Ep 6. The Queen's Husband

In the sixth episode of Victoria season 1, titled "The Queen's Husband," the spotlight is on Prince Albert as he struggles to find his place in his new home and country. The episode opens with the couple having a disagreement about the responsibilities and limitations of the Prince Consort role, with Albert feeling that he is being overshadowed by Victoria's power and role as Queen.

Victoria, on the other hand, insists that Albert should have his own responsibilities and duties, and suggests that he take on the task of overseeing the new Great Exhibition, which will showcase industry and technology from around the world. This idea excites Albert, and he throws himself into the project, enlisting various experts and artists to help him organize the exhibition.

However, as he becomes more involved with the project, Albert starts to feel increasingly isolated and frustrated. He is not used to the conservative ways of the British court and society, and finds that his progressive ideas about education, science, and art are met with resistance and ridicule. He also struggles with his position as a foreigner and outsider, and feels that he can never truly belong in England.

As Victoria becomes more preoccupied with her own pregnancy and motherhood, Albert starts to feel neglected and resentful. He misses the intellectual and emotional connection he had with Victoria, and feels that he has been reduced to a mere extension of her power. At the same time, he becomes attracted to Lady Flora Hastings, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, who he sees as a kindred spirit and potential ally.

The relationship between Albert and Flora becomes increasingly complicated and secret, with both parties struggling to resist their mutual attraction and passion. However, Albert realizes that he cannot pursue Flora without causing a scandal and damaging his relationship with Victoria, and decides to end the affair and focus on his duties as Prince Consort.

Meanwhile, Victoria discovers Flora's sudden illness and swollen abdomen, and jumps to the conclusion that she is pregnant by Sir John Conroy, her mother's former advisor and rumored lover. She forces Flora to undergo a humiliating examination and declares her innocent, but the incident causes a rift between Victoria and her mother, who accuses her of being cruel and paranoid.

In the end, Victoria and Albert are reunited and reconciled, and the Great Exhibition is a huge success, showcasing the best of British and international achievements. However, the episode ends on a disturbing note, as Victoria has a difficult labor and almost dies, leaving Albert in a state of shock and despair.

Overall, "The Queen's Husband" is a compelling and complex episode that delves deep into the psychological and emotional struggles of Prince Albert, as he tries to find his place and identity in a challenging and unfamiliar environment. The episode also highlights the pressures and expectations placed on women, especially in relation to motherhood and reproduction, and the damaging effects of rumors, gossip, and jealousy.