The English Princess is the first half of a two-part story which, together with episode three The Honest Broker, is about the unification of Germany under the king of Prussia and the struggle within Prussia between the liberal modernisers and the autocratic reactionaries.
The modernisers have their hope in the crown prince of Prussia, Frederick, who has just married Vicky, the English princess of the title, daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The first half of the episode is from Vicky's point of view, as she travels from the comparatively liberal and democratic Britain to the decidedly undemocratic, militaristic court of Prussia. Vicky is played by Gemma Jones, who was a rather good Portia in the BBC's 1980 version of The Merchant of Venice.
Prince Frederick is played by Denis Lill who has been in a lot of things, including being Dr Fendelman in Doctor Who's Image of the Fendahl, but who I mainly think of from his memorable guest appearances in Blackadder.
King Wilhelm of Prussia (Maurice Denham, who has the dubious honour of being in The Twin Dilemma as his Doctor Who credential) is an old manny and not interested in reform, so he brings in Otto von Bismarck to be his Minister President and keep the liberals out of power.
This is where the episode really takes off. Bismarck is played by Curd Jurgens, who would go on to be the baddy Stromberg in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, and he gives a masterful performance as Bismarck. The episode switches to his point of view, almost as the balance of power does likewise, and the series gets its first really strong, memorable character.
We are also introduced to the future Kaiser Wilhelm ii, one of the main characters of the series but here he is only a little manny, the son of Frederick and Vicky.
A minor character who deserves a mention is Prince Albert, who is only in two scenes but they are important for showing the difference between the British and Prussian royal families. He is played by Frank Thornton, best known for being Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? for many years, including at the time Fall of Eagles was made.
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