In this current reign of right royal blunders, it’s difficult to believe that there ever was a time in history when they actually served a purpose, instead of just opening the odd hospital wing. But back in the day, our royalty ruled Britannia like a good ‘un. One of the best at it was Queen Victoria, who actually reigned for a remarkable sixty three years and seven months as the monarch, a record yet to be broken.

As the title suggests, this film looks at the early years of Victoria (Emily Blunt), including the lead up to her becoming queen, as well as her relationship with the young Albert (Rupert Friend). It captures a young woman, wrapped in cotton wool, who not only grows in strength and confidence after her coronation, but also blossoms into a woman.

However, it’s not an entirely smooth accession to the throne, as she is caught in a tug of war between the aging King William (Jim Broadbent), and her mother (Miranda Richardson) and Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong) who see her as a way of gaining power for themselves. She also has Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) looking out for her interests, or is he just looking out for his own?

Oh dear, I think you've done it now. She isn't amused you know, most definitely not.

Amidst these struggles, there also lies the growing relationship between Albert and herself. The young queen is keen on her German suitor, but was all too aware of the political pressures that came with her sovereignty; after all, she must be seen to rule with her head, and most certainly not her heart.

French director Jean-Marc Vallée excels at creating a sense of the period, with both sets and costumes looking beautifully authentic. The music also plays its part at evoking the elegance and grandeur of the time. And although Emily Blunt – current actress du jour – works her considerable acting magic with stately aplomb, there’s still no denying that the 26 year old British actress may well have been just a little on the old side to carry off playing a teenager. She’s hardly as yet a household name, so surely getting someone nearer the right age could have been possible?

It would have also been interesting to see an even younger Victoria, with perhaps more of an insight of her childhood. After all, could Albert really have been her first love? Surely she must have had a sneaky embrace behind the royal horse sheds?

That said, the relationship between Vicky and Bert is a charming one to witness, as it politely unravels across our screens. Perhaps it could have done with a modicum more passion, but as it was outlawed in Britain during that time (as it is to this day in certain counties – they know where they are) its omission is understandable.

As there are remarkably few films that focus on Victoria during any part of her reign, this film fills that void admirably. It also allows many great British actors the opportunity to flex their acting muscles within an exceedingly well-crafted period piece. The irony of course, is that it has taken a French man to bring it to life. Sacre bleu.

For lovers of period dramas however, this is certainly one that shouldn’t be missed.