The young monarch decides it is time to try her hand at foreign relations, as she and an entourage of servants and fellow royals set sail for France.

The queen is horrified by news of famine sweeping Ireland, and tries to persuade the government to take action. However, Peel is reluctant to get involved, fearing that sending aid will destabilise his own party. The crisis soon strikes at the heart of the royal household, while a determined Reverend turns up on Victoria's doorstep, demanding help for his parish.

It is Christmas 1846 and Victoria is uncharacteristically sad as she prepares to face her first Christmas without her beloved Baroness Lehzen, while Albert transforms the palace into a magical festive wonderland as he is gripped by an obsession with staging the perfect family Christmas. But tensions between the couple mount when the prince invites house guests to join the celebrations. Meanwhile, Skerrett inherits a large estate from an estranged uncle.