Prince Albert (Alec Guinness), who is scouring Europe for a wife, arrives in a tiny town to visit a banished family of nobles. Their matriarch, Beatrix (Jessie Royce Landis), wants her daughter, Alexandra (Grace Kelly), to marry Albert so that her family will be welcomed back into the kingdom. In order to rouse Albert's attention, Alexandra flirts with her attractive tutor, Dr. Agi (Louis Jourdan) ; however, Alexandra's plan hits a snag when she develops genuine feelings for Dr. Agi.