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Elizabeth :
Prime Minister.
Tony : Good morning, Your Majesty. Sorry to disturb,
but I was just wondering whether you'd seen any today's
papers?
Elizabeth : We've managed to look at one or two, yes.
Tony : In which case, my next question would be
whether you felt some kind of response might be
necessary?
Elizabeth : No. I believe a few over-eager editors are
doing their best to sell newspapers. That would be a
mistake to dance to their
tune.
Tony : Under normal circumstances, I would agree,
but... Well, my advisors have been taking the temperature
among people on the streets, and..., the information I'm
getting is that the mood is quite delicate.
Elizabeth : So, what would you suggest, Prime
Minister? Some kind of statement?
Tony : No, ma'am. I believe the moment for statements
has passed. I would suggest flying the flag at half-mast above
Buckingham Palace... and coming down to London at the
earliest opportunity. It would be a great comfort to
your people and would help them with their grief.
Elizabeth : "Their grief"? If you imagine I'm going to
drop everything and come down to London before I
attend to my
grandchildren, who've just lost their mother, then
you're mistaken. I doubt there is anyone who knows the
British people more than I do, Mr Blair, nor who has
greater faith in their wisdom and judgment. And it is my
belief that they will, at any moment, reject this...
this mood, which is being stirred up by the press in favour of
a period of restrained grief and sober, private
mourning. That's the way we do things in this country -
quietly, with dignity. It's what the rest of the world
has always admired us for.
Tony : If that's your decision, ma'am, of course, the
government will support it. Let's keep in touch.
Elizabeth : Yes, let's.
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