Victoria: Ladies in Waiting

SYNOPSIS

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.