Victoria decides to try her hand at foreign relations, and takes the royal court on an adventure to France, stepping toe to toe with the cunning King of the French, Louis Philippe.
Feeling suffocated by the weight of the crown, Victoria escapes with her court to the Scottish highlands. She and Albert revel in the opportunity to be a normal husband and wife, but the holiday can't last forever.
News of the horrific famine in Ireland has finally reached the queen. She is adamant that her government should be doing more to help, but meets with surprising opposition from her prime minister.
New mother Victoria is impatient to return to ruling, while Albert attempts to protect her from the news regarding British soldiers in Afghanistan. Victoria is pregnant again and her equilibrium is threatened by Albert's friendship with Ada Lovelace.
Discontent is growing in the country; an unexpected grief finally forces Victoria to put childish things away. Despite the healthy birth of an heir, she's paralyzed by an inexplicable sorrow. A tragedy in Coburg plunges Albert into his own torment.