The Crown (TV Series)

Queen Victoria Syndrome (2022)

Jonny Lee Miller: John Major

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Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Norma Major : What's the matter?

  John Major : When you imagine the problems you might be confronted with as prime minister, you imagine tricky sessions at PMQs. The economy in free fall. Going to war. You never imagine this. The House of Windsor should be binding the nation together. Setting an example of idealized family life. Instead, the senior royals seem dangerously deluded and out of touch. The junior royals, feckless, entitled, and lost. And the Prince of Wales, impatient for a bigger role in public life, fails to appreciate that his one great asset is his wife. It's a situation that cannot help but affect the stability of the country. And what makes it worse is it feels it's all about to erupt. On my watch.

• Princess Margaret : Some local history for you, if you're interested.

  John Major : Of course.

  Princess Margaret : Queen Victoria held the first Ghillies Ball in 1852, and there's been one every year since.

  John Major : I see.

  Princess Margaret : It began as a thank you to the gamekeepers and other servants and has since developed into something of a Saturnalia.

  John Major : Hmm.

  Princess Margaret : If you know your classics.

  John Major : Where the rules are turned upside down for a day. Masters serving the slaves, and all disciplinary measures suspended for the night.

• Prince Charles : What were your conclusions?

  John Major : It's just a poll, sir.

  Prince Charles : True.

  [chuckles softly] 

  Prince Charles : Not a reassuring one.

  John Major : Polls come and go.

  Prince Charles : Dangerous to ignore them.

  John Major : Equally dangerous to be guided by them.