Eventually, they all settled down in their new home, and after a visit from the Palace rodent catcher, no mouse was seen in the nursery again.

There had been so much going on that Crawfie didn’t have time to stop and contemplate her new home, to absorb the fact that she, Miss Marion Crawford, was now living in a royal palace, with a King and Queen who employed her to care for two royal Princesses. The reality of that was going to take some time to sink in.

And it wasn’t only the Palace that was busy. In the Royal Mews, the Crown equerry oversaw the grooms and coachmen who tended the seventy-five horses and state carriages. The Princesses adored going to visit, their pockets full of apples and carrots.

Her Majesty Queen Mary, now the Dowager Queen, had stayed at Buckingham Palace since the death of her husband and abdication of her son, and appeared reluctant to move out. But go she had to, and after some negotiation, Crawfie heard she had agreed to move to Marlborough House, another mansion and only a stone’s throw away, on the Mall.

On the eve of her departure, she invited the family and the more important members of the household, including Crawfie, Bobo and Alah, to the white drawing room, where they found two long tables with dozens of trinkets that the Dowager Queen had no use for.

‘May I take this opportunity to thank you all for your loyal service to me and my late husband,’ she said. ‘I have many memories to take across the road to my new nest, Marlborough House. But before I go, I should like you to choose something from these tables around you as a keepsake from me.’

The Dowager Queen graciously accepted the warm rumble of thanks and applause, and insisted on staying to talk and oversee who wanted what.

Lilibet and Margaret were very excited and couldn’t wait see what treasures she was leaving behind. They walked up and down with Crawfie, under the watchful eye of their grandmother, scrutinizing everything. Finally, Lilibet decided, ‘Granny, please may I have the little china bowl of flowers?’

‘You may. A very good choice. Now you, Margaret?’

‘I would like the china dog please, the Labrador.’

‘Then it is yours.’ She looked to Crawfie. ‘Miss Crawford, what would you like?’

Crawfie was taken by surprise. ‘Thank you. I wonder, may I have the little glass jug? I have a sprig of lucky heather that would sit perfectly in it.’

The Dowager Queen bent her head in assent. ‘The perfect thing.’

‘You are very kind, ma’am. I shall treasure it.’

Bobo chose a box of lace handkerchiefs and Alah a pocket-sized prayer book. The Dowager Queen was delighted with their choices.

‘Now remember,’ she said, ‘I am only moving across the road. You must come and have tea with me very often. And Miss Crawford, I am always keen to hear about Lilibet and Margaret’s educational progress. If there is ever anything I can do to help, do let me know.’