In a small Northern English town in 1947 the citizens endure continuing Rationing in the United Kingdom#World War II. Some local businessmen want to hold a party to celebrate the Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh and illegally decide to raise a pig for that occasion. However, the pig gets stolen by Gilbert Chilvers (Michael Palin), who was encouraged to do so by his wife Joyce (Maggie Smith). Meanwhile a food inspector is determined to stop activities circumventing the food rationing.