Today Lady Diana Spencer is marrying the Prince of Wales – and well, a Royal Wedding doesn’t come around all that often now, does it? Of course, Ned says I shouldn’t encourage the ‘princess’ stuff with Elle and Penny, says it’s not good for little girls to believe in fairy tales and happy endings. And of course, he being the ray of sunshine that he usually is says it’s likely that anything involving the Royal Family will end in disaster – his words not mine – but still, I can’t help feel a bit wistful and excited – it’s still a wedding! And there is a real princess involved! Of course he’s right; not many little girls end up as princesses when all is said and done – but it’s fun to imagine the romance of it. And the Royals always put on a good show, that’s for sure. As I said, it’s a good day.

Of course, regardless of Ned and his opinions on the Royals, Penny was thrilled by it, Elle, not as much, but of course our eldest has never shown the slightest interest in princesses, dolls or other such girlie things. Nine times out of ten she’d much rather play with Lego.

But despite this, even she was glued to the telly the moment Lady Diana emerged from the carriage in her gown. Penny then insisted on having me drape her in a sheet from one of the guest rooms that she deemed her own ‘princess dress’. In my eyes, it was a bit more of a toga, but I suppose to a three-year-old it was quite glamorous. She paraded around in it for the best part of the day, and was even able to get her father to address her as ‘Princess Penny’. I reserved comment on that – Ned looked enchanted by his offspring – royal intentions or not.

Oh how I would have loved to be in London to see the wedding – I mean, not see the actual wedding, but at least stand on the roadside and hope to catch a glimpse as the carriage passed by. I suppose I will have to wait until the next Royal Wedding, and by then maybe Penny can come along with me. Maybe she’ll have a three-year-old that she will need some help minding – I like to think that maybe Penny will utter the same words to her future daughter that I did to her. ‘Time to go and see a princess . . .’

Feeling a tear slip down her cheek, Penny couldn’t help but feel sad at the notion that Anna would never see her grandchildren. Not that either she or Elle seemed anywhere near providing any, but still . . . Then another errant thought ran through her head.