简介：Thestoryopensonthemorningof20June1837,whentheLordChamberlainandArchbishopofCanterburyarrivetoinformyoungPrincessVictoriathatheruncle,WilliamIV,isdead,andthatsheisnowqueen.Thenewqueen'smotherandheradviser,BaronStockmar,havebeenusedtoseeingtheiropinionsprevailwithVictoria,butnowsheisonthethrone,shemakesanefforttoassertherselfandshowthatshewillnotbeamerepuppet.However,sheagreestoconfirmPrimeMinister,LordMelbourneinhisplace.MelbourneadvisesVictoriatomarry,andsuggestsherGermancousin,PrinceAlbert.Thetwoappearincompatiblebutsoonfindthattheyareinlove.AsPrinceConsort,Albertbecomesfrustratedthatheisgivennoroleingoverningthecountryandbyhispowerlessroleashusbandtothequeen.ThoughSirRobertPeelsuggeststhatVictoriasharesomeoftheburdensofthecrownwithherhusband,sherefuses,onthegroundsthatthepeoplewouldrejectAlbertasaninterferingforeigner.Victoria'sdominationoverherhusbandevenincludesherrefusaltoallowhimtosmokehispipe,andthissoonbecomesaproxybattlegroundfortheirdifferentperspectives.Victoriafinallyrealiseshererror,andAlbertbecomeshertrustedadviser,afterheinstinctivelythrowshimselfforwardtoprotectherfromanassassin'sbullet.Victoriaistheninvolvedinapoliticalcrisis,astheChartistmovementgatherspace.PeeladdressestheHouseofCommons,andasaresulttheCornLaws,ataxongrainwhichwasatthebottomofmuchofthepopulardiscontent,arerepealed.However,AlbertiscriticisedfollowinghisappearanceintheHouseofCommons.Albert'shealthisindecline,butheintervenesinanotherinternationalcrisis,preventingLordPalmerstonfromsendinganaggressivelettertoAbrahamLincoln,whocreditsthiswithavoidingawarbetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain.AfterAlbert'suntimelydeath,anddespitetheprotestationsofheradvisersandtheordinarypeople,Victoriadisappearsintoaself-imposedpurdah,untilpersuadedbyGladstonetoreturntoanactivepubliclife.WeleavehercelebratingherDiamondJubileein1897.…