Original subtitles

it is London 1858 joyous crowds lined

the processional route to the Royal

Chapel of st. James's where a wedding is

to be solemnized 18 years earlier

standing on the same spot Queen Victoria

of England had matted her consort Prince

Albert now on the cold midwinter morning

of January the 25th 1858 her daughter

the beloved Princess Victoria will marry

Prince Frederick William heir apparent

to the Prussian throne with their

marriage the royal houses will be linked

God bless the Prince and bride God keep

their lands Ally England and Prussia are

at peace and content Fritz was 26 Vicky

was 17 if only she were going into a

happier Court she will be doing her duty

that should be a source of happiness I

know my dearest but it it's a very

dreadful moment for a mother was trying

to think of their future she's well

prepared for her task Vicky has a good

Fritz were value rice and love

I think it's beginning to snow they

should leave soon I will become you will

be pleased with me Albert some of the

Prussians think the wedding should have

been held over there ridiculous that

would have been absurd to say the least

we are ready to leave number your

letters gear otherwise its most

unsatisfactory Victoria dear mama thank

you for all your tenderness love ah son

about that it is child tides remember

what I've told you I treasure all your

lessons in that you will find other

liberal minds in Prussia should be a

after a brief honeymoon at Windsor

Castle the young couple left graves in

on February the 2nd 1858 aboard the

Victoria and Albert to cross a windswept

channel for Germany Vicki wrote to her

father the pain of parting from you

yesterday is greater than I can describe

Berlin greeted Viki with enthusiasm her

Viki and Fritz's marriage was to be a

happy but the autocratic monarchy of

Prussia there overbearing militarism and

the stiff manners of the court were to

come as a shock to the English princess

her father's teaching however was to

sustain her with a sense of mission to a

what is this place it is the way to your

bedroom but this this is the old palace

where the crown prince's grandfather

King Frederick died and this is part of

my suite the present King will not have

it changed your highness is maids are

already complaining which is that that

must be the guards drilling at night

they'll be going on night maneuvers

I expect the prince will often go with

what a world if I come into dearest mama

Fritz and I have signed your book as you

wished it is terribly cold here and

strange but I am well and will grow

accustomed to new ways Fritz is very

kind and explains everything to me

the court here is very grand and

brilliant yesterday we had our first

Fritz's royal father of course at the

head of the table and I between two of

the worthy uncles did you hear that

story she was given this enormous

meringue cake when Shira when she thank

in the play wooden bird at Wittenberg

seat an old Field Marshal wrangle join

she and Wiley there had to scrape it off

his bottom did you drive here sheet an

open carriage oh yes no you must have

been cold my heart is room and then

Wendy you and Fritz move into your new

palace at your real dampness the

alteration seemed to take a very long

time impatient that in England we would

not have this doing there better ever

there oven how'd you like band in I like

it well enough but where is the Public

Library and is there no museum or art

gallery Berlin is not London my dearest

you here all the palaces of barracks and

the barracks palaces in the poorer parts

of the city there are no pavements and

the people have to squeeze against the

wall for their lives when the cavalry

ride past have seen it haven't I Wally

Charles what the devil is the matter

mmm he should have married a Prussian

like all his predecessors oh we're a

small country we need strong allies and

there are blood ties she thinks he's

intelligent she may be intelligent well

cigar well she'll Dan Boyd intelligent

women never learn I know I married one

still she's healthy and pretty shoe keep

your grandsons yeah I wouldn't mind a

night with her Fritz is lucky he'll

teach her a thing or two Oh she'll teach

him mmm my son is too easily influenced

now I don't want him surrounded by

intellectuals and Democrats Jews and so

far Kings are created by God not by

clever people kings are created in bed

when were in our new home we shall have

our there side by side and work together

as my parents do I should like that we

will have an interesting life we will

entertain only enlightened people our

home will be known as the center of good

liberal thought you must not go too fast

my love people here not accustomed to

clever women here they think only of

their homes and children they must be

exceedingly boring to their husbands

then to the men only think of the army

which is the best in Europe and you're a

good soldier everybody says sit I've

been trained for it since I was 10 this

horrible Prussian militarism is

something for par says should be curbed

and I agree with him just most unhealthy

I've an officer enters a room here the

ladies rise and he's given the best seat

it will not happen anything beeping

England does not need an army laugh of

forgive me here we are not accustomed to

discuss such things in a family well we

will talk to you about everything

and we will act together in ways I hope

so has to have them children I hope I

shan't disappoint you I should not

like to see you suffer thee after all

mama says it is a natural process I

shall be very proud to give birth to an

immortal soul what could be more

I must admit dear Fred's but what fills

you with joy brings me sorrow and

anxiety for it is bound up with so much

suffering and danger for the very young

you men are far too selfish you have

only the advantage in such a case

whereas we women have to bear all the

pain and sufferings why was I not asked

to come before a message was sent how

long has she been in labor 48 hours hmm

there's nothing we could do to save

either her or the child pulse is quite

congratulations you have a son and an

interminable tredstep I what is it what

and you recruit me just having a fight

go big no never so good for the delivery

you have a good ass Englishness sent by

Queen Victoria they should tube

poor left arm still heinously yes I know

doctor say must be put into a machine to

hold his head straight that may not cure

oh yes principal Sufi mendax it must be

apart from that he's healthy and

one day he will be king perhaps of War

which of his name shall he be known by

can it be Albert no you must recall

after my father William he's a horns

Olin sometimes I do not understand you

what do you not understand why are you

so devoted to the forms of monitor are

you not no no I'm more concerned with

its responsibilities to be used as a

talent for good for the advancement of

Europe yes spangled banner your dear /

but par tells you because he sees you as

the maker of a free and liberal Germany

yes but for money under one king your

father he will never do it he's too set

he's elderly man of then we you must be

prepared to take the lead take it away

take them all away and get out

Oh what is the matter father hurt my

ministers seem unable to decide between

supporting Parliament or supporting me

Parliament shall advise them and they

politicians the DA doesn't seem to speak

so clearly as they do what do they say

the army wants to extend the period of

conscripted service from two years to

three years likely the Parliament

refuses to vote the money and my

ministers will not go against that is no

great matter it is a great net you could

find some compromise I will not

compromise my soldiers I've been one all

my life like hot Napoleon the real one

not this pleasant fellow if God wills

that I have a parliament I'll suffer it

but I won't let it weaken my army what

is the opinion of the generals oh they

would send this Parliament packing you

must not let them Father the army should

support the Constitution don't you

preach at me my money I'm a simple man

but I know in my heart what is rate for

pressure and for Germany and not Germany

is not a nation I am a Prussian that is

enough it would not be enough for me hmm

don't know what to do if only I had one

strong Minister can you not find one oh

yes I know the man but he's too violent

I just know God does not speak to me

don't cry father listen listen I have

some news for you Her Royal Highness is

expecting another child I hear well she

should be happy she would be worried not

for her father the English Prince

Consort what's he saying now he's he'll

have on Bismarck he's worn himself out I

think trying to manage countries that

are not his ours for instance I

understand he's failing do not hurt I do

not follow Affairs in England although a

sniff around the court why do you hang

around the market I thought you were a

I am the crown prince's aid I cannot

easily leave besides it keeps me near

the king I was the King confused he's

gone off to endless to drink sulphur

which he finds more efficacious than the

advice of his ministers who become

Prussia is becoming full of liberals huh

maybe the deaths of us I advised against

it but nobody listens to me they

relieved me of my post at Frankfurt

because I was too reactionary for them

and rude to the Austrians hmm no I'm to

go to Paris as ambassador Oh the Anglo

Kohlberg's are breathing again hmm one

phase and another pops out one should be

very mental alliances multi key English

marriages Austrian pacts they are not

the way Russia shall stand proudly

behind a ruler and behind her ruler the

army should be the power generals are

bad politicians they have no vision

except along a gunsight no the king

should send for me he knows he knows

that but he dare not since the upset of

48 Kings are afraid to rule when we'll

go to Paris I may not go I have the

feeling I should stay in Berlin things

there may change you mean you will

change them the river of history runs as

it will my dear Monica if I put my hand

into it it's because I regard it as my

duty not because I think I can alter its

course how ill is the English Prince

they say he's dying what is he ill with

Korda chill opening a new barracks at

Sanders yeah not really a soldier it

should have been a monk or a teacher so

what's it night today I just horrible as

ever but good for you go on yeah we were

saying uh Albert and Vicky or two big

no Vicky wanted to go to England and

come from her mother but I said no no

your duty is to stay Berlin birthed your

Fritz will have to go to the funeral

that'll cost enough perhaps Fritz will

be more your son again now yes sort of

it he won't be able to preach now Oh

Oh baby organ him my worship his step

his beloved face his dear dear voice I

am but beginning life the unerring

judgement on which I built with so much

confidence is gone where shall I look to

I've just come from my father is he well

I've never seen him so cast done cuz it

for par no because of the army

oh he army why do you hate it so my love

it's a weapon to oppress the people

well Parliament have again refused the

military budget so there is deadlock as

the king has offered me the throne he's

prepared to abdicate he showed me a

document he said it only needs my

then you must son how can I you're so

uncertain in your opinions this is what

you want fritz isn't it I want what you

want a democratic pressure at the center

a free German and make it here is your

child I can't take the throne for my

father is he's offered it to you who and

solids do not indicate oh that is stupid

who can your father turn to if not to

you he will probably send for Bismarck I

would be as clean between your majesty

and your subjects when Parliament a

bhisma perfectly simple ignore them just

spend the taxes they would cut off your

head and mine in the open applause

beneath my windows I would have died

fighting in the cause of my king and you

it affirming your divine rights what

difference whether it's a scaffold or

the battlefield right out of your

colleagues will as minister president I

would have no colleagues on his

subordinates I would serve God so

what feel Sylvia crown Council I shall

wish barren self to remain is fine I may

as well go back and be a farmer God she

to do that I don't know what to do

today I I saw the crown prince

I drew this up it's an instrument of

abdication it's my last hope Oh

thank you the point is whether we are to

have royal government or the rule of the

mall I have no face and liberal public

feeling there's only one policy on the

outside Russia can we strengthen our

position inside but I must have control

the Bismarck remember I am your

sovereign I will always submit to your

Majesty's orders even if I disagree with

them one day you will be Emperor of all

Germany I don't want to be Emperor of

Germany but your son does and who will

you can tear that Dallas [\xa0__\xa0]

you are a red reaction rippers math but

I shall do my duty it's God's affair to

the French is extremely warm in England

we should have the windows wide open on

searching I know I'm sure I don't like

the linen all this you come from shun

Hassan in his capture that's his right

what sort of the base is it hmm small

maids growing full of autumn leaves

nothing in May that they're bushes

around the house turning to mountains of

white blossom you're fond of nature miss

my tree and my family I'm engaged make

me a little garden here to my children

John slides your Royal Highness has a

considerable family now you could say

three considerable whom you will bring

up in the English manor I shall bring

them up to be good Germans yes you still

have time to study politics I was taught

to appreciate political matters I would

not consider myself a good rifles

ambitious man for your husband and for

my country which I am a Prussian our von

Bismarck and a deep hypnotic one all the

more so I trust for not being blind I'm

a petrol to your Royal Highness I serve

unrespectable and unprincipled character

and now he has adjourned parliament

that's outrageous what did the

nothing my father has suppressed that's

yes I know I told himself What did he

say he was very angry he has ordered me

to say that I'm in favor of censorship

that you will not there is nothing I can

do this is Bismarck's arrangement you

must let the people know that you are

Oh to oppose Bismarck now is to oppose

the king I was not consulted then say

sir oh I've been invited to make a

speech where in Danzig the mayor there

is a good liberal he has invited then

you must go it will be very difficult

let me see you be able to let everyone

know that you're against the Kings

repressive measures will do no good do

you not see you must speak you are the

only one who can but it must be stronger

fraction please do not interfere we'll

work it together right here brave love

you should not be drawn into this oh I

enjoy a pitch battle exceedingly once it

has started I regret that I have come

here at a time when dissension has

arisen between His Majesty's Government

and the people's Free Press when I

learned about it I was very greatly

surprised I knew nothing about the

enactments which led up to it I was not

deliberations he wants my throne

booth is careless with words sir no

jewels between father and son that's

what this is tough shot I'll have him

removed from Council and portal

leaving his come on I'll look him up

Magister need my only son and he betrays

he's only if I may say so a young man

who is too fond of his appearances and

his wife those ideas are not is they

come from Windsor they all want me to

tie Germany doesn't hmm but your Majesty

shouldn't be seen to be too hard on his

son better quietly exclude him from your

confidence anything he learns gets back

to London you think so it is plain but

don't dishonor him is your heir

let him be a decoration and the soldier

they will do no harm it's the princess

with all respect your majesty should put

the gag and bridle on I used to burn her

father's lettuce if I may advise you sir

forbid him to speak again except to you

keep them both out of the way and I'll

put some paid is in their household if

you consent I suppose I must deal gently

and thrust as Majesty was not too much

I asked my father to forgive the

annoyance and pain I had caused him

I cannot take back the words I spoke but

in the future I shall be silent that

the King now knows I'm an opponent of

the government I too on that

understanding I'm prepared to regard the

matter as closed you will no doubt wish

to forgive and forget I often forget

your highness but I never forgive

we are to be pushed into the background

your father will live for years forgive

we must do what we can in other fields

we have our family and each other and

now good home but he rides without

stirrups to help him gain his seat he'll

never be able to he's fought he's not

don't you think it's wrong it's the only

way his balance is so bad the poor arm

can't be killed he must learn to act as

though he had to good one he gets enough

to know Fritz Willie must learn to ride

and ride well his position is essential

I think my desk has been tampered with

by whom I can't tell it's too horrible I

can no longer write the truth for fear

of my less is being opened I'm not free

even in my private room what can I do

and they're changing are certain yes I

I'm losing fun look he has been

appointed chief of general staff

ambitious people longer want to stay

with us froggen he is Bismarck's man now

there was a young man I used to dream of

a powerful and influential Prussia not a

unified Germany ah that's a liberal idea

germany united by a constitution under

an elected parliament I have no time for

that you may need a and 12 wine I'll be

a NIDA if we unite Germany under the

Prussian army I'll steal their thunder

the Austrians wouldn't let us and make

them you want war it's a clumsy method

but one tries every way the most

they have condescended to us long enough

there's no room for both of us in

Germany we would have no allies neither

will they I don't seek the collapse of

Austria all I want is to establish

Prussian leadership in Germany so that

the other states know which side their

bread is buttered will Parliament agree

they won't be asked those questions will

resolutions of majorities of pyon and

blood how certain can you be nothing in

war is certain i it is like war you

can't control it but I'm God's sodium

and must go where he wants one quick

dear mama that clever madman is mark has

attacked Austria without warning

the Austrian armies have been defeated

and Fritz's troops being victorious in

three battles in three days Arnaud

what do you say to all this dreadful

fighting to me this war can only be a

we must occupy Vienna no your majesty

the army must march through it and

precipitate a general conflict why not

the commanders are prepared then they're

fools we will not make Russia stronger

by taking one yard for steel and your

strings have lost and we won our prize

now let's go home and bargain I will not

am I your Magisters minister president

or not let H Drive stay in its own lands

what would we gain by subduing Austria

and in the Balkans hunger is forth

let them keep it and the ball comes out

worse the healthy bones of one single

Pomeranian grenadiers let the others

war should only be used for a policy

worth its sacrifices 1 seen man dying on

but a political I can no longer sit down

and be reasonable but you majesty real

oculus you me listen to him father

I began this war for a political purpose

now it's achieved and everything else is

nonsense we have shown Europe our

now we must use it wisely we shall at

least need the neutrality of Austria

I've ever we have to fight Russia or

France I agree with count from Bismarck

you agree in this case I'm flattered we

will return to Berlin and negotiate with

strength enough blood has been shed His

Royal Highness the crown prince speaks

with good sense and humanity you're all

against me this is disgusting

let us go home to our families this is

it tastes like it your majesty no I

drink it for economy and from patriot

discipline help yourself I'm afraid my

patriotism stops short of my stomach

we could put ourselves in the way of

acquiring some of it I want no trouble

with France we shall not avoid it your

majesty the French will not stand by and

let us grow now that we have Beach in

Austria little French attack us they're

provoked - then don't be afraid we have

the industry the will the best army and

the biggest guns in Europe the real

Bismark no-count bismarck I'd made him a

can you I'm sure I can talk ah there's a

good boy Willie Keynes I can buy now too

one day I shall be king of pascha an

emperor minee and right ahead of my

troops well don't be so Restless your

wobbly table is not very strong no I

don't agree with you we could never

match France we can of all Germany joins

her force behind ours and she will at

the French attack us and we shall win

your majesty and be the unchallenged

leaders of Europe I want no part in it

there's no logic good politics are not

they are a capacity for choosing the

most useful way I want to rain hearing

peace why is grandpa gone have you

Oh elderly gentleman sometimes have

trouble with their bladders how will you

manage my brother to make war with

France oh we we shall name your cousin

Prince Leo put heir to the Spanish

the Spaniards will be glad to have a

horns olive but the French will object

and demanders to withdraw when we refuse

they will attack well that's a secret

yeah this is a draft to the telegram His

Majesty would like sent to the French

must be something in the water

his Majesty is too lenient there's only

one way to answer an ultimatum and that

oh it may go to Paris in the summer of

1872 Ark provoked France into attacking

Prussia as he had calculated the German

states put their forces under Prussian

command thank you your highness is it to

be war again I gather soon I've been

talking with general from ulta time to

command the second army they flattered

you I do it for the honor of Germany you

have played into the hands of the uncle

my darling you become their pawn count

Bismarck is uniting Germany against

France hunt Bismarck is an international

calamity he is quite unscrupulous he

uses you he discredits our friends in

time he will corrupt willy-nilly as a

child even so Bismarck regards us and

England and France all as his enemies

everything we do and say is reported by

his spies were considered traitors

revolutionaries I'm hated here you know

frolicking that is not so Oh Fritz I

came here with such high hopes and I've

we shall good may come out of evil never

July the 15th 1870 the friendship

declared war and are advancing towards

we await them with sober confidence

August 4th God has given us our first

victory my army cutting through the

French line of vision burg inflicting

many casualties August the 29th today

father pinned the iron cross of the

highest order on my tunic hmm it seems

strange that I who would rather gain

recognition by works of peace should win

such blood-stained laurels September the

first we have beaten the entire French

I lost a hundred thousand men and their

Emeril nothing stands now between us

September the 20th we have reached the

outskirts of the French capital but

they are suffering terrible provisions

I am appalled by the ruthlessness of our

command particularly Bismarck he has

made us great and powerful but he has

robbed us of our friends of the sympathy

of the world and of our conscience tell

them I will not shell unarmed citizens

women and children there is a solemn and

Gomorrha it's not yenna we shall reduce

it by siege it will take too long I do

not want the slaughter of France because

she's a friend of England and the crown

princess and her family forbid it

my wife is loyal she is my wisest

that is not so it said in Berlin I do

not care what lies are told in Berlin

does the generals here that support me

they should all be hanged I will tell

them your royal Anna's do you really

want England or perhaps Russia to join

against us I don't give a fig for France

I don't want one inch of French soil but

I wanted to end it there are more

important things than a few French souls

I have work to do in Berlin then I shall

ask my father to have you sent there too

I'm only as majesties poor Clark but if

your Royal Highness takes its place I

hope you'll find servants as faithful as

I am to your father but I do not intend

to be one of them yet there is one

matter of state in which we need each

oh the unification of Germany it is

urgent to the German Parliament's offer

the imperial crown to my father you

think it will be like in England

democratic and constitutional it will

never be will be as I wish it but your

Royal Highness is not King yet and the

king will not accept it unless it's

offered by the princess however as you

are so anxious we can arrange it

how will you persuade them I'll pay them

I will not be German emperor all the

princes beg you sir I will not change

the crown of pressure for a crowd of

filth Parliament invites you father do

they expect me to pick up my crown from

a gutter I have mine from God I'm an old

man you won't take advantage of me

mantas is like a horse it takes fright

at any unaccustomed object and grows

obstinate if driven but gradually good

to it the numerous cloaks him there's no

need the crown prince will do it

he has Emperor madness as if admitted

who reigns I will govern Germany