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| Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work - 2007 |
Welcome to Royal Week on the blog. This week we'll have posts featuring stories taken from the pages of the royal history books. To begin things on this TV Tuesday, the first episode of 2007's "Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work" launches us off in true royal fashion. In this documentary series, Queen Elizabeth II and members of her family are followed by cameras for a year to present a unique look at how the monarchy works and changes with the times.
This particular episode highlights the state visit that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made to the United States in 2007.
We start things off at Buckingham Palace, where Her Majesty is running late. She's due to pose for celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, and her outfit has caused a delay.
When the Queen is informed that the photographer wants some changes, she curtly replies, "I'm not changing anything. It was enough to dress up like this, thank you very much."
When Annie Leibovitz asks for alterations to her outfit during the actual sitting, the Queen gives off an unamused look.
Things smooth over, and the photographer and her subject get more at ease as the session goes on.
In Washington D.C., the White House is abuzz with plans for the upcoming state visit from the Queen and Prince Philip. First Lady Laura Bush talks about some of the preparations and her remembrances of being a guest at Buckingham Palace.
Of course, the big question on everybody's mind is whether or not the president's dog Barney will be able to meet Her Majesty. (He does.)
Laura Bush takes us on a mini tour of upstairs quarters in the White House. One of the stops is The Queen's Bedroom, where the Queen stayed as a guest during previous visits to the White House. Mrs. Bush also points out a mirror that was given by the Queen in 1951.
Back in London, the Queen is busily preparing for her trip to America, and this includes chats with the prime minister as well as hosting a reception for prominent Americans living in London.
On the eve of her departure, the Queen hosts a special dinner for a limited selection of VIPs. The evening ends with a private tour of The Queen's Gallery with its owner.
The state visit begins and among highlights of the trip is the Kentucky Derby. The Queen and Prince Philip watch the proceedings with a keen interest.
The official part of the visit commences with a welcome ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House.
An amusing moment comes when President Bush mistakenly says that the Queen had visited the USA in 1776. The two smile at each other and move on with the ceremony.
Mistakes aside, the visit promises to be hugely successful. The Queen, Prince Philip, and the Bushes wave to the gathered crowds from the White House balcony.
While the Queen and Prince Philip go on with their program, the White House is readying for the state dinner. (Here you'll note a place setting for the Countess of Airlie. Born in New Jersey, USA, as Virginia Fortune Ryan, the countess married Lord Airlie, who was Lord Chamberlain for a time, and eventually became a senior lady of the bedchamber to the Queen.)
At last it's time for the main event: the state dinner. President and Mrs. Bush await the arrival of the Queen and Prince Philip at the North Portico.
Soon they arrive, and both couples pose for photographs for the gathered members of the press.
The speeches are given and enthusiastic applause rings out when it comes time to toast. (If you look directly in front of Prince Philip, you'll see a lady wearing a tiara. This is the Countess of Airlie mentioned earlier.)
The state dinner is also a time for meeting old friends. Former first lady Nancy Reagan is in attendance, and even gives a short interview.
By the end of the visit, everyone is all smiles, and enormously relieved that everything has gone off alright.
And that's it for The Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work. The entire series is highly entertaining and enormously informative. You get a real sense of the duty and dedication that the British royal family brings to their public engagements. It's very highly recommended.
The DVD includes a lot of unused footage as a bonus feature. At a return engagement hosted by the Queen at the British Ambassador's Residence in Washington D.C., Her Majesty got to meet some more old friends: President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara. A very funny moment comes during the Queen's toast, where she references President Bush's earlier "1776" gaff. "Mr. President, I wondered whether I should start this toast saying, 'When I was here in 1776...'" she begins as laughter erupts from the attendees.
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