Thatcher and the Queen clash over imposing sanctions on apartheid South Africa. The Queen believes that the sanctions are necessary to fight racial segregation and bring the Commonwealth nations together, yet Thatcher believes this would hurt Britain's trade. After a series of modifications, including changing the word sanctions to signals, Thatcher signs the agreement to impose pressure on South Africa. Back in the UK, the press claims that the Queen is "dismayed" with the prime minister's actions. When questioned about it directly by Thatcher, the Queen insists on her apolitical position yet tells her press secretary to remain silent about rumours of a feud between the two women. The Queen's household holds the press secretary Michael Shea responsible for the rumours, to take the attention away from the Queen.