Albert (Tom Hughes) finds it increasingly difficult to fit in and is frustrated. Even when Victoria (Jenna Coleman) has documents to sign he wants to help her but she tells him to play the piano or he'll get bored, she can hear him play. Of course when he does help she just wants him to be chief blotter as she's already read them all. Did she really read them. Also it appears Melbourne has 'retired' to Brockett Hall as Peel (Nigel Lindsay) and Wellington (Peter Bowles) mention it in passing, that he can't run the nation from there forever. As Victoria also comments on how she wishes "Lord M were here."
Victoria is approached by Buxton (Terence Beesley) and Anson (Robert MacPherson) who are from the abolitionists of slavery society and wish her to open their proceedings, which she thinks is a most noble cause as she's been backing them since she was a child, but as their sovereign she can't do so. Giving the opportunity for Albert to come up with doing something good and what he believes in and addressing the society. As he tells his secretary, Peeler (Scott Arthur) he's fed up of being nothing more than a figurehead, not even that, and being seen as the queen's husband, as well as his portrayals as a sausage in cartoons. Everyone hating the way he dresses too. He writes a speech in German and asks Peeler to translate it into English and he offers to abridge it too. Quoting Shakespeare's Julius Caesar about men not being cowards. He meets with Buxton and Anson and tells them he will be opening the proceedings and Victoria will accompany him and watch him from the side.
Albert also notices that Ernest's (David Oakes) flirting is more than that with the Duchess of Sutherland (Margaret Clunie) and he wants him to return t o Coburg. Ernest tells him he's not like their father and he actually is in love. However she's married and she too thought this was just some harmless flirting and wishes him "bon voyage" when she finds out it's not. Obviously she didn't really want him to go, as she drops her handkerchief for Ernest to keep. Victoria also wants Albert to accompany her to dinner and this is usually done by her uncle. the Duke of Sussex (David Bamber) and is traditional. However he refuses for this to take place or to change. Even though he's a staunch supporter of hers, he will not depart from tradition. Until Victoria finds out his wife is not of royal blood and is not permitted at court. She offers her a title, Duchess of Inverness (Daisy Goodwin) as it is a discretionary sovereign title, she wants to meet her. But also to show him that she wants Albert to be treated with respect too. Peel and Wellington of course comment on her catipns as Wellington thinks she's won a battle. Which she wasn't really fighting.
Albert wants children as soon as possible and Victoria doesn't. Even her mother (Catherine Flemming) tells him once he has a male heir everyone will accept him. Victoria asks Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) for help on how not to get pregnant and after her night with Albert, she jumps up and down on the sofa. What can you say, no comment! Ha. Ernest also wants him to have children already so he can be a godfather. Albert doesn't want to see him go as he's been with him for twenty years and Ernest is protective of him since their mother left as he tells the Duchess of Sutherland. Of course Victoria and Albert can't their hands off each other, so having children won't be a problem, for him, as he catches her jumping and informs her Lehzen was wrong in her advice. The only way not to have children is if she abstains. Which she can't and kisses him some more!
Elsewhere there is Indian cholera as Mrs Jenkins (Eve Myles) calls it, abounds and especially in Seven Dials where Skerrett's sister, Eliza (Samantha Colley) lives and she tries to see her but is stopped by the 'Peeler', she can go in but can't come out. Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) gets her to tell him what's wrong and he has ways of getting in there. He sees her sister and she writes a letter informing Skerrett (Nell Hudson) of being rehoused where hopefully the baby will recover too. Skerrett is impressed with this and thought she knew men but didn't know anyone who would do this. Nah he's in it for himself! He leaves her a sugar 'N' on her pillow (sweet nothings! ha) after she tells him her name is Nancy.
Albert rehearses hi speech and is introduced to Jonas Barratt (Cornell John) a runaway slave, who is told how to address royalty. Victoria tells Albert to speak up so he will be heard and she does turn up to support him, but not incognito enough so she feigns feeling faint and returns to the palace. Albert eventually speaks and is a resounding success. Even Peel acknowledges this and they shake hands as Albert tells him they finally agree on one thing. Although Victoria doesn't still like him. So the sausage can speak after all and hold is own in public. Ha. Me thinks a baby soon, judging from next week's clip, or is Victoria really ill? Only a mention of Melbourne now in passing twice which was frustrating for his fans! Thought he would've turned up at least to hear Albert's speech, but that wasn't to be.
The writer and executive producer of Victoria, Daisy Goodwin, makes an appearance as the Duchess of Inverness. No wonder Victoria was anxious to meet her!
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