Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute

This "family tribute" is pretty straightforward as the Royal Family show off their home movies - taken mostly by themselves - over the last eight decades.

They date from the Thirties when Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret were children, enjoying themselves in the royal palaces with their mother, father and governess. There are a lot of movies of the Queen with her children when they were young - Prince Charles and Princess Anne - as well as embarking on their foreign travels.

Many of the films have not been hitherto seen by the younger family members, and they have a hard time trying to sustain their traditional stiff upper lips while watching their siblings when they were young. The only person to remain unflappable is the Queen herself, who enjoys seeing her family but retains the sang-froid that has distinguished her public persona ever since she came to the throne.

The program is mildly interesting, but is perhaps a tad too long. The sight of the Royals when they were young is fun to watch, but we do get the feeling that we are intruding into a private family viewing; sometimes they should be left to themselves.

This tribute to Queen Elizabeth II consists of archival film and commentary by current royals and others as they watch the same film the audience is viewing. The film is very captivating as old family photos are (or movies in this case). It is very enjoyable to see Princes Charles, Willam and Harry as well as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh relaxing as they view the film or add their own stories. We see other Royals as well, including Princess Anne, who is the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, etc. The Duke of Kent, now over 80, is a first cousin, who was shown as a young Duke in the early years of the Queen's reign. Wonderful memories are captured on film of the young Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, King George VI, the Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, etc. The family of the Queen are shown as children in the 1950s and 1960s. Whether playing on the grounds of their home or on a beach, various scenes are wonderful insights into the private life of the Royal Family. I highly recommend if you are a Royal watcher and even if you are not, old family movies are a good entertainment and interesting social history.

Tess and I recently watched this program on Netflix and really enjoyed it. Tess is a lifelong Anglophile and a staunch royalist (and I've lived and worked in England several times and love the country too) and has watched MANY documentaries on the royals but she loved this because she said that it finally showed the world that the Windsors have always been a "normal", loving family who have gone through good times and bad, and survived with dignity and that Diana Spencer did not "humanize" them because they were already human and deserving of respect. (My little pitbull defends others too). Princes William and Harry and other family members and friends clearly enjoyed watching the home movies as much as we did and we both agree that Prince Charles will (someday) be a very good King.

This is one of those times when Netflix comes through. This is actually the most revealing and fascinating look at the entire Royal family including the Queen Mother teaching Lillibet and Margaret a rollicking little dance on the royal yacht deck, the Queen herself and other actually mentioning 'Crawfie', the governess Miss Crawford who was the very first to cash in on being close to the royals and then was frozen out for 60 years, her name NEVER mentioned for her betrayal. The film, often in early color is priceless. Lots of corgis, holidays, grand tours of the commonwealth and very intimate family moments. A sheer delight. The relationship of Margaret and Elizabeth is particularly warm.

"Elizabeth at 90" is a television special that offers unprecedented access to the British royal family. Normally, you see them from afar...such as when they're leading parades or attending other state functions. However, here you actually get to see and hear them up close...reminiscing about Elizabeth as well as life in the royal family. You see and hear Elizabeth, her son Charles, Princes Harry and William and several others as they view old family home movies and reminisce.

So who would enjoy this film? Anyone who is patient...patient because the show is a bit dry and slow at times. This is not a complaint...more an observation about the style. I personally enjoyed it...mostly because it is so unique and groundbreaking.