It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." – Elizabeth I, Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. "When I'm dead that boy will ruin himself within 12 months" – George V on his son, who became Edward VIII. Edward abdicated in the first year of his reign to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson. "Nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love." – Elizabeth II in a message to the USA after 9/11. "I don't care what kind it is, just get me a beer!" – Prince Philip, after being offered wine in Rome in 2000Royalty through the ages have been attributed with coining many quotes; in battle and even in their own court. Here is our list of the top 15 quotes from members of the Royal Family, past and present. "I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." – Elizabeth I, Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. "When I'm dead that boy will ruin himself within 12 months" – George V on his son, who became Edward VIII. Edward abdicated in the first year of his reign to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson. "Nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love." – Elizabeth II in a message to the USA after 9/11. "I don't care what kind it is, just get me a beer!" – Prince Philip, after being offered wine in Rome in 2000."I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." – The Queen Mother in 1940 after Buckingham Palace had been bombed. "I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world." – Charles I on the scaffold just before his execution in 1649. "It was with some emotion…that I beheld Albert—who is beautiful." – Victoria, on meeting Prince Albert, her future husband at the time. "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm an alien!" – George V after hearing that HG Wells called his court 'alien and uninspiring'. "My father was frightened of his mother; I was frightened of my father, and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me." – George V on discipline of his children. "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great Imperial family to which we all belong." – Elizabeth II, 21st birthday speech, committing herself to her then future role as Sovereign of the United Kingdom. "I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations." – Elizabeth II, 1957 Christmas Broadcast to the nation. "All these questions about do you want to be king? It's not a question of wanting to be, it's something I was born into and it's my duty, wanting is not the right word. But those stories about me not wanting to be king are all wrong." – Prince William, 21st birthday interview with the Press Association. "You are a pest, by the very nature of that camera in your hand." – Princess Anne. "I really hope I can make a difference, even in the smallest way. I am looking forward to helping as much as I can." – The Duchess of Cambridge post-engagement interview. "To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it... ...And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting on this seat, yet you never had, nor shall have, any who will be more careful and loving." Both quotes from Elizabeth I's 'Golden Speech', the last speech she gave to Parliament in 1601, 16 months before her death.

A Royal Christmas is a glossy piece of holiday fluff. It's Christmas and who doesn't like a well put together, seasonal movie. Well to start with, some of the critics don't. But we always look for that next classic Christmas movie to go along with Miracle on Thirty-Fourth St., Alistair Sims' or George C. Scott's Scrooge, The Bishop's Wife, Christmas in Connecticut, The Holly and the Ivy and a few more recent ones that come close to being in the classics range like Home Alone or The Santa Clause. Of course, the great ones don't come along every year. As for this one, I really did take to the leading characters and actors in the movie, with longtime movie stalwart Jayne Seymour as the Queen, adding icing and some icy behaviour to this Christmas cake of a movie. She was impressive in her role as the mother from hell combined with her other role as an elegant and charming Queen of a fantasy land that reminds us of Monaco or Liechtenstein. Lacey Chabert, as the fun-loving seamstress/designer, is a girl with talent and personality who charms the Queen's son and the palace staff (if not the guards) and Stephen Hagan as Leopold James, the Prince Charming who certainly filled the bill as the tall, well-tailored prince madly in love with the girl of his dreams. Katharine Flynn as the wannabe bride, the Duchess of Warren, was the only weak link in an otherwise fine cast. The young couple in love are polar opposites in background and personality but a perfect example of two young people in love, in a fairy tale world of course. The music, the sets, and the upstairs-downstairs characters and everything about the movie were smartly arranged. The supporting cast was great, from Simon Dutton as the butler (watch for a surprise!) to the family of the commoner in love with her prince. Of course, it was all in the Hallmark tradition of giving us something Christmassy to wallow in for the holidays. See it and just let yourself enjoy the treat.

I could not watch more than 15 minutes of this movie. It started really quickly. No plot building between the major characters. It was like - here are a few people and here is the issue.The main characters (love interests) did not have any chemistry. The male was beyond charming, but the female, thought I love her in other things, lacked personality.I did see the last 30 minutes as well, waiting for something else to start, and could not stand Jane Seymore at any point, not even the end. I think if they would have let the characters and their stories develop at the start, this could have been a fantastic movie.

This is the perfect Christmas movie that is well written well acted and the soundtrack is perfect. Even though the story line itself centres around Leo and Emily and the Queen, every character right down to the servants gives this movie a strong foundation on which it builds itself on. All the little sub plots never leave this movie in a lull and there is an air of true Christmas spirit that leaves you wanting more. Our family enjoyed this movie together it seemed to really kick start the Christmas spirit within us and that's what Christmas movies are all about.I would easily say it's the feel good Christmas movie of the year.