Set in 1864, the Court and Government are in turmoil. Queen Victoria remains stricken with grief over Prince Albert's death and refuses to carry out any public duties. Her popularity with the British people is waning and there are calls to abolish the Monarchy. As a last resort Sir Henry Ponsonby, the Queen's Private Secretary, summons John Brown, her loyal Scottish Attendant, down from Balmoral to walk the Queen's pony. Brown's arrival at Court is the beginning of extraordinary relationship. Rumours of an affair begin to scandalize polite society and a crisis in the Monarchy seems inevitable.