The government just can’t stay out of anyone’s marriage, can it?
Victoria and Albert just got engaged, but the honeymoon is already over.
Now life is all finances and disapproving politicians and bittersweet goodbyes.
Credit: ITV
Ah, young love.
How can we be sure that Prince Albert is in fact a Protestant?
he wonders, hoping to start a rumor.
Good to see politics havent changed at all in the past two centuries.
And neither have echo chambers.
(Inbreeding: royaltys nepotism.)
I wish things could still be decided at sword point, he sighs to his brother.
Imagine what the queen would think if she saw Ernest dragging Albert to a house of ill repute.
(Ernest: Think of it as a university of love.)
He literally asks for a pen and paper so he can take notes.
This boy hes one of the good ones.
She had tears in her eyes.
And now you have Victoria, Ernest says, and she will never leave you.
Do you know how much I envy you, and how I will miss you?
Can Ernest just live at the palace, like?
The kids are going to need a fun uncle.
Albert is only a little bit comforted to know that he has a title Melbourne doesnt.
Melbourne still has what Albert really wants: a seat at the House of Lords.
Even worse, Alberts new private secretary used to work for Melbourne.
The prince worries that hes being spied on, but Victoria accuses him of being peevish.
Peevish, Albert repeats.
This is a word I do not understand.
Perhaps I should ask my new secretary to translate it for me.
I want these two to be very happy, but I hope they never stop bickering.
At Lord Ms encouragement, Victoria confronts her soon-to-be husband about their matching his-and-hers insecurities.
Albert is offended, but he isnt storm-off-into-the-trees offended, and thats a surprise.
If Albert ever had license to storm off into the trees, its now.
Instead, the prince tells Victoria that hell only ever want her.
Too bad; she had a real chance to stick it to the patriarchy with that one.
At least she gives her husband an allowance.
For Victoria, promising to obey anyone else is a kind of rebellion, albeit an ironic one.
So many of her choices are made for her the Lord Chamberlain even wants to pick her bridesmaids.
Chamberlain protests: But your attendants must come from the aristocracy, maam!
She cant have it both ways!
Melbourne suggests reducing the list to six bridesmaids.
Chamberlain hedges: Or… four?
Victoria walks down the aisle with eight bridesmaids, reputations unknown.
Victoria and Alberts wedding is a hit.
), but she also gets to share a good-looking cake withzerorats.
Hes so sad about it that he doesnt even mention the rooks.
Victoria, in her after-party bonnet, requests a minute alone with her prime minister.
But according to Victoria, he was onlyalmostright.
I shall never forget, she tells Lord M. With her permission, he kisses her cheek.
Without anyones permission, I am crying.
This all feels very permanent.
I hope the birds take good care of him.
He is, but its 1840.
They fall to the bed kissing.
