Plot

In early 18th-century England, the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne.

In the early 18th century, England is at war with France; nevertheless, duck-racing and pineapple-eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time-consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen's companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics, or rabbit stand in her way.—Fox Searchlight Pictures

In early 18th-century England, against the backdrop of the costly War of the Spanish Succession, Abigail Hill, a mud-covered former aristocrat, arrives at the palace to beg for a job. Instead, Abigail finds the ailing Queen Anne mostly tending to her furry herd of rabbits, replaced by Sarah Churchill, the petulant monarch's faithful confidante and the one subtly running the country. But fortune favours the bold. And soon, the castle's newest scullery maid spots a golden opportunity to restore her status. As the ferocious antagonists vie for the attention of the sad empress, rapacious ambition, creative emotional manipulation, and hidden personal agendas get in the way. After all, only one can win the coveted title of the lonely ruler's intimate. So, what will it take for the silent rivals to become Queen Anne's all-time favourite?—Nick Riganas

The power dynamic among three women in the royal house of England in the early 18th century is presented during a time when England is at war with France. The first is Queen Anne, the current ruler. She tries to overcome her insecurities, paranoia, and potential perceived weakness in being lame by that outward power of being ruler. The second is Sarah, Lady Marlborough, the Queen's trusted lady-in-waiting and the wife to Lord Marlborough, the head of the British military. The third is Abigail Hill, Sarah's cousin, whose family has fallen on hard times; Sarah hires her to work in the royal palace in various domestic roles. The Queen's motivation is to appear that she is in charge while desperately wanting to feel loved by those whom she loves. Sarah's motivation is to implement her desired policies, especially with regard to the war. Abigail's motivation is to regain her status as a lady in not wanting to feel at the mercy of poverty ever again. Others try to exploit this dynamic, especially Harley, the leader of the opposition in Parliament, who doesn't feel that he has the Queen's ear at this important time of war.—Huggo

In the early 18th century, Queen Anne is the monarch of England. Her closest friend, confidante, and advisor is Lady Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. Lady Sarah's cousin Abigail comes to the palace, hoping for a job. She used to have status but has fallen on hard times. With Lady Sarah's help Abigail gets a job as a maid, but her ambitions are much higher than. that.—grantss

In 1708, Britain is at war with France. Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) is on the throne. In frail health, Anne shows little interest in governing, instead preferring eccentric activities such as racing ducks and playing with her 17 rabbits, each of which represents a child she has lost over the years.

Her confidante, adviser, and furtive lover Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz), the Duchess of Marlborough, effectively rules the country through her influence on the Queen. Sarah is married to Lord Marlborough (Mark Gatiss). Sarah is Anne's favorite, and Anne gifts her a huge castle as a token of her gratitude for Lord Marlborough's victory against France.

Sarah's efforts to control Anne are undermined by Robert Harley (Nicholas Hoult), a Tory Member of Parliament (the Leader of the Opposition) who, as a landowner, argues against a doubling of property taxes proposed in order to fund the war. Harley proposes sending a peace treaty delegation to France, while Sarah is opposed to any such overtures as she believes England has France on the run. Anne knows that the people want the war to be over, but Sarah goads Anne into keeping the war with France alive. Sarah does not allow Harley to meet the Queen to state his case and conveys on her behalf that the Queen has decided to continue the war and double the taxes on landowners to pay for it. Sarah absolutely humiliates Harley while delivering the verdict and he exits the chamber in a huff.

Meanwhile, Abigail Hill (Emma Stone), Sarah's impoverished younger cousin, arrives at Court in search of employment. Abigail's standing is tainted by her father, who gambled away his good name and lost his daughter to a German in a card game.

Abigail is initially forced to do menial work as a scullery maid in the palace. The living conditions for maids are tough, with Abigail being made to take a bath in a common area with all the other maids and sleep in a shared room with several other maids, with only a little space for herself.

After seeing the Queen's condition (when she suffers an attack of gout and Abigail is summoned to bring in the bandages to the Queen's bedchamber), she spies an opportunity to ingratiate herself with Sarah and, eventually, Queen Anne herself. Abigail forages for herbs to heal the Queen's inflamed legs, and though she is initially punished by Sarah for her presumptuous actions, Sarah relents when she realizes the remedy does ease the Queen's suffering. In gratitude, Sarah makes Abigail her lady of the bedchamber and she given a private room of her own. While foraging for herbs, Abigail is seen by Colonel Samuel Masham.

Abigail's stature quickly rises in the palace as she becomes the right hand for Sarah. She makes sure that all of Sarah's policy decisions regarding the court, foreign policy and budgets are implemented. Mord Marlborough is frequently away from the palace, fighting battles against the French. Abigail cannot understand why Sarah would advocate for the war when it puts her own husband's life in danger. Meanwhile a romance blossoms between Abigail and Masham.

At a ball, Harley tries to approach Anne to reconsider her approach to the war and taxes. Anne gets jealous when she sees Sarah dancing with Masham. Anne summons Harley and declares that she agrees with his suggestions on taxes and agrees to keep them at their previous levels.

Harley soon approaches Abigail, hoping to use her as a spy in order to find out what Sarah's schemes are and figure out a way to circumvent her authority. Abigail initially rebuffs him, but soon she becomes aware of the secret lesbian relationship between Anne and Sarah. As she is fascinated by the Queen's scandalous homosexual inclination, Abigail begins to court the Queen's favor herself. Abigail tells Sarah, implying that she knows about their secret. Sarah threatens to have Abigail shot if she divulges the secret to anyone. Meanwhile Sarah and Anne makeup after having sex, and Sarah again convinces Anne to double taxes on landowners and to announce the same in Parliament.

With Sarah focused on the war effort, Abigail kindles a friendship with Anne, which soon becomes sexual. Abigail curries favor with Anne by pretending to be friends with her rabbits. Sarah becomes aware of Abigail's machinations and attempts to have her sent away. Knowing she has gained a powerful enemy and desperate to be a lady again, Abigail reconsiders Harley's offer.

Abigail drugs Sarah's tea, causing her to fall from her horse and be dragged into the forest. She vanishes for several days. Anne, thinking that Sarah has temporarily abandoned her to make her jealous, takes Abigail into her favor, where her first reward is to be allowed to accept a proposal of marriage from Samuel Masham, a baron in Anne's court. The marriage reinstates Abigail's noble standing as a baroness. Abigail then helps Harley to influence the Queen's decisions about the war.

A battered and scarred Sarah awakens in a brothel. When she returns to court, Abigail offers her a truce but is rejected. Sarah issues an ultimatum to Anne: send Abigail away, or she will disclose her correspondence with Anne that details their sexual relationship. The threat destroys the relationship between Anne and Sarah. Although Sarah voluntarily burns the letters in regret, she is stripped of her offices and sent away from court.

Lord High Treasurer and key advisor Godolphin (James Smith) convinces Anne to mend her relationship with Sarah, persuading Sarah to send a letter that Anne eagerly awaits. When Abigail, who has been promoted to Keeper of the Privy Purse, presents "evidence" that Sarah had been embezzling money, Anne does not believe her.

Sarah's letter arrives but is intercepted by Abigail, who burns it. Hurt that she did not receive the expected apology, Anne uses Abigail's claims about the embezzlement as an excuse to exile Sarah and her husband.

With Sarah gone and her position secure, Abigail begins to ignore Anne while indulging in society and openly having affairs. One day, she abuses one of Anne's rabbits. Anne, now very sick, sees what Abigail is doing, forces herself out of bed and angrily orders her to kneel and massage her leg. She gradually pulls Abigail's hair as Abigail winces and begrudgingly massages her.