Very nice and interesting dramatization of Queen Victoria's early years.

Rating: Null/10 (4 June 2010)

As the title suggests, this movie is not about Queen Victoria's entire life, but only those years as a teenager, leading up to becoming Queen of England, then the very first years as queen, including her marriage to her cousin Albert, who then became Prince Albert.
Emily Blunt is Queen Victoria, and depicted as a teenager with a mind of her own. Her own mother and mother's secretary tried hard to get, really to force, Victoria to sign away her right to the throne, but she refused and this pressure just made her more determined to do things her own way.
After becoming queen, being both lonely and somewhat overwhelmed at her job, she sought companionship in the equally young Rupert Friend as Albert, her cousin. They married (the Queen had to ask) and he became Prince Albert. His attempts at helping her rule England were initially rebuffed, but as history tells (not covered in this movie) Albert went on to play a very meaningful role and they ruled together for 20 years before he died at the rather young age of 42. But they had 9 children plus Victoria became the longest ruling monarch until her death at 81.
In her early years as queen a main influence was Paul Bettany as Lord Melbourne who was Prime Minister on at least two, possibly three, different occasions as favor swung from one political party to the other. Eventually Victoria realized that she would be better off trusting Albert for help and advice and Melbourne was dispatched.
Miranda Richardson was Duchess of Kent, and Victoria's mother. She and her daughter, the Queen, had a very rocky relationship until Sir John Conroy was dispatched, then mom eventually became a valued grandmother.
Always good Jim Broadbent was King William, Victoria's uncle. It was his death that gave the monarchy to Victoria as an 18-year-old.
I generally like movies based on real events, and I have come to really like the movies based on British history, and this one is no exception. Very well made and also very entertaining.