The Catholic Queen Mary is on the throne of England. Protestants are being persecuted and as long as the Queen remains childless Elizabeth will be a threat. Queen Mary knows Elizabeth has a lot of supporters in the country and tries to find an excuse to get her out of the way. First she is put in the Tower of London, and later moved out to the country and placed under house arrest.

Elizabeth bides her time, and is astonished when the Queen dies from a tumour. She is freed and immediately begins preparing to reign. Her faithful adviser William Cecil suggests a list of noblemen to form her Privy Council. Elizabeth insists her old childhood friend Robert Dudley is added, despite the warnings that their relationship is inappropriate.

Cecil warns Elizabeth that she should marry and produce an heir to reassure the country that the throne, and the line to the throne is safe. However, much prefers her clandestine meetings with the married Dudley to any arranged marriage. She is crowned, and makes it clear she feels she will be every bit as good a ruler as any man.


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