Photos
Quotes
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[Queen Victoria is being introduced to prospective ladies-in-waiting]
Lord Melbourne : Do consider Lady Portman. Her husband is Under-Secretary for the Colonies and something of a booby, but she knows *everyone*.
[Lady Portman approaches the throne and curtseys to Victoria]
Lord Melbourne : Lady Portman knew your father, Ma'am.
Lady Emma Portman : Such a handsome man, Your Majesty, and a very good dancer.
Victoria : That must explain why I love dancing so much. Of course there can be no dancing until the Coronation.
Lady Emma Portman : [hesitantly] Is there to be a Coronation Ball, then, Ma'am?
Victoria : Yes indeed - that is, if it isn't too expensive, Lord M.
Lord Melbourne : Well I'm hoping you'll only have the *one* Coronation, Ma'am, so I think a little extravagance is permitted.
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[in intercut scenes, Sir John Conroy is trying to give advice to Lord Melbourne, while the Duchess of Kent and Lady Flora Hastings are trying to give advice to Queen Victoria]
[Lord Melbourne approaches Sir John Conroy in a corridor]
Lord Melbourne : Sir John, I fear you've been waiting for me.
Sir John Conroy : The Duchess is concerned - about the appointment of the Queen's Ladies.
Lord Melbourne : Yes, I believe it's the first time she's been allowed to choose her own companions. She must find it a pleasant change.
[the Duchess of Kent approaches Queen Victoria in her drawing room]
Duchess of Kent : So you have chosen *her* to be your Mistress of the Robes?
Victoria : Harriet Sutherland is charming.
Duchess of Kent : But she is the wife of Melbourne's friend. It is not good to be so in his hands.
[Melbourne and Conroy]
Sir John Conroy : It seems to me you've made her into a weak puppet.
Lord Melbourne : It may look that way to *you*, Sir John. As a man who's never seen further than his own self-interest, I suppose it must, but I hold myself to a different standard.
[Lady Flora Hastings approaches Queen Victoria and the Duchess of Kent]
Lady Flora Hastings : I feel I should tell you, Ma'am, that at Holland House they call you "Mrs Melbourne".
[Melbourne and Conroy]
Lord Melbourne : The Queen is a remarkable young woman, and I consider it the greatest privilege of my career to serve her.
[Queen Victoria, the Duchess of Kent and Lady Flora]
Victoria : Well I feel I should tell *you* that mama and Sir John as known as "The Conroyals".
Duchess of Kent : Sir John, at least, has never been involved in a case of criminal conversation with a married woman.
Victoria : Lord Melbourne was acquitted.
[Melbourne and Conroy]
Sir John Conroy : I cannot look into your soul. But you are a man and she is a very young and impressionable woman.
[Queen Victoria and the Duchess of Kent]
Duchess of Kent : Please, Victoria, he is someone who is clever at stealing hearts. He must not take yours.
[Melbourne and Conroy]
Lord Melbourne : [walking away from Sir John] I bid you good day.
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Victoria : You don't think I'm too short to be dignified?
Lord Melbourne : To me, ma'am, you are every inch a queen.
