*CREDITS*
Good morning, Your Royal Highness.
I am sorry to disturb you, sir, but I've just heard
the Russian exhibits have been held up.
Held, held up? By ice.
In the Baltic.
It's been a long winter.
It has been a long winter.
Well.
Albert,
you must come and have breakfast.
Your Majesty. Mr. Cole.
You're here already.
Albert, I know you're busy, but you must eat.
The Russian ships have frozen in the Baltic.
I promise the exhibition will be fine
without a few sable pelts and dried herrings.
Actually, ma'am, they were sending samples of minerals
that could... Won't it, Mr. Cole?
Very well.
Awful.
Colonel Sibthorp.
Demanding I put a stop
to this "crystal abomination."
Really.
Can't he see Albert's a visionary?
Perhaps only a wife can truly appreciate his... genius.
What do you mean? Just that...
Your belief in Albert
must be such a solace to him at the moment.
People are being so unkind.
Monmouth says Sophie has taken a turn for the worse.
I had no idea it was so serious.
Did you, Emma?
Why, no, ma'am.
In fact, she has been looking very well of late.
Bloooming, I would say.
She's suffering from...
some kind of inflammation of the brain
that requires complete rest and seclusion.
I am so sorry
to have been the bearer of bad news.
It is so illogical.
The United States have sent
their steam-powered threshing machine,
and now the vice president is concerned
about hailstones breaking the glass roof.
What does it matter
if some lily-livered American won't show up?
The exhibition is for the people,
and I'm sure they can't wait
to see their steam-powered threshing machine.
Adelheid.
Let me introduce my foreign secretary,
Lord Palmerston.
_
Serene Highness.
Adelheid has barely left the school room,
Lord Palmerston.
Heidi,
we must talk about your dress for the exhibition.
I only have two dresses,
and I'm afraid they are not chic.
Then we must go and talk to my dresser.
And I'm sure Feo would be happy
to lend you some of her new jewels.
Feodora, of course,
you will be looking for a match
for Heidi, no?
She's still so young.
Well, the king of Prussia's brother Sigmund will be coming.
If Heidi were to find him agreeable,
I think it could be most suitable.
Vicky, of course, will marry the crown prince,
but until then, it could be beneficial
to have an ally in Berlin.
Do you not think, Lord Palmerston?
If you say so, sir.
You are most thoughtful, Albert.
"Prince Florizel asked the king if he could marry his daughter.
"And the king, with tears in his eyes,
"gave him his blessing.
"And so Aurora and Florizel were married.
"And they lived happily ever after.
The end."
Now...
Time for bed.
Good night.
Papa told Aunt Feo
that I'm going to marry the crown prince
and live in Berlin.
But I want to stay here, with you.
Yes, well, you do now,
but one day, you'll want your own family.
But I promise,
when you do marry,
you will marry just as I did-- for love.
Do you think cousin Adelheid will marry for love?
Yes.
Yes, I'm, I'm sure she will.
Will Papa come and say good night?
Maybe not tonight, darling.
Now, bed.
Good night.
Good night, Mama.
Russell.
I've just had a dispatch
from Paris.
There's been a coup,
and Louis Napoleon has declared himself emperor.
Who'd have thought that after Waterloo
there would be another Bonaparte emperor?
Well, he's nothing like his uncle.
He's even shorter,
apparently,
and he has no plans to attack Britain.
How can you be sure?
Well, because he'll be too busy
licking his own country into shape.
You seem very confident.
He may be a Frenchman,
but Louis Napoleon is someone I can do business with.
I want to see my son. I'm sure you do.
However, I think he would find the sight
of his lunatic mother
rather distressing.
Don't you?
Perhaps it's time I sent you
to the asylum,
where you can be properly cared for.
There is nothing wrong with me.
When the queen hears about what you've done,
she will demand that you set me free.
How remiss of me.
Her Majesty sent over some calf's foot jelly.
She does so hope you'll be better for the exhibition.
What a shame you'll have to disappoint her.
The Times today said,
"The influx of visitors from all over the world
"will likely result in fermentation of a new plague,
just as the Black Death followed the Crusades."
How, how can a, a respectable newspaper print
such utter nonsense?
I don't think there is such a thing
as a respectable paper, sir.
Albert.
Your Majesty.
You're still working.
How can I sleep
knowing that we have not sold enough tickets?
But I thought the excursion fares
were going to make all the difference.
They are helping, certainly, ma'am,
but no one's buying the season tickets.
It seems that society women
do not wish to rub shoulders
with the ruffians and foreigners.
Might they want to shake hands with their queen?
Why, yes indeed, ma'am.
Then I think we have a solution, Mr. Cole.
Victoria, no.
I do not want to use you to sell tickets.
And I, Albert,
do not want your great creation to fail.
And more importantly, I want you to get some sleep.
Perhaps you are right. Yes.
Indeed.
Good night, Mr. Cole.
Ma'am.
Come on.
Yes, very well, very well.
It is magnificent, my love.
But it will still be there in the morning.
In Burma,
the kings, they have these sacred elephants
that are silver in color.
And if a king gives an elephant to a subject,
it is seen as a sign of great fortune.
The animals are too sacred to put to work,
and of course they cannot be sold.
They are so expensive to keep,
that sometimes the new owners are forced to choose
between feeding their children
and feeding the beast.
That is what The Times called this today.
A white elephant.
I am afraid I have built a monument to my own folly.
Fiddlesticks.
People just have to get used to the idea, that's all.
And if they do not?
Well, if they do not...
Then you will still be my husband,
the father of my children,
my beloved.
Your hand is like ice.
Your Serene Highness!
What are you doing in the park?
I'm coming to see the prince's creation.
She's a fine-looking girl, your Heidi.
Too pretty to marry a Prussian.
She could do much better.
Louis Napoleon has declared himself emperor of France.
He's going to need an empress.
I can't imagine why a man
who distrusts the French as you do
would suggest such a match.
Well, the Russian bear would like to sweep up the Balkans
in its claw.
All they would need to do is find a common cause
with a country with an excellent navy
and ambitions to recreate their lost dominance of Europe.
France, for example.
That would be most unfortunate for us.
And you think Heidi could prevent this alliance?
I think if she's anything like her mother,
then Britain's interests will be quite safe.
Of course.
And as empress, she would outrank everyone.
Even the Queen of England.
Good day.
Have you heard from the duchess of Monmouth, ma'am?
I hope she is recovering from her illness.
The duke said she is no better.
Would you like me to make some inquiries,
Ma'am?
Yes.
Yes, perhaps you should.
I'll write a letter to Sophie.
To be delivered in person.
That's a good idea.
Glad you approve, Turner.
Isn't it lovely?
I don't want to take it off ever.
Aunt Victoria has been so kind.
I love her so much.
Well,
she can afford to give you lovely things.
And Uncle Albert says he thinks I will like Prince Sigmund.
Imagine living in Berlin!
Imagine...
living in Paris.
Once again, Palmerston has exceeded his authority.
He had no right to congratulate Napoleon on,
on making himself emperor of the French.
I don't understand
how this Bonaparte can make himself emperor
just like that.
After all that we have done to cultivate
a good relationship with Prussia,
Palmerston has congratulated their greatest enemy.
I think you are not alone in deploring his action, sir.
I suspect that for once, the foreign secretary
will not have the support of the country.
Or the Commons.
Feodora.
Can it be right
that you were seen
in the park today, talking with Lord Palmerston?
He accosted me, Albert.
I didn't want to cut him in public,
much as I would have liked to.
Yes, well he has put the whole exhibition in jeopardy
with his support of Louis Napoleon.
I thought the Prussians would withdraw,
but I explained to the king
Palmerston does not speak for the crown.
I think he speaks only for himself.
Well, I must say I am pleased
that Prince Sigmund will still be coming.
You are so kind, Albert.
To think of my little Heidi at a time like this.
Well, I know how much her happiness matters to you.
I acted in the national interest, ma'am.
Of which you are the sole guardian?
Of course not,
but this country's reputation is my greatest concern.
Which is why I'm here.
Thank you.
Is it true that you're going
to attend the public opening of the exhibition?
Of course.
Think of all that glass, such a tempting target.
Don't be so lily-livered.
You've been against the exhibition from the beginning.
Well, the British public
don't take well to hyperbole, ma'am.
The minute you call something great,
they just want to belittle it.
So what do you suggest?
Stay away from the exhibition.
Let it be the prince's project, and not the crown's.
But the queen told me to give this to the duchess in person.
No one is allowed up there, miss.
Not even to clean or empty the slops.
Do you think the duchess is very ill?
What kind of an illness is it
when a patient has to be locked in
when the nurses come down for their meals?
My dress is pink,
and so is Vicky's, and Bertie will wear his kilt.
It's important people recognize
the prince of Wales.
People are talking of nothing else
but the exhibition, ma'am.
Excuse me, ma'am.
I went to Monmouth House as you asked me to,
and I wasn't allowed to see the duchess.
It is my belief that she has been confined to her room
on the grounds of insanity.
Insanity?
Sophie is not a lunatic.
No, but I suspect the duke does not agree with you, ma'am.
Please find the duke of Monmouth
and tell him I wish to speak with him.
At once.
Let Brodie go.
I want to wring his aristocratic neck.
I could do it, too.
Just like killing a chicken,
one quick twist.
Which is why you mustn't go near him, Joseph.
He's a powerful man.
I don't care what he does to me.
He has no right to lock her up.
I would lay down my life for her, Abigail.
Don't look so surprised.
You think a footman isn't capable of real feeling?
And a good-looking young man
could use a duchess for his own advancement.
Not everyone thinks like you, Mr. Penge.
You don't think I am capable of real feeling, Mrs. Turner?
Brodie?
Whoa.
Emily!
You look surprised, Henry.
I hope I'm not spoiling any of your plans.
You know that you are the only plan worth following.
But what are you doing here?
You hate London in the season.
The queen invited me to the opening of the exhibition.
And you left Ireland for that?
I could hardly refuse a royal command,
and besides, I am looking forward to seeing
the famous Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace?
Crystal Carbuncle, more like.
It's full of the world's impedimenta.
Or a step towards the realization
of the unity of mankind?
Emily, please.
You know what sententious claptrap does to my poor nerves.
Have you ever considered the possibility
that the prince is right?
Never!
God made Britain an island
for a reason. So God's an Englishman?
Of course.
Are you sure Louis Napoleon deserves your support?
Is that why you're here?
I didn't think you cared for politics.
It isn't politics I care for, Henry.
Since you are determined to proceed,
there is nothing I can do to prevent a vote of censure
against the foreign secretary for his letter of congratulation
to the so-called emperor of the French.
But Palmerston has stuck to the Foreign Office
like a limpet
through every crisis of his own making.
This time, we must be sure
of getting him out.
The duke of Monmouth, ma'am.
Your Majesty.
Is it true, Duke,
that the duchess, my mistress of the robes,
is being confined in your house as a lunatic?
Given the duchess's mental state,
I'm afraid I had no choice...
I don't believe there's anything wrong with Sophie's mind.
But the doctors who examined her would disagree with you.
Really?
In my experience,
men only call women mad
when they are doing something inconvenient.
Her behavior has been more than inconvenient, ma'am.
It has been... wanton.
The doctors call it hysterical nymphomania.
So you see, ma'am, I had no choice.
She is my wife,
and I regret to say she is mad.
Duke.
I expect to see the duchess at the exhibition tomorrow.
You may leave us.
Wake up, Mama!
Wake up!
I think Papa is dead!
Come on, Mama!
Albert.
Albert!
What?
Victoria?
Bertie?
What... what is happening?
I'm so sorry, Papa.
I wanted to talk to you...
He thought you were dead.
Well, well, as you can see, I...
I'm very much alive.
But only just, Albert, you...
cannot go on like this.
Victoria, I do not think
you should accompany me tomorrow.
I do not want you
tainted by my failure.
Bertie.
Off to bed with you.
Do you know that Palmerston said the same thing to me today?
I would have to be really quite stubborn.
One might even say... irrational,
to ignore both of you, don't you think?
Of course I'm coming with you, Albert.
Papa, your hand is very cold.
That... that is because I am nervous.
Well, I think you have nothing to worry about.
It's time.
Good morning, Mr. Cole.
Your Majesty.
You see we have the queen's weather.
I hope you've come to tell me the tickets have all sold.
Well, yes, ma'am.
And the park is completely full
with what I believe are well-wishers.
What else could they be?
Well, Inspector Dorbiney thinks
the crown might not be entirely benign.
You think there could be trouble, Inspector?
Your Royal Highness,
with so many people gathered in one place,
it doesn't take much to turn a crowd.
What would you suggest?
Sir, I would suggest that you enter through the back way,
in a closed carriage.
And that your children should remain
in the safety of the palace.
I cannot put you and the children in danger.
Do you have confidence in your creation, Albert?
Because even if you don't,
I do.
Please.
Does the queen know?
What, that I'm a Chartist?
Yes, she does.
I am not in the habit of pretending to be
someone I'm not. Abigail!
Please...
Please.
I wasn't pretending all the time.
Mrs. Turner to you, Inspector Dorbiney.
Look at all these people, Henry.
All wearing their Sunday best for the exhibition.
How do you know they haven't turned out to see me, M?
Louis Napoleon?
Keep smiling, darling.
? God save our gracious queen
? Long live our noble queen
It's the eighth wonder of the world.
I'm so proud of you.
? Send her victorious
? Happy and glorious
? Long to reign over us
? God save the queen
Your Majesty,
we are living at a period
of most wonderful transition.
We are moving towards that great end,
the realization of the unity
of all mankind.
The distances that separated the different countries
are rapidly vanishing
with the achievements of modern invention.
The world is getting smaller.
And the aim of the exhibition
is to unite the art and industry
from every nation on the Earth.
Thank you.
There were many who said this could not be done.
But they did not possess the vision of one man,
my husband,
and his accomplice, Sir Henry Cole,
who understood that the nations of the world were ready,
for this festival of peace.
And now it is with the greatest pleasure
that I declare the exhibition open.
? Hallelujah
Sophie.
I'm so glad to see you here.
Fully recovered, I hope?
Yes, ma'am.
So you have no need for your attendants.
Ma'am.
And Duke. Ma'am.
You must be dying to inspect the steam threshing machine.
Ma'am.
Better, I think.
Yes, ma'am.
Mama, look!
Excuse me.
Excuse me, Your Grace.
I think you'll find the American gallery
very much to your taste.
I hope you will be careful.
Your husband is watching.
But maybe this is the moment you could slip away
unobserved.
Your Majesty.
This is a most impressive gathering,
and everything completely on time.
Congratulations to you both.
Thank you.
And also the, the roof has not fallen in.
May I introduce my daughter Vicky.
Vicky, this is His Majesty
the king of Prussia, and his son the crown prince.
Your Highness.
Dearest Sigmund,
may I also introduce my niece,
Adelheid.
But family and friends call me Heidi.
Cousin Heidi,
I would like to show you the pavilion of my country.
There is a piece of coal that is resembling a dachshund.
Sigmund and Adelheid
seem to be enjoying one another's company.
What a matchmaker you are, Albert.
I thought I'd never see you again.
There is a boat that sails to New York tomorrow
from Liverpool.
Meet me at Euston tonight
and we can catch the train together.
America, Sophie.
A place where we don't have to be
duchesses and footmen.
It won't be the life you are used to,
but it will be a life based on love.
You know how much I want to be with you,
but how can I leave William?
Monmouth would never let him go.
But William won't be a child for long.
Thank you.
Before you start, I should tell you.
I'm leaving the palace.
Actually, Joseph...
I came to ask your pardon.
For misjudging you.
When you came to the palace,
I took you for the kind of unscrupulous man
who would do anything for his own advantage.
I see now that I was wrong.
No, Mr. Penge, you were quite right.
I was looking for advantage.
But instead I found...
Someone whose happiness was more important than your own.
I do remember what it's like
to lose your reason over a woman.
And I hope you have more luck than I had.
Now...
You should leave quickly before the duke sees you.
His Excellency Ali Avani, the envoy from Persia.
Your Majesty.
Now that you have recovered...
His Excellency Mehmet Ali, the envoy from Turkey.
Your Majesty.
I trust you will not have a relapse.
Count Orlov, representing the tsar.
Because, Sophie,
I set great store on having you by my side.
The ambassador...
His Excellency the Baron Aksen, Kingdom of Denmark.
Your Majesty.
Just the man.
Can you tell me the name of the man with whom
my wife has been consorting?
I'm sorry, Your Grace,
but I cannot help you further.
You know, the thing I prize more than anything is loyalty.
Then I suspect you are frequently disappointed,
Your Grace.
In my experience,
loyalty must be earned, not bought.
Cousin Heidi, I've been looking for you everywhere.
Will you do me the very great honor
of becoming my wife?
Bertie, don't you think I'm a little old for you?
No.
Mama says I'm getting more grown up every day.
I'm afraid that my mama has already found me a husband.
Not horrible Sigmund.
With his stupid mustache.
I quite like Sigmund.
No, she wants me to marry Louis Napoleon.
Do you love him?
I have never met him.
But she says it is easy to love an emperor.
What a... touching scene.
Foreign Secretary.
Prime Minister.
You look as if you've won
the derby.
Don't tell me the vote of censure went against me?
Perhaps we could talk privately.
No need.
You'll have my letter of resignation in the morning.
I'm so sorry that...
Don't pretend you're not thrilled to be rid of me.
Anyway, I'm rather looking forward
to spending more time with my beautiful wife.
83-blade knife.
Look.
There is even a tuning fork.
Your Majesty, I, um...
Are you having trouble finding the right note, Lord Pam?
Has Russell told you?
He was almost jubilant.
Should have listened to you, ma'am.
You did warn me.
But that was not in your nature.
No, I'm afraid it isn't.
So unlike you to go against public sentiment.
I knew I was doing the right thing.
Do you know who you sound like?
My husband.
He was prepared to go against public opinion
because he knew the end result would be worth it.
It's a great achievement.
I wish the same could be said for my career.
Which is not over, Lord Pam.
Goodbye, ma'am.
We'll be hours waiting for the carriage.
Do you mind if we walk?
I find myself rather wanting to go home.
I don't mind at all, Henry.
Are you leaving, Lord Palmerston?
I was hoping we might talk.
Your Serene Highness, may I present Lady Palmerston.
I'd hoped you might introduce me to the French ambassador.
I'm sure it can be arranged, but not by me, I'm afraid.
I'm no longer foreign secretary.
Have you been dismissed?
No, resigned, actually,
but the result is the same.
Well.
What a pity.
It was a role you played very well.
At least you have your wife to console you.
He has a wife who'll make sure that one day,
he becomes prime minister.
Good day, Your Serene Highness.
Sophie.
I've been thinking that you should have
your own house in town,
so that your son can stay with you.
Don't you agree?
William is, is so independent, now he's gone to school.
He doesn't need me anymore.
I think every woman
sometimes dreams of escape.
But how far would you have to go to forget your own child?
God save the queen!
God save Papa!
God save Prince Albert!
Take that, Louis Napoleon!
And that!
Bertie.
I have something for you.
I don't want your stupid chocolate!
Bertie?
Bertie!
Ha, ha.
Hey.
What's the matter?
My heart is broken.
I see.
Well, that's very serious.
But you know,
I think hearts can be mended.
Would you like me to try?
You see, Papa,
I've fallen in love with Heidi.
I think she'd be a very good queen.
But she says Aunt Feo wants her to marry Louis Napoleon.
And I love her so much.
Well...
I promise.
You will find someone else to love.
But I won't be a good king without her.
Dearest Bertie, trust me.
You will not need Heidi to be a great king.
Come.
When you said you thought I should be prime minister,
were you being serious?
Yes, Henry.
I think you've had enough of foreign affairs.
Does that mean you're going to be staying in London with me?
How else are you going to lead the country?
Please.
Would you mind?
What on Earth is the matter?
I have just...
discovered that your sister has been conspiring
with Lord... Pilgerstein
so that her daughter may marry Louis Napoleon.
Well, nothing can come of that now.
What?
Palmerston has resigned.
Nevertheless...
I trusted her.
I confided in her.
And all the time, she was deceiving me.
You were right about her, Victoria.
And I should have listened to you.
Well, I take no satisfaction in being right.
Well, would you forgive me if I did not quite believe you?
I wanted to congratulate you once more.
You must be so proud that all your hard work
has come to such a splendid resolution.
And thank you, Albert, for introducing Heidi to Sigmund.
I think she likes him.
And, um...
What do you think Lord Palmerston would say
if she married him?
Lord Palmerston?
No, you, you no longer care what he thinks
now that he is not foreign secretary anymore!
You betrayed me, Feodora.
Albert.
I'm not so bad, really.
I could have allowed Heidi to accept your son's proposal.
'Tis a pity.
She would have made a good queen of England.
As I would have done.
But...
I have my standards, and your unfortunate son...
does not meet them.
We will leave in the morning.
Feo...
Feo, wait.
Bertie is my son.
He's just a child.
He's a little boy with feelings too big for his body.
I can remember what that was like.
I think you can, too.
You don't have to go, Feo.
I know you were only trying to do your best for Heidi.
The way Mama was only trying to doing her best
when she sent you to Langenburg to get married.
But I was Mama's child, too.
No one ever did their best for me.
And you have wanted to punish me?
For that?
I know you think that I have everything,
and that you have nothing.
But there is one thing I don't have.
A sister.
Mama.
I dreamt I was lost, and I couldn't find you.
Are you going to stand here every night?
I wanted to remember that I had done... something right.
Albert, you've done so much.
Do you think it'll make a difference?
I do.
It was a day to live forever.
And I could not have done it without you.
Nonsense.
I did everything I could to stop you.
Not when it mattered.
No.
Are you all right?
All right.
Just tired.
How beautiful you look tonight.
This is where we stood when you...
Proposed.
You were so nervous.
I was.
It was the biggest decision of my life.
Was it the right one?
Albert?
Albert!
*CREDITS*