THE YOUNG VICTORIA

Historical drama
Based on true facts

F.Y.I.
Born May 24, 1819 in Kensington Palace she was christened Alexandrina (after Emperor Alexander I of Russia) Victoria (after her mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg, the Duchess of Kent). Her father Prince Edward, Duke of Kent died quite suddenly when she was only a year old.

Victoria's overbearing mother was extremely protective of the princess and raised her in near isolation under the so called “Kensington System” , an elaborate set of rules and protocols devised by the Duchess and her private secretary to prevent the princess from ever meeting people they deemed undesirable. They wanted to render her weak and utterly dependent upon them. She was not allowed to interact with other children and her sole companion was her spaniel, Dash. She was required to share a bedroom with her mother.

When she was 11, Victoria’s grandfather William IV became the reigning British monarch. Since he had no surviving legitimate children, Victoria became heiress presumptive. If she were to succeed to the throne before her eighteenth birthday her mother would become the Regent, effectively acting as head of state but only if Victoria signed the Regency Order, an Act of Parliament passed when necessary to deal with a specific situation such as this.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Michaela Brooks: 11-year-old Victoria
Miranda Richardson: her mother the Duchess of Kent
Mark Strong: the Duchess’ private secretary and close advisor Sir John Conroy
Jeanette Hain: Victoria’s governess the Baroness Lehzen
Emily Blunt: 17-year-old Princess Victoria
Jim Broadbent: her uncle the aging King William IV
Harriet Walter: his much younger wife Queen Adelaide
Paul Bettany: Victoria’s advisor Lord Melbourne the Whig Prime Minister
Rupert Friend: her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg
Michael Maloney: Tory Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel

REVIEW
The discerning viewer with more than a passing interest in the world of British royalty will be rewarded with a well-crafted portrait of the woman who went on to become the longest reigning monarch ever. With excellent acting, beautiful cinemaphotography, a rich soaring score, sumptuous sets and careful attention to period detail we also get some insight to the political manoeuvring of the time.

CLASSIFICATION
for some mild sensuality, a scene of violence, brief incidental language and smoking.