See the “Victoria” Cast Side-by-Side with the Real Royals They Portray
- - See the “Victoria” Cast Side-by-Side with the Real Royals They Portray
Caroline BlairDecember 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM
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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Jenna Coleman as Victoria and Tom Hughes as Albert in Victoria -
Victoria tells the story of Queen Victoria after she took the throne at age 18
Jenna Coleman stars as Queen Victoria, while Tom Hughes portrays her husband, Prince Albert
The British television series ran for three seasons before it came to Netflix in 2025
Queen Victoria’s story takes center stage in the British television series Victoria, which hit Netflix in December 2025.
The historical drama stars Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria and follows the monarch from her childhood to her ascension to the throne in the mid-19th century. The first season premiered in the United Kingdom on ITV in 2016 before it came to the United States on PBS the following year.
As the series plays out, it shows how Queen Victoria became the youngest Queen of England at age 18 and her complicated relationships with politicians and royals alike. During the first season, Victoria marries Prince Albert (Tom Hughes), and they welcome their first of nine children together.
While Victoria dramatizes certain aspects of the late queen’s life for entertainment purposes, many of the storylines are accurate, and most of the cast members depict real people.
In addition to Coleman and Hughes, the cast also includes Rufus Sewell as Lord Melbourne, Catherine Flemming as the Duchess of Kent, Paul Rhys as Sir John Conroy, Peter Firth as the Duke of Cumberland, Nigel Lindsay as Sir Robert Peel, Nell Hudson as Nancy Skerrett and Ferdinand Kingsley as Chef Francatelli.
Here, see the Victoria cast side-by-side with the real royals they portray.
01 of 09
Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria
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Queen Victoria of Great Britain, Jenna Coleman as Victoria
Coleman stars in Victoria as the leading lady herself. In 1837, Victoria was just 18 years old when her paternal uncle, King William IV, died, and she took the throne.
Although she initially struggled with the complicated dynamics between herself, her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and comptroller Sir John Conroy, she found comfort and support from the United Kingdom's prime minister, Lord Melbourne.
As the series unfolds, Victoria discovers what kind of leader she is by dealing with complicated crises, such as parliamentary politics, assassination attempts and England's relationship with France. Victoria reigned for over 60 years, but the TV show only includes her first 14 years, until 1851.
The show does cover her personal life, which included her uncle setting her up with her cousin, Prince Albert. The two married in 1840 and they welcomed their first child later that year. Victoria and Albert went on to have a total of nine kids — including their eldest son, Edward VII, who took the throne after her death in 1901. She was 81 years old when she died on Jan. 22.
Prior to starring as Victoria, Coleman was known for her roles in Emmerdale, Doctor Who and Captain America: The First Avenger. She was widely praised for her portrayal of Victoria and received an International Emmy Award nomination. Coleman has gone on to act in The Cry, The Serpent and The Sandman.
02 of 09
Tom Hughes as Prince Albert
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Prince Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Tom Hughes as Prince Albert in Victoria
Prince Albert married Queen Victoria in February 1840 when he was 20 years old. He was born in Germany to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, whose sister was Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent.
Although Albert initially struggled with being a consort, he eventually developed a passion for education, abolition, technology and parliamentary politics.
Among his other accomplishments, Albert was best known for organizing the Great Exhibition of 1851, which was the first world's fair hosting some of the most renowned scientists, artists and philosophers.
On Dec. 14, 1861, Albert died from typhoid fever at 42 years old. His death took a toll on Victoria, and she retreated in the years following.
Hughes had a few acting roles before Victoria — including The Game and Cemetery Junction — and has gone on to act in The English, Red Joan and Shepherd.
03 of 09
Rufus Sewell as Lord Melbourne
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William Lamb, Rufus Sewell in Victoria
In both real life and Victoria, the Queen had a close relationship with Lord Melbourne, who served as the prime minister of the United Kingdom during the beginning of her reign until 1841.
During their time together, the British statesman played a major role in Victoria's early reign and guided her through the first few years of her leadership. During their mentorship, Victoria looked to Melbourne as a father figure.
In addition to being the prime minister twice, he also held positions in the House of Lords and the Opposition. However, many of his political accomplishments were complicated by his personal scandals — including his wife having an affair with poet Lord Byron and attempted blackmail.
Sewell has a long list of acting credits in Hamlet, The Legend of Zorro, The Holiday and The Tourist, among others. After Victoria, he continued working, starring in Judy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Diplomat.
04 of 09
Catherine Flemming as Princess Victoria, the Duchess of Kent
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Victoria Maria Louise, Catherine Flemming in Victoria
Flemming portrayed Victoria's mother, Princess Victoria and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who was a German princess. In 1818, she was living with her two children from her first marriage when she married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, making her the Duchess.
After two years of marriage, the Duke died from pneumonia in 1820, so she continued living in London and raising her daughter with the family's comptroller, John Conroy.
The Duchess raised Victoria privately and under the strict Kensington System, and they had a tumultuous relationship for years before reconciling after the birth of Victoria's first child, Princess Royal Victoria, in 1840. When the duchess died in 1861, Victoria was by her side.
Flemming is a German actress who is known for her roles in German movies and TV shows Wunderkinder, Tatort and No Place to Go.
05 of 09
Paul Rhys as Sir John Conroy
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Sir John Conroy, Paul Rhys as Sir John Conroy in Victoria
Sir John Conroy was a British military officer who served as the Duchess of Kent's comptroller and helped her raise Queen Victoria. Conroy and the duchess created strict rules for Victoria, which caused a divide between the mother and daughter.
Although Victoria eventually reconciled with her mother, she never forgave Conroy and later blamed him for her estrangement from her mom. When Victoria became Queen, she dismissed him from her side but couldn't remove him from her mother's.
At the time of his close partnership with the Duchess, it was rumored that they were romantically involved, but the elder Victoria denied the claims. In 1842, Conroy retired from his position and died in March 1854.
Rhys, who played Conroy in the series, was previously a theater actor before transitioning to radio, TV and movies — including Napoleon, Saltburn and A Discovery of Witches.
06 of 09
Peter Firth as the Duke of Cumberland
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Prince Ernest Augustus William Adolphus George Frederick, Peter Firth as Duke Of Cumberland in Victoria
The Duke of Cumberland was born Ernest Augustus before he was named Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale in 1799. He was Queen Victoria's uncle, as his elder brother was her father, the Duke of Kent and Strathearn.
In 1837, he became the King of Hanover and worked with Victoria during their ruling periods. However, the two butted heads over land and aristocracy, and he was rumored to have tried to murder Victoria to take the throne, but he denied the allegations. He served as the king until his death in 1851.
Firth is a British actor who was previously known for his role in the BBC show, Spooks, and the movie Equus, for which he won a Golden Globe Award. Since Victoria, he has appeared in the TV shows Summer of Rockets and Shardlake.
07 of 09
Nigel Lindsay as Sir Robert Peel
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Sir Robert Peel Bart, Nigel Lindsay in Victoria
After Lord Melbourne resigned from prime minister in 1841, Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, took over. Peel, who was previously the leader of the Opposition, served as the U.K.'s leader until 1846. Peel was one of the modern Conservative Party's founders and went on to instate several liberal reforms.
Although Peel and the Queen initially had a difficult relationship because of her close relationship with his predecessor, they eventually overcame that barrier with the help of Albert. In 1842, an assassination attempt on Victoria's life also brought the two closer together, as Peel publicly expressed his concern for her life.
He resigned as Prime Minister in 1846 but continued being an influential politician until his death in July 1850.
Before appearing in Victoria, Lindsay worked primarily in theater and starred in the movie Four Lions, for which he was nominated for a British Comedy Award. He is also known for his role in the Netflix series Safe.
08 of 09
Nell Hudson as Nancy Skerrett
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Nell Hudson as Skerrett in Victoria
In Victoria, Nell Hudson played the Queen's dresser, Nancy Skerrett. While her real name was Marianne, she was still the queen's Principal Dresser from 1837 to 1862.
Queen Victoria made Skerrett, who was her friend at the time, her Principal Dresser and the Head of the Wardrobe Maids after taking the throne in 1837. Similar to how the series depicts her, Skerrett was in charge of the Queen's chamber staff and her entire wardrobe. She retired in 1862 and moved in with her sister in London before her death in 1887.
Although Victoria depicts a romantic relationship between Skerrett and the queen's chef, Charles Elmé Francatelli, in reality, there was no evidence that the two were romantically involved.
Before playing Skerrett, Hudson had her first major break in the hit drama Outlander. She later had her first significant movie role in the 2022 movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre. In addition to acting, Hudson is also a writer and musician.
09 of 09
Ferdinand Kingsley as Chef Francatelli
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Charles Elme Francatelli, Ferdinand Kingsley as Francatelli in Victoria
Francatelli served as the Queen's cook from March 1840 until 1842. He was a British cook who trained in Paris before becoming one of the country's best-known chefs.
During his time as Victoria's chef, he had a staff of two deputy cooks and roughly a dozen subordinates. It's unclear why he left the royal cooking role after two years, but in the show, he leaves to start a new life with Skerrett.
After his resignation, Francatelli went on to find success with cookbooks and published the popular The Modern Cook in 1846. He was married twice before his death in 1876.
In addition to his portrayal of Francatelli in Victoria, Kingsley is also known for his roles in Dracula Untold, Mank and The Sandman.
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