Many of us have an image of Queen Victoria as a dour, restrictive woman. But, as Dr. Kate Williams explores in ‘Young Victoria’, the reality is very different. Based on her research, ‘Young Victoria’ will show the hidden story of behind the Queen who brought us into the modern age – and how she saved the very institution of monarchy itself.

Princess Victoria was a passionate, vibrant young girl who had to battle to ascend the throne. The intrigues that arose as she grew up were as vicious as the type of machinations for power associated with the Tudor Court. Her battle with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, was the biggest mother-daughter struggle in history.

‘Young Victoria’ is both the tale of Victoria’s battle to become Queen, and the story of England on the brink of revolution. The people could not have borne another debauched son of George III as King. Fortunately, they were able to invest their hope in the innocent Princess Victoria, a young girl who seemed utterly different to her Hanoverian uncles.The idea of Victoria kept monarchy strong. Then she became Queen – and the Britain we know today began to emerge.