Recommended

Release date: 6 March 2009

Running time: 105 mins

Director: Jean-Marc VallÈe

Starring: Mark Strong, Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson

Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne, the early turbulent years of her reign and her legendary romance and marriage to Prince Albert.

England, 1837. After an unhappy and sheltered childhood as the object of a royal power struggle, Victoria (Emily Blunt) becomes queen at the age of just 18. Now she can be free of her overbearing mother, the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), and her ambitious advisor, Conroy (Mark Strong). Meanwhile Victoria's handsome cousin, Albert (Rupert Friend) has been pressured to marry Victoria by his father, King Leopold of Belgium (Thomas Kretschmann). As queen, Victoria embraces the charming Prime Minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), as her sole advisor. When Melbourne is ousted, Victoria must face the first of many crises to afflict her reign. A royal wedding to Albert restores Victoria's popularity with the public, but can it ever be a case of happy ever after for the headstrong monarch?

Screenplay: Julian Fellowes

Distributor: Momentum

You should see it because: Emily Blunt is perfectly cast as the youthful, romantic and vivacious Victoria.

See it if you liked: Mrs Brown (1997), The Queen (2006), Marie Antoinette (2006)