Victoria Regina

The story

Patricia Routledge gives a career-best performance as Queen Victoria in this 1964 series of plays based on the celebrated collection of dramas by playwright Laurence Housman.

Self-willed, obstinate, imperious and passionate... a now-familiar description of one of history's longest-serving female monarchs – but Housman's satirical tribute marked a decisive break with the tradition of the uncritical historical portrait.

A Broadway hit deemed too disrespectful for public performance in Britain until the late 1930s, Victoria Regina is a frank portrayal of an extraordinarily complex woman, tracing her development from royal teenager to inconsolable widow at the helm of a vast empire, with all her contradictions, prejudices and unconstitutional behavior.

Cast

P Patricia RoutledgeQueen Victoria J Joachim HansenPrince Albert M Max AdrianBenjamin Disraeli G Geoffrey DunnArchbishop of Canterbury M Michael BiltonFootman N Nicholas CourtneyTudor M Marianne DemmingDuchess of Kent C Cyril LuckhamLord Melbourne M Miles MallesonConyngham H Humphrey MortonSecretary M Michael WolfPrince Ernest J Jolyon BoothMr. Oakley

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J John BrookingGentleman-in-waiting B Barbara CouperDuchess J Jennie LindenLady Jane J James OttawayMr. Richards P Paul WilliamsonMr. Anson E Edward AtienzaMartin Tupper G Geoffrey ChaterDr. Clark M Maurice ColbourneLord Palmerston H Hugh CrossDr. Stanley J Julian D'AlbieUsher F Fiona HartfordPrincess Alice M Mary HintonMrs. Gladstone P Peter MacannPrince of Wales B Beatrix MackeyNurse A Anne TirardHead Nurse K Kevin BrennanPrince of Wales R Rosamond BurnePrincess J Jameson ClarkJohn Brown C Charles CullumBishop of Rochester G George CurzonBishop of Chicester E Eric HillyardGentleman In Writing S Sandra MillerYoung Princess E Ernest MiltonBishop of London J John H. MooreBishop of Winchester L Lloyd PearsonSir Henry Ponsonby D Dorothy ReynoldsMrs. Clayton C Christopher SteeleBishop of Salisbury B Brian TippingGerman Prince I Ian WilsonBishop of Ely