charges
33:12of elitism
33:13and grandiosity.
33:14But that's
33:15missing the
33:15point.
33:16The whole
33:17purpose
33:18of the
33:18state
33:18opening
33:19is to
33:19humble
33:20the
33:20monarch.
33:22The
33:22Crown's
33:22representative
33:23Blackrod
33:24knocks on
33:24the door
33:25of the
33:25House
33:25of
33:25Commons
33:26and
33:26is
33:26rebuffed
33:27three
33:27times.
33:28Why?
33:30Because the
33:31last time
33:31a king
33:33overstepped
33:34the mark
33:34and entered
33:35the Commons,
33:36Charles I,
33:38it led to
33:39civil war
33:39and his
33:40execution.
33:42Parliament
33:43is warning
33:44the monarch.
33:46Never
33:46forget,
33:48we're
33:48in charge.
33:50She still
33:50arrives in
33:51the Irish
33:51state
33:52coats
33:52with an
33:52escort
33:53of
33:53household
33:53cavern
33:54and hundreds
33:55of guardsmen
33:56lining the
33:56route.
33:57It doesn't
33:57immediately
33:58feel like
33:59a lesson
33:59in humility.
34:00Are we
34:00really being
34:01lectured on
34:02humility by
34:02the Prince
34:03of Wales?
34:03We are.
34:04Well, I
34:04just don't
34:05feel there's
34:06anything wrong
34:06with running
34:07the monarchy
34:07on more
34:07rational and
34:09democratic lines.
34:11But monarchy
34:12isn't rational
34:13or democratic
34:14or logical
34:15or fair.
34:18Haven't we
34:18all learned
34:19that by now?
34:22People don't
34:23want to come
34:23to a royal
34:24palace and
34:24get what
34:24they could
34:25have at
34:25home.
34:27When they
34:28come for
34:28an investiture
34:29or a state
34:30visit,
34:31when they
34:32brush up
34:32against us,
34:33they want
34:33the magic
34:34and the
34:34mystery
34:35and the
34:36arcane
34:36and the
34:36eccentric
34:37and the
34:37symbolic
34:38and the
34:40transcendent.
34:43They want
34:44to feel
34:44like they've
34:45entered
34:45another world.
34:46That is
34:47our duty
34:49to lift
34:50people up
34:50and transport
34:51them into
34:51another realm,
34:52not bring
34:53them down
34:53to earth
34:54and remind
34:54them of
34:54what they
34:55already have.
34:58Hear,
34:59hear.
34:59The world
35:00has been
35:01gripped
35:01and the
35:01race for the
35:02White House
35:02has boiled
35:03down to a
35:03recount in
35:04the battleground
35:05state of
35:06Florida.
35:07Many in the
35:07Labour Party
35:08had hoped
35:08for a victory
35:09for Vice
35:10President Al
35:11Gore.
35:11But in a
35:13dramatic late
35:14night ruling,
35:15the US Supreme
35:16Court voted
35:175-4 to
35:18stop the
35:18recount,
35:19effectively
35:20handing the
35:20presidency to
35:21Texas Governor
35:22George W. Bush.
35:23Mr. Blair's
35:24closest international
35:25ally will be a
35:26man he has
35:27never spoken to
35:28or met.
35:28It couldn't
35:29have been
35:29more awkward.
35:30As you know,
35:30the Clintons were
35:31making their
35:32farewell visit to
35:33the UK and
35:33staying with us
35:34at Chequers
35:35while the
35:36ruling was
35:37being made.
35:37So there we
35:39all were,
35:39watching CNN
35:41in the middle
35:41of the night
35:42as the election
35:42is being decided.
35:44Oh dear.
35:44The following
35:45day President
35:45Clinton had
35:46to deliver
35:46a speech
35:47at the
35:47University
35:48of Warwick
35:48with me
35:48giving the
35:49opening remarks.
35:50Well, I had
35:51no choice but
35:52to offer
35:53warm congratulations
35:54to President
35:54Elect Bush
35:55in front of
35:56my good friend.
35:58Will it be
35:59challenging for
36:00you to have
36:01a Republican
36:01White House?
36:03I see no reason
36:04not to be
36:04optimistic.
36:07Let's not
36:08forget, I'll
36:09be the senior
36:09partner now,
36:10so I hope to
36:11be able to
36:11influence
36:11President Bush.
36:15Hmm.
36:20Your Majesty.
36:21Prime Minister.
36:29Uh, my office
36:30sent some suggestions
36:31ahead of the state
36:32opening a parliament.
36:33I was wondering
36:33if you had a chance
36:34to look at them.
36:35Rather more than that.
36:37I discussed them
36:38with my family.
36:40Believe it or not,
36:41for my first child,
36:43it was still
36:43custom to summon
36:44the Home Secretary
36:45to witness
36:46a royal birth.
36:49My father
36:50put a stop to it
36:51with my consent,
36:52so I'm not
36:53against reform.
36:54The question is
36:55what is worth
36:56preserving and where
36:57to draw the line.
36:59We have now
37:00conducted a thorough
37:01review of all
37:01the offices
37:02in my household,
37:03and what we
37:04discovered was not
37:05indefensible
37:06extravagance or luxury,
37:07or a collection
37:08of empty
37:08Ruritanian titles,
37:10but an extraordinary
37:11array of precious
37:12expertise,
37:14skills that have
37:15been passed down
37:16for generations,
37:17often within
37:18the same families,
37:19and the vehicle
37:20for that continuity
37:22is the crown.
37:24The spell
37:25that we cast
37:26and have cast
37:27for centuries
37:27is our immutability.
37:30Tradition
37:31is our strength,
37:33respect
37:33for our forebears,
37:35and the preservation
37:36of generations
37:38of their wisdom
37:39and learned
37:39experience.
37:42Modernity
37:43is not always
37:44the answer.
37:46Sometimes antiquity
37:47is, too.
37:54Well,
37:55are you ready?
37:56Are you ready?
37:58Oh,
37:59am I just
38:03serving, ma'am?
38:04Oh, Robert.
38:05No, not at all.
38:08I just wanted
38:09to express my relief,
38:10ma'am.
38:12That I came
38:12to my senses.
38:15For a moment,
38:15I think we risk
38:16compromising
38:16the very things
38:17that make us distinctive.
38:20Please.
38:24Which leads me
38:25to think
38:28that it might be best
38:29if I personally
38:30were to move on.
38:32Robert.
38:33It's true, ma'am.
38:35At crucial moments,
38:37the palace
38:37has failed
38:38to read the public mood,
38:40and much of the blame
38:42rests with me.
38:43Surely not.
38:44It's a question
38:45of temperament,
38:46knowing where
38:46to be flexible.
38:48My problem
38:49is I'm an old stick.
38:50I'd rather not
38:51change anything
38:52at all.
38:53I tend to see
38:54things as binary.
38:56Either you
38:57keep things
38:58as they are.
39:00Or it's closing time
39:01in the gardens
39:01of the West.
39:03But you can
39:05make alterations
39:06without tearing
39:07down the building.
39:08My deputy,
39:09Robin Janvin,
39:11is far better
39:12placed to do that.
39:13He's much more
39:14attuned
39:15and deserving
39:16of a step up.
39:17Of course,
39:18Robin will make
39:18an excellent
39:19private secretary,
39:20but he's still
39:21a young man.
39:23Is there nothing
39:23I can do
39:24to persuade you
39:24to stay?
39:27Sometimes it's
39:28helpful to offer
39:28a scalp.
39:31This way,
39:33everyone benefits.
39:34The public
39:35gets sent a signal.
39:37You get better
39:38advice than I could
39:39ever possibly give.
39:41I get to play
39:42more cricket.
39:46I don't know
39:47how I'll manage.
39:47I shall be
39:48utterly lost.
39:49No, ma'am,
39:50you won't.
39:51It'll be just fine.
39:52You've navigated
39:53this latest matter
39:54perfectly without
39:55my help.
40:07Every minute
40:08has been an honor,
40:08ma'am.
40:30and finally, ma'am,
40:31your visit to Brighton
40:32and Hove
40:32as one of the
40:33government's
40:33designated
40:34Millennium Cities.
40:35Yes.
40:36I have drafted
40:37a program of
40:38engagements that
40:39I hope preserves
40:40the traditional
40:40but adds a
40:42somewhat modern
40:42sensibility.
40:45On the one hand,
40:46lunch at the
40:47pavilion in tribute
40:48to your great-great-great-
40:49great-uncle,
40:50George IV.
40:51On the other,
40:52a visit to the
40:53Sussex Innovation
40:53Center to see a
40:55demonstration of an
40:56insectoid robot
40:57called Maggie.
40:59Right.
41:04One last thing
41:05you might be
41:06interested to know.
41:08The Prime Minister
41:10Yes?
41:12has chosen
41:13to address
41:14the Women's Institute
41:17as part of his
41:18mission to
41:19consolidate support
41:20in Middle England.
41:21Really?
41:22I wouldn't have said
41:24they were his sort
41:24of crowd.
41:26But his unerring
41:27judgment is what
41:28one has always
41:29had to admire him
41:30for.
41:31And his ability
41:32to win over
41:33seemingly anyone.
41:36I'm sure this
41:37will be no
41:38exception.
41:38sing it.
41:45And in the sea
41:47in ancient times,
41:52walk upon England's
41:54mountain stream,
41:58and walk upon the
42:01Lamb of God,
42:04on the kingdom's
42:10A modern voice for women.
42:13It is a clear and admirable statement of ideals.
42:17But what does it mean to be modern in a new Britain
42:22driven by change and innovation?
42:26Make no mistake, there are many traditions we can be proud of,
42:29but we must never cling to tradition for its own sake.
42:33In the 21st century, we must ask ourselves
42:37what kind of values we want to promote.
42:41We must take what's best from the past,
42:44but never be enthralled to it.
42:46Old-fashioned practices can sometimes hold progress back.
42:52I believe, and the Labour Party believes,
42:55that a new, updated concept of community is needed
43:00to keep up with the fast pace of change in the modern world.
43:05I was elected leader of the Labour Party
43:07because I understood that we had a radical mission
43:10to change not just the politics of this country,
43:14but the constitution of this country,
43:16the soul of this country.
43:20radical is not a word to be frightened of.
43:23It is a word to embrace.
43:26Because I fear that if we are not radical,
43:29we will not succeed in our mission.
43:32Look at what we've done in the House of Lords,
43:35taking...
43:37taking drastic action against hereditary privilege.
43:42Thank you very much.
43:45Look, the world is changing fast.
43:49Oh, okay, right.
43:51And change is tough, we know that.
43:58It's no one that people feel worried
44:00and wish to hold tight to the old ways.
44:02A run-in with the Women's Institute
44:04was surely not what the Prime Minister had in mind
44:06as he made his return to the political fray.
44:09The chairwoman of the WI says
44:10that she had urged Mr. Blair
44:12not to make his speech party political.
44:14Take all the forces that prevent Biden change,
44:16then the very conditions...
44:23I'm glad they're having a good debate.
44:34He can charm America,
44:36indeed the whole world,
44:38but it comes up short with the Women's Institute.
44:41I'm getting terrible stick for it from my aides,
44:43who all advise against doing it.
44:45You were political with the WI,
44:48the one thing we pride ourselves on never being.
44:50As far as criticisms go,
44:52being too political is one I think I can live with.
44:55Be like someone describing you as being too royal.
44:59I think I've come to realise
45:00there's no such thing as too royal.
45:04If you're doing it, do it properly.
45:07And unapologetically.
45:13I understand.
45:17So.
45:20So.
45:23I'm sure you're aware
45:24the EU has just published a draft
45:27of its new Charter for Fundamental Rights
45:30ahead of the forthcoming summit in Portugal.
45:33Our hope is that it will reflect
45:35the original meaning of the Women's Summarized
45:38and Existing Rights.
45:44You can work my palm.
45:49You can wear my shoes.
45:53But you'll talk like me.
45:57I'd be an angel or two.
46:01I'm singing it now.
46:02Things can only get better.
46:08Things can only get, can only get, can only get,
46:12drink it all from here, you know.
46:15I know that things can only get better.
46:19Things can only get, can only get, can only get better.
46:28Now I've found, now I've found you.
46:32Things can only get, things can only get better.
46:39Things can only get better, can only get better.
46:43Now I've found, now I've found you.
47:15Things can only get better.
47:17Things can only get better.
47:17Things can only get better.
47:17.
47:47.
48:18.
48:18.
48:18.
48:19.
48:20.
48:21.
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48:27.
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