Sandringham, December 1908. Prince John, youngest son of George, Prince of Wales, is different from his brother. Eccentric and indifferent to royal etiquette, he is regarded indulgently by his grandfather, Edward VII. His care is entrusted to Charlotte 'Lalla' Bill, his nanny.

John observes the visit of the Russian royal family, one marked by formal awkwardness. Though clever, John dislikes study and is more interested in people around him. At the age of four, he suffers his first epileptic fit. In 1910, while watching for Halley's Comet, he hears of his grandfather's death.

Upon their father's accession, the boys meet their extended family. John has a close encounter with Kaiser Wilhelm II, and later, at his grandfather's funeral, suffers another fit. Queen Alexandra decides that John should be taken away from the palace and placed in a farm cottage on the estate with no visitors allowed.

As he grows older, John's behaviour gets unpredictable and he is kept away from the rest of the family, apart from his brother. Though he sees people through the gates of his cottage, he can barely communicate with them; on one memorable occasion, a beautiful woman caresses his face and compliments him on his garden.

Meanwhile, political trouble looms and Asquith and Bonar Law visit the royal family. Their discussion is interrupted by a visit from John, who embarrasses his short-tempered father. This is blamed on Lalla Bell, who is told that either John must be controlled or placed in an institution. She and his schoolmaster attempt to teach him but the only thing which interests him is drawing. While John is drawing, his brother George shows an interest in state affairs. At a state occasion, a suffragette throws herself in front of the Queen, but is ignored.

Visiting the doctors again, Lalla tries to coach John, but he is more interested in staring out of the window. But he produces imaginative answers, and the doctors become frustrated. He visits his brother and they discuss a shared passion for ships. George takes John to observe a royal banquet and the beautiful stranger smiles at him again.

On his mother's wishes, John visits with his father and they look at stamps, but his father finds him difficult. During the visit, Lord Stamfordham informs George of the death of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo. While alone, John chases a parrot through the palace and suffers another fit.