The Palace (2008)

When, King James dies while at the theatre, life at Buckingham Palace is turned upside down and everyone looks to Richard to take to his duty as the new King of England. However not everyone is pleased with the new monarch because, Princess Eleanor believes that she deserves the crown more and should be Queen, so she sets out with her private secretary to discredit Richard. But it's not only Eleanor who's worried that Richard is not up to the job even the country has its doubts and all is revealed in a live interview.

When Prince George is involved in a hit & run accident, the palace does their best to try and cover it up not just from the country but also the King. However, their efforts are ruined when Princess Eleanor finds out the truth and decides that she can use it to her advantage, so she tells Richard the truth but makes him promise to George that he'll help cover it up because, in her mind she believes that by doing this she can use it later on to discredit the King and help her in her campaign to become Queen.

Richard has tough decisions to make about George, the repercussions of which could result in a spell in prison for his brother. And Abi discovers the identity of the King's secret lover.

Abigail’s face is splashed across the front pages. It’s embarrassing and she is being hounded by the press at home. Sir Iain, however, is suspicious of her. Why did the King visit her at her home? What were they discussing that late at night? When Simon manages to get the identity of the King’s lover from Abi, he tells Eleanor who in turn tells a Sunday newspaper who prepare to splash the story that weekend. In order to spike the story, the PM and Sir Iain go to Richard with a plan – they will tell the world that Abi is the King’s lover and, as a result, be able to keep the affair with Miranda secret. But will Richard be able to go through with it?

Eleanor presents her mother with a controversial diamond necklace taken from the Raj but one with great sentimental value to Charlotte. During the high-profile exchange of gifts Richard is happy to see his Mother finally arrive. But Sir Iain notes that she’s wearing the rock and the Indians aren’t going to be pleased. The next day’s papers demand the diamond be returned to India. Sir Iain is infuriated at the damage this could do for diplomatic and political relations- there’s a lot riding on the success of the visit. Richard is unhappy with the dry Foreign office speech. Abi makes it clear that keeping the diamond isn’t an option Ð although the choice is his. He’s worried about Charlotte and asks her to re-write it for him. Abi suggests he change the speech to honour his mother Ð but Richard wonders if he should be giving it back at all.

In Clarence House, Eleanor sits up terrified in her bed as an intruder tells her she’s beautiful. Natalie, Eleanor’s dresser passes Simon on the staircase. The intruder tells Eleanor he’s touched her skin before, can he do it again? Eleanor is frozen with fear. Natalie creeps in and cries out, almost pulling Eleanor out of harms way. She dives on the intruder. Police officers rush in. Alice confesses to Abi that she’s loved Richard ever since Gymkhana camp. She asks Abi to help her get closer, but Alice finds Abi more unhelpful than promised. She questions their closeness, is there something between Richard and Abi? Desperate to prove there isn’t, Abi wangles her an invite to Neil’s supposedly private wedding.

Simon reads Abi’s book while Abi helps the man she loves, King Richard. He is choosing jewellery for sister Issy’s 18th birthday. Simon confronts Abi about the book. He tells her he understands where her true feelings lie. They are clearly with King Richard not him. Abi takes him into the privacy of her office, past a nosy Lucy. She tries to convince Simon that she is trying to stop the book and that she is no longer writing it. She begs him not to make it public. Meanwhile, Princess Issy tells her friend Bella that her family and the Palace staff are suffocating her, she’s had enough. They tell their housemistress they’re leaving. Issy is wired and edgy; there’s trouble in store. David refuses Issy entry to see her brother and she’s furious. It’s yet another example of her being squashed by the Palace machine. Issy, determined to be heard, goes to Sir Iain and hands back her HRH status. But Sir Iain is unimpressed, she’s made a fuss before. Issy briefs Bella on how she must record everything she says on her camcorder. She’s going to give a speech that’ll make the whole family sit up and finally notice her.

Eleanor has discovered that Queen Charlotte had an affair many years ago, the dates of which mean that Richard might not actually be the rightful King. She leaks this to the Archbishop, who in turn questions Iain, who is forced to ask Queen Charlotte about these delicate matters. The Queen reluctantly admits to her son that it could be true. He might be illegitimate, which forces Richard to take a DNA test to prove his paternity.