At the dawn of The Crown's sixth season, Episode 6, Tony Blair, the esteemed prime minister, is dramatically crowned as king, heralded by a grand procession towards Westminster Abbey. However, this spectacle is swiftly revealed to be a haunting nightmare of Queen Elizabeth's, a far cry from reality.
Peering deeper into the Queen's troubled mind, we uncover the source of her angst. Prime Minister Blair is stealing the spotlight from her and the monarchy, his progressive ideals challenging the conservative and time-honored values upheld by the royal family. In a bid to gauge public sentiment, the Queen delves into opinion polls, seeking to understand how the commoners perceive the royal household.
The findings are stark: the general populace views the royal family as stagnant, aloof, and indulgent with their finances. This revelation prompts the Queen to ponder whether a change in approach is necessary. After much deliberation, she decides that Blair is the ideal interlocutor for this delicate matter.
During their meeting, the Queen broaches the subject of potential reforms that could restore the royal family's trust with the public. Following this discussion, Blair convenes a private gathering with Cherie and his trusted confidants, where they propose a cost-cutting strategy, suggesting that the monarchy should operate akin to the civil service to economize.
However, many of Blair's proposals are deemed excessive and impractical by the Queen during their subsequent meeting. She gracefully informs him that she will ponder his suggestions. After consulting with her closest confidants, private secretary, and family members, the Queen makes a decisive move. She delves into the subject matter further, scrutinizing the minor titles that Blair had deemed insignificant. Ultimately, she concludes that the essence of being a royal is to embody mystery, inaccessibility, and transcendence. During their next encounter, she conveys this sentiment to Blair with utmost clarity.
Tony Blair triumphantly garnered the trust and esteem of President Bill Clinton, the esteemed leader of the United States. However, the esteemed ladies of the Women's Institute were not pleased, for he had woven political rhetoric into his oration. Consequently, they responded with a slow and almost mocking clap, blatantly ignoring his words.
During his subsequent meeting with the Queen, she humorously observed that while he had masterfully won over the hearts of the US president, his efforts to captivate the trust of the Women's Institute had fallen flat.
