King Leopold suggests Victoria consider Prince Albert as a suitable consort, which results in her being surrounded by suitors, though her determination to rule alone leaves her uncle suspicious of her closeness to Melbourne.
Prince Albert arrives in England for the first time and he and Victoria take an instant dislike to one another in an awkward first meeting. However, their disdain passes and an attraction grows - to Melbourne's dismay.
Melbourne warns Victoria that Parliament will not be happy to see her marry a German prince - a prediction that proves accurate when the Privy Council refuse to grant Albert a royal title, prompting worries for both Victoria and Albert.
As Lord Melbourne's popularity in the House wanes, the Tories eagerly await triumph, while Victoria's uncle, the Duke of Cumberland, sees a chance to prey on her vulnerability and establish a co-regency.
News of the horrific famine in Ireland finally reaches the Queen. She is adamant that her government should be doing more to help, but meets with surprising opposition from her Prime Minister.
The royal court celebrates the birth of the Queen's second child, but Victoria struggles to bond with her newborn son. A crisis compels Albert to return to Coburg and, upon arrival, he learns a terrible family secret.
Moved by the plight of a silk weaver in Spitalfields, Victoria throws a lavish medieval ball at the palace with all attendees wearing outfits made in the impoverished area. Though a success, the event outrages the public.
Albert inadvertently jeopardises the progress they've fought for. Tensions run high in the palace as the relationship between Victoria, Albert and Lehzen is pushed to breaking point.
Victoria discovers she is pregnant with a second child, and suspects her husband is attracted to another woman. Below stairs, Cleary thinks the palace is haunted, but Brodie thinks there is a natural explanation for events.
When a day out takes an unexpected turn, Victoria finally gets the anonymity she wished for, while Albert enjoys being able to play the role of a traditional husband for the first time.
Victoria returns to her royal duties sooner than expected after the birth of her first child. She suspects her husband and the Prime Minister are concealing news from her. Albert's family descend on the palace for the christening.
After an assassination attempt, the Royal household visits Ireland. Intrigue, conflict, and romance all blossom during a stay at the Palmerston estate. Feodora is left to her own devices in the Palace.
At Osborne House, Albert relishes the opportunity to instruct the family away from London, but Victoria is desperate to get back to the Palace and the business of politics.
It's Christmas 1846, and a pregnant Victoria faces the festive season without her beloved Baroness Lehzen. Albert wants to transform the palace into a magical and seasonal wonderland, but tensions mount when he invites some unwelcome guests.
A heavily pregnant Victoria defies the advice of her mother and husband, refusing to be confined to the palace. However, when she does venture out, the crowds pose a danger as a deranged onlooker attempts to assassinate her.
Upon the death of King William IV, his 18-year-old niece, Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, inherits the throne as Queen, and finds herself tested by new responsibilities and conflicted loyalties.
Feeling he needs a greater role in public affairs, Albert becomes involved in the anti-slavery movement. Skerrett faces a dilemma when she realises that the only man who can save her cousin is the one she trusts least.
A pregnant Victoria declares that, in the event of her death, Albert will become head of state. This outrages members of the Tory party who fear a German prince holding sway over the nation, so they plan to disrupt his visit to the North.
The workers across Europe are rising up. In France, Louis Philippe has been deposed. He asks Victoria for protection, as does her half sister. In Britain, the Chartists want a vote. And Victoria goes into labour with her sixth child.