‘Lilibet! What are you doing up here? Shouldn’t you be having an early night?’

‘I think I am going to find it hard to sleep tonight. Philip has left to stay at Kensington Palace with his mother and grandmother. But before that he is having a party at the Dorchester for his friends. Gentlemen only, I am assured.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘I might have to have some aspirin hidden in my flowers for him tomorrow.’

‘I am sure he’ll be all right. He is a sensible man,’ Crawfie said. ‘He is devoted to you. You know that.’

‘Yes, I suppose I do.’ Lilibet sat down in Alah’s old chair. ‘May I have a cup of tea with you both, just to calm my nerves?’

‘How about a spot of sherry instead?’ Bobo asked. ‘I found one of Alah’s bottles of Bristol Cream a few months ago.’

‘Alah liked sherry?’ Lilibet asked.

‘Oh yes.’ Crawfie laughed. ‘A small drop would often find its way, accidentally of course, into her bedtime cocoa.’

‘All right then.’ Lilibet ran a hand over her engagement ring. ‘Then we will make a toast to Alah – the finest nanny ever.’

‘Hear hear,’ Bobo said

Over the flickering of the fire and their sherry-laced cocoas, the three women talked about old times in the schoolroom.

‘Do you remember when I tipped that bottle of ink over my head, Crawfie?’ Lilibet asked.

‘I do indeed.’

‘You weren’t cross, though.’

Crawfie smiled at the memory. ‘It was good to see you behaving like a normal child.’

‘Are you cross that you had to wait so long to marry Major Buthlay, though?’ Lilibet said.

Crawfie took a deep breath, thinking. ‘I am married now and that is all that matters.’

‘But did you feel that we had stopped you?’ Lilibet looked thoughtful. ‘That you had put your life second to ours?’

‘No, ma’am. To serve you and your family will always come first. It has been – and is – my pleasure.’

Lilibet yawned. ‘Golly, I think I had better go to bed. Bobo, will you wake me in the morning?’

‘Of course I will.’

Buckingham Palace, 20^th November 1947, 7.30 a.m.

Bobo carried the pretty silver tea tray to Lilibet’s bedroom and knocked gently before entering.

‘Good morning, ma’am. I have your tea.’

Lilibet stirred and opened her eyes. ‘What time is it?’

‘Seven thirty.’ Bobo put the tray down and crossed the room to draw the curtains. ‘There’s a beautiful sunrise.’

‘I hope all those people who have camped outside aren’t too cold or wet.’ Lilibet sat up to drink her tea. ‘It’s so good of them to come.’

Outside on the terrace, a lone piper began playing.

‘Oh Bobo, he’s playing “Mairi’s Wedding”. Isn’t that fun?’

‘Now you just concentrate on your tea,’ Bobo fussed. ‘Mr Hartnell will be here to dress you at nine and you need to be ready. Shall I draw a bath for you?’

Buckingham Palace, 20^th November 1947, 10.00 a.m.