The Young Victoria (2009) Movie Script

Guards! Royal salute! Present arms!

Some people are born

more fortunate than others.

Such was the case with me.

But as a child,

I was convinced of quite the opposite.

What little girl does not dream

of growing up as a princess?

But some palaces

are not at all what you'd think.

Even a palace... can be a prison.

Mama never explained why she

would have someone taste my food.

Why I couldn't attend school with

other children or read popular books.

When my father died,

Mama and her adviser,

Sir John Conroy, created rules.

He said they were for my protection,

and he called it the Kensington System.

I could not sleep in a room

without Mama

or even walk downstairs

without holding the hand of an adult.

I learned the reason for all this

when I was 11.

My uncle William

was the King of England.

Yet he and his three brothers

could boast only one living child.

And that was me.

Sir John's dream

was that the King would die

and there would be a Regency,

where my mother would rule England

and he would rule my mother.

So I began to dream of the day

when my life would change...

...and I might be free.

And I prayed for the strength

to meet my destiny.

I will be good.

God save the Queen!

Sign it!

Are you sure

that we're doing the right thing?

We've waited long enough.

Now, for the last time,

you will sign this order.

I will not sign it.

I say you will!

- I say I will not.

- How dare you, you...!

Sir John.

We were just...

It's time for the Princess's medicine.

- Shall I?

- I'll do it.

Well, if you're sure.

- Good night, mein liebling.

- Good night, Mama.

How are you?

I've received a letter from England.

My sister says Victoria won't sign

the order for her Regency.

And why would she sign it?

The Princess is nearly 18. Why

would she sign away her own powers?

Because she is an ignorant baby.

Because she needs guidance and time

to prepare for her role as Queen.

Until then, my sister

will take her place as Regent.

Sir John Conroy would be Regent.

Unfortunately, the Duchess

is controlled by her controller.

It may be in Your Majesty's interests

to abandon Conroy and your sister,

before it's too late,

and support the future Queen instead.

Of course, the Duchess won't like it.

Baron, I was born the younger son

of a penniless duke.

Now I'm King of the Belgians.

Such journeys are not managed

without hard decisions.

Besides,

who controls a young girl most?

Now go to Germany

and finish my nephew's training.

Albert!

I suppose you want

to walk with me this afternoon.

Really? Just the two of us alone?

What would Mama say?

Hold still

or I'll never get your nose right.

Oh, I give up!

I give up. You are impossible.

You are impossible. You are impossible.

Victoria, your mother's waiting.

Come on!

Dash!

- Where is the Duchess?

- In the drawing room, Your Highness.

It will take them three days

to arrive by coach from Coburg. Dashy!

- How did you come downstairs?

- I walked.

- Not alone?

- No, not alone.

- Lehzen was with me.

- She held your hand?

She did. Though why she still has to...

Because not everyone in England

wishes you well.

Put the book down, please.

Dashy!

England is the key to peace in Europe.

Your uncle's throne is six years old

and born of civil war.

He only took the crown of Belgium

because England pledged her support.

And if he's to survive, he must have

English force at his disposal.

Favourite novels?

- Sie hat nicht viele Romane gelesen.

- English. Always English.

She has not read many novels.

They were forbidden until last year.

- But she did like...?

- The Bride of Lammermoor.

- By?

- Sir Walter Scott.

- Other recreations?

- Drawing. The famous dolls, of course.

Piano. Music, generally. It's hard

to believe she knows so little Schubert.

Never mind Schubert.

She likes modern composers.

- Is she permitted the theatre?

- Only the opera and ballet.

Which opera does she like best?

Norma?

I Puritani!

In order to maintain control

over Princess Victoria,

Sir John and the Duchess keep her

away from King William's court.

Thus when she does

make a public appearance,

her mere presence causes quite a stir.

You must win her favour

before anyone else has the chance.

You still don't look well.

Maybe we should go away for August.

- No, Mama.

- What do you mean, no?

We missed the Queen's birthday.

We will not miss the King's.

We've accepted. We're going.

Really, Victoria, don't issue

orders to me. I'm not a servant.

Well, you've already disobeyed

about the extra rooms. That's enough.

Are we to live like rabbits,

crammed in a hutch?

We live in a palace, Mama.

We're a lot better off than most people.

The rooms which I took were empty.

Keeping us out of them

was... almost immoral.

- That's what John says.

- I knew he'd have a part in it.

My dearest child,

he only wants what's best for you.

I wish you could believe that.

I've invited the Coburg brothers

to come and stay.

- You ought to know them better.

- Why?

Because you should.

Uncle Leopold thinks it's a good idea.

You stick one more pin in me,

I swear I will call the guard.

Your first visit is the most important.

We can not have any mistakes.

And always remember,

you're first a Coburg.

The King of the Belgians is a Coburg.

The King of Portugal is a Coburg,

so is the Queen of England's mother.

And you are the next piece in the game!

Now go to England and make her smile.

Is this all the luggage?

- What if she wants to dance?

- It's your first visit. She won't.

- Your Serene Highnesses, welcome.

- Thank you.

I'm Sir John Conroy, controller of the

Duchess's household. This way, please.

The Duchess is in the drawing room.

- Ah! May I present her Royal...

- Hello.

I'm Ernst, ma'am.

This is my brother, Albert.

- We haven't interrupt your studies?

- No, not at all.

- How was your journey?

- Long, but not too bad.

We had books to keep us busy.

As matter of fact, I passed the time

reading The Bride of Lammermoor.

By Sir Walter... Scott.

Yes.

Do you want to come and meet Mama?

Of the modern composers, I suppose

Vincenzo Bellini is my favourite.

What a coincidence! So is mine.

Which of his operas do you enjoy most?

- No, wait, let me guess. I Puritani?

- As a matter of fact, yes.

I used to like it too.

Now I prefer Norma.

Dashy! Go fetch it! Fetch it, Dash!

Aye, aye, aye, aye.

- Have I offended you in some way?

- No.

And Schubert.

I like Schubert.

I think...

I think perhaps you don't... but I do.

I don't mind Schubert.

Good.

Do you ever feel like

a chess piece yourself?

In a game being played

against your will?

- Do you?

- Constantly.

I see them leaning in

and moving me around the board.

The Duchess and Sir John?

Not just them. Uncle Leopold.

The King. I'm sure half the politicians

are ready to seize hold of my skirts

and drag me from square to square.

Then master the rules of the game

until you play it better than they can.

You don't recommend I find a husband

to play it for me?

I should find one to play it with you,

not for you.

Why don't we ring for some music?

And then we could dance.

I've recently discovered the waltz

and I am quite in love with it.

- Waltzing is not really my forte.

- Oh, dear.

What a shame.

You know the King wants me to marry

my cousin George?

Hmm.

What's he like at chess?

Victoria.

It's alright, Lehzen,

Albert can take me up.

You'll have to hold my hand.

Mama insists. I hope you don't mind.

Not in the least.

What did you want to say?

Only that I understand more

than you think of what your life is.

Do you?

My childhood wasn't easy either.

I lost my mother when I was a boy.

- I know. She died.

- No, er...

That is, she did die eventually, but...

she was sent away long before that.

There was some difficulty.

It was all hushed up

and... no one talks of it now.

But I know what it is to live

alone inside your head,

while never giving a clue

as to your real feelings.

Did Uncle Leopold

ask you to tell me that?

No. Er, he actually told me

never to mention it.

Well, how little he knows me.

Hmm.

May I write to you?

You'll miss the princes

when they're gone, ma'am.

Don't be impertinent.

- Those boys pester you.

- Oh, please, Lehzen.

You don't think I've come this far

to walk into another jail, do you?

- You must marry one day.

- Well, I don't see why.

And if I do, I shall please myself,

not Mama or Uncle Leopold or the King

or anyone else. Trust me.

- Must I?

- Yes, you must.

Be on your guard.

We are going to Windsor

for my uncle's birthday party.

- In the castle of the enemy.

- Your enemy, Sir John, not mine.

- Agree to nothing.

- What should I say about the rooms?

You needed the space.

Appeal to the Queen. It's ridiculous.

I wish you were coming with us.

You're very intent, Baroness.

Are you making a study of me?

Someone should.

- Present Prime Minister?

- Melbourne.

Lord Melbourne.

The Liberal leader who'll probably be

in power when the Princess succeeds.

- He may be troublesome.

- Why?

He puts the interests of England

above those of Europe.

- Which is bad?

- Which is not useful to us.

He wouldn't spill one drop of

English blood to save a foreign throne.

The Viscount Melbourne.

Why would he save a foreign throne

if it wasn't in England's interest?

That is just the kind of thinking

your Uncle Leopold is afraid of.

Which is why he's content to find his

niece is the future Queen of England.

The Duke of Wellington.

In the public mind, the leader of the

Conservative opposition is a pet hero,

Napoleon's conqueror,

the grand old Duke of Wellington.

- But not in fact.

- No.

- You look in very good health, sir.

- Thank you, sir.

- I wish I was. Enjoy the meal.

- Thank you.

The next Tory Prime Minister

will be Sir Robert Peel.

...and Lady Peel.

Which side does Victoria favour?

She's a Liberal. Above all,

she favours Lord Melbourne.

And he'll take full advantage of it.

Her Royal Highness,

Princess Victoria of Kent.

Her Royal Highness,

the Duchess of Kent.

The Lady Flora Hastings.

- Hello, Uncle.

- Look at that demure little head.

And all of us

wondering what's inside it.

We'll find out soon enough.

Lord Melbourne will make her fall

in love with him. It's his method.

- Don't underestimate Victoria.

- Don't underestimate Melbourne.

My dearest niece.

- Won't you greet your cousin George?

- Good evening, George.

How can my niece and nephew have

grown up so when I wasn't looking?

Whereas you are quite unchanged

and as handsome as ever.

If I put my head very close to yours

and speak softly,

- they'll think we're hatching a plot.

- Yes.

If I look a little surprised...

Well, then they'll know it.

I wish we saw more of you. But then,

nor you nor I are to blame for that.

The plain fact is, madam,

you have stolen 17 rooms!

One cannot steal a room, sir.

The rooms are where you left them.

Now they are used,

before they were empty.

I see. So I have no say

in my own palaces?

Why not move in here

and bring your Irish tinker with you?

The Queen and I

will be happy enough in the lodge!

So would I be, sir, if I thought that

people there would be polite to me!

- How dare you talk...!

- Enough!

You have exhausted the topic.

Conroy tried to force the Princess

Victoria's agreement to a Regency.

She wouldn't sign it, sick as she was.

That says something for her spirit.

Your next birthday

will be quite a landmark.

- I hope we'll see more of you at Court.

- I hope so too, Lord Melbourne.

You know,

should you ever need an ally...

you have one in me.

The Prime Minister

has more important calls upon his time.

Not at all.

I knew the late Duke of Kent.

Naturally,

I take an interest in his daughter.

- You knew my father?

- Yes.

I'm sorry.

Is it difficult to speak of him?

No. I love to hear from someone who

knew him. For I never did, you see.

Well... he was a great gentleman.

Of that you can be sure.

Indeed I am.

Excellent company like his brother, the

Regent, but not quite so extravagant.

And kind, like his brother, the King...

but perhaps not so talkative.

Well, you make him sound

as though he were the best of them.

Oh, I think so, ma'am.

Your leader is hard at work, Duchess.

You see him hover with his net

to catch the pretty butterfly.

And when your party is back in power,

Duke, will you not do the same?

Not nearly as well as Melbourne.

Unfortunately, I have no small talk.

Peel has no manners.

And I would have a hard time

praising her father.

The most brutal officer

I ever encountered.

I thank you

for your good wishes on my birthday.

It has been a long life...

and an interesting one.

But I shall be content

with only a short while more.

Just enough... to dispense

with any thought of a Regency...

...so that I may pass the Royal

Authority directly to that young lady.

And not... to the hands...

of a person now near me...

...who is surrounded by evil advisers

and who cannot act with propriety in

the station in which she's been placed!

I have been insulted!

Grossly and continually insulted!

She has kept her daughter,

my brother's child, from my Court!

But from now on,

I'd have her know that I am King!

And I will not be flouted

or disobeyed by her

or by that jackanapes

she keeps about her!

Are you alright?

Families, who'd be without them?

Are you listening?

What?

- Well?

- Ma'am, you do have a letter,

but it's not from Germany,

it's from the King.

So it is. Thank you, Watson.

- Don't you see what he wants?

- He increases my income

once I'm 18 and he asks to see me

at Court, what is wrong with that?

The King wants to separate you from

your mother. He wants to control you,

to take you from those whose sole aim

is trying to protect you!

No need to shout. The people

will find out our business soon enough

without hearing it from your lips.

Tell her. Make her understand.

What Sir John means is that you're

unprepared for the task ahead of you.

And if I am, whose fault is that?

You're too young! You've no experience!

You're like a china doll

walking over a precipice!

Well, then, I must smash!

For it's too late to mend my ways now!

- So if you'll excuse me...

- But I will not excuse you!

Now this is what you will do!

First, you will refuse the money and

demand that it be given to your mother.

Next, you will appoint me

your private secretary from today.

Finally, you will agree

to be co-regent with the Duchess

until your 25th birthday.

Neither she nor I will accept less!

You may do

what you like with the money.

Now, get out of my way!

And if you think that I will ever forget

that you just stood by silent

and you watched him treat me thus,

you are dreaming!

Is there no limit

to this disobedience?

Mark my words!

The reign of King Conroy is coming!

My poor sister-in-law. What is the hold

that wicked man has over her?

What about her uncle in Brussels?

Could he not be of assistance?

King Leopold is as slippery

as a barrel full of eels.

If he did dislodge Conroy, it'd only be

to tighten his own grip on the girl.

Mightn't there be some benefit

if I pay Princess Victoria a visit

before Conroy

has a chance to usurp her?

Very well.

Lord, in your mercy, get me past May!

That way she'll be of age and we'll

have killed off the Regency at least.

I tell you, Lord Melbourne,

his behaviour to me

makes it impossible to keep him

in any post near my person.

Any post whatever.

You don't think it more dangerous

to cut him loose?

I know things that mean

I could never have confidence in him.

Now, I see I must endure Lady Flora.

Mama cannot appear at Court

without a lady-in-waiting,

but I draw the line at Conroy.

And once I'm Queen, I do not wish

to look upon his face again.

Well, we can't prevent the Duchess

from keeping him

in charge of her own affairs.

That will be her mistake, not mine.

My dear Victoria, when I think...

Dearest Victoria,

if ever you should need...

What? Like a vulture? To hover

at the edge until the King is dead?

And, ma'am, you needn't worry.

I'll be your private secretary.

For now, at least.

Thank you, Lord Melbourne.

That is a great comfort to me.

- Wenn er tot ist, dann gibt es mehr...

- Ernst! English, please!

When he is dead, there'll be more

than one vulture to contend with.

We should consider

the new appointments.

Your ladies-in-waiting and so forth.

Perhaps the Duchess of Sutherland

for Mistress of the Robes?

Oh, I don't really know her.

Ma'am, she's a dear friend of mine.

You'll enjoy her enormously.

I should be lost without your guidance.

- I hope you know how grateful I am.

- I'll draw up a list.

What is it? Don't you like her?

Yes, I like her.

More than I dared hope.

But it's not up to me, is it.

What do you call a man

who waits for a rich woman to decide

whether or not she wants him?

Then, why not tell her how you feel?

My dear Victoria,

these days will be full of sadness

since I know the King is dear to you.

Will you allow me to offer my support,

albeit at a distance?

If I cannot be with you,

then I pray you will hear my voice

in the music that I send.

You know my love of Schubert.

This is his "Swan Song".

And I play it with you in my heart.

- Is he ready?

- Well, he may be, but she isn't.

Let her enjoy succession

and the freedom it'll bring.

We must wait for disillusion,

and the loneliness that follows.

Victoria.

You must come now.

Long live the Queen.

I'm going back to bed.

I imagine Lord Melbourne

will be here quite early.

Make sure he has everything he needs

if I am not ready to receive him.

Of course, Your Royal...

Your Majesty.

Victoria, wait. I will hold your hand.

No. Thank you, Mama.

And, Lehzen, in the morning,

arrange for my bed to be moved

into a room of my own?

- Surely there's no need...

- As soon as possible, Lehzen.

The Council is assembled,

Your Majesty.

Her Majesty the Queen!

It is with a sense

of reverence and honour

that I address you,

my Privy Councillors,

as your Sovereign and Queen.

I mourn sincerely the death

of my dear uncle, the King,

but I know I may count on you to serve

me as loyally as you served him.

I am young, but I am willing to learn.

And I mean to devote my life

to the service of my country

and my people.

I look for your help in this.

I know I shall not be disappointed.

Thank you.

She starts on your watch,

Lord Melbourne.

Guard her well

and keep her safe from harm.

As a matter of interest, will a time

come when I read them first?

You'll enjoy this.

She has a real flair for description.

Present arms!

Dearest Albert, on Tuesday,

I went to inspect Buckingham Palace.

It is only just finished and I shall be

the very first sovereign to live there.

As I stepped out of the carriage,

for the first time in my life,

I felt freedom.

- Splendid, is it not?

- Yes!

You'll have to decide

on a husband soon.

What about Leopold's candidate?

I can't marry the man

they want me to marry.

Oh!

Every suitor

will come with strings attached.

Can't I be my own mistress for a while?

Haven't I earned it?

Dear Lord M, he's so very kind. I

couldn't have asked for a better tutor.

You may dream of independence,

but you won't get it.

From now on, everyone will push you

and pull you for their own advantage.

Melbourne more than the rest.

Just remember, you are the Queen,

he's a politician.

And politicians, whatever their creed,

always resent a monarchy.

They pass through. You stay.

So just keep "dear Lord M"

in his proper sphere.

He's already chosen the new household.

About my ladies-in-waiting...

Yes, I'll have a list brought

over later. They've all accepted.

Only my aunt advised me not to be,

well, too partisan in my choice.

With respect, Your Majesty,

I think I understand these things at

least as well as the Queen Dowager.

I know that, of course.

And we want our friends around us,

of course, surely,

as we begin our labours.

We don't want to find Sir John Conroy

sneaking his feet back under the table.

No. Not if we have to line up

every friend we both possess.

Well, quite, ma'am. It's very cold

in here. Why haven't they lit the fires?

It seems the fires are laid

by the Lord Steward's department,

but lit by the Lord Chamberlain's,

and no one knows which footmen

should do it. It's not very sensible.

Well, if that's the way things are done,

I shouldn't meddle.

We must improve where we can.

If I've discovered anything

from touring England,

it's the suffering that needs my help.

Never try to do good, Your Majesty.

It always leads to terrible scrapes.

Lord Melbourne, that is not

what is preached from the pulpit.

No. That's why I never go to church.

One always hears

the most extraordinary things.

I've made no promise to him.

But sometimes I feel

quite alone in the world.

Never while I'm here, Your Majesty.

Lord Melbourne is akin to a miracle.

He has proved to be most generous

and sensitive,

quite wondrous in a politician,

someone I trust and hold dear.

He is the best company imaginable.

Sometimes we laugh so much,

it's as if we were naughty children.

Oh, Albert, I so look forward to the day

when you can know and value him

as I do.

Yours affectionately, Victoria.

Plenty of praise for Lord Melbourne

and not much of anything else.

- Everything comes to he who waits.

- And if nothing comes, what then?

You've played with me, Baron.

And now it is enough.

I'm going back to England.

There must be a reason

if you wish to visit Her Majesty.

Then find me a reason.

Ich will diesen...

So, are you going to propose?

What? What am I supposed to think?

You're going to enjoy the weather?

I'm going to spend some time with her,

that's all.

Besides, I am forbidden.

It has to come from her, apparently.

So I could not propose,

even if I wanted to.

And do you want to?

Walk on! Hup, hup!

Please hold still. I'm afraid

I always find noses a challenge.

Am I permitted to talk?

Yes, but you can't move.

There's nothing to rival

an English garden.

Of all my life in Kensington,

it's the only part I'll miss.

But the gardens at Buckingham Palace,

surely...

- You're moving!

- Oh.

Now you're smiling.

Impossible!

You're worst than him!

I believe we have a duty

to those in need of our protection.

It is the business of every sovereign

to champion the dispossessed,

for no one else will.

Take housing. May I show you?

Industry is expanding so fast

that people are not considering

where the workers will live.

But I've been experimenting.

By building these in units of two,

you can build safe, clean homes for

two families for less than the cost...

I'm sorry. I don't mean to preach.

No, there's no need to apologise

for being passionate.

It seems I have a lot to learn.

With all my duties and...

- And I do take them very seriously.

- I know you do.

But plenty of people

will expect me to fail.

And there are even more

trying to take advantage

of my youth and inexperience.

Then, they don't know you like I do.

May I keep this?

So, remember, the first thing

is to find an anchor point.

So, take your hand back

to beneath your chin.

Good. This is where

it will come every time.

Now, release the bow.

Your hand must cover the leather,

like this.

And make a firm claw.

One finger, two fingers.

- Claw.

- Yes, and back to beneath the chin.

Bend this arm slightly.

Rotate to catch the arrow.

Good.

Very good. Now, try with an arrow.

- Ah. He's still here?

- At my mother's insistence.

Certainly not mine.

Where am I to live?

Am I to be abandoned here?

Or am I to beg along the highways

for a crust?

Come now. You will move

into the palace with the Queen.

But she's arranged

a separate apartment for you.

It will allow you both more privacy.

I... I don't want privacy

from my own child!

To exclude us will launch

the new reign in a cloud of scandal.

I know your game, my lord.

You want to be her father, her mother,

and who knows what else.

If I'm not to be her private secretary,

then what?

I'm sorry. I can see

that I am not speaking clearly.

You have played the game and lost.

The Prime Minister is here,

Your Majesty.

Thank you, Duchess.

Have I thanked you properly

for accepting the post?

It will involve

a good deal of inconvenience.

To be Mistress of the Robes

is a great honour.

I'm only anxious to prove worthy of it.

My Lord Melbourne

thinks you'll be perfect.

How is Albert's visit going?

He writes Victoria is under

Melbourne's control. He's frustrated.

Then he must stay in England

until the Queen thinks more of him

than she does of Melbourne.

Queen Elizabeth never married.

It didn't spoil things for her.

Are you familiar with the Coronation

Chair and the ancient Stone of Scone?

Familiar, yes... but quite in awe.

I'm terribly afraid of disappointing

on a day I so want to do it perfectly.

Just be yourself. Your instincts

are always to your credit.

I'm sorry. They're preparing

the Abbey for the ceremony.

I'm told they asked permission

for a glimpse of Your Majesty.

- Don't be sorry.

- God bless, Your Majesty.

I do want to help them,

whatever you say.

And not just the labouring poor,

but the hungry and the homeless.

There are people who are lost. Whose

business is it to see to their welfare?

Well, in my experience, it's best

to let these things develop naturally.

If you interfere,

you risk overturning the cart.

Prince Albert doesn't agree. He's made

a study of the working man's condition.

He's full to the brim

with ideas for their improvement.

Is he indeed? How inspiring.

Well, good. He sounds like a young man

ready to take charge

at the first opportunity.

Then, you had better master

the rules of the game

until you play it better than they can.

Are you quite sure about that, ma'am?

Make your move.

Well?

You may not accompany me

to the Proclamation Ceremony.

You may not attend the Coronation.

Perfect.

- You're unprepared.

- No experience! Too young!

Then, they don't know you like I do.

Don't look so surprised.

The Queen has many different duties.

It's heartening to see she won't

neglect them, even on Coronation Day.

- I don't think Dash would allow it.

- Try to get some rest before the ball.

I will. Since I firmly intend

to dance until dawn.

Her Majesty the Queen.

Are you sure this is wise?

It's been quite a day. Are you tired?

Oh, no.

Ah, well, not really. It's just...

Well, I'm stronger than I look.

- How much longer are you in London?

- Only until Friday.

Then home via Brussels.

Uncle Leopold must have his report.

Oh, dear. I have a quadrille

with the Prince of Prussia next.

My poor little toes.

I feel sorry for them already.

Your Majesty.

I've had a letter from King Leopold.

He proposes

extending this visit of Prince Albert.

- And what have you answered?

- Nothing yet.

Well, perhaps you should tell your uncle

you need to focus

on your new duties right now.

Thank you for being my messenger.

I hope I've given my uncle enough

detail. Fill in anything I've missed.

- He takes a great interest in you.

- Yes, don't I know it.

You should see the questions

he asks by every letter.

Like a never-ending examination.

Lord Melbourne calls him this...

What about Lord Melbourne?

Nothing.

- The French Ambassador is here.

- Right. Erm...

I wish you a good journey.

Victoria?

I would so like to be useful to you.

If there is ever an opportunity.

I know you would.

But not yet.

Have you read this?

No, sir.

It seems

she does not think it appropriate

to discuss politics in our otherwise

"delightful correspondence".

- Which was dictated by Melbourne.

- Damn it!

Do something!

I can't get past Melbourne.

Then get him past Melbourne!

Get him into her bed!

My dear Victoria,

Uncle Leopold is full of ideas

of how you and I may spend

more time together.

And I must say I hope that some

of them, at least, will come to pass.

Dear Albert,

you've been keeping secrets.

When did you learn

to dance so beautifully?

Lord M assures me

the next several months

will be particularly gruelling

and busy for me as a new Queen.

Thus, I am not certain

when I shall see you again.

I look forward to your every letter,

enjoying the detail of life in Germany,

and wishing to share more.

- Waterloo might not...

- Yours affectionately, Victoria.

Ah, this quite inoffensive little game

can turn into an effective weapon!

Lord Melbourne says

French doctors kill their patients.

English ones just let them die.

I thought he might be here tonight.

He's thrown me over

for Lady Holland.

- I expect Your Majesty will miss him.

- Not too severely. He's back tomorrow.

No, no, no.

I meant when he's out of power.

What?

Well, only, I don't wish to crow, but...

I thought it was common knowledge

that he's about to lose the vote.

Schatzi?

I thought you were in your bedroom.

Never mind.

Shh. Shh.

- You won't desert me, will you?

- Never.

Mein liebes Schatzi.

Every one of your ladies is the wife

of a friend of Lord Melbourne.

Surely you can see how that looks?

You should not set such store

by appearances, Sir Robert.

I only ask for a token. For two ladies,

even one, who supports my cause.

Otherwise, it must seem as if

Palace and Parliament have fallen out.

- I want to go in.

- I beg your pardon, ma'am.

Her Majesty is with the Prime Minister

and cannot be disturbed.

But that will not apply to her mother.

I'm very sorry, ma'am.

Let me understand you.

Are you saying it is the Prime Minister

who selects my household?

- Has the law changed in this regard?

- No, of course not.

Well, then, there cannot be

much more to be said.

Good day, Sir Robert.

Could you please ask Lady Portman

to come in as you leave?

Yes, ma'am.

I wonder if you could have a note

delivered to Lord Melbourne.

Of course, ma'am.

# What power...

Mrs Melbourne!

# Art thou...

- Good God! What are we coming to?

- Who was it? I didn't see.

The Duchess of Montrose. That's

the end to her career at Court, I hope.

If I ban everyone who thinks me wrong,

you and I will be alone in the ballroom.

With sorrow, I must inform the House

that I have been unable

to persuade the Queen

that her ladies should not solely

adhere to the views of my opponents.

I have therefore informed Her Majesty

that I am not qualified

to form a government,

if I do not enjoy her confidence.

Mr Speaker, are we to understand

that the great Sir Robert Peel

has been frightened off

by a few frilly petticoats?

Prime Minister!

Mr Speaker, what frightens me

is to see the Crown

used as a shuttlecock

in the game of politics!

Which, apparently,

Lord Melbourne plays better than you!

Order!

Constitutional crisis!

Queen flouts Prime Minister!

Threat to bring down Tory government!

- Order!

- Constitutional crisis!

You should be

ashamed of yourself, sir.

If the Queen has been foolish,

she can plead youth.

You are old enough to know better.

What troubles you is that Lord

Melbourne is Prime Minister again.

I do hate a bad loser.

We are all losers in this, sir.

Most especially the Queen.

You have to understand you reign

by right of Parliament.

Work with the voters' choice.

- Lord Melbourne says...

- He says what suits his interest.

He has used you to punish his enemies

without a thought

for the damage to the Crown.

The Queen is in the clutches

of Melbourne, the great seducer!

And when he is silent,

who does she listen to?

- Her German mother.

- I'm glad he thinks I listen to Mama.

You are confusing stubbornness

with strength, my dear.

And I warn you,

the people will not like you for it.

She's brought down

a government over her ladies?

- Apparently.

- Then she's a fool.

No, she is not a fool.

But she has listened to a fool.

Then she had better change her advisor.

Or things will get worse

before they get better.

Open the door.

"Not all the water

in the rough, rude sea

can wash the balm off

from an anointed king. "

"The breath of worldly men

cannot depose the deputy

elected by the Lord. "

"For every man... "

Sir John, what are you doing here?

- I must speak to the Queen.

- You know that's impossible.

"Welcome, my lord.

How far off lies your power?"

An armed man

has been found in the gardens.

- What?!

- He said he wished to harm the Queen.

"... discomfort guides my tongue

and bids me speak of nothing but... "

They think I have interfered in matters

that do not concern me.

It'll pass, ma'am, you'll see.

My dear Victoria,

while these days may feel endless,

please do not lose faith

in yourself or your people.

We are all allowed to make mistakes,

most especially when

we have looked to others for guidance.

The storm still rages

outside the palace walls.

I wonder now if everyone was right.

Perhaps I am too young and

inexperienced for my position.

Open your mind, examine your choices,

and your honesty

will take you through the storm.

I promise that you can do this work

and do it well.

You have courage and heart

and you said yourself

you're stronger than you look.

A letter from your mother.

My dearest child.

You will not let me come to you,

and that I may deserve,

but however you resent me,

however I have failed,

I am still and always your mother.

What troubles you, troubles me.

What pleases you, pleases me.

I love you.

And my only prayer is that one day

you will understand how much.

Goodnight, mein Liebling.

Your own Mama.

My dearest Albert.

You asked me once

if you could be of help to me,

and I so proud and confident

of my great powers replied, "Not yet".

But since that day

so much has changed.

I'm not forgiven yet.

Not yet, but soon.

Just wait for unseasonal weather

or the news of some elopement,

and it'll all be forgotten.

You don't have a very high opinion

of ordinary people,

do you, Lord Melbourne?

With respect,

I have lived longer than Your Majesty.

I said once I didn't understand

whose task it was

to see to the public welfare.

Ma'am, in my lifetime,

I have seen with my own eyes,

what happens

when the rabble is empowered.

Lord Melbourne.

I want a report on living conditions,

on parish benefits,

housing, all of it.

And by the end of the month.

And one more thing... I have invited

Prince Albert for another visit.

Very good, Your Majesty.

When you get there, don't be a spy

or Uncle Leopold's puppet.

It's your life, Albert. Live it.

For yourself and for Victoria.

Our uncle wouldn't thank you for that.

I don't care.

- I should have worn the red.

- You look beautiful, Your Majesty.

His Serene Highness Prince Albert of

Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Your Majesty.

I only just got your note.

I was riding.

Sit. Please.

- The park is marvellous.

- I'm so pleased you like it.

I do want you to feel quite at home.

I'm sure you're aware

why I wished you to come here.

Because it would make me happier

than anything...

...too happy, really,

if you would agree to what I wish.

- And stay with you?

- And stay with me.

- And marry you?

- And marry me.

Wilt thou have this woman

to thy wedded wife?

To live together

after God's ordinance,

- in the holiest state of matrimony?

- I will.

Now I am quite married.

- You know when we're old...

- Hmm.

...and surrounded by our children...

...we will remember this

as the day our lives began.

Not too surrounded, please.

And not too soon.

Oh? I should warn you that

I am expecting a very large family.

- Good morning, wife.

- Good morning.

Have you woken Her Majesty?

- No, ma'am.

- Don't you think you should?

No, ma'am. Not this morning, I don't.

Let's take a little tour

and visit Scotland.

I hear if any part of Britain is like

Germany, it's the Scottish Highlands.

- Yes, we must one day.

- No. Straight away. Now.

- Now?

- Only for a few weeks.

You're a bride.

They can't expect you back before that.

Dearest, I may be a bride

but I'm also a queen.

I cannot be away

for more than three days at the most.

What are you doing?

Well, if we've only got three days...

So tell me, will the weather

be this fine for all of the three days?

Yes.

Albert, where are you going?

- Seriously, is it always like this?

- Yes!

We will take care of each other,

won't we?

Always.

How changeable they are.

They hate you. They love you.

They hate you.

They punished her...

but they never hated her.

And now she's a bride and back on top.

Until the next mistake.

What on earth have I done with my life?

I had many gifts, you know.

As a boy, I was tipped for success.

You have served me well.

What is that?

Dear Albert, why haven't you

responded to my last two letters?

I must be kept informed

of your progess.

I need help. England's help.

And you must and will secure it for me.

Never forget

that you are first a Coburg.

Your Uncle Leopold.

- What is it?

- Just a question for Lord M.

- Could I help?

- It'll keep.

Why are these windows so dirty?

I can hardly see out.

Same as the fires, I'm afraid.

The departments can't agree to wash

inside and out at the same time.

- Why don't we do something about it?

- I quite agree.

Because it's how things are done here.

And it's worked well for many years.

Meanwhile, we live

in a filthy, freezing house.

We live as guests of the Queen.

Thank you, Baroness, for reminding me

that I am a guest here.

Let him go.

How is Albert settling in?

Why? What have you heard?

He says he wants to reorganise

the way the palaces are run.

Well then, for Heaven's sake, let him!

He says

that Lord Melbourne controls me,

and he says that Lehzen controls me.

It seems everyone controls me

except him.

A man who has no work

becomes ridiculous.

And a poor man with a rich wife must

work twice as hard as anyone else.

- Besides, you have chosen well.

- My Uncle William chose well.

- You did not take on half his duties

- You don't know that.

You don't know what I did.

- What is this for?

- Your Royal Highness.

The Red Room dinner service, sir.

For the officers guarding the King.

- What king?

- King George III, sir.

And how often do we provide

this dinner for a king

who has been dead for 20 years?

Every night, sir.

I cannot believe I'm being

subjected to this interrogation.

You're not being subjected

to anything, Sir John.

You have been in charge of the

Duchess's finances for many years.

Indeed, you have made public

statements testifying to their health.

- Yes, I have.

- I am so grateful.

All I am asking is that you

will be so good as to tell us

exactly where the money has gone?

Are you sure?

Congratulations, ma'am.

Mein liebes Schatzi! I'm so happy.

- Meine Liebling!

- Heavens, Mama, don't crush me.

You'll let me know at once

if there's anything you need.

You're not going already?

I cannot leave too soon for my daughter.

- Anyway, I have a lot on my mind.

- Something I could help with?

Congratulations.

Your Highness.

There's your opening,

if you'll take my advice.

Lord Melbourne, forgive me, but...

you seem to have confused me

with a member of your club.

I am not your drinking companion,

nor your whist partner.

I am the husband of your sovereign.

And as such,

I will make my own decisions,

and I neither seek

nor invite your advice.

Good evening.

So...

- Are you discussing names?

- We're discussing the help.

He writes that he'd prefer

not to talk politics in his letters,

but only to discuss news of the family.

I have planned this marriage

for 20 years!

And now I'm supposed to accept

that I have failed?!

On the contrary, Your Majesty,

we must accept it.

The birds have flown.

Your Majesty.

I've been boring

Sir Robert and the Duke

with my ideas for encouraging the Arts.

Hmm. Does Sir Robert

care for such frivolity?

I have many interests, ma'am.

And my government

would support the Prince's plans.

Your government?

What government is this?

If I should be fortunate enough

to form another government, ma'am.

And when he does, there'll be

no repeat of the old problem.

Some of your ladies have

already agreed to resign.

And Sir Robert will ask for

no more change than that.

Thank you, Sir Robert.

How dare you speak to me in that way

before them.

How dare you... talk across me,

as if I were a child.

- I... I did no such thing.

- Oh, no?

Well, you've sorted this,

you've sorted that.

You and Sir Robert.

You and the Duke.

All without reference to me!

- Victoria, I thought you'd be pleased.

- I will tell you what you thought.

You thought that I was a woman!

To be petted

and passed over and ignored!

Would it were so simple then we might

avoid more scandals of your making.

- Have you lost your mind?!

- Do you wonder at it?

Less than three years on the throne

and you and your precious Melbourne

have pushed this monarchy

to the brink of an abyss!

I've told you before and I will again,

you are my husband here,

and that is all!

- And that is quite enough, believe me!

- I will not have my role usurped!

I wear the crown.

Any mistakes will be my mistakes,

and no one else will make them.

No one! Not even you!

I'm leaving before you excite

yourself and harm the child.

You will go when I dismiss you.

I am your Queen

and I am telling you to stay.

Goodnight, Victoria.

You may not go. You may not go!

I order you to stay here in this room!

Albert!

Guard, royal salute!

Present arms!

There is no need

for you to accompany me.

I said I would and so I will.

Walk on. Hup!

For pity's sake smile, woman.

Anyone would think we'd quarrelled.

Don't talk to me.

There's nothing more I can do here.

The Prince needs rest.

Your Majesty.

I'm so sorry!

I thought I was going to lose you!

- He was not a very good shot.

- Why did you do it?

You're so stupid! Why did you do it?

I had two very good reasons.

First, I am replaceable

and you are not.

- You are not replaceable to me.

- Shh.

Second... you are the only wife

I've got or ever will have.

You are my whole existence. And

I will love you until my last breath.

We're told the man was mad.

Is that reassuring? I can't decide.

May I be honest, ma'am?

Even a politician can be sometimes.

My guidance...

hasn't always been faultless...

...and I'm sorry for it.

- But I speak now as a true friend.

- I know.

The Prince is a good man.

A better man than any of us knew.

I know he does not think as well of me.

My vanity is not the issue here.

He is able.

He is clever.

And he's faithful.

Let him share your work.

There is one task more

Your Majesty must face...

if the Prince

is to feel truly welcome here.

I needed her so much as a child.

I hope you don't mind,

I had your desk brought in.

- Don't I have a say in this?

- No!

- Good morning, wife.

- Good morning.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert.

Her Majesty the Queen.

# My love

# Your love

# Has opened up a world

I've never known

# All hope

# Was found

# A place I never dreamed I would go

# Feels like only yesterday

# I had locked my heart away

# Safe behind a castle of stone

# Sure I'd always be alone

# Only you

# Know how

# To hear me through

# The silence

# You reach a part of me

# That no one else can see

# Forever true

# There's only me

# And only you

# Only me and you

# In your faith

# I trust

# With you beside me

I am standing strong

# One truth

# Two hearts

# You took my life

and made it beautiful

# So you dare to let me shine

# Even walk a step behind

# Willingly you give yourself to me

# Knowing who I was born to be

# Only you

# Know how

# To hear me through

# The silence

# You reach a part of me

# That no one else can see

# Forever true

# There's only me

# And only you

# Only me and you

# Only you

# Know how

# To hear me through

# The silence

# You reach a part of me

# That no one else can see

# Forever true

# There's only me

# And only you

# Only me and you

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The Young Victoria (2009) - full transcript