After a few brief scenes with Victoria as a young girl (Michaela Brooks), the story properly begins with Victoria as a teenager (Blunt), whose easily-led mother (Miranda Richardson) is conspiring with her scheming husband (Mark Strong as Sir John Conroy) to prevent Victoria from becoming Queen on the grounds that she’s too young.
However, the favouritism of King William (Jim Broadbent), coupled with her strong relationship with the Prime Minister (Paul Bettany as Lord Melbourne) ensures that Victoria’s path to the throne proceeds according to plan.
Meanwhile, Victoria is pressured to take a husband and finds herself falling for her cousin Albert (Rupert Friend), despite the objections of those around her.
Blunt effortlessly anchors the film with a wonderful performance that’s delightful to watch. She also has terrific chemistry with Friend, who gives an equally assured performance that shows why he’s fast becoming one of Britain’s best young actors.
There’s also splendid work from a to-die-for supporting cast. Fellowes’ script is extremely good, detailing the tension of the political wrangling that surrounds Victoria, while also presenting an emotionally engaging love story and offering intriguing glimpses of the world outside the palace gates. That said he’s not above a little tweak for dramatic effect – the film’s most dramatic moment – involving Albert and an assassin’s bullet – didn’t happen quite the way it’s portrayed on screen.
