The Palace

- Season 1

(2008)

Richard, Prince of Wales (Richie) and his playful brother George sneaked out with a fib to avoid 4 hours of non-stop Wagner. That night, their father James III dies and Richie is suddenly King Richard IV. His scheming elder sister Eleanor and her ambitious secretary Major Simon Brooks hope he'll make a mistake so the people would demand her. Footman Jimmy inadvertently starts a rumor, having seen his young majesty kissing his secret girlfriend, Miranda, in the throne room, which keeps growing. When the press gets wind of it, the King decides to risk a live TV ...

King Richard IV enjoys life on the throne and a secret mistress, PM's staff member Miranda Hill. PM Edward Shaw politely brushes aside royal questions about the press-reported case of defense cuts that allegedly caused army doctor Stoan's needless death. Rich generously smiles at 'spare heir' George's playboy prince day schedule. However, his brother sneaks into the palace to consult the chief superintendent, Peter Bayfield, after his nearly retired driver Ray Mellor hit 'a deer', which they fear may be a person, but Mellor has another story. There is a victim, Jack '...

King Richard IV is furious his entourage kept brother George's accident from him. Instead of accepting driver Ray Mellor's offer to take the blame and risk jail instead of retirement, HM insists the reluctant playboy prince faces victim Jack 'Dobbsy' Dobbs in hospital, who meanwhile remembers. Sir Iain Ratalick offers his resignation as he can't understand the rivalry between king and PM, but is persuaded to remain in royal service. Queen and princess see their dirty plans fail. Jeremy Robinson plays a hazing prank on George's footman Jimmie, who as revenge steals the...

King Richard enjoys frolicking under the covers with Miranda again, nearly arriving late for Trooping of the color, the traditional military parade for the monarch's official birthday. After a paparazzi picture of his nocturnal visit to Abigail is published they and even more the palace officials and the PM's office ponder and plot the possible pros and cons of either the truth coming out or Abi presented as royal lover. Miranda is surprised that her boss knew for months and means to milk the manipulative potential even more.

King Richard IV is not amused that Queen-mother Charlotte rebels against her impending 'banishment' from Buckingham Palace to Windsor by first refusing to attend the visiting Indian president's state dinner, then wearing the controversial Star of Gujarat, a diamond necklace King Richard's father gave her for his coronation but is demanded back by India. The new chef is a brutish dictator, hated by the serving staff, most of all by footman Vinny as it ultimately turns out, for a very personal reason.

The king rather shocks the Archbishop of Canterbury by questioning if his coronation is God's will and announcing he'll attend footman Neil's gay wedding. A certain Mr. Armstrong's bedroom intrusion gives princess Eleanor an excuse to move into Buckingham Palace and play the brave hero, to her ignored dresser's disappointment. The press is manipulated to report Alice would be the royal favorite, but they really have feelings for each-other.

When king Richard's junior sister Isabel 'Izzy' announces she wants to renounce her royal status, the palace dismisses this as another childish whim. After her assistant is fired, she talks Izzy into calling for a British republic on her birthday. The queen-mother calls on psychiatrist Dr. Philip Hooper. Rich declares his love to personal assistant Abigail Thomas. Her former lover discloses her Palace manuscript to Eleanor, who uses it as blackmail leverage.

Now Richard's coronation is finally at hand, his jealous sister Eleanor 'confesses' to the archbishop of Canterbury he may be illegitimate, hence not 'elected by God,' hoping the PM would pass over Prince George. The court buzzes with rumor, and the whole royal family's DNA is tested 'for a rare disease.' George wonders how he should prepare if no longer the spare heir. Rather then betray her lover, Abigail confesses she wrote the revealing book Eleanor is blackmailing her with. The end-game for the crown starts.