Queen & Country

The 2012 celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee—recognizing her six decades on the British throne—served as the occasion for this four-part series broadcast on PBS. Hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald, Queen & Country is not a straightforward chronological account of Elizabeth's reign but rather an anecdotal appreciation of various aspects of her tenure as a beloved, if largely ceremonial, head of state. The first episode focuses on Elizabeth's close relationship with the city of London—where she grew up and was crowned—taking viewers on a trip to Buckingham Palace and recording the Queen's role in opening Parliament. The second captures the excitement of Elizabeth's visits to locales within the British Isles—whether provincial cities in order to preside over the opening of new municipal facilities, or her Scottish estates. The third program, “The Queen's Possessions,” covers not only the treasures in the Tower of London but also the Channel Islands (called the “peculiars” of the Queen because of their direct allegiance to her), and her flock of swans. The final installment celebrates Elizabeth as the world's most traveled monarch, with particular emphasis on her journeys to Commonwealth countries such as Australia. Melding archival footage from the 1950s to the present with narration and interviews, Queen & Country's tone is so affectionate—both in McDonald's commentary and in the remarks of citizens—that it comes perilously close to hagiography. Still, this can be warmly recommended, especially for Anglophiles. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)