The landlord, Dennis, is polishing glasses behind the bar when Philip goes in after his return from London. ‘Not seen you for a while, Lieutenant,’ he says.

‘I’ve been in London.’

‘You’re always up there. You got a girl there?’

Philip smiles. ‘I do, as it happens.’

‘I thought so,’ Dennis says tolerantly. ‘No other reason to go up to the city when you could be playing cricket here, I reckon. I just hope she’s worth it.’

‘I think so,’ says Philip.

‘Well, that’s all that matters. Now, what can I get you, sir? Your usual?’

It is a Tuesday when a naval cadet tells Philip that there is a telephone call for him. Hoping it is not bad news, Philip follows the cadet down to the office, where he is discreetly left alone with a phone. It is his cousin, David Milford Haven.

‘I thought you should know that your mother was followed to the jeweller’s when she went to pick up the ring this morning,’ David warns him. ‘Two of the afternoon papers have already published the story, claiming that the ring is for Elizabeth. Your mother didn’t say anything to them but the press will be on to you next, so if you’re going to deny it, you’d better have a story ready.’

That’s it then, Philip thinks. He thanks his cousin, puts down the receiver and then picks it up again to ring Elizabeth.

‘The cat’s out of the bag, I’m afraid.’ he tells her.

‘Perhaps it’s just as well this has happened,’ Elizabeth says. ‘It’s only a week ahead of Papa’s deadline of 15 July. Surely he won’t think there’s any point in continuing to deny it?’

‘I hope not,’ says Philip. ‘I’ll ring him now, and with any luck he’ll give me permission to drive up and bring the ring round this evening.’

The King isn’t at all happy about being out-manoeuvred but reluctantly agrees that the engagement can now be formally announced. Feeling as if he has the wind behind him at last, Philip collects the ring from his mother and drives round to Buckingham Palace, parking at a jaunty angle in the courtyard and breezing past the footmen.

‘I know my way,’ he says and takes the stairs two at a time.

Elizabeth is waiting for him in her sitting room. She is wearing a deep yellow frock and her eyes are aglow with anticipation. Picking up on the excitement, Susan starts barking when Philip comes in and shuts the door firmly behind him.

‘Susan, be quiet!’ Elizabeth orders her, bending to shush the dog and when she looks up at Philip, her face is bright. ‘Is this really it, at last?’

‘At last,’ Philip agrees with a grin as he pulls the ring box out of his jacket pocket and opens it to show her the diamonds which have been cleaned and reset in a cluster around the spectacular central stone.

It is not like him, but when he looks at Elizabeth’s face, his triumphant smile fades and he finds himself going down on one knee and offering her the ring.