A Royal Affair (En kongelig affære) (En kongelig affære)

Europe at the close of the 18th century.

The nobility rules by oppression , supported by strong religious forces .

But the winds of change are blowing ...

Across the continent intellectuals and freethinkers

demand reforms and freedom for the people.

It is the age of the Enlightenment.

"I'm trying to remember him .

Johann .

I have to tell you about him .

About us .

Why we did the things we did ."

A ROYAL AFFAIR

"My beloved children ,

you do not know me. But I am your mother.

Perhaps you have never forgiven me.

Perhaps you hate me.

I hope not.

I now know that I will never see you again ,

so I am writing

to tell you the truth , before it is too late."

ENGLAND 1766

Nine years earlier

"I was officially wed to your father,

King Christian VII ,

before even meeting him .

Though I had never travelled

beyond England's borders,

I was now the Queen of Denmark.

A new life. A new language."

"Good afternoon ."

"Shall we go for a stroll in the park?"

"I had prepared and longed

for this day ever since I was a little girl ."

"To be Queen of an exotic country

and honour and love my husband unconditionally.

Christian was said to be charming ,

interested in art and literature

and even fond of acting .

I could not imagine a more perfect husband ."

DENMARK

Your Majesty.

I am Louise von Plessen , your new lady-in-waiting .

And this is Reventlow, His Majesty's private tutor.

Welcome, Your Majesty.

Would you like to meet the King?

Your Majesty.

Gourmand ! There you are, old boy!

There you are! Did you miss Daddy? Did you miss Daddy?

Your Royal Highness, please concentrate.

Why? I will l never have any use for it.

When will I see Christian again?

His Majesty will attend tonight's banquet.

Do you know where my books are?

The court is reviewing them at the moment.

Some of them will likely be shipped back to England .

Why?

As I understand it, a great deal of your books are under Danish censorship.

I apologize.

- I didn't know. - That's quite all right.

We will find something else for you to read .

Minister Bernstorff.

He has absolute power in the castle.

Minister Warberg.

Stay far away from him , if you can .

He has a very distinct odour.

That must be the King's stepmother.

Queen Dowager Juliane Marie.

And the Majesty's half-brother, the heir presumptive.

Neither she nor her son are popular with the people.

Why not?

His Majesty doesn't regard them as part of the family.

The Danish people have always had a sixth sense about these things .

You were so far away.

You have a flair for drama, my dear Queen .

Will you come to my chambers after tonight's program?

"Come, let's away to prison .

We two alone will sing

like birds in a cage."

She's enchanting .

And so talented .

Yes . Thank you .

The nobility is captivated by her.

They seem to think she's sorely needed .

Really? Why?

Many of them are saying

she is just what Denmark needs .

A true artistic soul on the throne.

Thank you , that is quite enough !

What?

What?

That insufferable noise is giving me a headache!

I can't stand listening to it! Clang , clang , clang !

Come on .

Move your fat little thighs and have a seat.

Go on !

The King is here to visit the Queen as per agreement.

It'll be fine.

Yes .

Yes .

Yes .

I'm sorry.

Don't steal my light.

What do you mean?

Take off your clothes and lie down .

"Oh , how I have sweated and slaved

and yet nothing accomplished ."

"I wish I'd had the strength

to forgive Christian's behaviour."

- "Someone to. . ." - "Someone to spare Man

the fear of God .

Such a . . ."

"But I was far too young

to understand how sick and tormented he was ."

"All I could think about

was that I had to spend the rest of my life with him ."

"I began hating him for it."

"In the eyes of the Court, I was soon blessed .

You were on your way, Frederik."

His Majesty wishes to visit the Queen's chambers .

I'm sorry, we've just begun another game of chess .

This happens several times a week now. What is she thinking?

"Having fulfilled my main obligation as queen ,

I saw no reason to maintain the facade.

I would pay dearly for that."

Christian , stop!

I never want to see your ugly face again !

You're fired , cow!

There there. Relax.

A true queen delivers in silence and with dignity.

Shh .

He has stomach pains .

I'm planning a tour of Europe.

I'll be gone for at least a year, perhaps two.

Do you think it matters to me whether you're here or not?

"This was my life.

My fate.

I had resigned myself to it.

Or rather...

it could have been my life."

ALTONA, A DANISH COLONY IN GERMANY 1768

Pardon me, do you know where I can find the hospital?

Thanks a lot.

Excuse me, is Dr. Struensee here?

Johann Struensee?

- Who's asking? - I come from the estate

of Count Rantzau with a message from the Count who requests

that you attend to him immediately.

Count Rantzau?

Are you sure you have the right Struensee?

He said that I am not to return without you .

A count is calling . Better get going .

What do you think?

Should I abandon my bleeding patient for some count?

Maybe he will pay you .

That's more than you can say about anyone here.

So what the hell is wrong with it?

If you could hold it for a second?

You're a bit of a mystery, Struensee.

Your father is one of Germany's

most conservative priests

and yet you insist on publishing provocative praises

to the revolutionary French freethinkers .

If you hadn't written them anonymously,

you'd be in prison .

Well written . Quite Voltaire-inspired .

Don't worry. We won't harm you .

You suffer from ordinary wear and tear.

But I'm sure the young ladies

of your circle are quite content.

- Christ. - I like him .

Am I done here?

Struensee, how would you like a new position?

What position is that?

The King's personal physician .

Believe it or not, Brandt and I were

at the very top of the Danish Court.

High enough to be permitted

to sniff the chaste minister wives between the legs .

When King Frederik died ,

Bernstorff removed the ones he didn't like.

So here we are in the world's asshole.

Sorry about that.

We miss life at Court.

The King is in Hamburg right now

on his grand tour of Europe.

But they're stuck.

He's too ill to continue.

What's wrong with him?

The Court has had the brilliant idea

of hiring a personal physician

to take care of the King on the rest of his journey.

So we want to try to get your name

onto the list of candidates summoned for an interview.

You'd definitely need a new suit.

They would never let me near the King .

Why not?

Because I'm an ordinary small-town doctor.

And you apparently didn't have much trouble uncovering

that I'm a man of the Enlightenment. - So are we, damn it!

I am . Rantzau just thinks he is .