Baroness Margaret Thatcher has died.
The former British Prime Minister, known as “The Iron Lady”, died after suffering a stroke. She was 87.
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, who later became Baroness Thatcher, was the only female Prime Minister in British history, holding the post for 11 years (1979-1990). Thatcher was a close ally of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, whose term in office ran parallel to hers (1981-1989).
While Thatcher shared a good relationship with America’s Head of State, her own was more of a mystery to her. Thatcher was known to be extremely obsequious towards the Queen in public; the Queen thought Lady Thatcher a bit cold, but respected her. Their relationship was cordial, but the monarch’s non-confrontational personality did not gel with the oft-confrontational and pragmatic Iron Lady.
Thatcher stepped down in 1990, and John Major took the reins of power.
Current PM David Cameron eulogized Thatcher as “the patriot Prime Minister” who believed that Britain was a significant power on the world stage and should be proud of its contributions. Her famous “No! No! No!” speech in Parliament honestly and concisely declared her antipathy for closer European integration.
Due to declining health, Thatcher left public life entirely in 2002.
Baroness Thatcher (née Roberts) was born October 13, 1925. She is survived by her children, Mark and Carol. Her husband, Denis Thatcher, predeceased her in 2003.
Where it all started: 
The King’s Speech: Fact and Focus
Image via Wikipedia
I loved The King’s Speech. It is a movie that shows the softer, human side of the monarchy. Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter do an outstanding job in their respective roles as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, an opinion reinforced by the numerous Oscar nods and BAFTA nominations. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has also given her personal seal of approval after a private screening of the film.
The King’s Speech brings King George VI back to life again. He died so young (age 52) that generations of people grew up not knowing much about him. Now he returns to us in a glimpse of his world as “Bertie”, a simple man who transforms from a nervous prince into a noble king.
We all remember Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She waved graciously from underneath her wonderfully colorful hats, continually amazing us that she could still wear heels, even into her nineties. The Queen seemed infinite, the very embodiment of monarchy itself – continuity, elegance, and stability.
Elizabeth was also known for her steely resolve as Duchess of York and as a wartime queen. Bertie’s pain is evident as he struggles for words in both public and private life, and as the second son of a king, he is forced to constantly go against his grain and make speech after speech. Elizabeth is determined to help her husband overcome his impediment and shine a favorable light on the monarchy, and sets about finding a speech therapist.
The brilliant Geoffrey Rush shines as that therapist, an unconventional Australian named Lionel Logue. He was a boon to the shy Bertie. Both Elizabeth and Logue stood by him as he transitioned from Duke of York to King George VI and helped contain the worst of his anxieties in public speaking.
The Critics
It is a wonderfully told, historically accurate story. Some critics, like Christopher Hitchens, think otherwise. Hitchens has written a review of the movie in Slate.com to express his irritation.
Hitchens’ main point of contention seems to be that the film is glossing over facts such as the German appeasement and Winston Churchill’s initial support of Edward VIII. Hitchens is not incorrect, but The King’s Speech is not the movie in which to broach these topics. Had this been a biographical movie on the entire life and reign of King George VI, then the absence of such facts would indeed be a major oversight. In the meantime, The King’s Speech is just that: it’s about the King’s speech.
Other historic events and facts can be dealt with in a bio-pic, for which we will probably not have long to wait. With successes like The Queen, The Young Victoria, and now The King’s Speech, royal life is a hot topic and is thankfully being presented in a responsible, serious manner.
God Save The King, and God Save The Queen!