Sixty Glorious Years (1938) Movie Script
SIXTY
GLORIOUS YEARS
An intimate diary of queen Victoria
and her beloved consort - Princ Albert
MOST GRAEFULLY ACKNOWEDGING
THE PERMISSION
SO GRACIOUSLY GRANTED
FOR US THE USE OF:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
WINDSOR CASTLE
ST. JAMES'S PALACE
OSBORNE HOUSE
BALMORAL
AT THE TURN OF THE
NINETEENTH CENTURY,
THE TIDE OF THE BRITISH
MONARCHYWS AT IT'S LOWEST EBB.
AND ENGLAND WAS NEVER
CLOSER TO REVOLUTION.
THIS WAS HE HERITAGEE OF
TE YOUNG GIRL QUEEN - VICTORIA -
WHEN SHE ASCENDED
THE TRON IN 1837.
THREE YEARS LATER,
THE MONARCHY WAS FIRMLY SEIN THE AFFECTION OF IT'S
PEOPLE, AN IT WAS THE QUEEN.
"SO YOUNG, SO SMALL SO DIGNIFIED"
THAT WROUGHT THE CHANCE.
WINDSOR CASTLE
Toorrow at the opening of Parlament
I shell announce my great decision to Cheir Lordship.
I do hope it will meet their approval
as I have guite made up my mind
I have guite made up my mind
My lords and gentlemen,
since you were last assembled,
I have declared my intention
of allying myself in marriage
unto prince Albert of
Saxe- Coburg and Gotha.
I humbly implore the divine
blessing may prosper this union
and render it conducive to
the interests of my people
as well as to my
own domestic happiness,
and it will be to me a source
of the most lively satisfaction
to find the resolution I have made
taken and approved
by my parliament.
It isn't good
enough Wellington.
The prince is yet a
stranger to the people
and we're asked to provide
him with a large income.
And I don't think parliament
will stand for it or the country.
Well I'm against appeal. - After
all, we've got to be very careful.
Only a few years back we
barely escaped revolution.
Why they stole Apsley
house with me inside it.
Well, I'm proposing a reduction
of the Grant by nearly half.
And I'm dead against this idea
of making him an English peer.
Yes. - It'll be misunderstood. - Yes,
quite right. - No, it's nothing personal.
Apologies of course. - Oh, no, no,
no, no. - Of course, course, course.
Well, I suppose he's on his way now.
- Well I hope he keeps fine for his journey.
Oh Albert, I've been wanting
to ask you for a long time,
what does it feel like
to be proposed to?
Oh, I was nervous.
You see, I was standing
on the one side of the table
and I didn't know what
to do. I just had to wait.
And she was standing on
the other side of the table,
and didn't know how to begin.
Finally she showed
me the family album.
And you had to look at all
the old uncles and aunts?
I bet uncle Leopold
was there too? - Yes sir.
Oh she was so
nervous... and so sweet.
And now to look forward
to your new country.
I'm glad Ernst the final partings over.
The whole journey has
been one long farewell.
Every field, and every
hill, and every villy
seems to be bidding me
goodbye. - You'll be welcomed.
You'll be loaded by honours.
That's a good beginning.
The Duke of Wellington
has opposed my rank.
And the English
parliament is nearly
half the allowance of
they were to give to me.
I don't seem to be very welcomed.
- Of course you will be welcomed.
You'll take the rightful place
at the head of affairs beside the queen.
The English are doing everything
they can to make me unwelcomed.
You mustn't allow such
thoughts to enter your head.
And it's a fact Ernst, it's
a fact they don't want me.
Don't you see Albert, within a few weeks
you'll be the husband of a girl queen
who rules over one of the
greatest country in the world.
What a responsibility and what
a chance. - Yes, what a chance.
Her majesty wishes to see the prince
in the drawing room immediately.
But Lehzen, you think I should see
the prince with my hair like this?
In curls?
- Yes, it looks charming.
You do not think he will
be shocked? - No, I think not.
Oh Albert, there you are.
Although I have not a moment today,
what, with my work
and the dressmakers.
I had to spare you a few
minutes just to tell you
that all the arrangements for
our marriage are now complete.
And I am very happy.
Don't you think we should
reconsider the whole question?
I feel it is better
to draw back now
than to go on to
what must be a failure.
Albert, what do you mean?
But Victoria nobody
here seems to wish me.
I'm resented. My presence
in the country's objected to,
and well, I fear for the future.
And I think it's better to
face it now than afterward.
Then why did you accept my proposal
of marriage? - For a very simple reason.
Because I love you. Oh, it you
weren't queen I would allow
nothing to come between you
and me. - Then nothing shall Albert.
I too love you.
And our love will be done all opposition.
They shall be made to respect you
and you shall take
your rightful place.
Whatever happens,
whatever people say...
I will marry you.
On Victoria, you are
so good and kind to me
that I'm puzzled to
believe that I should
be the object of
so much affection.
Now I must leave you.
Oh, Albert? - Yes.
In England, we do not
say "nobody wishes me",
we say, "nobody wants me."
Oh, thank you. You've made me
very happy your majesty to know
that even if nobody
here wants me,
you do.
- Albert.
St. James's Palace
February 10th 1840
Will thou have this woman
Victoria to thy wedded wife,
to live together
after God's ordinance
in the holy estate of matrimony?
Will thou love her, comfort her,
honour and keep her in
sickness and in health
as long as you both
shall live? - I will.
Will thou Victoria have this man Albert
to thy wedded husband,
to live together
after God's ordinance
in the holt estate of matrimony?
Will thou obey
him and serve him,
love, honour, and keep him,
in sickness and in health,
so long as ye both
shall live? - I will.
With this ring I thee wed.
With this ring I thee wed.
Do you remember
the evening we danced
then you wore.
- Yes, Albert.
It's a beautiful dance.
The waltz.
How the youn
people do enjoy it.
Are we so very old?
I'm 21 Albert.
Yes, very old.
Old enough to know
that it would be
improper for a married
woman to dance the waltz.
Oh.
Fine trouble Wellington.
- Yes, but I'm in her bad book spiel.
For opposing his rank.
- And I for opposing his allowance.
How I wish I were an ancient
Greek Goddess who lived on Olympus.
What?
I should like to
hurl a thunderbolt.
Who is it, Peel or
Wellington? - Both.
Albert.
I'll shall catch their eye
and convey that in a look.
They have seen me Albert.
I think they wish they hadn't.
Mr. Strauss does play this waltz
tune better than anyone else.
Yes he does.
Albert, I feel I
would like to dance.
What? A married woman at 21?
Albert, I think I am going
to dance. - Most improper.
Albert, we will dance.
They're in the green drawing
room Windsor, Wellington.
Awaiting Her majesty's pleasure.
- Oh, I remember.
Albert!
A bullseye!
Now you. - Oh, but
it is so difficult.
Come on, I'll show it to you.
Give me your hand.
Albert, this is England.
- I know, and I love it.
You know, I think I'm going
to like archery. - Are you?
Oh is that right?
- No, that's not right.
So here.
Albert. - I know,
that is England, I know.
Now aim. And aim high,
remember lot for the win.
It is so difficult.
- No, go on, go on.
You know, I understand
the queen's in the grounds.
I think I'll venture out. A tactful
reminder that we're here.
Brave fellow.
I'll wait here.
Happy dreams.
Did I tell you Victoria, my private
secretary from Coburg has arrived in London?
He wants to know when
they shall come here.
But my dear, I have already
arranged a secretary for you.
Arranged?
- But of course Albert,
it would never do for
the husband of the queen
to select his own secretary.
That is a matter for me to decide.
On Victoria, I'm
here in the country,
where everything is
new and strange to me.
The people, the custom, the language...
Nobody knows that and understands
and sympathises more than I do.
Well then surely I may be
allowed to have one man with me.
Merely to look after
my private affairs,
whom I've known all
my life and can trust.
It's more important
that you should have
someone that the queen
knows and can trust.
Uh, huh.
Albert, I must tell you frankly,
this idea of having
your own secretary,
a foreigner, simply will not do.
Mr. Anson whom I
have chosen for you
is modest, steady, and well-informed.
- I have no doubt your Mr. Anson's perfect,
but he can never mean the
same to me as an old friend
who is already in England.
Then he must go back.
At once.
Your majesty.
Your Royal highness.
Sir Robert. - I'm extremely
conscious ma'am that it is
a great shame to interrupt
so pleasant a pastime,
but I'm here ma'am with
the Duke of Wellington.
We could scarcely have had
two more unwelcomed visitors.
Oh your majesty. - And that look of
pained surprise is quite unnecessary.
We have recently been
subjected to a gross,
deliberate, and unforgivable affront.
And you and the Duke of Wellington
were ringleaders and
instigators. - Your majesty,
if I might be permitted to say
one word in defence of the Duke.
He only did what he considered
to be his duty. - Duty?
As a soldier ma'am. - That is
hardly my idea of a soldiers duty.
It's more the action of
a rebel, an old rebel.
Oh, your majesty is deadly
with a bow as well I see.
Albert, a bullseye!
- Remarkable.
I will rejoin the Duke ma'am.
We will await your pleasure.
That is exactly what they
will do, await my pleasure.
Oh really Victoria?
Sir Robert and the Duke are two
of the greatest men of our time.
- You say that Albert?
When he was against you
all their insults were directed.
But don't you see Victoria...
- No, I do not see!
And I do not want
to see anything!
I'm sorry.
You're back soon. - It's not
soon enough for Her majesty.
We're to wait.
- Wait is it? - Yes.
She's as obstinate as
a wagon-load of monkeys.
Well, let her try
her tricks on me.
Now I know why she
calls you the old rebel.
She calls me what?
- The old rebel.
Rebel? Rebel is it?
- Old rebel.
Good morning Your Royal
highness. - Who are you?
My name is Anson,
your private secretary.
Anson?
- Yes.
Uh huh.
Good day.
Wellington. - I didn't come
here to listen to a concert!
My lady, have you managed
to hit the target yet?
Of course I have, the bullseye.
And without looking.
Don't ask ridiculous
questions Lehzen.
Leave me alone.
- Yes your majesty.
Rebel.
Old rebel.
Morning Lehzen.
Well, what do you want now?
- Nothing your majesty.
The prince desires me to tell you
that he wishes to see you.
Tell the prince I will
not receive him today
and I do not wish to be disturbed
by any further messages!
Yes your majesty.
Her majesty does
not wish to see you.
And she does not wish to be
disturbed by any further messages.
So.
Go away, go away!
I do not wish to see you.
I know.
I want to be left alone.
- I'll leave you in a minute.
But first you must listen
to what I have to say.
Albert, you forget yourself,
I am the queen.
Oh no my dear, when you're alone with me
you are nothing but my wife.
Then I will go.
- Victoria.
If you don't want my
help in matters of state,
or if you don't want me
to have my own secretary,
well in good, that's your affair.
But when I see you
slighting two great men,
taking advantage of your position- ...
- Well Albert, don't.
Please don't. - You behave like a
naughty little girl, not like a queen.
I know.
I know I did.
There's humility in
all real greatness.
Oh Albert, please forgive me.
You hate me don't you?
No I don't hate you.
I love you.
I love you very much.
And I love you
Albert, very, very much.
Who is there?
- Your majesty,
do you wish sir Duke
and sir Robert to wait?
Oh no Lehzen, let them be dismissed.
- No, no. One moment Lehzen.
You should see them.
- Should I? - Yes, certainly.
Oh Lehzen, I will
see them. - Immediately.
Immediately.
In the library.
In the library Lehzen.
Blow your nose darling.
Soft, soft.
And because you kept them
waiting such a long time,
you'll be especially charming, yes?
- Yes Albert. - Promise?
You shall see
how charming I can be.
She shall not go to
this review on a horse.
She'll ride like any decent woman in
her carriage. - You'll have to be firm.
Firm is it! My dear Bob,
when it comes to anything
connected with the troops,
I'm not going to be
dictated to by a chit of a girl.
Queen or no queen.
No. - I will receive the Duke
and sir Robert immediately.
She's been reading
about queen Elizabeth,
at Tilbury, a horseback.
That's what's put it into her head!
- Well?
Well, we've got to get it out
of her head. - Sounds simple.
Oh of course it is.
I'll say my little say, set myjaw,
and she'll ride in her carriage.
- My lord Duke, sir Robert,
Her majesty will see you.
- Oh.
Now for it. - Now we come to
it, you're as nervous as I am.
Not a bit of it. But I tell
you Bob, I'm glad I didn't
feel like this before Waterloo.
- Yes, but you won that.
Surely, now for this.
Come on!
And please, don't
forget, very charming hm?
Your majesty.
Oh pray pardon me gentlemen,
for having kept you waiting so long.
It was remiss of me.
- Not at all ma'am.
Oh but it was. I had a
matter of some importance
to discuss with the prince.
- Oh, your majesty, ma'am,
the Duke has a matter of some
importance to discuss with you.
Well my lord Duke.
I hear ma'am you have some idea
of reviewing the troops on horseback.
And why not?
Why not?
- Well it is, it's impossible.
And why?
- Why?
Well, it will be indelicate.
Indelicate.
The queen is as good a judge of
indelicacy as you are my lord Duke.
What if it rains?
- Well...
What would happen if it rains?
I should get wet.
What next?
I haven't got a quired horse.
I do not want a quired horse.
- Ma'am really, really,
I must protest.
- Protest!
Just because queen Elizabeth...
- Queen Elizabeth?
Please explain yourself me lord Duke.
What exactly has queen
Elizabeth to do with this?
Nothing ma'am.
- Nothing.
I thought not.
Good day my lord Duke.
Good day ma'am.
- Good day sir Robert.
Good day ma'am.
Remember me lord Duke,
no horse, no review.
Yes ma'am.
- No ma'am.
Wellington.
- Yes.
She said her little say,
she said her little jaw,
and she rode her
little horse. - Ah.
"Streets of dirty,
straggling hous,
as deformed as the half-naked
chilgren thet wallow in the kennels.
A weak tremuus voice tells a
fearful tale of want and famishing."
Charles Dikens
Oh Anson.
- Sir.
Who is Boz?
It's a pen name of a new
author named Charles dickens.
Charles Dickens?
You think that's all true?
- I believe it is sir.
He lives among the people
he writes about. - Oh.
The prince is expecting me.
- Not until tomorrow sir.
But he's in the palace. - His Royal
highness is in the drawing room sir.
Albert!
- Ernst!
So that's what a
father looks like, huh?
Your highness, Her majesty
is waiting. - Thank you.
You stay here behind the door.
We give her a surprise hm?
But I must have a wash first.
- No you need no wash.
Alright.
Sure it's a wee
blossom of a babe.
But sometimes I
can't help myself feeling,
I'd of been more happy had it been
a little girl if it had been a little boy.
By gone, but the prince himself is
pleased enough about it being a lass.
It's made him more daft
about the queen than ever.
He won't allow nobody bu
himself to carry her downstairs.
And the back stairs at that.
Your Royal highness, if I can be
of any service whilst you're here- ...
Oh thank you Mr. Anson,
the prince has plenty of work to occupy
himself with I see.
- I'm afraid His Royal highness
has a very difficult
position to fill.
He has such a fine mind, but...
Oh he'll soon take his
rightful place beside the queen.
Depends upon what your Royal
highness means by his rightful place.
Ernst!
- Victoria.
Oh what a happy surprise.
Albert did not tell me you were here.
Yes. And I'm all dirty
from my travelling.
But Albert insisted
upon me seeing you first.
Would you permit
me now to leave?
Oh but of course, hurry back Ernst.
We have so much to tell you.
And you must see little Vicky.
- You've never seen such a beautiful baby.
Oh I'm sure of that.
Lehzen, send them all away, and have
them bring the baby Princess to me.
Your majesty.
You know Albert, if I
could travel the world
from end to end, in the
most beautiful carriage
ever imagined, it could
not be more lovelier
than the journey down the
back stairs in your arms.
Now you rest quietly while
I go and play to you hm?
I shall enjoy that.
Have you ever heard of an author
named Charles dickens Victoria?
Yes I've heard of him.
Rather evolutionary is he not?
Mm hm. But he makes me
think of the many thousands
of other mothers and fathers
who are not so fortunate as we are,
whose babies are not born in a palace.
But are destined to poverty,
starvation, and overwork.
His writing makes me want to
do something, to help, something,
something really useful.
THE CORN LAWS
Whose lot it is to labour
and earn their bread
by the sweat of their brow!
When they shall recruit
their exhausted strength
with abundant and untaxed food!
If he feels that his being here
lends royal support to this
most controversial measure,
then he must be made aware
that his presence in this
house is most objectionable.
PRINCE CONSORATTACKED IN PARLIAMENOSBORNE
Sir Robert, I have asked
you to come and see me here
because I do not wish the
prince to know. - Your majesty.
He's ceaseless, unjust
attacks against him
are making me so unhappy.
I do not want him to know how unhappy.
- I am deeply sympathetic ma'am.
Oh I know that sir Robert.
That is why I am appealing to you now
because you have been
his onalest supporter.
Can you devise some
scope, some outlet,
something to justify his existence?
Even if only to himself?
Since my resignation ma'am,
of course I have no power.
But with your majesty's permission,
I might consult with the Duke
of Wellington, there should be...
The Duke!
That is an excellent idea.
Please remember sir Robert,
I do not wish the prince
to know of our discussion.
It would be an honour indeed
if I knew that your Royal highness
were to be my successor
as commander in chief.
Well you are very kind and generous
my lord Duke. But it'll never do.
After all, we owe the
inauguration of the militia
and the volunteers to you.
May I suggest that you
discuss it with Her majesty?
No, no, no.
It would only make her unhappy.
She knows of the position
there is to any of my activities.
But, may I tell
you of a plan of mine
and ask you your opinion on it?
- I should regard it as an honour.
You see, as we are
living through an age
of great scientific and
mechanical discovery...
What?
- As we are living through an age
of great scientific and
mechanical discoveries,
I thought we might gather
together here in London.
All the nations of the world. It would be
in the nature of a great exhibition
of industry where each
could show to all the others
how they're progressing.
- Magnificent idea.
You think anybody could object to it?
- No, no, no, no, it's non-political.
Why should they? On the contrary,
everybody would be delighted
to welcome such a scheme.
There is an article
here your majesty.
Of His Royal highness' exhibition of
industry and a great deal about it.
Oh read it to me please.
- Yes ma'am.
I'm waiting. - Well I think
perhaps your majesty
would rather not hear it.
- Not hear it?
Don't be ridiculous.
Come, let me read it myself.
"This monstrous greenhouse,
"this overgrown conservatory."
11 and a half miles of table.
- Bless my soul.
Albert...
- Oh the young lady, you're here.
We're having a great day. All the
leading manufacturers of the country
have agreed to corporate. And the
colonists, in every country in Europe.
And here it is.
1.073.760 square feet of glass.
And within the building,
11 miles of table.
11 and a half sir.
- Oh, yes, I'm sorry.
11 and a half.
- But Albert,
have you seen what the newspapers
say about your exhibition?
No.
- No.
"A monstrous greenhouse.
"An overgrown conservatory.
"A preposterous and grotesque
advertisement "that anybody can see through.
"Though it's own glass may soon become
dirty "with the grime of London."
Can't bare to stand
the real purpose of it.
That it must promote a better
understanding between all the peoples.
Such a text is so ignorant as
to be unworthy of our attention.
That's the spirit ma'am. I need to
find the spirit your husband's shown
these last months with half
the country howling at his heels.
A man with less courage would
have thrown it out long ago.
Whatever they say I shall go on
and bring it to success.
And you can count on me sir!
We'll have the whole army
behind your Royal highness.
The exhibition will be open,
open on the appointed day.
And it'll be a day we'll remember
for the rest of our lives!
THE GREAT EXHIBITION
MAY 1st 1851
In declaring this finest
of exhibitions opened,
I want to say
that it seems to me,
one of the great
days in our history.
And the triumph of
my beloved husband.
So I declare this exhibition open.
Or as it has been
so rightly called,
this Crystal palace.
Dear Duke, a glorious day.
Glorious indeed your majesty.
The real worth of the prince
has been at last appreciated
in this magnificent manner.
And may I add my tribute
your Royal highness.
It is a great triumph.
- Thank you.
And a great work for peace.
No, I've seen enough
of fighting to know
that to keep friendly
with your neighbours
is about the most important
thing in the world.
Oh my dear Duke.
- Your majesty.
I am so happy Victoria
that I could do some work
and they appreciate it.
- And I Albert.
And now all the criticism will be silenced
and you will take your rightful place
in the affairs of the nation.
BALMORAL
Every year we become more
attached to this Highland Paradise;
the beautiful country -
- the quiet - te wildness -
the solitude, holds
such a charm for us.
Today at half past two
o'clock, Albert, I, the four chldren
and our party, attend
the Balmoral Gathering
I had expected news of the dear
Duke. I do hope he is better.
I shouldn't worry my dear.
No news is good news.
Did she smile?
- Me lord Duke.
Did you tell her
how they wanted him?
Yes, he's just coming.
Here he is now.
Oh. Harvey?
- My lord Duke.
I want to write a
letter to the queen.
To tell her I'm better.
Give me my things.
Something to write on.
I am very lazy today.
Disinclined to do anything.
I think I'll have a nap first.
You know Albert, I'm so looking foward
to the children's dances.
Your majesty, I'm to
tell you that we'd be glad
if you judged the barons dancing
and award the prizes yourself.
- I should be delighted Brown.
Thank you.
I'll tell them.
Listen, all of ya!
I'll have to tell you Her majesty
will be very glad to
judge the barons dancing
and award the prizes herself.
Albert, look at our own laddie.
Does he not dance
beautifully? - Yes, beautiful.
I think he's the best.
- What? The best?
Yes Albert, he is the best.
I shall award him the first prize.
Oh no, you can't possibly do
that, even if he is the best.
Look at that fellow over there.
The blacksmith's boy.
Jamie Gow?
Why he is not nearly so good.
Albert we must be impartial.
You haven't looked at
any of the others yet.
Oh how can I when our own
boy dances so beautifully?
I shall award
him the first prize.
Your majesty will be pleased
to name the winner of the first prize?
Yes Brown. - The winner
is his... - Jamie Gow.
Albert. - Her majesty
is pleased to award
the first prize to Jamie Gow!
And the second prize ma'am?
His Royal highness.
- And the second prize
to His Royal highness.
You see Albert, the
cheering is much wilder.
He was the best.
Will Jamie Gow and His Royal
highness please come forward
to receive their
prizes from Her majesty?
If that letter to the queen
is going to catch the post,
he must write it now.
Better wake him then, it's
been on his mind all morning.
My lord Duke.
My lord Duke.
England's - or rather Britains
pride, her glory, her hero
the greaest man she ever
product, is no more. Sad day.
A great and
irreparable National loss!!
One cannot think of ths
country without "the Duke"
1853
THE CLOUDS OF WAR
GATHERED OVER EUROPE
WHEN THE DESIGNS OF THE CZAR
UPON TURKEY - "THE SICK MAN OF EUROPE" -
THREATENED TO INVOLVE ENGLAND,
WHERE THE QUEEN'S AND PRINC ALBERT'S
POLICY OF CONCILIATION "EXASPERATED"
THE FOREIGN MINISTER, LORD PALMERSTON.
No. 10 Downing St.
My dear prime minister,
the csar is looking west.
I've been long-suffering as befits
a country that is not invalid.
But now the British lion's
got to do a little roaring.
It's a dangerous spirit. - Only more
dangerous still and that is not
to stand up when you're in danger.
The queen always says you exaggerate
Palmerston, and she's right.
With a little concession
we might... - Concession.
Oh my dear Russell you are like those
two young innocents at Windsor.
You think that one can reach safety
by feeding outlets to a tiger.
Or buns to a bear.
- You're too picturesque.
Only facts count.
And the fact is, csar has
sent the queen this letter,
which bears every mark of his sincere
desire to preserve the peace of Europe.
So long as this country
is anything or has anything,
we shall go one receiving
from yours truly,
or yours sincerely.
Beware of "yours very
sincerely" Russell.
I am obliged to you ma'am
for letting me see the csar's letter.
A very cordial, even
affectionate one is it not?
Is it genuine? You mean
that he is looking west?
He is not a sick man and
he has a good appetite.
Constantinople. If that
were really the case,
well John, although we're so limited
unprepared for what we should...
Not until every possibility of a
peaceful solution has been exhausted.
Of course you must pursue
conciliation and peace to the end.
That's why Palmerston's
present utterance is a disaster.
He is a difficult man to control.
- Then he must be controlled!
If he can't control himself.
- I have been accused,
and accused in high places
of being more indifferent than I should
to the risks of war.
- Aie. - Aie. - Aie.
My answer to that
lies in the past.
Though a man can
speak for the future,
There is a country
in Europe which has
been called a sick man.
Good.
And the tsar summoning
himself to the bedside,
calls himself the doctor.
But we know better.
Shall this country stand timid,
defenceless at the back door,
while the robber, violent,
threatening, and arrogant is
breaking his way in at the front?
No!
Palmerston says it's time we went
to war! And Palmerston's right!
Is Palmerston British!
He's not a foreign traitor
in the pocket of the tsar!
What's he gotta do with His Royal
highness whether we go to war or not?
That's what we wanna know!
Who's the man for us!
And who's the traitor!
John, this demonstration,
what is it for?
Your majesty, your Royal highness,
it is not exactly for anything.
What's it about?
- Rather against something.
Against what?
Am I to answer that question
quite frankly your majesty?
Against what? - Against
you Your Royal highness.
Against me.
- Against the prince?
Without reserve lord John,
we must know the whole truth.
Your majesty, Your Royal highness,
the fact is, well,
Palmerston's regarded as the
one strong man in the country.
It is thought that the prince is trying
to get rid of him for his own ends.
Own ends, for what ends?
The prince is said
to be a foreign agent.
An avowed enemy of this
country. A tool of the tsar.
Sinister shadow behind
the throne. - What?
This is unbelievable.
- You must believe it Your majesty.
There is even a rumour that the
prince is to be arrested for treason
and taken to the tower.
- Treason?
Tower? - But a great crowd's
already around the palace
waiting to see him
taken there a prisoner.
Oh my dear. We've known
something of this of course.
But the prince is so uncomplaining.
The injustice of it is making him ill,
wearing him out.
- We know that Your majesty.
All of us will work with him.
These attacks are
groundless and contemptible,
but the country is wild
with rage and fear,
and that brings me to the
real object of my visit.
I have to inform you Your majesty
that within the last few hours,
war has become inevitable.
All our work in vain.
All the notes, the letters,
the dispatches.
So much ink wasted.
Inevitable?
- Beyond hope.
So be it.
This is like living
in the meadows.
APPALING CONDITIONS
IN CRIMEA
Oi. That there ole tsar
were right he were
when he said that
his two best generals
be January and February.
Blimey, to think I used
to play in snowballs.
If ever I gets out of here
I never wanna see a
blinking snowflake again.
You'll never get out of
here lad. None of us will.
Bulls in rock here.
No, I never see
Dorset no more.
Nor me the old Kent
road, never no more.
I wonder how long they're gonna
expect them to fight on this mud.
Dry biscuits and dirty water.
- Anyhow, they call this soup.
Number one company,
load musket!
Load and our pouch is empty. Perhaps
you'd like to tell us what to load with.
Fix your bayonets.
Hey Darcy, do you know what
this blinking war's all about?
No I don't.
- And nor do I.
Nor does anybody
as far as I can see.
Funny ain't it?
All is haos!
Russell has resigned!
Accounts of the rivations and
suffering of our brave soldiers in the Crimea
reach us
continually and to day,
Albert and I visit the
wounded in hospital at Chatham
And I do say ma'am,
that one of the clever ones
has invented some new stuff.
Chloroform I've heard tell. And they
gives it to you and you goes to sleep
and they can cut off your leg
and you don't feel nothing.
I reckon if that's true,
he must be one of the
greatest men that ever lived.
We never saw nothing of
this stuff. It didn't reach us.
Four of them had
to hold me down
to cut this off
through flesh and bone.
That's enough, Her majesty
doesn't want to hear anymore.
If he were brave enough to bare it,
I can bare to hear about it.
You say this new
chloroform never reached you?
Ma'am, more than
chloroform never reached us,
food didn't reach
us, nor ammunition,
nor boots, nor clothes.
We'll win for you alright ma'am.
Don't you worry about that.
But when you ask to
fight four against one,
with nothing on your feet and nothing
in your gun and nothing in your belly...
Now, now, now, you're talking too much.
- But not complaining ma'am.
Don't you think that.
I'm one of the lucky ones!
Back in old England with me wife
and kids waiting for
me when they gets out.
Your majesty, he oughtn't
talk anymore. - No, no.
He'll soon be back with
his wife and children, I hope.
Never your Royal highness.
Gangrene, the wound was hopelessly
poisoned before he came to us.
Have they none of the new
antiseptics of Dr. Lister? - No, sir.
They're not in general
use yet. - How terrible.
Albert how terrible.
- There she goes!
Come on boys!
Give her three cheers!
Three cheers for Her
majesty and the prince!
Hip hip hooray!
- Hooray!
Hip hip...
- Hooray!
Hip hip...
- Hooray!
It's all a lot of show.
What does she care,
she's not suffering.
She ain't got nobody out there.
- She's not lost her husband.
Nor her son.
Did you see that?
She was crying.
THE QUEEN SENDS
FOR LORD PALMERSON
Me lord, you take office
at a time dark with
anxiety and danger.
But the whole country
feels and we feel
that you are the man for the hour.
- All personal differences must
be forgotten lord Palmerston.
But I want you to know
that whatever you do
will have our full support.
May God help
you in your efforts.
SEBASTOPOL
Would your majesty like
it strike in gold or silver?
No, I wish it to be
made from a base metal.
A metal from the gun itself.
- Excellent ma'am.
Yes, I think it will be
well if it had no real value.
The inscription proposed is,
"for the bravest."
- No.
No, they're all brave. Possibly
the bravest of the least brave.
I think it would be better
if it bore just the words...
FOR VALOUR
Commander Buckley, we have
been informed of your acts of valour.
We congratulate you upon your
return from Sevastopol unscathed.
Miss Nightingale, we
are proud to meet you.
We women were not
meant for governing,
but you with your nursing
have given a shining
example of our greatest mission.
I only did what I had to ma'am.
- Will you accept this gift,
not only as a token
of my own gratitude,
but the gratitude
of the whole country.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
V R
CRIMEA
"Grow old along with me,
The best is jet to be."
Browning
You may leave us,
I will pour tea myself.
Look at the line
of those years.
How lovely and
how like Coburg.
Yes, for me this
will always be
the most beautiful
view in the world.
And this hour for tea Albert,
alone with you, away
from all cares of state,
away even from the children.
Just look at them
playing soldiers.
Are they all there?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
No Albert, there are only 7.
- No, you are mistaken.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Oh yes, I had not
seen the bassinet.
And 9.
- Where is Vicky?
Albert, did you see that?
A declaration.
But she's so young, only 16.
I was queen at 18.
He is the most excellent
young man. Most suitable.
Seems only yesterday
she was in her cradle.
Yes, our first baby.
And you think they
love each other?
But of course.
How nervous he seems.
Princess Victoria of England.
Prince Frederick of Prussia.
Well you were right Victoria.
For those two children,
so much can be done
for the peace of the future.
I shall speak to him this evening
after the entertainment.
May we have
the next slide please?
Oh mama!
- That is upside down.
You put the slide in
upside down and visa versa,
then it will come out
the right way up.
A whimsical caprice
of mother nature.
Focus.
You turn the little
screw towards you please.
Very well then, turn
it away from you.
Thank you.
Here we have a
view of the wonder
of a vast age,
but still remarkable.
The sphinx.
This curious mammal is of course
notorious for it's riddle
which has remained unsolved
up to the present day.
I shan't bother you with it now.
Instead, my way of compensation
I will give you a modern
reverse of some ingenuity.
What old bird reminds you
of a musical instrument?
The answer being of course
... (?).
May we have
the next slide please?
Here we have yet another
wonder of a past age.
The Leaning tower of Pisa.
This group of people
overshadowed are they not
by the massive structure
in the centre of the picture.
Comprises my little party.
This lady here is
my cousin Maude.
We were brought up together.
Next slide please.
Here in contrast, we have
the great wonder of modern times.
I refer of course
to the Crystal palace.
Monument indeed to the
industry of the glass blower
and of His Royal highness.
And that is the last of my slides
on the wonders of the world.
A room of enchantment is it not?
And yet, how much
more entrancing
could we but people this screen
with living creatures
who walk and talk.
Imagination boggles however.
And meanwhile, I
have here with me...
Thank you professor
for a most enjoyable
and engrossing evening.
Goodnight children.
Father and I will
come up and see you.
Oh Fritz, ladies.
I think you wish to see me Fritz.
No, Your majesty.
- No Fritz?
No, Your majesty.
- Yes Fritz, you do.
Sit down.
Now...
Your majesty, may I
have your permission
to ask my fathers permission,
to ask your permission to ask Vicky,
I mean to Princess Victoria.
Yes Fritz, I understand.
You have our permission.
Victoria, prince Frederick has asked
for your hand in marriage.
- I know mama.
You know Vicky?
- Yes, mama.
This morning he gave me
a sprig of white Heather.
And by his look I knew.
And do you love him?
Yes, I do, papa.
Then we have every reason to
be very happy and very grateful.
Mama, I hope I may do well.
I have no doubts.
And you shall be
married in Saint James'
where your dear
father married me.
St. James's Palace
january 25th 1858
# Merciful unto us, and bless us
# and show us the light
of his countenance
# and be merciful unto us
# that thy way may be
known upon earth
# thy saving health
among all nations
So young,
so young.
I hope she will be happy.
I hope so too Albert.
As happy as I am.
A beautiful dance.
The waltz.
Isn't it?
- Yes, isn't it?
How the young people do
enjoy it. - And the not so young?
Albert, surely
you can not mean
that I with a married daughter...
Well, I have a married
daughter too Victoria.
Oh yes, but, I am 38 Albert.
And I'm 38 too Victoria.
Mr. Strauss does play this waltz
truly better than anyone else.
He does.
Victoria, we will dance.
Albert.
THE PRINC CONSORAlbert, I have news
here that will do
you more good than all the
medicine. From President Lincoln.
No. - Thanking us for our
dispatch on the Trent affair.
Your work Albert. He goes
so far as to say that it has
adverted the catastrophe of war
between England and America.
Oh good news,
very good news.
It came by electric telegram.
The first from America.
Wonderful.
The great cable aid right
across the bed of the ocean.
I feel better already Victoria.
Surely I may be allowed to get up
and sit in my chair. - I don't
think that would be at all wise.
Oh wise, wise, you think
it's wise to keep me
in bed and make me begin
to think that I'm really ill!
Oh doctor, surely if
we keep him warm
he could come to no harm?
- Well, perhaps if His Royal highness
was well wrapped up.
Brown, get my chair
and wrap ready.
Aye, sir.
- You'll see Victoria,
how quickly I feel well.
The condition of
HRH The Prince Bonsort
remains unchanged, and
there is no cause fr anxiety
Siged
Your Royal highness, the
prince is not so well tonight.
Your playing may disturb him.
- But mama told me that papa would be
disappointed if I did not play.
It's so sad to
see her sitting there
hour after hour waiting
for him to recognise her.
Aye, well he's sick of something more
than the fever. - Mr. Brown, what's left?
The English.
They can be a cold
standoffish lot if they want.
Ain't he a kin that he's
always been working for 'em!
Have never took the to their
hearts, that's what broke his.
Albert.
Albert!
Albert!
- Mama!
You may leave us.
I will pour tea myself.
You may leave us.
I will pour tea myself.
As sure as my name is John Brown,
you'll stay where you are!
You're stuck in your room until I
tell you you can come out of it!
In the future I will not have you speak
to anyone until you're spoken to first.
The dresses shall be sent here
so you can try 'em on there.
Not out here in the
gangling in the palace.
What are you bobbing
up and down for?
Stop your bobbing
up and down!
Get out.
Get out!
What is the meaning
of this Brown?
Well you're looking
rather shabby lately.
What has that to do with this person
being in my private apartment?
It was Maggie.
- Maggie?
Aye, she married my
brothers sisters cousin.
He was a good sailor, but
that's about all he was good at.
Maggie's had a hard life. - What
has that to do with this person
being in my apartment?
We hear you gangling around
the room like a scarecrow.
Refusing to hear any new dresses
for the trouble I'm hearing.
Now Maggie is
the dead spit of ya.
I sent for her for Abidene
so the dresses can be fitted on her
to save you the trouble.
- Oh I see.
Yes, that was very
kind of you, Brown.
But you know very well that I do
not want any new dresses.
I know very well that you do.
Now look at the old
thing you got on now.
It's all green moulded.
Why should I care about
clothes
now that he is gone?
Aye, he'd care.
He took a great pride in your
personal appearance, he did.
He wouldn't like to see you
going around like you are now.
No, no I will have
the fitting. - No, you won't.
Maggie here the fitting.
You'll hear the dress.
1875
CASTING ASIDE HER GREAT GRIEF
AT LAST, QUEEN EMERGED FROM HER
IMPENETABLE SECLUSION, AND
THE GREATER GLORY OF HER REIGN BEGAN.
NO STATESMAN PLAYED A MORE
IMPORTANT PART IN THE AFFAIRS OH HER COUNTRY
THAN THE PRIME MINISTER -
"THAT POLITICAL GLADIATOR" -
BENJAMIN DISRAELI
Gentlemen, Mr. Gladstone
is a great statesman.
A very great statesman.
But he has one failing,
he treats the queen like
a public department.
I gentlemen, I treat
the queen as a woman.
Lord Derby, sir.
Good morning Disraeli. I have something
of first class importance to tell you.
You always have Derby.
- But this is.
Mr. Frederick Greenwood, the
editor of the Pall Mall gazette
has just been to see me
in the Foreign office.
He learned last night
from an absolutely
reliable source that the khedive of Egypt
is negotiating with the French group
for the sale of his shares
in the Suez canal company.
And you want me to buy them.
- You're refreshingly quick prime minister.
And you're a little
too quick, Derby.
I couldn't do this without
consulting our colleagues.
And they would of course insist upon
going to the House of commons.
There's no time for that.
- If they move at all.
We're witted to the Democratic system.
It is everything we should
wish our wives to be.
Lovely but not fast.
I thought you might have
the courage of an infidelity.
It would only cost four millions.
- I've got the courage,
but not the money.
Your majesty, I
waited for the conclusion
of this delightful dinner
to report with
my humble duty
that romance just suddenly
entered into my life.
Mr. Disraeli, you alarm me.
It is only a political
romance ma'am.
Will you just for once,
just for me take
your golden rule
against talking business
at the dinner table?
Very well, you may proceed.
I have had secret news
the khedive of Egypt is trying
to sell his shares in
the Suez canal company.
Suez canal.
Those shares are
necessary to England.
He has got some wild cat scheme
to buy a holding the Suez canal.
He summed be
about it this morning.
Parliament would not
of course vote the money
and you could not
well do anything
so unconstitutional as
not to go to parliament.
Not well ma'am.
But I've done it.
You have done it?
But how splendid.
My dear sir, Her majesty's
government haven't yet
sunk to speculating on
a ditch in the desert.
You must not talk so loud.
Please tell the band
to play a little louder.
Now tell me all
about it Mr. Disraeli.
Well ma'am, on
the 15th of this month
I heard the share of the sale.
On the 23rd I had
them offered to me.
The day of the 24th,
the money was guaranteed
by the Rothschilds.
The shares are ours.
The Suez canal.
What Palmerston
always called a swindle,
but which I consider an
artery of the British empire.
Superbly described ma'am.
Superbly manoeuvred Mr. Disraeli.
1885
THE SUDAN - WHERE GENERAL GORDON
WAS BSIEGED IN HIS HEROIC STAND
AGAINST THE FANATICAL
NATVE LEADER THE MAHDI,
WHOSE CONQUERING HORDES IN
REVOT AGAINST EGYTIAN RULE -
BOUGHT ERROR AND
BLOODSHED TO COUNTES MILLIONS.
KHARTOUM
But there's still
time to get out of here sir.
Would you say that again?
- There's still time to get out of here.
And leave all these
people to their doom?
But they're
doomed already, sir.
Not while I can put up
the last shadow of defence.
And I will, if I
have to stop up
every hole in the wall
with my own head!
And you know what a
thick skull I've got. - Yes.
The likeness and discipline should have
prompted you to disagree with me.
I'm sorry sir.
- Have a drink and never mind.
But I do mind you throwing
away your own life sir.
Even if I haven't one of my own.
- Ah, 'cause the government will never
leave us in the lots.
The queen will see to that.
God bless her.
- God bless her.
Your majesty, the prime minister.
Mr. Gladstone, I
cannot conceal from you
my disquiet at
the delay in your
measures for the relief
of general Gordon.
Your majesty, everything
possible is being done.
No Mr. Gladstone, everything
the government thinks possible.
General Gordon has been besieged
in Khartoum since march.
Only in August has it been
decided to relieve him.
And only now in November
has the relief force
under sir garnet
wolseley started out.
These tardy races against time
are neither to my
taste nor to our credit.
Believe me ma'am,
I understand your anxiety.
No, it is more than anxiety.
It is anguish Mr. Gladstone.
This great Christian soldier
means something to the world.
As well as to us.
If we fail him,
posterity will not forget.
Your majesty may rest
assured. - I cannot rest.
However much I am assured
I am haunted by the dread
that we may be too late.
That is the danger to which this
country so often exposes itself.
One day it may
be all our undoing.
POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS
The Queen Lt. Hon. W. E. Gladstone
It is too fearful to consider
that te fall of Khartum
might have been prevented, and
any precis lives saved by earlier action.
Your majesty, I have received
from you this telegram.
Whatever the merits of the case,
I cannot think it was
proper to send it to me
through a public telegraph office.
You are right Mr. Gladstone.
I should not have sent
it to you in that manner.
But it expresses my feelings.
My feelings ma'am are not
far removed from your own.
I am more distressed
than I can say.
We were only two days
too late. - Two days.
What is the difference
now for him
between two days
and two million years?
He is dead.
And we let him die.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER
THAT THE MAHDI WAS DEFEATED ATHE BATTLE OF OMDURMAN, AD HS CONQEROR.
GENERAL KITCHENER - TRIUMPHANTY
EERED KHARTUM.
# Oh listen to
the soldiers in the park
1897
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE
"From Pole tp Pole a mighry shout.
Echos from sea to sky.
" 'For Sixty Glorious Years
she reigned' "
HUDSON'S SOAP
You may keep the change.
No, you have it with
me you old cock sparrow.
I'm treating all
me regulars today.
# it is the Navy
the British Navy
# that keeps our foes at bay
You sound very happy today.
Yes Mrs. Lava, for
this is a day this is.
# Navy, the British Navy
# our neighbours know that's true
# for it keeps them in their place
# when they know
they have to face
# the lively little lads in Navy blue
Oh wonderful day doctor.
Wonderful indeed your majesty,
but you must be tired out.
You must rest.
- Yes.
Did... dd Maggie
have a good view?
No ma'am, she was taken ill.
We had to put her to bed.
She saw nothing?
- Nothing Your majesty.
Oh, oh my dear.
Well Maggie.
Your majesty. - Now now,
you must keep quiet.
You must not tire yourself.
The excitement was
too much for me.
It brought on me palpitations.
So they put me to bed.
Oh, what a
disappointment for you.
Aye ma'am.
But what was it like?
Well Maggie,
the site at the steps of Saint Paul's
with all the soldiers in
their wonderful uniforms.
Not only the British
but the Indians.
And the choir boys
singing so beautiful.
That must've been grand.
And Maggie, there were
some costermongers there
and they shouted out to me.
"Go it old girl."
Old girl! Well.
And they waved to me.
- The did not.
Yes, they did.
And I waved back.
You didn't!
Well well, their great
grandchildren will be told about that.
But most wonderful of all
Maggie, were the crowds.
Those thousands of smiling faces
their cheering.
Those chills will ring
in my ears always.
I did not know they
loved me so much.
1901
ON THE TWENTY SECOND OF JANUARY, THE
DREAD NEWS SPREAD TROUGHOUT THE LAND...
THE QUEEN IS DYING!
OSBORNE
She's sickened.
- Where is lord Salisbury?
He's over there sir
with His Royal highness.
Lord Salisbury, I feel bound to tell you
that the queen is in no condition
to sign these documents you've sent
into her. - I know that, so does she.
Then shall I... - You must
respect her wishes.
I respect them deeply
Your Royal highness,
but I should have to
place drops in her eyes...
It is the queen's
wish we must respect it.
Very well sir, I will do
my best. - Thank you doctor.
Her flesh is weak, but
the spirit is thrilling.
Yes Salisbury. It will be
something to remember
when ones own time comes.
Box from the prime
minister Your majesty.
I'll give you your drops.
Lower your head ma'am.
THE QUEEN
GRAVE ANXIETY
Well she's going.
- Yes, looks like it.
Make way!
Blimey. Never seen
anything that quick.
God saves the king.
Sounds queer. - None of us
ain't ever seen that before.
Except those too
old to remember.
Go on girl.
It won't be long now. Yet how long
has the magnificence has been.
The great clear stretch of time
that happens to be my
life, and I'm proud of it.
Yes, it was sometimes
narrow in mind,
but mostly great in spirit.
Spirit of achievement, change.
- And what changes?
And what achievements?
- The engineers and explorers
and our new saviours,
scientists, surgeons.
Soldiers, inventors.
And even a few of our
own calling on them.
Yes. Yes, and what
a pageant it makes,
the thrill of great
poetry and great prose.
Thinkers who have given us
a new landscape of thought.
One hardly knows
where to begin.
One never thought
of her as dying.
Don't you worry,
she never will.
Her going seems like
the end of the world.
It will be the end...
of our world.
For more than a great
queen is passing into history.
An era.
Your Royal highness immediately.
Me lords, I am very
young and inexperienced,
but since it has pleased Providence
to place me in this station,
I shall do my utmost to
fulfil my duty to my country.
God bless Your majesty.
It seems I have
here before promised
I will perform and
keep so help me god.
"The tumult and the shouting dies-
The Captains and the Kings depart,
Still stand thine ancient sacrifce,
An humbe and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us jet,
Let we frget. Lest we forget."
Kipling
Subtitle processed by
suadnovic
GLORIOUS YEARS
An intimate diary of queen Victoria
and her beloved consort - Princ Albert
MOST GRAEFULLY ACKNOWEDGING
THE PERMISSION
SO GRACIOUSLY GRANTED
FOR US THE USE OF:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
WINDSOR CASTLE
ST. JAMES'S PALACE
OSBORNE HOUSE
BALMORAL
AT THE TURN OF THE
NINETEENTH CENTURY,
THE TIDE OF THE BRITISH
MONARCHYWS AT IT'S LOWEST EBB.
AND ENGLAND WAS NEVER
CLOSER TO REVOLUTION.
THIS WAS HE HERITAGEE OF
TE YOUNG GIRL QUEEN - VICTORIA -
WHEN SHE ASCENDED
THE TRON IN 1837.
THREE YEARS LATER,
THE MONARCHY WAS FIRMLY SEIN THE AFFECTION OF IT'S
PEOPLE, AN IT WAS THE QUEEN.
"SO YOUNG, SO SMALL SO DIGNIFIED"
THAT WROUGHT THE CHANCE.
WINDSOR CASTLE
Toorrow at the opening of Parlament
I shell announce my great decision to Cheir Lordship.
I do hope it will meet their approval
as I have guite made up my mind
I have guite made up my mind
My lords and gentlemen,
since you were last assembled,
I have declared my intention
of allying myself in marriage
unto prince Albert of
Saxe- Coburg and Gotha.
I humbly implore the divine
blessing may prosper this union
and render it conducive to
the interests of my people
as well as to my
own domestic happiness,
and it will be to me a source
of the most lively satisfaction
to find the resolution I have made
taken and approved
by my parliament.
It isn't good
enough Wellington.
The prince is yet a
stranger to the people
and we're asked to provide
him with a large income.
And I don't think parliament
will stand for it or the country.
Well I'm against appeal. - After
all, we've got to be very careful.
Only a few years back we
barely escaped revolution.
Why they stole Apsley
house with me inside it.
Well, I'm proposing a reduction
of the Grant by nearly half.
And I'm dead against this idea
of making him an English peer.
Yes. - It'll be misunderstood. - Yes,
quite right. - No, it's nothing personal.
Apologies of course. - Oh, no, no,
no, no. - Of course, course, course.
Well, I suppose he's on his way now.
- Well I hope he keeps fine for his journey.
Oh Albert, I've been wanting
to ask you for a long time,
what does it feel like
to be proposed to?
Oh, I was nervous.
You see, I was standing
on the one side of the table
and I didn't know what
to do. I just had to wait.
And she was standing on
the other side of the table,
and didn't know how to begin.
Finally she showed
me the family album.
And you had to look at all
the old uncles and aunts?
I bet uncle Leopold
was there too? - Yes sir.
Oh she was so
nervous... and so sweet.
And now to look forward
to your new country.
I'm glad Ernst the final partings over.
The whole journey has
been one long farewell.
Every field, and every
hill, and every villy
seems to be bidding me
goodbye. - You'll be welcomed.
You'll be loaded by honours.
That's a good beginning.
The Duke of Wellington
has opposed my rank.
And the English
parliament is nearly
half the allowance of
they were to give to me.
I don't seem to be very welcomed.
- Of course you will be welcomed.
You'll take the rightful place
at the head of affairs beside the queen.
The English are doing everything
they can to make me unwelcomed.
You mustn't allow such
thoughts to enter your head.
And it's a fact Ernst, it's
a fact they don't want me.
Don't you see Albert, within a few weeks
you'll be the husband of a girl queen
who rules over one of the
greatest country in the world.
What a responsibility and what
a chance. - Yes, what a chance.
Her majesty wishes to see the prince
in the drawing room immediately.
But Lehzen, you think I should see
the prince with my hair like this?
In curls?
- Yes, it looks charming.
You do not think he will
be shocked? - No, I think not.
Oh Albert, there you are.
Although I have not a moment today,
what, with my work
and the dressmakers.
I had to spare you a few
minutes just to tell you
that all the arrangements for
our marriage are now complete.
And I am very happy.
Don't you think we should
reconsider the whole question?
I feel it is better
to draw back now
than to go on to
what must be a failure.
Albert, what do you mean?
But Victoria nobody
here seems to wish me.
I'm resented. My presence
in the country's objected to,
and well, I fear for the future.
And I think it's better to
face it now than afterward.
Then why did you accept my proposal
of marriage? - For a very simple reason.
Because I love you. Oh, it you
weren't queen I would allow
nothing to come between you
and me. - Then nothing shall Albert.
I too love you.
And our love will be done all opposition.
They shall be made to respect you
and you shall take
your rightful place.
Whatever happens,
whatever people say...
I will marry you.
On Victoria, you are
so good and kind to me
that I'm puzzled to
believe that I should
be the object of
so much affection.
Now I must leave you.
Oh, Albert? - Yes.
In England, we do not
say "nobody wishes me",
we say, "nobody wants me."
Oh, thank you. You've made me
very happy your majesty to know
that even if nobody
here wants me,
you do.
- Albert.
St. James's Palace
February 10th 1840
Will thou have this woman
Victoria to thy wedded wife,
to live together
after God's ordinance
in the holy estate of matrimony?
Will thou love her, comfort her,
honour and keep her in
sickness and in health
as long as you both
shall live? - I will.
Will thou Victoria have this man Albert
to thy wedded husband,
to live together
after God's ordinance
in the holt estate of matrimony?
Will thou obey
him and serve him,
love, honour, and keep him,
in sickness and in health,
so long as ye both
shall live? - I will.
With this ring I thee wed.
With this ring I thee wed.
Do you remember
the evening we danced
then you wore.
- Yes, Albert.
It's a beautiful dance.
The waltz.
How the youn
people do enjoy it.
Are we so very old?
I'm 21 Albert.
Yes, very old.
Old enough to know
that it would be
improper for a married
woman to dance the waltz.
Oh.
Fine trouble Wellington.
- Yes, but I'm in her bad book spiel.
For opposing his rank.
- And I for opposing his allowance.
How I wish I were an ancient
Greek Goddess who lived on Olympus.
What?
I should like to
hurl a thunderbolt.
Who is it, Peel or
Wellington? - Both.
Albert.
I'll shall catch their eye
and convey that in a look.
They have seen me Albert.
I think they wish they hadn't.
Mr. Strauss does play this waltz
tune better than anyone else.
Yes he does.
Albert, I feel I
would like to dance.
What? A married woman at 21?
Albert, I think I am going
to dance. - Most improper.
Albert, we will dance.
They're in the green drawing
room Windsor, Wellington.
Awaiting Her majesty's pleasure.
- Oh, I remember.
Albert!
A bullseye!
Now you. - Oh, but
it is so difficult.
Come on, I'll show it to you.
Give me your hand.
Albert, this is England.
- I know, and I love it.
You know, I think I'm going
to like archery. - Are you?
Oh is that right?
- No, that's not right.
So here.
Albert. - I know,
that is England, I know.
Now aim. And aim high,
remember lot for the win.
It is so difficult.
- No, go on, go on.
You know, I understand
the queen's in the grounds.
I think I'll venture out. A tactful
reminder that we're here.
Brave fellow.
I'll wait here.
Happy dreams.
Did I tell you Victoria, my private
secretary from Coburg has arrived in London?
He wants to know when
they shall come here.
But my dear, I have already
arranged a secretary for you.
Arranged?
- But of course Albert,
it would never do for
the husband of the queen
to select his own secretary.
That is a matter for me to decide.
On Victoria, I'm
here in the country,
where everything is
new and strange to me.
The people, the custom, the language...
Nobody knows that and understands
and sympathises more than I do.
Well then surely I may be
allowed to have one man with me.
Merely to look after
my private affairs,
whom I've known all
my life and can trust.
It's more important
that you should have
someone that the queen
knows and can trust.
Uh, huh.
Albert, I must tell you frankly,
this idea of having
your own secretary,
a foreigner, simply will not do.
Mr. Anson whom I
have chosen for you
is modest, steady, and well-informed.
- I have no doubt your Mr. Anson's perfect,
but he can never mean the
same to me as an old friend
who is already in England.
Then he must go back.
At once.
Your majesty.
Your Royal highness.
Sir Robert. - I'm extremely
conscious ma'am that it is
a great shame to interrupt
so pleasant a pastime,
but I'm here ma'am with
the Duke of Wellington.
We could scarcely have had
two more unwelcomed visitors.
Oh your majesty. - And that look of
pained surprise is quite unnecessary.
We have recently been
subjected to a gross,
deliberate, and unforgivable affront.
And you and the Duke of Wellington
were ringleaders and
instigators. - Your majesty,
if I might be permitted to say
one word in defence of the Duke.
He only did what he considered
to be his duty. - Duty?
As a soldier ma'am. - That is
hardly my idea of a soldiers duty.
It's more the action of
a rebel, an old rebel.
Oh, your majesty is deadly
with a bow as well I see.
Albert, a bullseye!
- Remarkable.
I will rejoin the Duke ma'am.
We will await your pleasure.
That is exactly what they
will do, await my pleasure.
Oh really Victoria?
Sir Robert and the Duke are two
of the greatest men of our time.
- You say that Albert?
When he was against you
all their insults were directed.
But don't you see Victoria...
- No, I do not see!
And I do not want
to see anything!
I'm sorry.
You're back soon. - It's not
soon enough for Her majesty.
We're to wait.
- Wait is it? - Yes.
She's as obstinate as
a wagon-load of monkeys.
Well, let her try
her tricks on me.
Now I know why she
calls you the old rebel.
She calls me what?
- The old rebel.
Rebel? Rebel is it?
- Old rebel.
Good morning Your Royal
highness. - Who are you?
My name is Anson,
your private secretary.
Anson?
- Yes.
Uh huh.
Good day.
Wellington. - I didn't come
here to listen to a concert!
My lady, have you managed
to hit the target yet?
Of course I have, the bullseye.
And without looking.
Don't ask ridiculous
questions Lehzen.
Leave me alone.
- Yes your majesty.
Rebel.
Old rebel.
Morning Lehzen.
Well, what do you want now?
- Nothing your majesty.
The prince desires me to tell you
that he wishes to see you.
Tell the prince I will
not receive him today
and I do not wish to be disturbed
by any further messages!
Yes your majesty.
Her majesty does
not wish to see you.
And she does not wish to be
disturbed by any further messages.
So.
Go away, go away!
I do not wish to see you.
I know.
I want to be left alone.
- I'll leave you in a minute.
But first you must listen
to what I have to say.
Albert, you forget yourself,
I am the queen.
Oh no my dear, when you're alone with me
you are nothing but my wife.
Then I will go.
- Victoria.
If you don't want my
help in matters of state,
or if you don't want me
to have my own secretary,
well in good, that's your affair.
But when I see you
slighting two great men,
taking advantage of your position- ...
- Well Albert, don't.
Please don't. - You behave like a
naughty little girl, not like a queen.
I know.
I know I did.
There's humility in
all real greatness.
Oh Albert, please forgive me.
You hate me don't you?
No I don't hate you.
I love you.
I love you very much.
And I love you
Albert, very, very much.
Who is there?
- Your majesty,
do you wish sir Duke
and sir Robert to wait?
Oh no Lehzen, let them be dismissed.
- No, no. One moment Lehzen.
You should see them.
- Should I? - Yes, certainly.
Oh Lehzen, I will
see them. - Immediately.
Immediately.
In the library.
In the library Lehzen.
Blow your nose darling.
Soft, soft.
And because you kept them
waiting such a long time,
you'll be especially charming, yes?
- Yes Albert. - Promise?
You shall see
how charming I can be.
She shall not go to
this review on a horse.
She'll ride like any decent woman in
her carriage. - You'll have to be firm.
Firm is it! My dear Bob,
when it comes to anything
connected with the troops,
I'm not going to be
dictated to by a chit of a girl.
Queen or no queen.
No. - I will receive the Duke
and sir Robert immediately.
She's been reading
about queen Elizabeth,
at Tilbury, a horseback.
That's what's put it into her head!
- Well?
Well, we've got to get it out
of her head. - Sounds simple.
Oh of course it is.
I'll say my little say, set myjaw,
and she'll ride in her carriage.
- My lord Duke, sir Robert,
Her majesty will see you.
- Oh.
Now for it. - Now we come to
it, you're as nervous as I am.
Not a bit of it. But I tell
you Bob, I'm glad I didn't
feel like this before Waterloo.
- Yes, but you won that.
Surely, now for this.
Come on!
And please, don't
forget, very charming hm?
Your majesty.
Oh pray pardon me gentlemen,
for having kept you waiting so long.
It was remiss of me.
- Not at all ma'am.
Oh but it was. I had a
matter of some importance
to discuss with the prince.
- Oh, your majesty, ma'am,
the Duke has a matter of some
importance to discuss with you.
Well my lord Duke.
I hear ma'am you have some idea
of reviewing the troops on horseback.
And why not?
Why not?
- Well it is, it's impossible.
And why?
- Why?
Well, it will be indelicate.
Indelicate.
The queen is as good a judge of
indelicacy as you are my lord Duke.
What if it rains?
- Well...
What would happen if it rains?
I should get wet.
What next?
I haven't got a quired horse.
I do not want a quired horse.
- Ma'am really, really,
I must protest.
- Protest!
Just because queen Elizabeth...
- Queen Elizabeth?
Please explain yourself me lord Duke.
What exactly has queen
Elizabeth to do with this?
Nothing ma'am.
- Nothing.
I thought not.
Good day my lord Duke.
Good day ma'am.
- Good day sir Robert.
Good day ma'am.
Remember me lord Duke,
no horse, no review.
Yes ma'am.
- No ma'am.
Wellington.
- Yes.
She said her little say,
she said her little jaw,
and she rode her
little horse. - Ah.
"Streets of dirty,
straggling hous,
as deformed as the half-naked
chilgren thet wallow in the kennels.
A weak tremuus voice tells a
fearful tale of want and famishing."
Charles Dikens
Oh Anson.
- Sir.
Who is Boz?
It's a pen name of a new
author named Charles dickens.
Charles Dickens?
You think that's all true?
- I believe it is sir.
He lives among the people
he writes about. - Oh.
The prince is expecting me.
- Not until tomorrow sir.
But he's in the palace. - His Royal
highness is in the drawing room sir.
Albert!
- Ernst!
So that's what a
father looks like, huh?
Your highness, Her majesty
is waiting. - Thank you.
You stay here behind the door.
We give her a surprise hm?
But I must have a wash first.
- No you need no wash.
Alright.
Sure it's a wee
blossom of a babe.
But sometimes I
can't help myself feeling,
I'd of been more happy had it been
a little girl if it had been a little boy.
By gone, but the prince himself is
pleased enough about it being a lass.
It's made him more daft
about the queen than ever.
He won't allow nobody bu
himself to carry her downstairs.
And the back stairs at that.
Your Royal highness, if I can be
of any service whilst you're here- ...
Oh thank you Mr. Anson,
the prince has plenty of work to occupy
himself with I see.
- I'm afraid His Royal highness
has a very difficult
position to fill.
He has such a fine mind, but...
Oh he'll soon take his
rightful place beside the queen.
Depends upon what your Royal
highness means by his rightful place.
Ernst!
- Victoria.
Oh what a happy surprise.
Albert did not tell me you were here.
Yes. And I'm all dirty
from my travelling.
But Albert insisted
upon me seeing you first.
Would you permit
me now to leave?
Oh but of course, hurry back Ernst.
We have so much to tell you.
And you must see little Vicky.
- You've never seen such a beautiful baby.
Oh I'm sure of that.
Lehzen, send them all away, and have
them bring the baby Princess to me.
Your majesty.
You know Albert, if I
could travel the world
from end to end, in the
most beautiful carriage
ever imagined, it could
not be more lovelier
than the journey down the
back stairs in your arms.
Now you rest quietly while
I go and play to you hm?
I shall enjoy that.
Have you ever heard of an author
named Charles dickens Victoria?
Yes I've heard of him.
Rather evolutionary is he not?
Mm hm. But he makes me
think of the many thousands
of other mothers and fathers
who are not so fortunate as we are,
whose babies are not born in a palace.
But are destined to poverty,
starvation, and overwork.
His writing makes me want to
do something, to help, something,
something really useful.
THE CORN LAWS
Whose lot it is to labour
and earn their bread
by the sweat of their brow!
When they shall recruit
their exhausted strength
with abundant and untaxed food!
If he feels that his being here
lends royal support to this
most controversial measure,
then he must be made aware
that his presence in this
house is most objectionable.
PRINCE CONSORATTACKED IN PARLIAMENOSBORNE
Sir Robert, I have asked
you to come and see me here
because I do not wish the
prince to know. - Your majesty.
He's ceaseless, unjust
attacks against him
are making me so unhappy.
I do not want him to know how unhappy.
- I am deeply sympathetic ma'am.
Oh I know that sir Robert.
That is why I am appealing to you now
because you have been
his onalest supporter.
Can you devise some
scope, some outlet,
something to justify his existence?
Even if only to himself?
Since my resignation ma'am,
of course I have no power.
But with your majesty's permission,
I might consult with the Duke
of Wellington, there should be...
The Duke!
That is an excellent idea.
Please remember sir Robert,
I do not wish the prince
to know of our discussion.
It would be an honour indeed
if I knew that your Royal highness
were to be my successor
as commander in chief.
Well you are very kind and generous
my lord Duke. But it'll never do.
After all, we owe the
inauguration of the militia
and the volunteers to you.
May I suggest that you
discuss it with Her majesty?
No, no, no.
It would only make her unhappy.
She knows of the position
there is to any of my activities.
But, may I tell
you of a plan of mine
and ask you your opinion on it?
- I should regard it as an honour.
You see, as we are
living through an age
of great scientific and
mechanical discovery...
What?
- As we are living through an age
of great scientific and
mechanical discoveries,
I thought we might gather
together here in London.
All the nations of the world. It would be
in the nature of a great exhibition
of industry where each
could show to all the others
how they're progressing.
- Magnificent idea.
You think anybody could object to it?
- No, no, no, no, it's non-political.
Why should they? On the contrary,
everybody would be delighted
to welcome such a scheme.
There is an article
here your majesty.
Of His Royal highness' exhibition of
industry and a great deal about it.
Oh read it to me please.
- Yes ma'am.
I'm waiting. - Well I think
perhaps your majesty
would rather not hear it.
- Not hear it?
Don't be ridiculous.
Come, let me read it myself.
"This monstrous greenhouse,
"this overgrown conservatory."
11 and a half miles of table.
- Bless my soul.
Albert...
- Oh the young lady, you're here.
We're having a great day. All the
leading manufacturers of the country
have agreed to corporate. And the
colonists, in every country in Europe.
And here it is.
1.073.760 square feet of glass.
And within the building,
11 miles of table.
11 and a half sir.
- Oh, yes, I'm sorry.
11 and a half.
- But Albert,
have you seen what the newspapers
say about your exhibition?
No.
- No.
"A monstrous greenhouse.
"An overgrown conservatory.
"A preposterous and grotesque
advertisement "that anybody can see through.
"Though it's own glass may soon become
dirty "with the grime of London."
Can't bare to stand
the real purpose of it.
That it must promote a better
understanding between all the peoples.
Such a text is so ignorant as
to be unworthy of our attention.
That's the spirit ma'am. I need to
find the spirit your husband's shown
these last months with half
the country howling at his heels.
A man with less courage would
have thrown it out long ago.
Whatever they say I shall go on
and bring it to success.
And you can count on me sir!
We'll have the whole army
behind your Royal highness.
The exhibition will be open,
open on the appointed day.
And it'll be a day we'll remember
for the rest of our lives!
THE GREAT EXHIBITION
MAY 1st 1851
In declaring this finest
of exhibitions opened,
I want to say
that it seems to me,
one of the great
days in our history.
And the triumph of
my beloved husband.
So I declare this exhibition open.
Or as it has been
so rightly called,
this Crystal palace.
Dear Duke, a glorious day.
Glorious indeed your majesty.
The real worth of the prince
has been at last appreciated
in this magnificent manner.
And may I add my tribute
your Royal highness.
It is a great triumph.
- Thank you.
And a great work for peace.
No, I've seen enough
of fighting to know
that to keep friendly
with your neighbours
is about the most important
thing in the world.
Oh my dear Duke.
- Your majesty.
I am so happy Victoria
that I could do some work
and they appreciate it.
- And I Albert.
And now all the criticism will be silenced
and you will take your rightful place
in the affairs of the nation.
BALMORAL
Every year we become more
attached to this Highland Paradise;
the beautiful country -
- the quiet - te wildness -
the solitude, holds
such a charm for us.
Today at half past two
o'clock, Albert, I, the four chldren
and our party, attend
the Balmoral Gathering
I had expected news of the dear
Duke. I do hope he is better.
I shouldn't worry my dear.
No news is good news.
Did she smile?
- Me lord Duke.
Did you tell her
how they wanted him?
Yes, he's just coming.
Here he is now.
Oh. Harvey?
- My lord Duke.
I want to write a
letter to the queen.
To tell her I'm better.
Give me my things.
Something to write on.
I am very lazy today.
Disinclined to do anything.
I think I'll have a nap first.
You know Albert, I'm so looking foward
to the children's dances.
Your majesty, I'm to
tell you that we'd be glad
if you judged the barons dancing
and award the prizes yourself.
- I should be delighted Brown.
Thank you.
I'll tell them.
Listen, all of ya!
I'll have to tell you Her majesty
will be very glad to
judge the barons dancing
and award the prizes herself.
Albert, look at our own laddie.
Does he not dance
beautifully? - Yes, beautiful.
I think he's the best.
- What? The best?
Yes Albert, he is the best.
I shall award him the first prize.
Oh no, you can't possibly do
that, even if he is the best.
Look at that fellow over there.
The blacksmith's boy.
Jamie Gow?
Why he is not nearly so good.
Albert we must be impartial.
You haven't looked at
any of the others yet.
Oh how can I when our own
boy dances so beautifully?
I shall award
him the first prize.
Your majesty will be pleased
to name the winner of the first prize?
Yes Brown. - The winner
is his... - Jamie Gow.
Albert. - Her majesty
is pleased to award
the first prize to Jamie Gow!
And the second prize ma'am?
His Royal highness.
- And the second prize
to His Royal highness.
You see Albert, the
cheering is much wilder.
He was the best.
Will Jamie Gow and His Royal
highness please come forward
to receive their
prizes from Her majesty?
If that letter to the queen
is going to catch the post,
he must write it now.
Better wake him then, it's
been on his mind all morning.
My lord Duke.
My lord Duke.
England's - or rather Britains
pride, her glory, her hero
the greaest man she ever
product, is no more. Sad day.
A great and
irreparable National loss!!
One cannot think of ths
country without "the Duke"
1853
THE CLOUDS OF WAR
GATHERED OVER EUROPE
WHEN THE DESIGNS OF THE CZAR
UPON TURKEY - "THE SICK MAN OF EUROPE" -
THREATENED TO INVOLVE ENGLAND,
WHERE THE QUEEN'S AND PRINC ALBERT'S
POLICY OF CONCILIATION "EXASPERATED"
THE FOREIGN MINISTER, LORD PALMERSTON.
No. 10 Downing St.
My dear prime minister,
the csar is looking west.
I've been long-suffering as befits
a country that is not invalid.
But now the British lion's
got to do a little roaring.
It's a dangerous spirit. - Only more
dangerous still and that is not
to stand up when you're in danger.
The queen always says you exaggerate
Palmerston, and she's right.
With a little concession
we might... - Concession.
Oh my dear Russell you are like those
two young innocents at Windsor.
You think that one can reach safety
by feeding outlets to a tiger.
Or buns to a bear.
- You're too picturesque.
Only facts count.
And the fact is, csar has
sent the queen this letter,
which bears every mark of his sincere
desire to preserve the peace of Europe.
So long as this country
is anything or has anything,
we shall go one receiving
from yours truly,
or yours sincerely.
Beware of "yours very
sincerely" Russell.
I am obliged to you ma'am
for letting me see the csar's letter.
A very cordial, even
affectionate one is it not?
Is it genuine? You mean
that he is looking west?
He is not a sick man and
he has a good appetite.
Constantinople. If that
were really the case,
well John, although we're so limited
unprepared for what we should...
Not until every possibility of a
peaceful solution has been exhausted.
Of course you must pursue
conciliation and peace to the end.
That's why Palmerston's
present utterance is a disaster.
He is a difficult man to control.
- Then he must be controlled!
If he can't control himself.
- I have been accused,
and accused in high places
of being more indifferent than I should
to the risks of war.
- Aie. - Aie. - Aie.
My answer to that
lies in the past.
Though a man can
speak for the future,
There is a country
in Europe which has
been called a sick man.
Good.
And the tsar summoning
himself to the bedside,
calls himself the doctor.
But we know better.
Shall this country stand timid,
defenceless at the back door,
while the robber, violent,
threatening, and arrogant is
breaking his way in at the front?
No!
Palmerston says it's time we went
to war! And Palmerston's right!
Is Palmerston British!
He's not a foreign traitor
in the pocket of the tsar!
What's he gotta do with His Royal
highness whether we go to war or not?
That's what we wanna know!
Who's the man for us!
And who's the traitor!
John, this demonstration,
what is it for?
Your majesty, your Royal highness,
it is not exactly for anything.
What's it about?
- Rather against something.
Against what?
Am I to answer that question
quite frankly your majesty?
Against what? - Against
you Your Royal highness.
Against me.
- Against the prince?
Without reserve lord John,
we must know the whole truth.
Your majesty, Your Royal highness,
the fact is, well,
Palmerston's regarded as the
one strong man in the country.
It is thought that the prince is trying
to get rid of him for his own ends.
Own ends, for what ends?
The prince is said
to be a foreign agent.
An avowed enemy of this
country. A tool of the tsar.
Sinister shadow behind
the throne. - What?
This is unbelievable.
- You must believe it Your majesty.
There is even a rumour that the
prince is to be arrested for treason
and taken to the tower.
- Treason?
Tower? - But a great crowd's
already around the palace
waiting to see him
taken there a prisoner.
Oh my dear. We've known
something of this of course.
But the prince is so uncomplaining.
The injustice of it is making him ill,
wearing him out.
- We know that Your majesty.
All of us will work with him.
These attacks are
groundless and contemptible,
but the country is wild
with rage and fear,
and that brings me to the
real object of my visit.
I have to inform you Your majesty
that within the last few hours,
war has become inevitable.
All our work in vain.
All the notes, the letters,
the dispatches.
So much ink wasted.
Inevitable?
- Beyond hope.
So be it.
This is like living
in the meadows.
APPALING CONDITIONS
IN CRIMEA
Oi. That there ole tsar
were right he were
when he said that
his two best generals
be January and February.
Blimey, to think I used
to play in snowballs.
If ever I gets out of here
I never wanna see a
blinking snowflake again.
You'll never get out of
here lad. None of us will.
Bulls in rock here.
No, I never see
Dorset no more.
Nor me the old Kent
road, never no more.
I wonder how long they're gonna
expect them to fight on this mud.
Dry biscuits and dirty water.
- Anyhow, they call this soup.
Number one company,
load musket!
Load and our pouch is empty. Perhaps
you'd like to tell us what to load with.
Fix your bayonets.
Hey Darcy, do you know what
this blinking war's all about?
No I don't.
- And nor do I.
Nor does anybody
as far as I can see.
Funny ain't it?
All is haos!
Russell has resigned!
Accounts of the rivations and
suffering of our brave soldiers in the Crimea
reach us
continually and to day,
Albert and I visit the
wounded in hospital at Chatham
And I do say ma'am,
that one of the clever ones
has invented some new stuff.
Chloroform I've heard tell. And they
gives it to you and you goes to sleep
and they can cut off your leg
and you don't feel nothing.
I reckon if that's true,
he must be one of the
greatest men that ever lived.
We never saw nothing of
this stuff. It didn't reach us.
Four of them had
to hold me down
to cut this off
through flesh and bone.
That's enough, Her majesty
doesn't want to hear anymore.
If he were brave enough to bare it,
I can bare to hear about it.
You say this new
chloroform never reached you?
Ma'am, more than
chloroform never reached us,
food didn't reach
us, nor ammunition,
nor boots, nor clothes.
We'll win for you alright ma'am.
Don't you worry about that.
But when you ask to
fight four against one,
with nothing on your feet and nothing
in your gun and nothing in your belly...
Now, now, now, you're talking too much.
- But not complaining ma'am.
Don't you think that.
I'm one of the lucky ones!
Back in old England with me wife
and kids waiting for
me when they gets out.
Your majesty, he oughtn't
talk anymore. - No, no.
He'll soon be back with
his wife and children, I hope.
Never your Royal highness.
Gangrene, the wound was hopelessly
poisoned before he came to us.
Have they none of the new
antiseptics of Dr. Lister? - No, sir.
They're not in general
use yet. - How terrible.
Albert how terrible.
- There she goes!
Come on boys!
Give her three cheers!
Three cheers for Her
majesty and the prince!
Hip hip hooray!
- Hooray!
Hip hip...
- Hooray!
Hip hip...
- Hooray!
It's all a lot of show.
What does she care,
she's not suffering.
She ain't got nobody out there.
- She's not lost her husband.
Nor her son.
Did you see that?
She was crying.
THE QUEEN SENDS
FOR LORD PALMERSON
Me lord, you take office
at a time dark with
anxiety and danger.
But the whole country
feels and we feel
that you are the man for the hour.
- All personal differences must
be forgotten lord Palmerston.
But I want you to know
that whatever you do
will have our full support.
May God help
you in your efforts.
SEBASTOPOL
Would your majesty like
it strike in gold or silver?
No, I wish it to be
made from a base metal.
A metal from the gun itself.
- Excellent ma'am.
Yes, I think it will be
well if it had no real value.
The inscription proposed is,
"for the bravest."
- No.
No, they're all brave. Possibly
the bravest of the least brave.
I think it would be better
if it bore just the words...
FOR VALOUR
Commander Buckley, we have
been informed of your acts of valour.
We congratulate you upon your
return from Sevastopol unscathed.
Miss Nightingale, we
are proud to meet you.
We women were not
meant for governing,
but you with your nursing
have given a shining
example of our greatest mission.
I only did what I had to ma'am.
- Will you accept this gift,
not only as a token
of my own gratitude,
but the gratitude
of the whole country.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
V R
CRIMEA
"Grow old along with me,
The best is jet to be."
Browning
You may leave us,
I will pour tea myself.
Look at the line
of those years.
How lovely and
how like Coburg.
Yes, for me this
will always be
the most beautiful
view in the world.
And this hour for tea Albert,
alone with you, away
from all cares of state,
away even from the children.
Just look at them
playing soldiers.
Are they all there?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
No Albert, there are only 7.
- No, you are mistaken.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Oh yes, I had not
seen the bassinet.
And 9.
- Where is Vicky?
Albert, did you see that?
A declaration.
But she's so young, only 16.
I was queen at 18.
He is the most excellent
young man. Most suitable.
Seems only yesterday
she was in her cradle.
Yes, our first baby.
And you think they
love each other?
But of course.
How nervous he seems.
Princess Victoria of England.
Prince Frederick of Prussia.
Well you were right Victoria.
For those two children,
so much can be done
for the peace of the future.
I shall speak to him this evening
after the entertainment.
May we have
the next slide please?
Oh mama!
- That is upside down.
You put the slide in
upside down and visa versa,
then it will come out
the right way up.
A whimsical caprice
of mother nature.
Focus.
You turn the little
screw towards you please.
Very well then, turn
it away from you.
Thank you.
Here we have a
view of the wonder
of a vast age,
but still remarkable.
The sphinx.
This curious mammal is of course
notorious for it's riddle
which has remained unsolved
up to the present day.
I shan't bother you with it now.
Instead, my way of compensation
I will give you a modern
reverse of some ingenuity.
What old bird reminds you
of a musical instrument?
The answer being of course
... (?).
May we have
the next slide please?
Here we have yet another
wonder of a past age.
The Leaning tower of Pisa.
This group of people
overshadowed are they not
by the massive structure
in the centre of the picture.
Comprises my little party.
This lady here is
my cousin Maude.
We were brought up together.
Next slide please.
Here in contrast, we have
the great wonder of modern times.
I refer of course
to the Crystal palace.
Monument indeed to the
industry of the glass blower
and of His Royal highness.
And that is the last of my slides
on the wonders of the world.
A room of enchantment is it not?
And yet, how much
more entrancing
could we but people this screen
with living creatures
who walk and talk.
Imagination boggles however.
And meanwhile, I
have here with me...
Thank you professor
for a most enjoyable
and engrossing evening.
Goodnight children.
Father and I will
come up and see you.
Oh Fritz, ladies.
I think you wish to see me Fritz.
No, Your majesty.
- No Fritz?
No, Your majesty.
- Yes Fritz, you do.
Sit down.
Now...
Your majesty, may I
have your permission
to ask my fathers permission,
to ask your permission to ask Vicky,
I mean to Princess Victoria.
Yes Fritz, I understand.
You have our permission.
Victoria, prince Frederick has asked
for your hand in marriage.
- I know mama.
You know Vicky?
- Yes, mama.
This morning he gave me
a sprig of white Heather.
And by his look I knew.
And do you love him?
Yes, I do, papa.
Then we have every reason to
be very happy and very grateful.
Mama, I hope I may do well.
I have no doubts.
And you shall be
married in Saint James'
where your dear
father married me.
St. James's Palace
january 25th 1858
# Merciful unto us, and bless us
# and show us the light
of his countenance
# and be merciful unto us
# that thy way may be
known upon earth
# thy saving health
among all nations
So young,
so young.
I hope she will be happy.
I hope so too Albert.
As happy as I am.
A beautiful dance.
The waltz.
Isn't it?
- Yes, isn't it?
How the young people do
enjoy it. - And the not so young?
Albert, surely
you can not mean
that I with a married daughter...
Well, I have a married
daughter too Victoria.
Oh yes, but, I am 38 Albert.
And I'm 38 too Victoria.
Mr. Strauss does play this waltz
truly better than anyone else.
He does.
Victoria, we will dance.
Albert.
THE PRINC CONSORAlbert, I have news
here that will do
you more good than all the
medicine. From President Lincoln.
No. - Thanking us for our
dispatch on the Trent affair.
Your work Albert. He goes
so far as to say that it has
adverted the catastrophe of war
between England and America.
Oh good news,
very good news.
It came by electric telegram.
The first from America.
Wonderful.
The great cable aid right
across the bed of the ocean.
I feel better already Victoria.
Surely I may be allowed to get up
and sit in my chair. - I don't
think that would be at all wise.
Oh wise, wise, you think
it's wise to keep me
in bed and make me begin
to think that I'm really ill!
Oh doctor, surely if
we keep him warm
he could come to no harm?
- Well, perhaps if His Royal highness
was well wrapped up.
Brown, get my chair
and wrap ready.
Aye, sir.
- You'll see Victoria,
how quickly I feel well.
The condition of
HRH The Prince Bonsort
remains unchanged, and
there is no cause fr anxiety
Siged
Your Royal highness, the
prince is not so well tonight.
Your playing may disturb him.
- But mama told me that papa would be
disappointed if I did not play.
It's so sad to
see her sitting there
hour after hour waiting
for him to recognise her.
Aye, well he's sick of something more
than the fever. - Mr. Brown, what's left?
The English.
They can be a cold
standoffish lot if they want.
Ain't he a kin that he's
always been working for 'em!
Have never took the to their
hearts, that's what broke his.
Albert.
Albert!
Albert!
- Mama!
You may leave us.
I will pour tea myself.
You may leave us.
I will pour tea myself.
As sure as my name is John Brown,
you'll stay where you are!
You're stuck in your room until I
tell you you can come out of it!
In the future I will not have you speak
to anyone until you're spoken to first.
The dresses shall be sent here
so you can try 'em on there.
Not out here in the
gangling in the palace.
What are you bobbing
up and down for?
Stop your bobbing
up and down!
Get out.
Get out!
What is the meaning
of this Brown?
Well you're looking
rather shabby lately.
What has that to do with this person
being in my private apartment?
It was Maggie.
- Maggie?
Aye, she married my
brothers sisters cousin.
He was a good sailor, but
that's about all he was good at.
Maggie's had a hard life. - What
has that to do with this person
being in my apartment?
We hear you gangling around
the room like a scarecrow.
Refusing to hear any new dresses
for the trouble I'm hearing.
Now Maggie is
the dead spit of ya.
I sent for her for Abidene
so the dresses can be fitted on her
to save you the trouble.
- Oh I see.
Yes, that was very
kind of you, Brown.
But you know very well that I do
not want any new dresses.
I know very well that you do.
Now look at the old
thing you got on now.
It's all green moulded.
Why should I care about
clothes
now that he is gone?
Aye, he'd care.
He took a great pride in your
personal appearance, he did.
He wouldn't like to see you
going around like you are now.
No, no I will have
the fitting. - No, you won't.
Maggie here the fitting.
You'll hear the dress.
1875
CASTING ASIDE HER GREAT GRIEF
AT LAST, QUEEN EMERGED FROM HER
IMPENETABLE SECLUSION, AND
THE GREATER GLORY OF HER REIGN BEGAN.
NO STATESMAN PLAYED A MORE
IMPORTANT PART IN THE AFFAIRS OH HER COUNTRY
THAN THE PRIME MINISTER -
"THAT POLITICAL GLADIATOR" -
BENJAMIN DISRAELI
Gentlemen, Mr. Gladstone
is a great statesman.
A very great statesman.
But he has one failing,
he treats the queen like
a public department.
I gentlemen, I treat
the queen as a woman.
Lord Derby, sir.
Good morning Disraeli. I have something
of first class importance to tell you.
You always have Derby.
- But this is.
Mr. Frederick Greenwood, the
editor of the Pall Mall gazette
has just been to see me
in the Foreign office.
He learned last night
from an absolutely
reliable source that the khedive of Egypt
is negotiating with the French group
for the sale of his shares
in the Suez canal company.
And you want me to buy them.
- You're refreshingly quick prime minister.
And you're a little
too quick, Derby.
I couldn't do this without
consulting our colleagues.
And they would of course insist upon
going to the House of commons.
There's no time for that.
- If they move at all.
We're witted to the Democratic system.
It is everything we should
wish our wives to be.
Lovely but not fast.
I thought you might have
the courage of an infidelity.
It would only cost four millions.
- I've got the courage,
but not the money.
Your majesty, I
waited for the conclusion
of this delightful dinner
to report with
my humble duty
that romance just suddenly
entered into my life.
Mr. Disraeli, you alarm me.
It is only a political
romance ma'am.
Will you just for once,
just for me take
your golden rule
against talking business
at the dinner table?
Very well, you may proceed.
I have had secret news
the khedive of Egypt is trying
to sell his shares in
the Suez canal company.
Suez canal.
Those shares are
necessary to England.
He has got some wild cat scheme
to buy a holding the Suez canal.
He summed be
about it this morning.
Parliament would not
of course vote the money
and you could not
well do anything
so unconstitutional as
not to go to parliament.
Not well ma'am.
But I've done it.
You have done it?
But how splendid.
My dear sir, Her majesty's
government haven't yet
sunk to speculating on
a ditch in the desert.
You must not talk so loud.
Please tell the band
to play a little louder.
Now tell me all
about it Mr. Disraeli.
Well ma'am, on
the 15th of this month
I heard the share of the sale.
On the 23rd I had
them offered to me.
The day of the 24th,
the money was guaranteed
by the Rothschilds.
The shares are ours.
The Suez canal.
What Palmerston
always called a swindle,
but which I consider an
artery of the British empire.
Superbly described ma'am.
Superbly manoeuvred Mr. Disraeli.
1885
THE SUDAN - WHERE GENERAL GORDON
WAS BSIEGED IN HIS HEROIC STAND
AGAINST THE FANATICAL
NATVE LEADER THE MAHDI,
WHOSE CONQUERING HORDES IN
REVOT AGAINST EGYTIAN RULE -
BOUGHT ERROR AND
BLOODSHED TO COUNTES MILLIONS.
KHARTOUM
But there's still
time to get out of here sir.
Would you say that again?
- There's still time to get out of here.
And leave all these
people to their doom?
But they're
doomed already, sir.
Not while I can put up
the last shadow of defence.
And I will, if I
have to stop up
every hole in the wall
with my own head!
And you know what a
thick skull I've got. - Yes.
The likeness and discipline should have
prompted you to disagree with me.
I'm sorry sir.
- Have a drink and never mind.
But I do mind you throwing
away your own life sir.
Even if I haven't one of my own.
- Ah, 'cause the government will never
leave us in the lots.
The queen will see to that.
God bless her.
- God bless her.
Your majesty, the prime minister.
Mr. Gladstone, I
cannot conceal from you
my disquiet at
the delay in your
measures for the relief
of general Gordon.
Your majesty, everything
possible is being done.
No Mr. Gladstone, everything
the government thinks possible.
General Gordon has been besieged
in Khartoum since march.
Only in August has it been
decided to relieve him.
And only now in November
has the relief force
under sir garnet
wolseley started out.
These tardy races against time
are neither to my
taste nor to our credit.
Believe me ma'am,
I understand your anxiety.
No, it is more than anxiety.
It is anguish Mr. Gladstone.
This great Christian soldier
means something to the world.
As well as to us.
If we fail him,
posterity will not forget.
Your majesty may rest
assured. - I cannot rest.
However much I am assured
I am haunted by the dread
that we may be too late.
That is the danger to which this
country so often exposes itself.
One day it may
be all our undoing.
POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS
The Queen Lt. Hon. W. E. Gladstone
It is too fearful to consider
that te fall of Khartum
might have been prevented, and
any precis lives saved by earlier action.
Your majesty, I have received
from you this telegram.
Whatever the merits of the case,
I cannot think it was
proper to send it to me
through a public telegraph office.
You are right Mr. Gladstone.
I should not have sent
it to you in that manner.
But it expresses my feelings.
My feelings ma'am are not
far removed from your own.
I am more distressed
than I can say.
We were only two days
too late. - Two days.
What is the difference
now for him
between two days
and two million years?
He is dead.
And we let him die.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER
THAT THE MAHDI WAS DEFEATED ATHE BATTLE OF OMDURMAN, AD HS CONQEROR.
GENERAL KITCHENER - TRIUMPHANTY
EERED KHARTUM.
# Oh listen to
the soldiers in the park
1897
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE
"From Pole tp Pole a mighry shout.
Echos from sea to sky.
" 'For Sixty Glorious Years
she reigned' "
HUDSON'S SOAP
You may keep the change.
No, you have it with
me you old cock sparrow.
I'm treating all
me regulars today.
# it is the Navy
the British Navy
# that keeps our foes at bay
You sound very happy today.
Yes Mrs. Lava, for
this is a day this is.
# Navy, the British Navy
# our neighbours know that's true
# for it keeps them in their place
# when they know
they have to face
# the lively little lads in Navy blue
Oh wonderful day doctor.
Wonderful indeed your majesty,
but you must be tired out.
You must rest.
- Yes.
Did... dd Maggie
have a good view?
No ma'am, she was taken ill.
We had to put her to bed.
She saw nothing?
- Nothing Your majesty.
Oh, oh my dear.
Well Maggie.
Your majesty. - Now now,
you must keep quiet.
You must not tire yourself.
The excitement was
too much for me.
It brought on me palpitations.
So they put me to bed.
Oh, what a
disappointment for you.
Aye ma'am.
But what was it like?
Well Maggie,
the site at the steps of Saint Paul's
with all the soldiers in
their wonderful uniforms.
Not only the British
but the Indians.
And the choir boys
singing so beautiful.
That must've been grand.
And Maggie, there were
some costermongers there
and they shouted out to me.
"Go it old girl."
Old girl! Well.
And they waved to me.
- The did not.
Yes, they did.
And I waved back.
You didn't!
Well well, their great
grandchildren will be told about that.
But most wonderful of all
Maggie, were the crowds.
Those thousands of smiling faces
their cheering.
Those chills will ring
in my ears always.
I did not know they
loved me so much.
1901
ON THE TWENTY SECOND OF JANUARY, THE
DREAD NEWS SPREAD TROUGHOUT THE LAND...
THE QUEEN IS DYING!
OSBORNE
She's sickened.
- Where is lord Salisbury?
He's over there sir
with His Royal highness.
Lord Salisbury, I feel bound to tell you
that the queen is in no condition
to sign these documents you've sent
into her. - I know that, so does she.
Then shall I... - You must
respect her wishes.
I respect them deeply
Your Royal highness,
but I should have to
place drops in her eyes...
It is the queen's
wish we must respect it.
Very well sir, I will do
my best. - Thank you doctor.
Her flesh is weak, but
the spirit is thrilling.
Yes Salisbury. It will be
something to remember
when ones own time comes.
Box from the prime
minister Your majesty.
I'll give you your drops.
Lower your head ma'am.
THE QUEEN
GRAVE ANXIETY
Well she's going.
- Yes, looks like it.
Make way!
Blimey. Never seen
anything that quick.
God saves the king.
Sounds queer. - None of us
ain't ever seen that before.
Except those too
old to remember.
Go on girl.
It won't be long now. Yet how long
has the magnificence has been.
The great clear stretch of time
that happens to be my
life, and I'm proud of it.
Yes, it was sometimes
narrow in mind,
but mostly great in spirit.
Spirit of achievement, change.
- And what changes?
And what achievements?
- The engineers and explorers
and our new saviours,
scientists, surgeons.
Soldiers, inventors.
And even a few of our
own calling on them.
Yes. Yes, and what
a pageant it makes,
the thrill of great
poetry and great prose.
Thinkers who have given us
a new landscape of thought.
One hardly knows
where to begin.
One never thought
of her as dying.
Don't you worry,
she never will.
Her going seems like
the end of the world.
It will be the end...
of our world.
For more than a great
queen is passing into history.
An era.
Your Royal highness immediately.
Me lords, I am very
young and inexperienced,
but since it has pleased Providence
to place me in this station,
I shall do my utmost to
fulfil my duty to my country.
God bless Your majesty.
It seems I have
here before promised
I will perform and
keep so help me god.
"The tumult and the shouting dies-
The Captains and the Kings depart,
Still stand thine ancient sacrifce,
An humbe and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us jet,
Let we frget. Lest we forget."
Kipling
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