At the tender age of 18, a tenacious young woman coming into her own is suddenly thrust upon the throne of England after her uncle, King George IV, dies. The new queen fends off political ploys from those who believe her unfit to reign even while falling in love with her very own Prince Charming. This is Queen Victoria, and despite whatever public scandals she has to weather, she’s determined to rule her own way. 

Victoria is a three-season historical drama that follows the early chapters of Queen Victoria’s rule. Created by Daisy Goodwin (Pulling), the royal romance stars Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who), Tom Hughes (The Game), and Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat).

When will Victoria be released?

Stream all three seasons now.

Who’s in the cast of Victoria?

• Jenna Coleman (The Sandman) as Queen Victoria
• Tom Hughes (Red Joan) as Prince Consort Albert
• Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat) as Lord Melbourne, Prime Minister of England
• Catherine Flemming (Wunderkinder) as Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent and Victoria’s mother
• Paul Rhys (Widow Clicquot) as Sir John Conroy, the Duchess of Kent’s comptroller
• Peter Firth (Risen) as King Ernest Augustus of Hanover, Duke of Cumberland and Victoria’s paternal uncle
• Daniela Holtz (Pelican Blood) as Baroness Lehzen, Victoria’s governess and later unofficial private secretary

What happens in Victoria?

In the middle of the night comes a message from King George IV’s household: The king is dead, long live the new queen. And the new queen is none other than the king’s 18-year-old niece, Alexandrina Victoria (Coleman). She is a sheltered young girl who grew up with tutors under close watch at Kensington Palace, and there are many in the nation — her own mother, the Duchess of Kent (Flemming); her mother’s advisor, Sir Conroy (Rhys); and her paternal uncle, Duke of Cumberland (Firth), among them — who believe her too young to rule. 

As the duke, duchess, and Sir Conroy scheme to become the true power behind the throne of England by declaring a regency — an older royal appointed to guide a reigning monarch who’s too young to understand matters of state — Victoria decides she will no longer live in their shadow. She’s determined to become the sort of monarch her late father and uncle would be proud of. Despite a series of public mistakes that first cause her to lose support, Victoria soon finds a trustworthy ally in Lord Melbourne (Sewell), the current prime minister, who takes a special interest in helping her navigate the pitfalls of court. And when Victoria makes her riskiest choice of all — falling in love with Prince Albert (Hughes) — Lord Melbourne helps her cement her courtship as well as her immensely influential decades-long reign.

Is Victoria based on a book?

No, Victoria is not based on a book, though many tomes — and films and TV shows —have been written about England’s most romantic queen.

Is Victoria based on a true story?

Yes, Victoria is based on the first 14 years of Queen Victoria’s 63-year reign. The series ends in 1851 with the closing of the Great Exhibition and the foreshadowing of Prince Albert’s illness.

Where does Victoria take place?

Victoria takes place in London at Buckingham House — which is now known as Buckingham Palace, thanks to Queen Victoria. She made the freshly expanded palace the monarch’s official London residence in 1837 after completing King George IV’s plans to build out the royal quarters.

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