by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Considering that back in 1776 Americans sent the British home with lots of shooting and shouting, the intense love affair they have now with the Royal British family is puzzling to say the least.
And all too real.
For the last few months, we have been bombarded with information about the upcoming wedding of Prince William to his lovely fiancé Kate Middleton.
Don’t get me wrong, I get it. They are young, attractive and seem to be marrying for the right reason: love tested by time. What is there not to like? And given the fact that I use the computer for work, I would probably be checking from time to time during the day to follow the ceremony.
I’m guessing many of you will too.
And if after the wedding is over, you want to know more about the Royal family and its ancestors, you could do worse than watching one of the following movies.
The Queen. In this 2006 film directed by Stephen Frears, Helen Mirren portrays Queen Elizabeth II as she struggles to deal with the sorrow of her country in the days following the death of Princess Diana. A sorrow she seems unable to share or understand.
The King’s Speech (2010), the Oscar winning film about how King George VI (the father of the present queen) came to be king and overcame an incapacitating speech defect to be able to lead his nation at a time of war. You can read my review here at https://www.notreadyforgrannypanties.com/2011/01/kings-speech-directed-by-tom-hooper_14.html
Young Victoria (2009). Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend are picture perfect in this account of the first years of the reign of Queen Victoria and her touching romance with her cousin Albert. You can read my review here https://www.notreadyforgrannypanties.com/2010/03/young-victoria-2009-directed-by-jean.html
The Madness of King George (1994). The true story of King George III’s bout with dementia and the back-stabbing politics that ensued. This is the king the Americans fought back in 1776.
In Elizabeth (1998), directed by Shekhar Kapur, Cate Blanchett (the elf queen in The Lord of the Rings) portrays a young Elizabeth I as a feisty princess who soon learns the price of being queen is high indeed.
Its sequel, Elizabeth. The Golden Age (2007) also directed by Shekhar Kapur and also with Cate Blanchett as the queen, shows an older Elizabeth fighting Spaniards and being disappointed in love. Again.
And finally, if you are in the mood for the kind of decadent and magnificently over the top show, in the style of The Borgias that Chrysa reviewed last week, check the Showtime TV series The Tudors. With Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII. Do I need to say more?
What a great compilation of “royal” subject matter. Can’t wait to see some of these, especially Victoria, which I missed in the theater the first time around. Thanks, Carmen!
Hi Sandra,
So interesting your grandparents seeing Queen Victoria.
Lovely wedding, wasn’t it?
OK, I’ll admit it, I am a total Anglophile, Royalist, whatever you want to call me. I was up at 4AM to watch the ‘Wedding.’ I supposed that’s what comes of being brought up in a family soaked in the Winsors. Actually before them even, my grandparent’s told me of seeing Queen Victoria riding throught the streets. And….I am so old that I saw Q. Elizabeth when she was a Princess (I was a mere Child!) So now I’m drinking beer and ginger ale which my grandfather let me drink in the Loder’s Arms, just for celebration. And, I feel a nap coming on!!!!!