THE STORY: A battle of wills rages between the Prince Regent of England, later George IV, and his charming, high-spirited daughter, the Princess Charlotte. The Regent would like to get Charlotte out of England because she’s too popular. He decides Charlotte should marry William, Prince of Orange, and sail off to Holland to live. William is very rich and something of a dolt, which is just fine with the Regent. But Charlotte has her own ideas. She is in love with Leopold, a prince, but poor, and no match for the heiress to the throne of England. Charlotte persuades her father to allow her to marry Leopold. There is an idyllic interlude of happiness for them, with the Regent giving orders for the re-decoration of their house. The entire country is eagerly awaiting the birth of Charlotte’s baby—when she dies giving birth to a stillborn son. The Regent’s real grief mingles with his excitement over the thought of a spectacular funeral. In the last scene we see him dressing for the christening of a niece whom he grudgingly allows to be called Victoria.
