Victoria, The Complete Series 1-3

On the death of her uncle King William IV in 1837, 18-year-old Princess Victoria becomes queen. Her mother the Duchess of Kent, influenced by her advisor Sir John Conroy, tries to exert control over the young monarch. Victoria copes with the unknown with the help of prime minister Lord Melbourne. They are enchanted by each other - Victoria by the older man's erudite wisdom and experience, and he by the young queen's lack of guile. Gossip soon erupts over the closeness of their relationship and Melbourne, fearing scandal, retreats. Victoria is left prey to Conroy, who seizes the chance to take control and undermine the queen. Against Melbourne's instructions, Victoria rushes into an ill-considered accusation and the celebration of her coronation is abruptly curtailed when she learns she has involved the crown in scandal.

Lord Melbourne's resignation as Prime Minister leaves Victoria devastated. As the ambitious Conroy and her uncle the Duke of Cumberland scheme against her, the vulnerable queen devises a risky plot to get Melbourne back. Her stubborn approach soon threatens to undermine the foundations of the monarchy.

When Victoria's uncle Leopold proposes Albert as a husband, other suitors also swoop in, desperate to win the Queen's hand in marriage. Although Victoria is determined to reign alone, Leopold rightly suspects that her indifference to marriage is something to do with the chemistry between her and Melbourne.

Prince Albert immediately puts Victoria on the defensive, but despite her protestations of indifference, she struggles to hide her true feelings towards him. Victoria faces a difficult choice between the comfortable familiarity of Melbourne and the enthralling but prickly Albert.

When Victoria's efforts to secure Albert a settlement are rejected by parliament, both she and her fiance start to fear for their future together. As the wedding draws ever closer and the tension escalates, will Victoria and Albert manage to reconcile their differences in time?

The royal couple's blissful happiness is threatened when Albert is publicly humiliated by the Duke of Sussex. Alarmed by her husband's discontent, Victoria is determined to use all her cunning to get Albert the respect he deserves. But Albert has his own ideas about how to prove his worth.

The shock of Victoria's pregnancy is compounded when she is forced to consider who will be regent. While she chooses Albert, his desire for power remains unfulfilled and their fateful trip to the north exposes the latent tensions in their relationship.

A heavily pregnant Victoria attempts to preserve her independence at all costs - until a threat to her life leaves her in fear. She clashes with the overly-protective Albert as she fights to puts her country and people before her own personal needs.

New mother Victoria is impatient to return to the business of ruling a nation, while Albert attempts to protect her from the increasingly desperate news regarding British soldiers in Afghanistan.

Victoria is thrown into turmoil by the realisation that she is pregnant again, and her equilibrium is further threatened by Albert's burgeoning friendship with female mathematician Ada Lovelace.

Discontent is growing in the country, and Victoria decides to hold a ball in a misguided attempt to help the silk weavers of Spitalfields. But the spectacular event only exposes her naivety, and unexpected grief finally forces her to put childish things away for good.

Despite giving birth to a healthy Prince of Wales, Victoria finds herself paralysed by an inexplicable sorrow. Meanwhile, a tragedy in Coburg plunges Albert into his own private torment.

The Queen decides to try her hand at foreign relations, and takes the royal court on an adventure to France, stepping toe-to-toe with the cunning King of the French, Louis Philippe.

News of the horrific famine in Ireland finally reaches the Queen. She is adamant that her government should be doing more to help, but meets with surprising opposition from her prime minister.

Feeling suffocated by the weight of the crown, Victoria escapes with her court to the Scottish Highlands. She and Albert revel in the opportunity to be a normal husband and wife - but the holiday cannot last forever.

Victoria and Albert have to face their worst nightmare as parents, while Peel embarks on the ultimate battle in parliament. When tragedy strikes, the couple must confront the true cost of standing by their convictions.

Revolution sweeps across Europe and reaches Britain. As a heavily pregnant Victoria is shocked by the unexpected arrival of her half-sister and the deposed French king, the Chartist movement threatens the monarchy and Victoria must confront the fact that her people may wish to end her reign. Downstairs, Skerrett and Francatelli plan a future together, and a new footman called Joseph arrives. Meanwhile, Victoria and Albert must grapple with Lord Palmerston - the incendiary Foreign Secretary - and hapless Prime Minister Lord John Russell. When a mob attempts to storm the Palace, Victoria and Albert decide to flee - just then, Victoria suddenly goes into labour.

As the Chartists rise up, Victoria must decide whether to use violent force against her own people, while Albert is convinced the royal family must flee to the Isle of Wight.

At their new residence at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, Victoria and Albert have the opportunity to educate their children away from the turmoil of London. But Victoria is frustrated to be so far from her public, and summons Palmerston and Russell to join the royal party when Palmerston's conduct regarding the visit of Kossuth to Britain proves ever more provocative.

Victoria and Albert are still at loggerheads after their return from Osborne. A reception for foreign diplomats is interrupted by the news of a cholera outbreak in Soho. Skerrett and Francatelli prepare to open their hotel.

An Irishman attempts to shoot Victoria, whilst out riding in her carriage. Victoria consults Abigail, her new dresser, who confirms her fears; Ireland is a divided nation.

Victoria feels swamped by her seven children, and reminisces over private etchings of simpler times. Bertie's behaviour is becoming increasingly unmanageable.

Victoria and Albert have never been further apart, whilst Albert plans an ambitious exhibition with Henry Cole. Palmerston calls for action to restore the dignity of Don Pacifico, a British subject targeted by an anti-Semitic mob in Athens.

The opening of the Great Exhibition looms. Albert is exhausted, and countries are pulling out. Only Victoria believes that Albert is a visionary, but she also wants him to rest.