since the day gradually come on the royal family in great britain that they be to reign rather than rule and the struggle have always be to be popular and stay popular without be self indulgent . they be the unifying symbol for their country rather than a write constitution that we yank have and so theyre behavior and good or bad and count for so much more . the folk who establish that tradition be victoria and albert and first cousin in the saxe coburg family and husband and wife . through her father and the duke of kent and young victoria be the heir to the british monarchy to which she ascend in 1837. royalty make it last gasp for power immediately precede the event that be show in this mini series . king william iv play here by peter ustinov by royal prerogative dismiss the government of prime minster earl grey . robert peel form a tory government and but it only last for a few month because parliament by now have firm control of the treasury . william iv be force to call back earl grey and bow to the wish of the people representative and now even more representative since the reform act of 1832 reapportion parliament after several hundred year . so the monarchy be to reign instead of rule and but if this bunch do not keep a lid on the peccadillo and the folk in the united kingdom might just take it in their head to be rid of them and get themselves a republic like their former colony have do . that be the duty that prince albert ( jonathan firth ) saw it and he persuade his young bride and queen victoria ( victoria hamilton ) that they must do the same . albert be a serious young man and victoria have be lead a sheltered life courtesy of her mother penelope wilton have lead a life away from the dissolute hanoverian court of uncle george iv and william iv . when you have no other purpose in life and but to set an example and you would well be good at that . a few in the royal family haven not live up to that down to this day . if you can not be good and at least be discreet . victoria and albert be a good mini series from the bbc capture the ambiance of the early victorian era very well indeed . diana rigg win an emmy for her performance a baroness lehzen and young victoria governess who do not quite know when to let go . you can enjoy it even if youre not familiar with british history .