Blair, however, does not share these sentiments. As the Queen's ratings plummet, Blair's popularity rises sharply, to the delight of the his Anti-Monarchist advisers and wife Cherie (Helen McCrory). Prince Charles, during a brief conversation with Blair and later through back-channel contacts, leaves no doubt that he shares the Prime Minister's views about the need for a more public expression of grief. Meanwhile, British tabloids become increasingly inflammatory about the lack of any statement by the Royal Family. Charles ensures that his ex-wife's coffin is draped with a Royal Standard instead of remaining a "wooden crate." In London, the bouquets begin to pile up along the palace railings, forcing the changing of the guard to use another gate. Following her mother's suggestion, the Queen eventually sanctions the use of an aircraft of the Royal Flight to bring Diana's body back to Britain. A visibly grief stricken Prince Charles, however, argues that Diana was mother of the future King and that the Queen's suggestion is dismissive of this fact. Consequently, she insists that the funeral arrangements are a "private affair" and are best left to the princess's own family, the Spencers. The Queen observes that since Diana divorced Charles (Alex Jennings) a year earlier, she is no longer a member of the Royal Family.
Diana's death immediately sparks division among senior members of the family while the Queen is saddened by Diana's death, she and her husband differ with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales over what arrangements should be made. Meanwhile, the Royal Family are still on their summer residence at Balmoral Castle, the Queen's estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Over the next few days, millions of British people in London erupt in an outpouring of grief, as they flock to Buckingham and Kensington palaces to leave floral tributes and notes. Blair's director of communications, Alastair Campbell (Mark Bazeley), immediately prepares a speech in which he describes her as "the people's princess." Blair gives the speech the next morning and the phrase catches on immediately.
Three months later, during a visit to Paris, Diana, Princess of Wales is killed in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel along with her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul. When Blair visits Buckingham Palace to kiss hands, the Queen follows custom and asks him to form a Government in her name.
She is slightly wary of the new prime minister and his pledge to "modernise" the country, but Blair promises to respect the independence of the Royal Family.
While posing for an official portrait, the Queen (Mirren) talks with the artist and expresses her regret about not being allowed to vote. The film begins on the eve of the 1997 British general election, which sees Tony Blair (Sheen) elected as the United Kingdom's first Labour Party Prime Minister in 18 years.The synopsis below may give away important plot points.