It’s difficult to say whether Stephen Frears set out to create a promotional piece for Tony Blair with this fictionalized account of how Queen Elizabeth II—and her family—responded to the death of Princess Diana in Paris. The film feels somewhat harsh in its portrayal of events. Newly elected Prime Minister Blair (Michael Shannon), along with his wife Cherie (Helen McCrory), who seems quite critical of the monarchy, travels to the palace for their initial meeting. Following the tragedy, the Royal Family is at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire, and the rest of the film explores how the dynamic between the prime minister and the Queen might have unfolded amidst the intense public grief and anger that arose after the accident—all interspersed with actual news footage from the time. Both Mirren and Shannon deliver strong performances; while Mirren’s portrayal feels more like an impersonation than a fully realized acting role, she manages to convey enough personality for the possibility that this was indeed how Queen Elizabeth might have reacted. The film is visually appealing, and it was pleasant to see Sylvia Syms on screen again, even if her character is presented in a rather negative light. I find myself questioning how much of what’s depicted here has been accepted as fact by many people regarding the events of 1997. I seriously question that it's an accurate depiction—but it remains worthwhile viewing.

Source on TMDB