- 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.
- Victoria's reliance on Melbourne does not go unnoticed amongst the likes of Wellington and Peel and she feels isolated when, defeated over a bill to end slavery in Jamaica, Melbourne resigns. Thus she asks the Tory, former war hero Wellington to become premier but he declines, putting forward the Tory Peel instead and Melbourne refuses to oppose the idea. Victoria is called upon to dismiss her Whig ladies-in-waiting and replace them with Torys' wives but declines to do so, leading to the jealous Cumberland allying with Conroy to suggest a regent in the form of her mother. However Victoria flatly refuses and reinstates Melbourne. At the palace steward Penge attempts one last money making scheme by selling off used candles before gas lighting is introduced and Miss Skerrett gets a romantic invitation from chef Francatelli.—don @ minifie-1
- Lord Melbourne's position as Whig PM becomes untenable as his parliamentary majority shrivels over Jamaican slavery, so he recommends honorable rival Wellington, but the Tory duke declines, feeling too old. Melbourne's constitutional conscience forces him to retire and insist Victoria must appoint Sir Robert Peel, and recommends accepting his condition to replace at least some of the queen's ladies in waiting with Whigs, as customary, yet she childishly sticks to her 'friends'. The stakes are raised as the duke of Cumberland plots with Conroy to have Victoria incapacitates to become co-regent with her mother. During Victoria's birthday party preparations, baroness Lehzen's plan to introduce gas lighting in the palace is cunningly countered by steward Penge and page Brodie, who make extra profit from rat catching before restoring the used candles 'boon' business.—KGF Vissers
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