My tragedy is that I have no kingdom. You have it. And you must protect it.
Elizabeth finds herself torn when the country is divided over Margaret's relationship with Peter Townsend, with the public approving and officials from Parliament and the Church disapproving. Following advice from Edward, Elizabeth forbids a devastated Margaret from marrying Townsend, who then departs for Brussels. The Queen Mother complains about Philip's domineering attitude towards Charles. Lascelles and the Queen Mother suggest that Elizabeth ask Philip to open the Olympics in Melbourne so that he can adjust to life in her shadow. A five-month royal tour is later added to the itinerary, with Elizabeth suggesting he be thankful that everyone is helping him find a public role. Eden, having replaced Churchill as Prime Minister, becomes trapped in an escalating dispute with Egyptian President Nasser over the Suez Canal.
This episodes contains examples of:
- Artistic Licence – History: In Real Life, Anthony Eden did not object to Princess Margaret marrying Peter Townsend; being a divorcee who had remarried, was actually quite sympathetic. The Cabinet's only stipulation was that if she were to marry Townsend, Margaret — in order to circumvent the Royal Marriages Act — would have to renounce her place in the royal succession (so she would not become Queen in the very unlikely scenario of Elizabeth and all of her children dying), but she would still have kept the Princess title and would have been allowed to undertake royal duties if the public were seen to approve (which was highly likely). Ultimately, it was Margaret who decided that she didn't want to marry Townsend. This BBC article
gives more detail. - Burn Baby Burn: After injecting himself with drugs, Eden passes out while watching a film of Nassar. The projector, running continuously as a result, first jams on a closeup of Nassar and then sets the highly flammable film reel on fire.
- Cold Opening: Again, a flashback to Edward VIII's abdication. Shortly afterwards, George VI, devastated at having fallen out with his brother (to whom he was very close), gets his young daughters to promise that they will never put anyone, or anything, before each other. Uncle David later appears to advise Elizabeth to put the Crown first (despite his obvious sympathies with Margaret's predicament).
- Color Contrast: Princess Margaret's pale umbrella stands out among the sea of black umbrellas held by journalists and officialdom as she steps off the airplane.
- Conflicting Loyalties: Does Queen Elizabeth keep The Promise to support her sister, or does she keep to her oath as Defender of the Faith given that the Church is firmly opposed to the marriage regardless of public opinion?
- Descent into Addiction: Anthony Eden looks like he's heading this way (at the time, he was taking amphetamines to deal with the consequences of his botched gall bladder surgery), which might explain how he doesn't handle his dealings with Nasser as well as he thinks.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The press photographers chasing after Peter Townsend's car, and almost causing a road traffic accident, may bring the paparzzi's hounding of Diana in the 1990s to mind; as of the fifth series, this also counts as an example of Foreshadowing.
- Failed a Spot Check: For all of Elizabeth's constitutional knowledge (which has already been shown to be nigh-on unrivalled, as witness her putting down of Churchill and Salisbury in "Scientia Potentia Est"), it turns out that there's a part of the Royal Marriages Act that she didn't know about — if Margaret, who's now 25, is to marry without her permission, she still needs the approval of Parliament ... which will not be forthcoming.
- Fee Fi Faux Pas: Eden keeps inadvertently offending Nassar, though it's also implied that Nassar is deliberately taking offense to stir up patriotic fervor against Britain.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: The Queen Mother puts Philip, who's been moaning about not having much of a role, firmly in his place. Given his recent behaviour, it's thoroughly deserved.Queen Mother: You have more freedom than any consort in history. And you repay it by scowling and skulking like an adolescent. So go. Have some time in the spotlight, be the main attraction, and enjoy the attention. Hopefully it will do you some good. You might finally be less resentful and more supportive of my daughter in her duty.
- High Priest: Archbishop Fisher returns to remind the Queen that she's the Defender of the Faith. In any other family in 1950s Britain, a younger sister wanting to marry a divorced man would be a cause for a minor argument (if that), but in the royal family it's a major constitutional headache.
- Hypocrite: Anthony Eden is presented as this for not lobbying for Margaret among his Cabinet colleagues, despite the fact that he's a divorcee who remarried. The truth was rather different (see the Artistic Licence – History entry above).
- It's Personal: The relationship between Eden and Nasser quickly becomes this, with both men feeling slighted by the other. Eden's increasing drug problem does not help, as he thinks he's handling things much better than he actually is.
- Jock Dad, Nerd Son: Philip and Charles.Philip: Have you seen him fish? A girl.
- Just Plane Wrong: Peter Townsend returns to London from Brussels on a BOAC (British Overseas Airway Corporation) flight; in actual fact, British domestic and European routes were covered by BEA (British European Airways) prior to the two British state-owned airlines being merged to form British Airways in the 1970s.
- Loved I Not Honor More: The decision to call off the marriage is presented as Margaret's own, a noble decision to place her duty before love.
- Reassigned to Antarctica: Well, Australia — which is where Philip's being sent in order to open the 1956 Olympics (although, as we shall see, his big solo tour will also include Antarctica).
- Title Drop: From Cecil Beaton during Elizabeth's photo-shoot at the end of the episode. He quotes from The Faerie Queene, whose title character was written as a flattering expy of Elizabeth I.Cecil Beaton: Not moving, not breathing. Our very own goddess. Glorious Gloriana.
- Tomboy Princess: Anne, according to her father.
