What is the significance of the stag in 'The Queen' ?

I know this is very late but I only managed to catch the movie now. I could not understand the connection between the presence of the 14 pointer stag that had been hunted on the neighbouring estate and the predicament of Princess Di that the Queen was grappling with. I know there is some significance, but what is it??

What is the significance of the stag in 'The Queen' ?
I think she felt sorry for the stag because it was being stalked, much like the way Diana was stalked by the press. In fact, they called it "stalking" not "hunting". I think that moment in the movie was so poignant because the Queen actually had a moment where maybe she understood Diana's plight, even though she clearly never liked her. By seeing her sadness over the stag, we see that the Queen is not cold-hearted, but merely reserved in her displays.


(Great movie, wasn't it?)
Reply:the Stag represents the "spirit" of England (or Britain, if you want to be technical).
Reply:The stag scene means different things to different people, including director Mirren, Stephen Frears and writer Peter Morgan. That ambiguity is part of its power. For a glimpse at what it means to them, check out the NPR segment at the link below.
Reply:The Queen identified with the stag. The hunters wanted to shoot it, and the British subjects wanted to (figuratively) shoot her for not saying anything about Diana's death. Both of them were, in some ways, hunted and running for their lives.