The Crown: Did Tony Blair really advise the Queen after Princess Diana died?

The last and ultimate collection of The Crown is now available, highlighting a period marked by great upheaval in the history of the monarchy.

The final season's latter part will display how the nation handles the abrupt and dreadful demise of Princess Diana, as well as how the royal family opted to react to this information.

Diana passed away a few months after Tony Blair became the new prime minister. The prior Conservative government was considered outdated and Blair's New Labour was seen as a major force in modernizing Britain, leading the "Cool Britannia" movement. Blair referred to Diana as the "People's Princess" upon her death and is believed to have influenced the royal family to change their public approach to grieving.

The Crown suggests that there may be a bit of disconnect between the fresh Prime Minister and the royalty, but to what extent is their cold relationship factual? Allow us to provide you with the details.

Were Queen And Tony Blair Friendly?

According to gossip within royal circles, it is believed that Blair was not a favored Prime Minister of the late Queen. Blair was the youngest Prime Minister since the 1800s and was 44 years old during his time in office. He was considered to be a forward-thinking modernizer, which clashed with the Queen's strong support for tradition.

According to a report in 2006, insiders said that Blair asked the Queen to call him by his first name 'Tony', but the Queen only called him 'Prime Minister'. He also asked to change the day of his weekly meetings with the Queen to better prepare for Prime Minister's Questions, which surprised her. Despite this, the Queen agreed to the request and they still meet every Wednesday.

Additionally, the situation was not improved by the fact that Cherie Blair did not show any particular respect towards the members of the royal family. When the Blair family visited Balmoral for the first time in 1997, the lawyer who specialized in human rights raised some eyebrows by failing to perform a curtsy in front of the Queen. In 2003, the situation became even more tense when she was photographed yawning while sitting next to Elizabeth during the royal family's visit to the Braemar Highland Games.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Peter Morgan, writer of The Crown and The Queen, shared his thoughts on the era of Tony Blair. According to Morgan, Blair's constant talk of "modernisation" clashed with the Queen's role as a symbol of tradition and conservation. As a result, the Queen was understandably hesitant around Blair.

Tony Blair's Advice To Queen Following Diana's Death

Back in 1997, when it was reported that Princess Diana had passed away in Paris, the Queen was well-known for wanting to follow the strict procedures of the royal family. This meant carrying on as usual and not lowering any flags to half mast.

The situation was completely opposite to what the masses desired. Numerous individuals demanded that the monarchy exhibit some form of visible reaction. This resulted in a massive negative reaction. An abrupt survey conducted during that period indicated that one out of every four people in Britain no longer favored having a monarchy.

It is widely acknowledged that Blair's involvement and realization that a more involved approach was necessary led to the Queen's unusual decision to deliver a speech on television.

During the well-known occasion, Elizabeth II addressed the audience "in my position as the queen and also as a grandmother."

She expressed her desire to honor Diana in her own way." Diana was an outstanding individual who was blessed with great talents. Despite the ups and downs, she always displayed her ability to remain happy and spread cheer while inspiring others through her warmth and amiability. I held her in high esteem because of her dedication and enthusiasm towards helping others, and most importantly, her unwavering love and devotion towards her two sons."

After coming back from Balmoral, the Queen showed her admiration for Diana by strolling around Kensington Palace and looking at the numerous flower tributes left by people.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, historian Dominic Sandbrook talked about Blair's involvement. Sandbrook said that Blair had a talent for displaying empathy, which was becoming an essential part of our political culture. The Queen, on the other hand, was not as skilled in this area.

No one enjoys owing a favor to another person. It seems likely that the Queen felt grateful for being rescued by him, but also, she might have felt uncomfortable about the whole situation and resentful towards him for it.

Blair's advisors congratulated themselves for their efforts in "rescuing the monarchy", but Blair has since withdrawn his involvement.

During an interview on Today following the death of Elizabeth II in 2022, Blair expressed that the Queen had the difficult task of managing her duties as a monarch and as a loving grandmother. Knowing that she had two very young grandchildren who were dealing with the tragic loss of their mother and in need of care and attention, the Queen was mindful of striking a delicate balance.

He said that it was not necessary for him to inform the deceased ruler that the country was grieving.

Blair proceeded to explain how the person was able to perceive something and subsequently react to it. The reaction was executed flawlessly, with the individual nailing the appropriate demeanor.

As time went on, it seems that Blair's connection with the Queen improved. The ex-head of the Labour party was given the title of Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by Elizabeth II, which is one of the most distinguished accolades.

Blair mentioned that he went to Balmoral a few months prior to her passing to reconnect.

According to him, she was in an incredible state. She was friendly, funny, and enthusiastic about everything. He mentioned that she was extremely attentive and observant in monitoring the country's progression, as well as comprehending the opinions of its inhabitants, until the very end.

Kimberley Bond works as a features writer for Cosmopolitan UK. Her job involves writing about news, culture, health, and royalty. She also creates reports and lengthy articles for Cosmopolitan. During her free time, Kimberley loves to eat all sorts of food, browse the website Vinted, and sometimes forgets to respond to text messages.