"Anne storms out after blazing row!"

Violets. Have you ever actually seen one? As in the flower? I don't think I have.

Weren't they once all the rage for sweethearts and Victorians? I can't ever recall have seen such a thing. I think they're small and bluey purple, but I couldn't be sure because I've never seen one.

So why has this occurred to me? Well, I was driving by Buckingham Palace this morning and in the flowerbeds outside I saw blue flowers and wondered what they were then thought of violets, etc.

But what I really want to talk about is The Queen.

Have you been watching? I thought last night's was probably the best one largely due to Lesley Manville's portrayal of Margaret Thatcher. She got the walk right off. Susan Jameson was good as her maj but she was rather emotional. Are we expected to believe the Queen shows emotion? She's never done it in living memory, except perhaps when she had to bin off Britannia. Crying over a boat. She always comes across as rather chilly and I don't think any of the actresses in this series have captured that.

Last night was the best by far though. The second ep with Samantha Bond was not so great, but the whole Princess Anne kidnap attempt thing was an eye-opener. I didn't realise it was so serious. I don't remember it all. All I recall about that particular time was having the day off school for the Royal wedding.

The problem with these dramatisations is that, as the disclaimer at the beginning of the programme says, the drama is imagined. We'll never actually know what was said and done behind palace doors, but I suppose that makes it more interesting, being left wondering. No, the main drawback here is the actresses.

It's not that they're not fine actresses because they are, but I can't think of a single actress who's played this queen who looks remotely like her. They're always too thin and bird like once they get the wig on. Even Helen Mirren, great as the Queen in gestures and movement, was way too thin. Not that the Queen is fat, but she's kind of squat with a big nose. Lumpen. And why does she wear hats like Boy George?

I think the only one who ever had her physical characteristics right was Jeanette Charles. That woman must have made a fortune. I wonder if she and the Queen have ever met? I notice no one called her for this series.

As you were.