I had another take on this line.
Up to this time he'd been very casual with his address, calling her "Woman" and speaking his mind, and up to this time, she'd always felt he had her back so to speak, and would never seek to make her leave Balmoral and take her back to Windsor and public duties. He promised her he wouldn't. When he realized it was time to take her back, and she had to go, he "broke his promise" in her estimation, even though he was doing his best for her.
This mean that SHE felt as if he was no longer her most trusted confidant and had slipped down a few pegs. She immediately removed the intimacy they had enjoyed, and stripped him of the right to call her "woman" so affectionately.
By saying "Do not presume to speak to your Queen in that manner" she was effectively demoting him back to "just household staff." She loved him of course, but, this was a way to put him back in place and let him know he'd hurt her.
Indeed, when you see them dining at Windsor and the Prince of Wales is telling tall tales at dinner, Brown stands rock solid behind her, a statue, one of the invisible servants, just like anyone else. He's no longer casual or demanding or anything. She doesn't correct the story told by her son, which would have elevated Brown. S he mentions wanting to award him with a medal, but she only averts her eyes and doesn't acknowledge his bravery in front of anyone. He's just staff, now, you see.
When he becomes ill and is writing in his diary, he is lamenting that she hasn't come to see him in a while, but may well yet - like the old times. Because he's just a servant now.
Only when he is dying does she come, and revert back to the old comfort they had.
That moment where she says "Do not presume to speak to your Queen in that manner" is actually the moment their relationship changed forever.
That's my take.
reply
share