Princess Beatrice to appear in film about Victoria's royal ascent

It's the first time a member of the Royal Family - Beatrice is fifth in line to the throne - has taken a part in a movie.

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Regal roles: Princess Beatrice is the first member of the Royal Family to take part in a film

Emily Blunt stars as Queen Victoria in her early years

Her mother, the Duchess of York, is one of the film's executive producers, although she's billed as plain Sarah Ferguson on the production's daily 'callsheet', the listings that tell cast and crew what scenes they'll be shooting on any given day.

It was the duchess who took the idea of making a film about Victoria's early years, how she ascended to the throne and how she fell in love with Prince Albert, to producer Graham King.

Princess Beatrice will appear in scenes, filming early next month, that are highly appropriate - the coronation of her great-great-great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

Even though Princess Beatrice will be a background artist (the term by which extras like to be called), she will have her gown specially fitted and make-up checked by Academy Awardwinners Sandy Powell and Jenny Shircore.

Since Helen Mirren won an Oscar for The Queen, there has been a lot of interest in movies that look at British monarchs in a non-traditional way.

Julian Fellowes' screenplay paints a portrait of a complex young woman from a dysfunctional background.

As Emily Blunt, who portrays Victoria, told me: "I'm given a lot of opportunity to make her very free - more like the wild animal that all of us really are.'