This is something regularly debated by the experts. I subscribe to the relatively common view that a Baronetcy of first creation (which is what Sir Denis received as he is the First Baronet) is a Knighthood under Warrants of James I issued in 1612. A Baronetcy that has been inherited (such as that now held by Sir Mark Thatcher as 2nd Baronet) is not a knighthood, but at first creation, a Baronet is a Knight. His Knighthood is that of a Knight Bachelor.
This precedent was important when the House of Lords was reformed in the late 1990s as it was the reason why all the Hereditary Peers of First Creation were allowed to continue in the House of Lords as Life Peers.
(2) I said nothing about PUBLIC ceremonies. Showing Thatcher meeting the queen would have been dramatic.
Yes, and it also would have involved making up details of meetings because the details of such meetings are kept private. 'The Queen' was rightly criticised for its attempts to rewrite history by showing meetings between Tony Blair and the Queen, presenting a very particular version of history favourable to Mr Blair, knowing that Her Majesty would never comment to correct the record even if it was accurate.
A couple of years ago, there was a BBC television drama called 'Margaret' which did show an alleged meeting between the Queen and Baroness Thatcher right at the end of her Premiership. This drama presented the Queen as advising (then) Mrs Thatcher to resign (based on the Queen having accurate numbers about how people were going to vote and knowing Mrs Thatcher would not win). We do not know if that was accurate or not - some think it is, some think it is not. Regardless, the scene created controversy because it refers to matters that should remain private. Meetings between the Queen and her Prime Ministers are confidential for a reason - because if they were not, neither could be constitutionally free to disagree about some issues without risking a constitutional crisis. I think the makers of 'The Iron Lady' were right to avoid this type of controversy with their film, after the issues created in recent years by other dramatisations.
(3) I’m glad to hear that Brits know more about World War II than we Yanks. But judging by the yammerings of the people at the recent riots, I’m not so sure.
Those morons are not representative of the average Briton. All nations have their share of the ignorant and ill educated.
(4) Hearing “God Save the Queen,” “British Grenadiers,” “A Life on the Ocean Wave,” or any other military march would have lent authenticity. Or what about the pipes playing “The Crags of Tumbledown” when the troops came home? You know, just a bit of heart? Just listen—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTzcL2SfYgw
As I've said, I wouldn't have minded more traditional music, but I'm not a film maker. And 'Soldiers of the Queen' is part of the film's soundtrack although personally I can't remember hearing it.
I thank you so much for your views on this movie, and your font of knowledge.
You’ve made me feel I should go see it in theaters. Then if I agree with you, maybe I can convince my parents to see it, who have heard all the reviews about “dementia” emphasis.