Line #2 Series/ThePalace


1	[[quoteright:289:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_palace_1825.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:289:The most photogenic royals since ''Series/TheTudors''. (From left: Princess Eleanor, Queen Charlotte, Prince George, King Richard IV, and Princess Isabelle.)]]
3
4	->''"Everyone smile and look delighted, or else."''
5	-->'''--King Richard IV''', ''The Palace''
6
7	A short-lived 2008 Creator/{{ITV}} series about the machine behind the British Crown. Originally conceived as a ''[[Series/TheWestWing West Wing]]''-esque program about "a woman operating within the shadow of power", what resulted instead was a tongue-in-cheek soap opera in the style of ''Series/{{Dynasty\|1981}}'' centered around a spectacularly dysfunctional fictional royal family.
8
9	King James III has just died, and the Prince of Wales--who initially fulfills every stereotype of the debauched young royal--suddenly inherits the throne. Not only does Richard have to contend with a public prepared to eat him alive at any wrong step and a hostile Prime Minister, but he has his family to deal with, as well: his party animal younger brother George, his wild card little sister Isabelle, the conniving Dowager Queen Charlotte, and his older sister, Eleanor, who has her eye on the crown herself.
10
11	Richard isn't alone, though; helping him spin the family's numerous scandals are his Press Secretary Jonty Roberts, his Private Secretary Sir Iain Ratalick, and his APS Abigail Thomas--with whom he quickly finds himself falling in love, but who happens to have signed a deal to write an expose on the royals.
12
13	Complementing the upstairs shenanigans of the Royal Family are those of the palace staff. Assorted footmen, valets, maids, and pages, all with their own agendas, keep things running more or less smoothly as they jostle for position and play out their own downstairs dramas.
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15	Not to be confused with the 2011 Chinese series ''Series/{{Palace}}'' or ''The Royals'', a show debuting in 2015 with a very similar premise.
16
17	'''Note: all spoilers below are unmarked.'''
18
19	----
20
21	!!This show provides examples of:
22
23	* AccidentalMisnaming: George keeps calling Jimmy "Johnny."
24	* AlmostKiss: Boy howdy, David and Neil are awful [[MomentKiller moment killers]], aren't they?
25	* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Abigail and Richard repeatedly, but the best example is near the end of the final episode.
26	* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: George and Izzy.
27	* AristocratsAreEvil: Though far from of all of them, and at least one of the villainous characters is a commoner.
28	* ArmourPiercingQuestion: When the Prime Minister learns who will be interviewing the king live on the air, he thinks the royal PR team is mad: "You know she made [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi Gaddafi]] ''cry?''" Later, the journalist does indeed push Richard's buttons, particularly by asking him what his father thought of him.
29	* AtTheOperaTonight: The whole family is supposed to go to a [[Music/RichardWagner Wagnerian]] opera at the start of the first episode, but Izzy flakes out by claiming she has to study, and Abigail gets Rich and George out of it by lying for them. Richard later expresses regret at "bugger[ing] off to the club," since his father dies during the opera.
30	* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: Richard's coronation in the finale.
31	* BastardBastard: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with George in Episode 8. Richard's [[RoyalBlood legitimacy]] is in doubt, and all four royal siblings are asked to take a DaddyDNATest just to be sure. Thinking he might turn out to be the rightful heir to the throne, [[TemptingFate George asks Iain and Jonty for advice with undisguised enthusiasm]]. The show ''really'' makes it seem like he will turn out to be illegitimate, so it's surprising when it doesn't happen.
32	* BeleagueredAssistant: Abigail, specifically, but Jonty and Sir Iain count too.
33	* BigScrewedUpFamily: And ''how''.
34	* BitchInSheepsClothing: Eleanor, who also qualifies as a ManipulativeBitch.
35	* {{Blackmail}}:
36	** Jeremy keeps Queen Charlotte's [[SecretDiary diary]] in his room every night for safekeeping, although [[UndyingLoyalty he has never read a word of it]]. Jimmy steals it and hints at all the shocking stories he will reveal if Jeremy doesn't wait on him hand and foot. It works, but Jeremy's misery at having failed the queen eats away at him, ruining Jimmy's fun. Jimmy eventually gives back the diary, admitting that he was just bluffing about the scandals -- the diary is, in fact, quite dull.
37	** Eleanor exploits Abi by threatening to show Rich the tell-all manuscript, but Abi eventually just [[TakeAThirdOption confesses]] to the king.
38	* BlackSheep: In episode 3, Sir Iain delivers some background information about James's estranged brother, Prince David, who "lives in a little cottage these days, miles from anywhere." Apparently he got divorced, then lost his whole estate after his business went bankrupt. He had (and perhaps still has) problems with drugs and alcohol. As for the bad blood between James and David, we'll never know its exact source, but Iain hints that it was David's fault and warns George not to let the same thing happen to him.
39	-->'''Sir Iain:''' I suppose losing all that was what brought on the breakdown. And all because of [[CrypticBackgroundReference a silly joke at King James's expense]]. But then that's what happens when you incur the wrath of the monarch.
40	* BookcasePassage: Of the "not necessarily a bookcase" variety; Isabelle joins her birthday guests via a disguised door.
41	* TheChainsOfCommanding: Richard struggles to reconcile his role as monarch with his political views, love life, and so on.
42	* {{Confessional}}: Eleanor informs the Archbishop of Canterbury of her mother's affair by pretending to confess her "anger" to him; of course, her real intention is to make him doubt her brother's legitimacy.
43	* ContrivedClumsiness: George takes out his anger on Rich by hitting him with a cricket ball. Hard.
44	* DaddysGirl: Eleanor, with the late king; there does seem to be a good deal of ParentalFavoritism going on, with George and Izzy generally neglected.
45	* DontCallMeSir: In the first episode, Rich [[PlayedForDrama can't bear it]] when his mother and Eleanor curtsy and call him "Your Majesty" for the first time. Averted otherwise.
46	* DoubleEntendre:
47	-->'''George:''' I bet she's rubbish at cricket.
48	-->'''Rich:''' Well, she's got a nice reverse sweep.
49	* DoubleStandard: One of the prevailing themes of the show is the fact that royalty are not held to the same standards as the rest of society, sometimes to the point of absurdity. It occurs within the royal family as well, however: George calls Rich a hypocrite for forcing him to confess his hit-and-run to the victim (which could have resulted in jail time) while Rich hides his relationship with the Prime Minister's (married) secretary.
50	* DoublingForLondon: Lithuania, in this case.
51	* DysfunctionJunction
52	* EmbarrassingNickname: Alice [[FormerlyFat "Fatty"]] Templeton (though Richard uses it more as an AffectionateNickname, and the now-thin Alice laughs it off).
53	* ErmineCapeEffect: Even ignoring the [[RequisiteRoyalRegalia coronation scene]], they're generally primed and polished whenever they're seen in public. Well. Except for Izzy.
54	* EveryoneCanSeeIt: The spark between Richard and Abi. Well, Alice can, anyway.
55	* EverythingsLouderWithBagpipes: Nothing annoys the palace-dwellers more than a piper in the courtyard.
56	* EvilMatriarch: Charlotte is generally well-meaning, but she's got more than a few tricks up her sleeve and treats most of her children horribly at various points.
57	* [[TheEvilPrince The Evil Princess]]: Eleanor.
58	* GentlemanSnarker: The royals have their moments.
59	-->'''George:''' It's just another story for the comics. Half the country will be thinking "what a lucky bastard"!
60	-->'''Eleanor:''' Yeah, and the other half will want to burn us at the stake.
61	-->'''Charlotte:''' That's witches, sweetheart. They cut our heads off.
62	-->'''Izzy:''' With Eleanor, you'd probably have to do both.
63	* TheGhost: Prince David (George even says he is "like a ghost").
64	* GossipEvolution: Jimmy sees Richard and a woman (Miranda) making out on the throne, and tells his fellow live-in workers about it. Within twenty-four hours, the story has reached the national media -- in a ''much'' more salacious form.
65	* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Isabelle sure loves her vodka.
66	* HeirClubForMen
67	* HoneyTrap: Eleanor gets Simon to seduce Abigail in order to learn the King's secrets.
68	* HurricaneOfPuns: Rich's staff anticipating how the press will break his "sex in the throne room" scandal.
69	-->'''Jonty:''' Do you know what they're going to say? It's going to be vicious. Something like... "What a Right Royal Dick" or... "Royal Member Gets a New Job."
70	-->'''Abi:''' "Bonk-ingham Palace."
71	-->'''Sir Iain:''' Yes, thank you, Abi.
72	-->'''Jonty:''' "Crown Jewels Get a Fresh Polish."
73	-->'''Abi:''' "My Penis Mirabilis."
74	* HypocriticalHumour: Vinny and Ruby assemble a collection of hair, toenail clippings, etc. left behind by the royals and search the internet for a [[CollectorOfTheStrange weirdo willing to pay for it]]. Their plan works, as they find someone who offers two cigarette butts smoked by a member of the Music/ManicStreetPreachers:
75	-->'''Vinny:''' His actual butts? The actual ones that were actually in his mouth?
76	-->'''Ruby:''' And all they want is some old toe clippings?
77	-->'''Vinny:''' Oh my God!
78	-->'''Ruby:''' What a bunch of losers!
79	* {{Invented Individual}}s: "Tom and Jessica Howard," the couple Richard is supposedly visiting when he's with Miranda.
80	* ItDoesntMeanAnything: So Richard tells Abi after she kisses him in Episode 5.
81	* MoralMyopia: Various characters exhibit this. Abi draws attention to it in Episode 2: "Can I just be sure we're all clear here... this is a hit-and-run, a man could die, and, well... we're happy to cover that up?"
82	* {{Narcissist}}: Eleanor. She actually gives Ray a signed photo of herself as a retirement gift.
83	* NoHeroToHisValet: Abigail agreed to write a tell-all about the royal family in part because of her contempt for them.
84	* OldRetainer: Jeremy, a footman with a particular devotion to Queen Charlotte, and Ray, a security agent who is about to retire.
85	* OneSteveLimit: There are two characters named David, but one of them is a ''Prince'' David, and [[TheGhost never appears onscreen]] anyhow. Then there's the late King James and the footman named Jimmy, who is addressed as "James" at least once.
86	* PassiveAggressiveKombat
87	* PlotTriggeringDeath: King James. Poor guy is onscreen for a few seconds, doesn't even get a line, and dies before the opening titles.
88	* PrettyInMink
89	* RebelliousPrincess: Isabelle, when she tries to renounce her HRH and runs away.
90	* RelationshipUpgrade: Abigail and Richard post-Episode 7, but it doesn't move past SecretRelationship (we're left hanging after the finale).
91	* RightInFrontOfMe: Happens a few times with Miranda before other characters learn that she is Richard's "mystery woman."
92	* RoyalBlood: The central question of Episode 8.
93	* RoyalBrat: All of them qualify at some point in the series.
94	* SecretRelationship: Rich and Miranda until the truth comes out; Rich and Abigail later.
95	* SlaveToPR: The royals, whether they like it or not.
96	* SmugSnake: Eleanor and George to everyone else.
97	* SpareToTheThrone: George. For most of the series, he shows no interest in ever being a monarch, and tells Eleanor that if Rich dies, she can be queen. However, when Rich's legitimacy is challenged in Episode 8, making George's accession an imminent possibility, he starts to think that it might not be such a bad deal.
98	* SpySpeak: Peter Bayfield informs Richard of his father's passing with the words "Tower Bridge."
99	** Some more explanation may be required. Royal Funerals, being logistical nightmares, are planned well in advance and these plans are reviewed regularly. Each is assigned a codename (the name of a bridge) for clarity and perhaps to avoid "tempting fate". Tay Bridge for example, was the codename for The Queen Mother's funeral.
100	* [[StealthHiBye Stealth Hi/Bye]]: Used to a rather silly degree.
101	** A pensive Rich disappears during a conversation with George... in the middle of a golf course.
102	** In another episode, George is enjoying a nice bath until he opens his eyes and jumps, startled. Not only has Sir Iain entered the room without a sound, but he's casually perched ''on the side of the tub.''
103	* StraightGay: David and Neil, at least compared to Jimmy and (especially) Jeremy.
104	* StripPoker: The "downstairs" staff are seen playing it in the first episode.
105	* TakingTheHeat: Ray feels partly responsible for the hit-and-run because he didn't persuade George to stop the car. He also feels that the prince shouldn't go to jail. He offers to go to the police and tell them he was the one driving, but neither the king nor his staff consider it seriously.
106	* ThousandYardStare: Richard, sitting in the car after learning his father has died.
107	-->'''Abigail:''' Sir. ''[no response]'' Sir. ''[still no response]'' ...Your Majesty. ''[Richard snaps out of it]''
108	* TroubledFetalPosition: In the first episode, Richard excuses himself from an overwhelming WalkAndTalk to collapse in the corner of a bathroom, breathing shakily.
109	* UnequalPairing: Abigail and Richard.
110	* UnreliableExpositor: George, describing the hit-and-run. Peter Bayfield doesn't buy it.
111	* UpperClassTwit: George is the prime example.
112	* VolleyingInsults:
113	-->'''Isabelle:''' Keep the gags coming, fat boy.
114	-->'''George:''' Oh, hello there, nutter. Didn't recognize you without your straightjacket.
115	* WalkAndTalk: Given that the creators were inspired by ''Series/TheWestWing'', this one was inevitable.
116	* TheWrongfulHeirToTheThrone: Eleanor tries to position George as this. In Episode 8, she starts a rumour about Rich's possible illegitimacy so that he will be forced to take a [[DaddyDNATest paternity test]] before his coronation. She knows that if he is indeed illegitimate, she will become queen, as the Prime Minister would never allow the supremely unsuitable George to become head of state. However, it turns out that Rich is indeed legitimate, so George remains a prince.

Context Series / ThePalace