The one about the wedding and Albert's title. Continued from last week . There is animosity between Parliament and Albert (Tom Hughes) being German especially amongst the Tories which was evident this ep. Albert wants £50,000 a year and a title and his uncle Leopold (Alex Jennings) is instrumental in stressing he should be given this as he got nothing less when he married Charlotte. However he has a mistress in the form of an actress and he still continues to draw on that money, which is why Albert will get next to nothing. Victoria (Jenna Coleman) is adamant he should be able to get what he wants. However there's more of a stressful time for her as she announces her engagement to Albert, as said, many aren't too pleased. Victoria stealing moments with Albert whenever they can, being accompanied by Ernest (David Oakes) and the Duchess of Sutherland (Margaret Clunie).
She will miss Albert when he returns to Saxe-coburg to set his affairs in order, ha, not those sorts of affairs and hides from her mother, Duchess of Kent (Catherine Flemming) behind the tree as she doesn't want her to see them and say that she had arranged the entire marriage between them when it's Victoria's choice. She later tells her as Albert says he'll do it if she doesn't and her mother is of the mind that she knew all along and did indeed arrange it. Victoria disagreeing of course. In the House Melbourne (Rufus Sewell) argues for what he wants but Peel (Nigel Lindsay) won't budge from £20,000 a year. All this when Victoria says she will basically be looking after him. Albert prefers to refer to himself as her 'subject' every chance he gets rather than her husband and an equal in some respects. Victoria wants to be an "ordinary woman" and wants to marry him as an ordinary woman.
Albert tells her to remember him kissing her neck when he leaves and how he shall do the same when he returns. Arriving at Schloss Saxe-Coburg his father, Duke of Coburg (Andrew Bicknall) congratulates Albert on his choice as England is one of the richest countries in the world and Victoria will be able to throw "some crumbs" towards their way for the rundown castle. Making it appear that's all this union was for them, a marriage of convenience and more particularly a marriage to being wealthy.
Ernest wants Albert to be well grounded, prepared for his future nuptials and the wedding night with Victoria and takes him to a brothel to help him. However he doesn't want to be with Gretchen (Carolin Stoltz) and would prefer to take notes instead in her "proficiency" which she will teach him. Ernest however has no qualms as we know! Ernest tells him about seeing their mother once when he was playing in the park and she saw him, putting her finger to her lips and he could see her face was wet. He didn't tell Albert as he knew they only had each other now.
Plans are underway for the wedding and her ladies in waiting talk of dresses and cakes. Victoria wants a white dress. Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) can't get the cake ready in six weeks. He also wants Skerrett (Nell Hudson) to start afresh but she has responsibilities here and can't do that. Still not getting the message. As the party returns, some of Albert's servants are brought to the kitchen and the Baroness (Daniela Holtz) asks them to be treated properly also adding that Penge (Adrian Schiller) knows some German. As we find out why, he was in love with one of the servants, Hilde (Gertrude Thoma) and said he sent her letters. They always meet at weddings. So it must've been Hilda who taught him German. She replies she didn't get his letters but would like to read them.
Victoria spends some of her last moments as a free woman and queen and of course Melbourne is despondent that she'll rely on him even less now. But tells her she must still see the Privy Council for their approval of Albert. She also asks Melbourne if her father had a mistress as her mother told her he did before they were married. As they all think, assume, Albert will follow in the footsteps of his philandering relatives and also keep a mistress later in life. He says her father did have a mistress and also the same thing that he won't keep one yet. But then Melbourne's marriage was a failure. If she wants to be certain she should ask the truth, which Melbourne told her once was overrated. Nevertheless she does so and he wonders how she could ask him if he wants the extra money so he too can keep a mistress like Leopold. As she's aware he wants only her. Melbourne watches from the window knowing his heart will forever be broken (okay I added that in for those who wanted to rewrite history and have Victoria ride off into the sunset with Melbourne. Only in your dreams!) The Baroness tells him they are no longer needed.
The big day arrives and Victoria wears her white dress and a garland of gardenias on her head, instead of diamonds. Yet the people still talk, especially Wellington (Peter Bowles) who says Alert even walks like a Papist. Victoria takes her vows and promises to "obey" Albert as she told him she would, even though he reiterated how he's "only your subject." No, you're her husband! As well as the politicians wanting her to drop the 'obey' part. The cake cut, the posy thrown, she can only go on her honeymoon for two days and not a week. As she has her farewell with Lord Melbourne, bringing up the scene where he told her when she gives her heart it will be without reservation and says he was almost right. He ask if he can kiss the bride and is the only peck he can give her, on the cheek. As she walks away and then runs, yes we know he had to turn around and watch her since they don't normally do that, even if you want them to. Victoria: "Goodbye Lord M." As he utters his,
"goodbye Ma'am." Then it's off for some bedroom play! ha. Sorry but it's what they were both waiting for all this time.
There you have it, the wedding and now the babies to follow and Albert's acceptance by the subjects and Parliament. Considering what he actually wanted was a seat in the House and a chance to do some good. As he told Melbourne he isn't a knight but he can sit in the House of Lords. His knighthood being Victoria's gift to Albert.
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