Raised on their uncle's country estate, the four orphaned Sutherland sisters formed a close friendship with the young Princess Victoria. Shortly before her coronation as queen, Victoria asks the sisters to serve her in matters requiring the utmost discretion. They are to become her secret servants. Her Majesty asks scholarly Ivy Sutherland to assume the role of science student "Ned Ivers" to help restore a rare stone gifted to the Queen by her secret suitor, Albert of Saxe-Coburg, that has been stolen.