II'
Order, order!
In the matter of Lajos Kossuth of Hungary.
Who is this tormentor of the Austrian monarchy?
This exile now seeking asylum in Britain?
Mr. Speaker, Kossuth is seen here
as a hero of the common people,
a cat set amongst the fluttering pigeons
of the royal families of Europe.
Order.
II'
Herr Kossuth,
I am the foreign secretary of Great Britain,
and you are most welcome, friend.
Alas, these pigeons,
they fear the conversation.
They are all a-commotion.
Some of them
have even fled their nests.
II'
We seem to be managing all right without them.
And... engage!
Hi-yah!
No mercy, princess.
Know it's the Peninsular War,
but... I'm unclear which battle.
Fuentes de Onoro.
Bertie is the duke of Wellington.
Naturally.
As well as the physical exercise, you see,
there is also a dramatic representation
of military conquest.
So his historical knowledge is expanded.
The English will never take us.
Vive Napoléon!
I wish there were a part for me.
Do a party joust. BERTIE: Oh!
Oh!
Well played, sir.
Your Majesty.
Well fought, sir. Well played.
Kossuth was received "rapturously."
Palmerston addressed him as "friend."
Palmerston is a blackguard, and he must be disciplined.
A simpler task were I not 100 miles from Parliament.
We should demonstrate solidarity with our royal counterparts,
not offer sanctuary
to those who seek to annihilate us.
Perhaps I shall write to the emperor
and explain the decision to admit him was not yours.
It wasn't.
Because I wasn't there.
Yes, of course, write a letter.
How else can we participate in government
except by writing letters?
- I didn't cheat. - You did.
Take that! Ow!
Bertie! VICKY: That hurt.
Be gracious in victory.
God's bloody trousers.
I did not enter royal service
to go traipsing around a garden clattering a drum.
Give it up, then.
Like this.
I fear the queen will be very wounded
by Lord Palmerston's remarks.
The man is a scoundrel.
Incorrigible.
I wonder how long we shall remain here.
Your Serene Highness must long for the comforts of home.
My only home, for now, is with my sister;
And if she chooses to live on an island,
so be it.
Though I do wish my bedroom had a view of the sea.
My room looks onto the sea.
Shall we exchange?
How kind you are.
But surely,
you shall be returning home soon?
Your husband must be pining for you.
Do you know what that man has done?
He's sent our son away to boarding school.
The child is six.
It is better that I am here.
Bertie answers to nothing, nothing!
How am I supposed to teach a boy
that...
Oh, but your concern is the report
of your spy in London» he speaks of what?
Uh, crowds cheering Palmerston, no doubt.
Albert, this is not from London.
It's from Francatelli.
The cook.
He's resigned.
Then he shall be replaced.
Victoria, really,
this is such a, a trivial domestic matter.
Drina, if you will permit,
when we return to London...
Did you know anything about this, Skerrett?
No, ma'am.
Please, um...
Would you mind?
Unleashing your vitriol on Skerrett
is not going to make the situation better.
Vitriol?
II'
I didn't believe you really would.
Well, Mrs. Francatelli,
ldid.
And did the world end?
More or less.
They've been at each other's throats for weeks.
Problem is, she's queen of England,
but he's king of the Isle of Wight.
Your turn, my honey.
Do it.
You don't have to say it to her face.
You can write it, like I did.
No.
No, I... I have to say it.
The natural ebb and flow of the staff, Victoria,
is something you must not allow yourself
to be distracted by... Must?
Must? ...While we are here.
It is not what matters.
Here, what matters is the children.
Here, they can be occupied.
It is what corrupts the aristocracy,
to have no occupation.
Bertie, for example;
I want Bertie to be able to make things,
to, to repair them when they are broken,
to, to grow the wheat,
make the flour, bake the bread.
But most of all, I want him to... read.
He does not read.
If our children are going to be of value,
it is their duty to be the best.
Our duty to make them so.
I designed this house to be a place
where our children can become superb.
Palmerston has invited Kossuth
to dine with him in his London club.
Albert, that is an insubordination I cannot ignore.
He's lied through his teeth about the Chartists.
And then he... swaggers about,
openly calling me a coward.
Albert, I must return
to London. No.
No, Victoria.
Well, then, London must come to me.
II'
Without your train, Henry,
if that's possible.
Gentlemen,
the prime minister and I have some private business.
Thank you.
We haven't time.
It is not a suggestion.
It's a royal command.
Oh, well.
We couldn't possible refuse one of those, could we?
II'
Can we explore the cave, Papa?
Lead on.
Papa, look!
Well, we must make the most
of what the prince calls, "the amenities."
However unamenable they might seem.
You'll be all right, Your Majesty.
Do you suppose it's possible, actually,
to breathe under the water?
I really don't know, ma'am.
Fish do it.
Hmm.
Right.
II'
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Drina.
Well, lthink we have established
the queen of England is...
not a fish.
We came at once, as the situation is clearly urgent.
How may we be of assistance to Your Majesty?
This room is very...
N001'!-
I designed it myself.
Yes, I can see that.
Lord John,
concerning this Kossuth.
It is paramount
we do not antagonize the Austrian monarchy.
I am addressing my prime minister.
Kossuth's reception into Britain
makes my country look duplicitous and weak.
With respect, ma'am...
There is no respect in what you have to say,
Lord Palmerston.
Saying "with respect" does not put it there.
These are matters of foreign diplomacy, ma'am.
I am your foreign secretary.
And we shall come to that.
Understand a member of your cabinet has invited Kossuth
to dine with him... Is that correct?
May... May I speak?
If there is time
in your busy schedule of dinners
with regicidal anarchists.
Lajos Kossuth is not a regicide,
and he's not an anarchist.
He's beheld his people being taxed to death
by a rapacious tyrant.
As my minister of state,
you will undertake to do three things.
One: You will retract your invitation
to dine with Kossuth.
Two: You will see him cleanly
off the premises of my country.
Three: You will write to the crowned heads of Europe,
assuring them of my government's allegiance.
Is there anything on that list you do not understand?
Your Majesty is pellucidly clear.
Then why do you grin at me?
I cannot help the disposition of my face, ma'am.
Or is that thing number four'?
Please forgive me for being so bold,
but am I right
in assuming you share my opinion of Palmerston?
That the man is a preening buffoon?
Palmerston is morbidly incapable of not preening,
but he is no buffoon.
I'd sooner he were lolling
in my cabinet, causing irritation
than ranked on the opposite bench,
whipping up the mob against me.
Hmm.
I trust you shall stay for a day or two?
Isensed the queen wished us gone.
Oh, well, you have traveled such a long way.
It would be discourteous not to invite you.
Ah.
Here.
It's best to eat just the top.
Oh, Russell, good heavens.
You must cook them first.
Ah, good day.
Papa.
My, my-
Good.
Russell, it is, um, safe to eat this.
Bertie.
Bertie!
I'd, um...
I'd like to exchange rooms with Princess Feodora.
She wishes for a view of the sea.
Will you arrange it?
Of course, Your Grace.
Though, uh...
The sea's a fine thing to look upon.
It makes no difference what I look upon
if it isn't my little boy.
I'm so sorry you have to be parted from him.
It must, uh...
Forgive me, I...
Prime minister and the foreign secretary are here, Your Grace.
Lord Palmerston has come?
Joseph, isn't it?
II'
Naught, multiplied by two.
Two.
No, naught has no value.
Try to imagine the, the two and the naught on the page.
20.
Albert.
Can it be true you've invited...?
This boy's refusal to learn is preposterous.
He can hear you, you know.
All right.
Let's leave arithmetic behind,
turn our attention to French.
I shall set a test.
Thank you.
This way.
Forgive me, Your Grace,
there is something come adrift.
Uh...
Where's your husband, Duchess?
The man to whom you are married?
He's in London.
Excellent.
It is shocking that you find it excellent
that my husband isn't here.
Shocking.
Excessively shocking.
But also excellent.
II'
Henry.
How is Lady Palmerston?
As ever.
In charge, full of plans.
It's kind of you to ask.
Lord Palmerston. Ma'am.
Will you make up our table?
Ma'am.
Now that I have you within range, sir,
I want to know: Why did you suppose
that I would not be offended
to hear myself dismissed... as a pigeon?
I did not suppose it, ma'am.
In truth, I...
didn't expect you to hear my analogy
from... such a distance.
Whenever statesmen plead "in truth,"
I cannot help but doubt their word.
I can assure you I wasn't pleading.
I merely sought to engage the attention of the House.
You were playing to the gallery.
Something we all relish, ma'am.
I read in the newspaper, ma'am.
The German states are now considered
as safe.
Thought it might be something;
That would be of particular interest
to... Her Serene Highness.
Oh, that's wonderful news.
Albert. ALBERT: Hmm?
We must make arrangements accordingly.
Drina,
might 1 have your permission to {withdraw?
I don't understand.
Surely you long to be reunited with your family?
In Langenburg, there is still such...
hatred.
And I am, of course,
a blood relative of a queen.
Were I to return, my life,
the lives of my children,
they would be in...
great danger.
My own husband tells me so.
Is this your understanding?
I cannot say, ma'am.
But I do have informants in the city
and I will interrogate them closely.
Anything to assist a princess.
And until then,
there is absolutely no question of you going anywhere.
You shall remain here,
with us.
II'
This carpet is very mouvementé.
Do you suppose the prince designed it, as well?
It was considerate of you to offer to assist me.
Thank you.
"Considerate" is one word.
My informers in Langenburg reported back to me
just the other day.
They said, quite categorically, that it's perfectly safe
for you to return home when you wish,
as you well know.
But I am the sister of... Your Serene Highness,
the dissenters have no interest in you.
You simply want to stay in England.
What sort of trick do you play on me?
What sort of trick do you play on her?
I know you do not care
for my house.
I love your house.
I love you,
and the children you have blessed me with, but...
The troubles of my country do not simply vanish
because I can no longer see them from my window.
What?
I did not speak.
Yet, as you intended, I heard.
You radiate sullen disapproval.
No, it's not disapproval, Victoria.
I'm afraid.
You demonstrated your authority to Palmerston,
you told him what you wanted, he acquiesced.
Whether or not he will actually carry out what you want
when he returns to London... That man's trouble is,
he's in love,
with the people being in love with him.
This is my fear:
That it may also be true of you.
That your heart craves
adulation.
"Craves adulation"?
That's why you find it so hard to be here.
Deprived of it.
It is your prerogative
to favor me with your analysis, Albert.
Mine to disregard it.
Now I wish to sleep.
Good night.
II'
Your Serene Highness, good evening.
Trivial misunderstanding.
Oh, I think it's very clear what has happened here.
II'
Mr. Penge.
What's that in your wig, boy'?
Sand.
See that.
There is much, much less than that
between you working here
and you being out on your thick ear
without a reference.
"Lo!
"We shall not...
"shield..." ALBERT: No, no, no.
"Yield," I think.
Try again.
We shall remain here until you master it.
It looks like "shield."
How can one letter
look like two'?
"We shall not shield"?
It's stupid.
You're stupid. Bertie.
Concentrate... again -.
It's not fair.
The letters won't stay still.
They're all... swimming.
That is not the behavior of a future king.
Why can't we do digging?
Well, there is a time for spades
and a time for books, no?
Try again.
"Lo!
We shall not..."
II'
Lest we forget we are on an island.
You're an aficionado of the decorative arts?
I collect the decorative.
It's my only vice, and secret.
Hm.
There are no secrets from God, Lord Palmerston.
He registers our every misdeed.
Makes us pay for them.
Wander what will be the price? Of mine.
1 really don't {want to go back to Langenburgi-.
Do make sure I don't.
That would be the wise thing.
The queen and her husband detest you.
How that antipathy would swell
if they learned about last night.
II'
Don't sulk.
It doesn't suit you.
II'
Are we allowed to discuss our son
without you losing your temper?
Bertie has the perfect situation here
in which to learn.
Yau use that as a pretext to? Keep us here.
I see.
And do you use Kossuth as a pretext for us to leave?
What I endeavor to achieve with Bertie
is an investment in the future.
We, we cannot mindlessly exist in the present.
But is it mindless to consider the respect of my subjects
a thing worth having?
Does it actually matter whether the poor boy
can or cannot conjugate his verbs
if he might not have a throne to inherit?
How dare you construe that as vanity.
The throne, Victoria, is secure.
Yes, but currently unoccupied.
I sought your dismissal, you know.
Lord John advised against it.
Hm.
Now make your case about Kossuth.
It is desirable...
for the world to see
that Britain is not afraid of him.
So, let him have his say.
And when he has delighted us enough,
let us send him on to somebody else.
The sands will close over the imprint of his visit,
whereas Ycur Majesty will be rightly celebrated
for her tolerance and willingness
to let her subjects have their free debate.
You are the only constitutional monarch in Europe.
And your understanding of that is clear for all to see.
It's no bad thing to keep the people on your side.
Perplexing to hear you style yourself my admirer.
Not yours, ma'am.
Britain's.
Perhaps, after all, you and I do think alike.
Just a little.
II'
In any one day,
you are allowed
precisely 20 minutes of liberty.
I think we just made pretty good use of it. The rest of the time,
she rings that bell, day Qr night...
Mothering Sunday I get the whole day off.
V0U go running.
If that bell had rung just now,
you'd have upped and gone, even then, wouldn't you?
My love...
Now is the perfect moment.
She's got a new child, she's got...
But she knew what I was.
What I'd done.
And she waved it all away.
She gave me a new life.
It's me offering you a new life now.
II'
Sophie Monmouth is out of bounds.
Not to be used for the amorous complications
you have in mind.
I ask this in remembrance of our own complications.
She cries out for something we both know
you will never give her.
It would be cruel, Henry.
II'
I withdraw my artillery.
II'
It's truly the most outstandingly vulgar building
I've ever seen in my life.
It is incongruous.
A want of congruity
is the least of its sins.
And what of your sins, my lord?
What an alarming question.
Alas, I cannot stay to ventilate the matter with you further.
I have affairs of state.
Shall I see you later?
For what purpose, Duchess?
For the purpose
of consolidating our acquaintance.
Our acquaintance is sufficiently consolidated.
Don't you think?
Listen.
All can offer you is pleasure and (distraction,
and you may think that's what you need,
but it isn't.
What you need, I am not at liberty to give you.
I'm so sorry.
II'
Get out of the way!
Silly tears.
Why must I look to seek comfort
where it cannot possibly be found?
Oh, please say something.
Your Grace, I...
Listen.
Can you hear the waves folding over on the beach?
It frightens me a little... The sea.
It makes me feel alive.
Victoria.
The new Austrian emperor has dispatched ambassadors
to every European country except ours.
Mine. Well, clearly he finds us a liability...
Leopold told me as much.
Kossuth must be evicted.
I have changed my mind.
I have agreed that he should be honored with a dinner.
At which Palmerston should preside.
Two of a kind.
He's told you that your people will love you for this,
and you wrap his words around you like
cloak.
Skerrett...
Oh, I do apologize, Your Majesty.
Are you quite well?
What's the matter? Tell me.
Have you broken something?
Come on, you know I shan“: Be angry.
I desire to leave your service, ma'am.
For the sake of my marriage.
Marriage.
To Mr. Francatelli.
I had no wish to keep it secret from you, ma'am, I just...
I just couldn't...
It is time...
for me to go.
II'
I'm so sorry.
II'
Hm.
In what respect does une vache translate as "a hammer"?
How would one milk a hammer?
I don't bloody know!
Right.
Go to your room... shall follow.
Please don't. Please do not interfere.
Please don't bully my child.
Victoria, I have never bullied our child, and I never shall,
but it must be made clear to the boy. It's perfectly clear
how little you value his attempts to please you.
Clear to us all.
Victoria, by God, you're being inappropriate.
If you find me inappropriate, Albert,
either remark upon it privately,
or if you insist
on drawing the matter to the attention of the court,
address me with respect.
If you were deserving of respect, Your Majesty...
then I should.
II'
Really.
One quite understands.
The wine was not good.
May I speak frankly?
I agree with you.
Oh, how I wish we could return to London so we could breathe.
My dear, the Peninsular War,
surely it never went on this long.
Albert is a kind man,
but it is observed
that he constricts you.
Observed by whom?
Who says such a thing?
People of little consequence.
Silly, talkative women.
My only desire is to serve you, Drina,
but if I hear something detrimental to your authority,
I must tell it.
That is all I say.
Now cut off my head.
I know you find me disagreeable.
Fee...
How could you say such a thing?
II'
Of course.
She is upset.
To be obliged to withdraw from London
is insupportable.
I see that.
May I... speak frankly?
It seems to me that there is a simple test
whether or not a man has married the right woman.
The man must ask himself: This wife of mine,
does she increase me or diminish me?
Am I more of a man because of her?
Or less?
Marriage to Victoria has undoubtedly increased me.
It continues to increase me.
I am infinitely more a man because of her.
Good.
Then all is well.
This will blow over.
My sister is a little difficile at present.
That is the strain
of the feminine humors.
Repeated childbirth.
Makes women stupid.
Are you suggesting that Victoria's sanity depends
on she and I having no more...
"children?"
No! No.
Of course not!
The disorder of her mind is strictly temporary.
Not at all like her dear grandpapds.
Will that be all, Your Majesty?
Apparently so.
II'
What day is it today?
Remind me.
Sunday, Mr. Penge.
Sunday.
And what do we do on a Sunday morning,
wherever we happen to be?
We go to church, you bloody heathen!
Yes, Mr. Penge.
"Yes, Mr. Penge."
You're not in Chatsworth, now. Sir...
And don't speak while I'm shouting at you!
Where were you?
Bathing, Mr. Penge.
Bathing.
In the sea.
Do you smell that?
That's your goose.
Well and truly cooked.
To whom do you write so assiduously, Duchess?
My son.
I trust they will allow him letters at this wretched school.
Last night... at the table...
I think it would be good for all of us
if we were to return to London.
Relations between the inmates of a country house party
can very soon become...
eccentric.
Where is, um... I don't know his name.
The large fellow?
Joseph, Your Grace.
He has been dismissed.
Whatever for?
Skipping church, ma'am.
II'
K! Good.
II'
S! Good.
II'
'v!
No, no, no, no, no.
A little...
A little bigger than a V.
W!
Is... correct.
So you are leaving?
We are, sir.
Enjoy your dinner with Kossuth.
I shall do my best, sir.
It is the queen's command that I should.
II'
You weren't going without saying goodbye?
Taking French leave.
Good heavens, no, ma'am.
But interestingly, the French call it
partir comme un angiais.
"To leave like an Englishman."
Your time in office has taught you something.
Indeed, ma'am.
It has also taught me
that when the queen tells me to do a thing,
she probably has a good reason for it.
Did you doubt it?
I did, ma'am.
As you doubted me.
1 shall see you in London, Lord Palmerston.
I hope so, ma'am.
And before too long.
II'
So, the unwelcome guests have departed.
Albert...
Afresh start.
I'm going back to London.
You can remain here, if you wish.
II'
Yes, yes, perfect.
Thank you very much» that can go...
II'
I'm looking for the steward.
Mr. Penge.
Can I help you, Your Grace?
The man Joseph» is that his name?
I gather you have dismissed him.
Indeed, Your Grace, he failed...
He was performing a service for me.
An errand, a trivial thing.
But you see, I am to blame.
Not the... the man.
What is his name again?
Joseph, Your Grace.
So it strikes one as unjust
that this Joseph should be punished.
Yes, Your Grace.
Good.
Well, that's that.
II'
Well, well, well.
II'
Gentlemen.
And guests.
We are privileged to welcome.
Herr Kossuth of Hungary to address us
on the character of democracy.
Sir.
Foreign Secretary, thank you.
In the course of an eventful life,
I have learned
that not all democracies are equally democratic.
Though still I have...
The noble pride of my principles,
and though I have the inspiration of a just cause...
The people await their queen.
As she awaits to be adored.
II'
One more week.
You'll miss it when it's gone.
I shall.
That doesn't mean this isn't the right thing to do.
II'
What the hell do you think you're doing?
I'm...
I'm comforting my wife, Mr. Penge.
What are you doing?
II'
Albert?
Albert, let me in, my darling.
Albert, please.
II'