EPISODE

S4E8 · 48:1

As many nations condemn apartheid in South Africa, tension mounts between Thatcher and Elizabeth over their clashing opinions on applying sanctions.

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THIS ENTRY’S STORY

Plot summary and ending

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Complete story — includes the ending

In 1947, then-Princess Elizabeth makes a radio broadcast from Cape Town, South Africa on her 21st birthday, vowing to devote her life to serving the people of the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1985, Elizabeth and Thatcher travel to Nassau, The Bahamas for the CHOGM, where the two clash over imposing economic sanctions on apartheid South Africa; Elizabeth believes sanctions are necessary to fight racial segregation while Thatcher claims sanctions would hurt Britain's trade and decimate South Africa's already weak economy. After numerous modifications, including changing the word "sanctions" to "signals", Thatcher signs the agreement to impose pressure on South Africa but then gives a press briefing undermining the agreement. Back in the UK, the press claims that the Queen is "dismayed" with the prime minister's actions. When questioned about it directly by Thatcher, the Queen insists on her apolitical position, yet tells her press secretary to remain silent about rumours of a feud between the two women. With this rift putting the Queen in a less favourable light, they decide to scapegoat press secretary Michael Shea to deflect attention away from the Queen.

Sources and content license

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