Blair as the Queen's Savior: Characterization in Frears's Film Azrin Abd Nur 12th Grade

The film, The Queen, directed by Stephen Frears in 2006, talks about the whirlwind events that happened after the Princess Diana’s death. The Queen’s adherence to protocols and the royal family’s insistence on not appearing to make a statement proved detrimental to their reputation and image, one that’s already affected from even before Diana’s death. The Queen faces one of her most difficult weeks and comes out at the end of it with the help of Tony Blair, her newly-elected Prime Minister. As the new Labour Prime Minister, Blair is exasperated with the queen’s many actions and inaction but as a responsible and well-meaning Prime Minister, he backs the monarchy and the Queen.

It is surprising how gradually Tony Blair seems to be the Queen’s greatest supporter. Tony Blair’s political party is one that does not follow strict protocols and procedures; they are more informal as reflected when Campbell calls Blair ‘mate’. The film shows both the Queen and Blair in opposites in their work attitude. The Queen is out of date and thus wants to send Blair a ‘protocol sheet’ when she found out Downing Street plans to be informal and on a ‘first-name basis’. However, despite Tony Blair’s different approach to governance and his frustration...