Mädchenjahre einer Königin (4 Stars)

This film has been released in English as "Victoria in Dover", but I prefer to use the original German title, which means "The girlhood years of a queen".

This is a German historical comedy about Queen Victoria. Maybe the German title is inaccurate, because it's not about years (plural), it's only about one year in her life, from 19th June 1837 (the day before she became Queen) to 24th May 1838 (her 19th birthday). On the surface it might seem like a love story, but the main plot revolves around a young woman who wants to do what she wants, not what she's told to do.

The main historical events and the people in her life are accurate, but many smaller details are invented for the sake of comedy. For instance, in the film she only finds out that she'll be the next queen the day before her uncle's death. It was kept secret from her until then to spare her stress while growing up. I highly doubt that was really the case. Today all the members of the British Royal Family know exactly what number they are in the line of succession to the throne.

The next day the king dies. Her adviser, Sir John Conroy, writes a list of things for her to say as the new Queen. Her reaction is to rip up the list and put him into early retirement, with instructions that she never wants to see him again. She grows close to the prime minister, Lord Melbourne, as a friend and a trusted adviser.

There are still attempts to isolate her. She's not allowed to read newspapers. Finally she asks a guard to smuggle newspapers into her room, and she's depressed by what she reads. She didn't know that the level of poverty was so high in Britain. She summons Lord Melbourne and asks him to create legislation for better payment. He gladly agreed.

In 1938 there's a consensus among the established members of the Royal Family that Victoria should get married as soon as possible to stop her being so rebellious. Three potential bridegrooms are invited to her 19th birthday party, two Germans and a Russian. Victoria is horrified and says that she doesn't want to get married for at least 20 years. The day before her birthday she sets off to Paris with her governess, Baroness Lehzen. She doesn't know how long she'll stay in Paris, she just wants to spend time incognito and get to know as many men as possible.

Due to a heavy storm, they have to stay in an inn in Dover. She meets and falls in love with a handsome German student who's also staying in the inn. What she doesn't know is that he's really Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg, one of the three suitors. He doesn't recognise her either. They decide to travel to Paris together. The next morning (her birthday) Prince Albert's companion, Professor Landmann, reveals who Albert really is and says that it's important that he go to London. Victoria leaves without giving an explanation and goes back to her palace. Albert is unhappy and goes to the birthday party to meet the new queen, not expecting to like her.

They meet. They dance. They kiss.

And they all live happily ever after.

This is a delightful comedy which is intended to make Queen Victoria seem very down to Earth. She might have lived all her life in a palace, but she had the same thoughts and wishes as you and me. In this respect, the film is a success. It's impossible not to fall in love with her after seeing Romy Schneider's glowing performance. She wanted to marry the man she loved, not the man she was expected to marry, but she was fortunate that the two men were the same.

It's been pointed out many times that this film is a precursor to Romy Schneider's role as Sissi, the Empress of Austria. Queen Victoria and Sissi have identical personalities, in the films at least. They're both rebellious but caring young women who put love first and royalty second.