#he later asks diana to ask the king if his wife is there too

[ghostbsuter]

"Excuse me?" Jazz's voice echoes in the meeting room in space. She gains the attention of the heroes immediately and sees them tensing up in at her appearance.

Behind her, he swirling green portal is open, waiting for her to return.

A blond, coat wearing man, curses upon seeing her and gives a half bow. "Princess Jasmine," he speaks up, eye twitching.

"What brings you here?"

At the greeting and reveal of her title, few others fall into bows, the lady at the head of the table, wonder woman?, gives her a smile.

Her eyes pin the green skinned man to his seat, who in return tilts his head at her.

"My brothers birthday is soon," she focuses on the man again. "I'm simply here for a present."

The man tenses, another curse slipping. "Ah– king phantom, right? I wasn't aware his birthday would be so soon."

Jazz ignores him, calmly walking to the Martian and placing a picture of Mars before him.

"The tales of your people have brought much interest to my brother. He became a big fan." She tells, sharing her intentions at his light poking.

"I ask for a signature, it would make his day."

Martian Manhunter, alien hero, and once upon a time, a father even smiles. He's delighted yet feeling a deep-rooted sadness. The tales of his people continue to spread in the afterlife, it seems.

Jazz leaves quickly after, not before giving Diana a number, they are cousins after all.

Danny will love her present.

#dcxdp #dp x dc crossover #dpxdc #fic prompt #writing prompt #dc x dp prompt #Jazz is the best sister #she literally walks into space like she owns it #(she might not but her brother sure does) #martian manhunter is so /pos #he later asks diana to ask the king if his wife is there too #with their kids #he also gets a copy of the mars pic #jazz isnt a monster #and if he gets imgredients only found on mars after this #he aint telling anyone

[darkestspring]

Bronze and Silver

a/n: upon popular request i’ve decided to make an expanded second part to my rhea x daemon daughter little blurb which you can find HERE! I was so excited to write the first part so i loved writing this so much.

words: a little over 2k words

It had come from a drunken night between Lady Rhea Royce and her husband (as much as it made her nearly vomit to say that word) Daemon Targaryen. One single night of drunken stupor and only weeks later was it comfirmed that Lady Royce was pregnant.

The maester had gently suggested contacting her husband which she had scoffed at, this baby is hers. Nothing of his, why should she inform her ever so absent and estranged husband.

As she placed her hand on her stomach, a rare smile came over her face. Her baby. Her blood, her child.

At first the pregnancy wasn’t easy, she cursed out everyone who irritated her and her child’s craving for fruit never left, she was amazed by it.

The birth was difficult, the pain overbearing as she screamed her way through it with the help of the maesters.

After nine hours, her child was here. The placed her blood in her arms and she was amazed by her daughter. White hair and bright purple eyes but she had the shape of her nose and the same face as her mother.

Rhea trailed her finger down he daughter’s little nose, in something akin to awe as she cradled her daughter.

“My lady, what name have to thought of. The king gifted you a book of Valyrian names a long time ago. Shall I fetch it?” The servant asked, as the maesters tended to the Lady and her newborn child.

Rhea had scoffed, irritation flashing through her. “This child is a Royce, my blood. Their name shall be fitting of it,”

“Diana.” She declared, looking to the maester. “My daughter shall be Diana Royce, after the goddess of the moon, the hunt and protector of women. My little huntress.” She cooed the last part as her daughter made little sound, her purple eyes staring up at her mother with interest.

Years later, those same purple eyes fill with tears as she clung to her cousin’s clothes. “No, mama can’t be gone! How could such an injustice be served!”

How could Gerold comfort a child who had just lost their mother to the father they never even knew? His little cousin of six.

At the age of six, Diana was talented with a bow and arrow, taking after her mother, the mother she loved that was now dead.

After the funeral processions, Gerold headed to King’s Landing to attend the wedding of Princess Rhaenyra (they had all agreed to keep her existence a secret from her absent father) and Diana snuck into Dragonstone.

She would claim a dragon and take her revenge. She would avenge her mother, who had done nothing but what was expected of her. Let her father learn that there are always consequences for the actions he takes.

As Gerold Royce accuses Daemon Targaryen of Lady Rhea Royce’s murder, Lady Diana Royce-Targaryen sneaks into dragonstone and claims the monstrous Cannibal as her own.

She returns home with a bonded dragon and victory on her tongue as she orders them to bring three goats for her beloved boy.

She’s thirteen when she gets the news that her father’s wife is dead, and then her cousin’s husband is dead, and then her cousin and father marry. She laughs the loudest when she hears what they’re saying about her father. She’s always known he was a murderer, and now others know it too.

She’s fifteen when the call to court comes, they have discovered her existence and wish to see the truth with their own eyes.

“Prepare my things.” She ordered the servants as she sets the letter down. “Back a light back and run me a both. I wish to wear my black riding clothes.”

“Yes, my Lady.” The servants rushed off to get started as smile started to tug at the lips of Lady Diana Royce.

“Oh, this is too funny!” Diana laughs as she leans back into her chair, her purple eyes filled with amusement. “This is getting so much more interesting!”

As she dressed in blackened thick riding leathers, she climbs onto Cannibal’s black. She pets his neck gently with a smile. “It’s gonna be a long ride, boy.” She looks forward to all of it. “Soves!”

The dragon keepers are terrified when she lands, its been years since they’ve seen the cannibal. “He won’t be in the dragon pit.” She reassures them before turning to her dragon. “Soves, Cannibal!”

Cannibal lets out a roar that shakes the foundations around them as he leaps into the sky and disappears from view.

“My Lady.” The knight before her bows and she nods, clasping her hands in front of her. “I will guide you to see the Queen and Lord Hand, your uncle is too busy to entertain today.”

Sick, they mean. Diana knows everything, as any good Lady would when they plot the downfall of their own father.

Diana smiles, tilting her head and her white hair tilts her. She doesn’y say anything as she walks ahead.

“Lady Diana Royce-Targaryen!” The guard at the door announced and with her head high, Diana walked forth. Her eye caught white hair and she turned to look as a boy around her age, with an eyepatch over one eye looking at her with intrigue.

She turned her face back around and stopped in front of her supposed aunt and the hand.

“I welcome you to King’s Landing, Lady Royce.” Alicent greeted the girl, a strained smile filling her face. She had no idea that Daemon had actually had a daughter with his first wife, it was news to her father as well.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Diana bowed her head to her as she stood still. “I admit, I fear I do not understand why I have been summoned away from my home, The Vale.”

“We were not aware of your existence. None of us were. Not even the king.” Otto stares at the girl of fifteen in front of him as her eyebrows furrow and her eyes narrow. “One might be curious as to why.”

“It was never deemed necessarily. My mother, may the gods protect her departed soul, never deemed it necessary to inform anyone outside of the vale, including my... father.” The word tasted like acid in her mouth and her mask dropped for a second, allowing Alicent and Otto to see her disgust and resentment.

“After her sudden death, we decided to keep this knowledge limited to the Vale. I am a Royce after all.”

Sick satisfaction settled in Otto as he was clued in to the fact that Daemon didn’t know this child existed. This child that they could influence and that they could take under their wing. “Yes, but we know now and you are of marrying age.”

“Yes, and I am also the Lady of the Vale, rider of the monstrous Cannibal. I am many things. I want many things.” Diana spoke, her kind act dropping as she stared at the both of them with irritation.

Aemond was stunned at the words, The Cannibal? No one could tame him because he ate humans and dragons alike but his cousin had? He wanted to talk more to her. His mother and grandfather had told him of the possibility of a betrothal.

“If you wish for me to marry your second son, say so. I tire of games. I want my father’s head. I don’t care about anyone else.” Diana declared, trying to keep a hold on her irritation.

“Lady Diana!” Alicent tried to reprimand her, even if she did feel bad for the girl. She hadn’t had a female figure to look after since she was six.

Otto found amusement in this girl, she knew what she wanted and didn’t hold back. A good asset indeed. “The king has agreed to a betrothal between the lady Diana and Prince Aemond.”

At his name, Aemond stepped forward until he was right next to Diana and she didn’t move an inch.

Diana stared for a minute with her hard gaze before nodding. “The Vale accepts this proposal. As you are all aware, when I come of age, I will rule the Vale as its Lady, that means that Prince Aemond will become the Lord of the Vale alongside me, any children we have will be our successor.”

“We are aware of that.” Alicent nodded, sending a soft look at Aemond who was surprised but also not against the agreement.

“My betrothed.” Aemond held out his hand and Diana finally turned to him, he was struck by the vibrancy in her eyes as she placed her hand in his.

“My betrothed.” She said in return, nodding to the queen and hand as Aemond guided her away.

As he guided her down to the dragon pit, Cannibal landed nearby, startling Aemond and making a smile appear on Diana’s face. “I’m sure you’ll introduce me to Vhagar later but if Cannibal approves of you, I’ll honor our agreement.”

Aemond’s eye darkened as he looked at her. She would honor it anyways, their betrothal was already set. He was already impressed by her. As a dragon, he was known to be possessive over what he considered his.

Cannibal growled as he approached his rider and the other targaryen. His toxic green eye glared into Aemond as Diana walked closer, her hand petting his jaw with soft strokes. “Oh, my best boy.” She whispered before peering over at Aemond. “Come here.”

He, without hesitation, walked over and she grabbed his hand. “Gently.” She warned him and placed his hand where hers had been, moving it back and forth gently. “That’s it.”

Cannibal ceased his growling and instead started making soft purring sound as his eyes slowly blinked.

Diana laughed, a sound that made Aemond’s attention drift to her, unable to look away. “He likes you.” She smiled at him. “That settles it, we’ll be uniting our houses, my prince.”

Two years went by quickly, faster than she would had liked. Diana, who had moved herself to King’s Landing to begin her courting period with Aemond, had grown much closer to him. Their first kiss shared in the dragon pit not even a year ago. She had left to take care of a matter in the Vale.

“I’ll be back in time for the audience.” She had told Aemond as they walked together, arms linked. “Don’t miss me too much, my love.”

“I always miss you, my dragon.” Aemond’s eye had glittered with fondness as he reached down to kiss her. His world have filled with so much brightness when you had entered it.

Everything had been normal, no one had breathed a word of your existence to the blacks. Not even blabbermouth Aegon.

The audience was just starting, everyone but Aemond was inside, He was waiting by the doors for his betrothed to return.

Diana rushes in, her white hair trailing behind her and Aemond’s eye trails down to her black and gold dress. “You’re almost late, my love.” He teased, a smile on his lips.

“Hush you! Let;s go.”

“Wait.” Aemond stops you with a frown on his lips now. “Your father is here, we didn’t know he was coming with my sister. We took extra care to not mention you to him but, do you still want to this?”

A vindictive glint entered her eyes as she linked her arms with Aemond’s. “I do, you’ll never let me fall.” She said confidently as Aemond nodded towards the guard.

“Lady Diana Royce-Targaryen, first of her name. The Lady of the Vale.” The guard announced as the door opened. “As well as her betrothed, Prince Aemond Targaryen, first of his name. Future Lord of the Vale.”

Many sets of eyes peered at him, some relieved. Some shocked.

Daemon peered at his newly announced daughter as she entered with the one-eyed prince. She was all him. White hair, purple eyes just like his. But she also had some of that Bronze Bitch in her.

Anger grew in him as well as fear and apprehension. How could he not have been told. She looks not much older than Prince Aemond and Prince Jacaerys.

Diana felt eyes on her and she walked forwards with Aemond, taking her place next to Helaena as she kissed the princesses cheek. “Good afternoon, sister.”

Helaena had smiled at her, relieved before glancing forward and turning away with distress. “He is watching.”

Diana looked up from her place and her purple eyes connected with identical ones across from the room.

She smiled at him, wiggling her fingers at him tauntingly.

I win.

#yandere house of the dragon #aemond targaryen x reader #yandere aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen x oc #house of the dragon x reader #very subtle yandere vibes!!!!

[cer-rata]

A (long) review of the first 5 issues of Wonder Woman (2023) *Full Spoilers*

So I'm a bit of a lapsed comic fan. I grew up on my dad's collection of 90's comics and kept up on and off until the new 52 which did a lot that really put me off. And frankly Marvel wasn't doing much better so I kind of moved onto different fandoms and some smaller runs. Recently however I've decided to try to get back into the hobby more seriously, and while there have been some books that I've really enjoyed, there's been a lot of meh plots and inconsistent characterization pretty much everywhere across the major publishers.

But I was nonetheless excited to see a new Wonder Woman ongoing. Out of the trinity, Diana was always my favorite (a fact that I, as a little closeted boy, kept secret for years. More on that later) and I was aware of some of Tom King's works and was pretty impressed with his "Vision" run, so I was cautiously optimistic about the prospect of a popular modern writer giving Diana some love, and was hoping for a story with some modern nuance and uplifting fun.

The bag has been...mixed at best.

So I'm going to try to be fair about this, because writing genuinely good and transformative comics isn't easy, especially when your editorial is completely unhinged. That being said I do have some serious concerns that I think are really important to talk about.

I'm also lapsed so I haven't read everything religiously the past couple years, so if I get something about canon wrong please correct me in the notes.

I'm going to break this down into a couple of sections to help organize my thoughts. The art is gorgeous generally so I'm not going to spend too much time on that. Let's start with:

Plot

The name of this arc is Wonder Woman: Outlaw, and the first issue is devoted to setting up that premise. The action kicks off when an amazon gets into a bar fight with a group of sexist men, and ends up slaughtering every man in the establishment. The government reacts to this development poorly and ends up ordering the forced deportation of the Amazons that had settled in the states. We're given narration by a mysterious figure, detailing how Diana and her friends lobbied and fought against this obvious injustice but failed, laid over images of an Amazon resisting her deportation with violence, and being gunned down in front of her wife and daughter.

But how, you ask, was the government able to rush through this bizarre reactionary stunt?

Well you see, this is all a part of a scheme by the Sovereign, the CEO of sexism and an American "king" whose family has used the "Lasso of Lies" to control the country for it's entire existence. He showed up in WW #800 with Trinity seeking him out for information, which explains why he's narrating this story. A Wonder Woman book where she isn't the POV character? I'll get more into that later.

Anyway the Sovereign wants to run all of the amazons out of the country or kill them, whatever works, as he believes they're a threat to his rule and masculinity as a whole.

So he's in the background. The foreground antagonist is Sargent Steel, who's been tasked with leading the Amazon deportation and is actively hunting Diana, who he eventually corners as she's paying her respects to the men that the rogue amazon killed. He tries to assassinate her, obviously fails, and Diana extracts some information from him and begins her investigation. See it turns out that after running out of other options, she's trying to hunt down the rogue amazon and figure out what's going on in the hopes that she solve the tensions.

So that's the basic premise of the arc, Diana is trying to solve a murder mystery while being actively hunted by the government. It's not a bad premise on its own honestly, so I was intrigued. The first issue is pretty, well laid out and interesting. The problem is that the following issues don't really deliver on that premise.

Instead of detective!Diana, we spent issue #2 on a (gorgeous) fight with the actual US army, intercut with a flashback of Diana's trial by combat in order to leave Themyscira in the first place. It really is a beautiful issue that really drives home how much of a badass she is, especially since she ends up not killing anyone in the process. Somehow. She did throw tanks at people so...I'm not sure how she...anyway.

Issue #3 is Diana walking into Steel's base, bulldozing through all the security and then bullying him to get some more information about the case, where she finds out that the Amazon is pregnant. Intriguing right? Meanwhile we see the Sovereign showing a young soldier around his house, which is filled with old American historical artifacts. See he wants this kid to push the narrative that Wonder Woman emasculated him and took away his pride, but the soldier doesn't really care? He's actually excited to have fought a superhero and live, and he thinks she's cool. So that won't do, and we're shown the capabilities of the Lasso of Lies, as the Sovereign uses it to implant feelings of discontent and depression into the young soldier, while also ordering him to write a manifesto about Wonder Woman taking his manliness and then to...kill himself. The idea being to create some bad press and push public support away from Diana.

Issue #4 is my favorite in the run so far, devoting most of it's time to watching Diana give a terminally ill kid who idolizes her the best day of his life. I'll get into it when I talk about dialogue later but I think it's the truest depiction of Diana so far, you get to see her kindness, generosity and wisdom. There is a nice moment where she comforts the kid about destiny and soothes his feelings of otherness in the face of the expectation that he should be drawn to a male hero. It's really nice. But also kind of a strange decision in the scope of the plot. As much as I love this moment, I think her taking a day away from her mission of stopping this political disaster and being on the run to just hang out with a kid is...odd from a pacing standpoint. With the lack of effort she's shown so far in dealing with Steel and the machinations of the Sovereign, and the threat to the Amazons happening mostly off screen and with very limited access how Diana's feeling about it all because she's not the narrator, it all wraps up in not feeling very urgent. It's mentioned that she's trying to control her emotions and that makes sense in theory, but with the way she's drawn and written she just seems unbothered.

Meanwhile, Amanda Waller tells Steel that they're just going to throw all of Diana's villains at her and call it a day.

Issue #5 Deals with the Wonder Girls, Cassie, Donna and Yara trying to convince Diana to accept some help. She challenges them to trials where if they can beat her she'll allow them to assist. It's kind of a neat concept, but it highlights a strange piece of this characterization of Wonder Woman: her desire to work alone.

It's...very Batman of her in ways that don't make much sense in the narrative and in the broader scope of her characterization. And it would be more understandable if the conflict was more focused, Diana hunting down Cheetah to try to reform her, a more personal mission. But this literally involves all of her people and could lead to actual war between the states and Themysicra. It seems weirdly shortsighted for her to shun help from adult Women who she's trained and worked with in the past. The rationalization that she doesn't want to endanger them falls completely flat because they're already in danger.

Also what is Yara referring to here? She acts like there's history of them working together and it not working out. Why do they insist on trying to make her a Wonder Girl in the first place?

Anyway they all lose but then ignore the terms of the wager and show up in her apartment in their costumes, not taking no for an answer. And like that they ignored that foolishness, but then I'm bothered that we spent almost an entire issue on this pointless conflict that didn't really teach us anything useful.

But I did say almost, and the rest of the issue is devoted to Steel and the Sovereign convincing some of Diana's greatest foes to join up on a squad to take her down.

Which is...a choice. Don't get me wrong, it's a cool sequence, and It's not an unusual conceit in comics to collect a bunch of villains to take down their nemesis, but as far as I was aware, in this continuity:

Giganta and Silver Swan had buried the hatchet

Circe also helped Diana defeat the upside down man, and seemingly dropped her animosity (and...I...I thought she was trapped in a mirror. How did they get her out?) But regardless, why on earth would Circe agree to work for anyone, especially the US gov?

Grail was never that focused on Diana in the first place, but I could see her wanting to kill her for kicks, but again, why would she agree to work with lesser beings and take orders from mortals?

Angle man is nuts, so, sure

And Dr. Psycho does hate Wonder Woman with a passion so sure.

But this doesn't take into account that if they were to be written correctly, Circe or Grail on their own are justice league threats, and even with the Wonder Girls helping that would be an uphill battle. And then you add all the others, and factor in the dubious choices here in relation to established canon and it leaves me concerned that none of these villains are going to be used properly to their potential, or written in character. The idea that they were convinced to do this in the first place is hand-waved away, likely because there are no real persuasive arguments to get someone like Grail or Circe to job like this.

But enough of that tangent. This upcoming slug fest raises the question: What happened to the investigation into this rogue Amazon? 5 issues in and all we know is her name and that she's pregnant. Diana doesn't even know her name though, because if she did she'd realize that she actually knew the woman. So 5 issues in and the main plot has taken a backseat to watching Wonder Woman be a badass and including a bunch of villains. And don't get me wrong, I love a badass Wonder Woman. I was absolutely thrilled watching her go to work on people. But if you strip away those exciting set pieces and try to follow the plot and themes, there's not much substance there.

And you know, now that we've got an overview of what's happening, let's talk about the greater ideas here.

Themes

So King clearly wants to investigate misogyny in this book, with his villain Johnny Sexism. Uh. I mean, The Sovereign, an old white man who hates women and believes in the divine right of kings and wields the literal Lasso of Lies. And his unwitting sidekick, Military Industrial Complex Man, AKA Sargent Steel.

So it's not inherently bad to personify an social issue. Comics often work in shorthand like that. The issue I have here is that when you have a mastermind character who has manipulated everything behind the scenes, who is ALSO a caricature of a social problem, instead of providing interesting analysis of a systemic problem and its sources and methods, you instead attribute it all to One Evil Man. Which is painfully reductive and misguided. Sexism is complicated, much more complicated that one evil wizard deciding that women are the problem. It's like if you created a vampire slave owner who had been manipulating the country from the shadows and created the system of racism. It's bizarre and not really analysis to suggest that you can just solve social issues by stopping individual bad actors.

The bit with the soldier really crystalized this for me. We are given a kind man who has no misogynistic tendencies, and then the CEO of sexism forcibly implants it into his mind. He's shown personally bullying the president into submission, manipulating Steel, most overt examples of sexism can be tied directly to the Sovereign, which is a bizarre choice that really flattens the narrative weight. Couple that with the fact that the Sovereign is shown to be completely ill-equipped to actually stop Diana. She literally walks through all of his roadblocks, doesn't seem like she's out of control of the situation outside of the opening explanation that she wasn't able to save her sisters. The only real threat so far is the team of villains, and that's framed as Amanda Waller's plan. Why isn't she the villain of this book? And he's the narrator. In a book about sexism, immigration and tribalism, the voice we hear the most is that of the Sovereign. And he doesn't have anything particularity interesting to say. He's not scary, he doesn't seem particularly competent and he provides no interesting analysis so I'm left wondering, why are we centering his perspective over Diana's? In a book lead by a feminist icon, about the evils of sexism, we are completely locked out of her head. She barely gets a chance to speak, and when she does it's clipped and robotic. There's no personality, and certainly no continuity to her popular depictions. I'm all for writers reaching for topics, trying to make social commentary. Some of the best arcs we've ever gotten deal with real issues. But you have to A: Know what you're talking about and B: Actually talk about it. Sexism bad, men bad--it's not enough, it's not analysis, it's not revelatory and by creating such ridiculous caricatures of hyper masculinity, you make it very easy for the average male reader, who I assume you're trying to engage with, to separate themselves from the equation. It's thematic window dressing, and frustrating to see in a Wonder Woman book of all places. I don't think that only woman can write women, that's ridiculous and removes the responsibility to be better from male writers. But, if you're going to talk about social issues that apply to a group you're not a part of, you'd better know what you're talking about. Hell even if you're in that group you still have to know what you're talking about. This is feminism that starts and ends with "Sexism bad" and it's 2024, we have to be smarter about this.

That being said, I think issue #4 has bits of the right idea. Seeing Diana representing something greater than the sexist division that the world perpetuates is great. I felt incredibly seen as a little boy who loved Wonder Woman, and that moment of kindness meant a lot. We're given believable symptoms of sexism, from Jack's dad being uncomfortable with his son idolizing Diana. and Jack having internalized that judgement. It's handled gently and instead of just beating us over the head with obvious allegory, it shows us a taste of what Wonder Woman stands for: a better, more loving world. And it's mostly because it's the most insight that we get from her about how she thinks. The best part of the book about Wonder Woman is, shockingly, the part about Wonder Woman. Why can't we get more of that?

Dialogue

Man it's weird. King is clearly snappy, with a decent sense of humor. There's lots of fun exchanges in this book, particularly the backups, which I'll get to soon. He's pretty good at dialogue, which makes the way he writes Diana so bizarre. Awkward sentence structure, aloof characterization, the grating repeated use of "No thank you" as some sort of catch phrase. What? king has taken the warm beating heart of the trinity and made her distant and robotic. It's kind of impressive. And some of the rationale is that she's in emotional turmoil and trying to maintain appearances. But that's not reflected in the art at all, even when she's alone. We're told that she's conflicted and angry but almost never shown it. She feels like a side character in her own book most of the time. Speaking of side characters:

The Backups

So the running plot here is Damian Wayne and Jon Kent...babysitting? raising? Diana's daughter Lizzie Prince, who is eventually known as the hero Trinity in the future. And it's cute, particularly when they're all younger. King really gets Damian and Jon's characterization and writes some really fun exchanges.

Issue #4 and #5's backups are a little weaker but still really fun.

So my question is...why is the best characterization in this Wonder Woman book the backups starring the Supersons? I love the Supersons! Why are they here? Why would Diana choose them to watch her daughter? Why isn't she on Themyscira or being watched by any of her adult friends, especially those who have actual experience with children? It's fun but feels shoehorned and poorly reasoned. Honestly? I get the feeling that king wants to write this more than he does the main book, and it's mind boggling, because I wouldn't hate him writing supersons, and his version of Jon is the most Jon we've gotten in a while. So why is he writing Wonder Woman?

Conclusion

I think I'll keep reading, mostly to fuel my desire to see what they do with her actual villains, but it's not the smart book I was hoping for. It takes pretty big liberties with characterization and recent canon and there's not much actual commentary to find here. The art and the action are incredible, but the story that should be supporting it is pretty anemic and frustrating, with moments of genuine quality that makes the rest of the book even more disappointing.

Honestly? Just read Amazons Attack instead. Better dialogue, better pacing, better characterization, just more fun.

#wonder woman #wonder woman 2023 #diana prince #dc comics #damian wayne #jon kent #lizzie prince #tom king #daniel sampere

[celticcrossanon]

Hi Celta, so glad you're back and I wish you well. I pray that you will stay healthy, happy, and beautiful. My Tumblr feed was rather uninteresting when you were not around (I need to follow more people!! Lol).

Regarding Camilla, I have always felt that she was the original Meghan, using sex to catch the then future king (Charles) and became successful at it whereas Meghan tried it with the current future king (William) and failed. That’s why Camilla recognized what Meghan was because she was her at another time.

As to why Camilla has become so unhappy as queen, I think she feels the burden of illegitimacy heavily. She knows she’s not a legitimate queen in the hearts of many people. The shadow of Diana looms large even after her death more than a quarter of a century later.

Charles and Camilla stans would like to revise history and paint their story as the greatest love story, that she makes him happy (as if that’s enough to justify her being a queen!), Diana was not a saint, etc.

I think what Camilla (and probably Charles, too) had wanted was to remain the mistress, and let Diana remained the wife and later be queen. Camilla just wanted to be there as the mistress, a normal carry-ons for kings past, and get all the material riches (she keeps asking for money now, is she?), a comfortable life forever, but not the burden of royal duty (Queen Elizabeth at one time did label Camilla as “lazy”).

Unfortunately, Diana was of a newer generation where love trumps all and she could not accept her husband having a side chick and this broke her heart, and it is in the unrelenting quest of love (a love that her husband did not give her) that Diana committed all those unsaintly chasing of men that she eventually did, and put her in a situation that arguably led to her early demise.

I am not excusing Diana, but I understand why she became what she was. She was massively gaslighted by both Charles and Camilla from the get go (Interviewer: Are you in love? Diana: Of course! Charles: Whatever love means.)

I think Charles was also gaslighted by Camilla. If she had not persistently staying there always within his reach, perhaps Charles could have stopped himself from forsaking Diana for her, and things might have turned out differently now. There was a tarot reader I used to watched on YouTube who stated years ago that the marriage of Charles and Camilla is not as happy as they presented, and that from time to time Charles think of Diana and wondered what might have been.

Just imagine if Diana were the queen now, how stratospheric Charles’ popularity (something he has always wanted) would be with the popular Diana by her side, just like how popular William is with a popular and loved princess (Catherine) by his side.

Charles picked the wrong horse, driven by his own cuntstruck gaslighting from Camilla (when Charles accused Harry of being cuntstruck by Meghan, I thought he knew what he was talking about!) And he (Charles) fought so long and schemed so hard for her (Camilla) to become queen, and now that she is one, she is unhappy.

Boohoo!! Some people are just so, so ungrateful.

Hi AranPandora,

I agree that there is an attempt to rewrite the past history of Charles and Camilla, which is a bit useless as many people were there when it happened and know the facts, plus we have scans of newspaper and magazine articles which also show what happened at the time.

Diana turned 20 less than a month before she married 32 year old Charles (who would turn 33 in November) who had a 34 year old mistress, Camilla. Given the age difference, I expected a lot more from both Camilla and Charles than what actually happened.

I remember that "whatever loves means" in the interview and how my heart sank when I heard it. It was not the reply of a man who was in love, and Diana was clearly in love with Charles at that time.

I don't know if Charles still thinks of her, but I would not be surprised if he did, as it is normal to have 'what might have been' moments in your life.

I do think that Charles and Camilla genuinely care for each other. I have seen genuine affection between them, so I don't think it was all 'using sex to trap a man' (that might have been part of it, but I don't think it was all there was to it). That being said, it is obvious that Charles adores Camilla and will do anything for her, but I'm not sure how much Camilla is prepared to do for Charles - I think that while they care for each other, Charles cares for her far more than she cares for him. I could be wrong, but that is how the relationship strikes me.

As I have said before, I think that Camilla would be a lot happier now if she had stayed as a mistress. However, that did not happen, and now both she and Charles have to live with the result of his decision to marry her.

[virgil-is-a-cutie]

Apple salt: Apple & Diana decide to trick Raven into signing the book by staging that Apple has actually gone poof & that the only way to bring her back is to sign. After Raven signs & Apple “reappears”, Raven discovers that she was tricked. She lashes out at the two for tricking her into signing & now she’ll have the same destiny as her mom.

This could go with the ask that has Apple never declared fairest and all that tbh I tried my best

Raven felt her stomach tighten and she felt dizzy as she realized her older half sister and half niece have tricked her into writing on the Storybook.

She was to follow her mother's destiny, the legacy of her ancestors.

"You will regret this Apple," she weakly hissed at the pair who just gave her a small smug smile.

2 years after graduation Apple watches secretly horrified as her father loudly announces that he and Raven, his dearly departed wife's half sister, were to marry. Apple was shocked because her mother was barely in the ground for less than a week and she looks around to look around the White Court to see if any of the members of the royal court were worried.

But they all had smiles.

"This is what you wanted was it not your highness?" the blonde jumps to glance at a duchess next to her, if she was correct the duchess was one of her mother's childhood friend whom she gave a title to because they had been such great friends when younger.

"Y...yes but-"

"Be glad that your father, now The Good King has decided to announce an engagement instead of a wedding. Surely you know the story of the 10th retelling of this story."

The Good King, Joffrey the II, of the 10th retelling of the tale had made a messy divorce with his Queen to marry the Evil Queen of that generation. Having declared that the marriage was invalid since he was the spare of the Charming family and his older brother was meant to marry that generation's Snow White.

And then announced a wedding for him and the Evil Queen the next day.

It had left a stain in the next few generations in both the White line and Charming.

Especially since that Snow White was declared a bastard and was mistreated by that Evil Queen for almost a decade and no prince saved that Snow White till 6 years after she was poisoned and even by then she had had a difficult time taking her right to the White throne after her father and his wife had moved to the Queen Castle in the little kingdom each Queen descendant ruled over after their tale ended.

They had even already had a teen daughter once that Snow White finally could take the throne thanks to the will her mother left before she passed while her daughter was still poisoned.

But Apple was confused, surely her father had to court Raven, it was much too early for an engagement to happen.

They were barely 20 years old and Raven was to marry Apple's recently widowed father?

She didn't know how to feel really.

But she knew the Snow White tale was so close starting.

A month later she witnessed the huge wedding and coronation that was such a huge deal, she had butterflies in her stomach knowing what comes next.

She was 21 when her stepmother gave birth to fraternal twins, a girl and a boy and was given the role to be a lady in waiting for them before she was eventually forced to do heavy chores around the castle.

Years passed and she still wasn't poisoned and she was getting worried because surely she should be poisoned by now. She was becoming worried because her half siblings were about to hit the double digits and she was still not poisoned.

Her body was now sore and tired from all the chores she had been long ago forced to do.

She was desperate.

The twins were now 13 years old and she was still not poisoned and she could see that her father deeply loved Raven, but the ravenette ignored him and did her hardest to rule the White kingdom the best way she could.

She was 34 years old once she was finally poisoned and honestly she was internally embarrassed because she was much too old to be poisoned.

But it was food poisoning that would go down into the Storybook.

And even then she had heard herself from the mirror that Raven was still the most fairest, but before she was poisoned, she had finally heard the mirror say that Princess Narcissa was the most fairest of the land.

The book showed that too and so everyone knew she didn't get the happy ever after she wanted because she was barely 35 years old when she was finally able to take her throne and marry her prince Charming who was 10 years her junior.

She then heard the whispers that Queen Raven had used doctors to get pregnant with the twins, sure the marriage with her and the king was consumated, but she had been able to convince him to have them use doctors to get her pregnant since he was much too old.

She was barely 41 years old when she gave birth to her daughter and by then her looks weren't all there anymore, her 31 year old husband was starting to become infatuated with the 20 year old Princess Narcissa, the Evil Queen to her daughter's Snow White.

Her body ached from the labor she had been forced to endure and she was embarrassed to witness her husband secretly court her old friend's successor. She knew her time was coming soon even if her daughter was barely a year old.

Raven really did promise revenge.

Queen Raven "Evil" King-Queen was still beautiful at 41 years old, still looking as if she were in her late 20s, her daughter catching the eye of the husband of the Snow White that was pathetic in the Snow White tale of her mother's generation.

She was never declared fairest after 2 decades of their tale beginning.

Raven truly did get the last laugh.

#jenny speaks #ever after high #ever after high au #raven queen #apple white

[camchuckforever]

Camilla & Diana

A/N: I KNOW I AM A HEATHEN ANIMAL FOR THIS PAIRING BUT JUST SHHH

Please remember in this stream of stories e’rybody gay af

“I just don’t understand,” she huffed, her blonde hair flounced with her like a cartoon or a drama actor on stage. Everything about her seemed rousing.

“Darling,” Camilla butted in before Charles would dig the hole more. “Charles is—well, he’s gay. But, the future king of England cannot be gay. In the past, I’ve been his front. His beard if you would. Very very few people know. But, he needs heirs and a proper wife to become Queen along side of him.”

Her jaw dropped.

“Does your mother know?” She lightheartedly jabbed a finger toward him.

“Absolutely not!” Charles scoffed. He rose from the settee and paced.

Camilla joined Diana on the same settee.

“You will have endless freedom and be able to take a lover in secret. Your whole life will be planned out and not have to worry about a single tenner. Your children will go to the best schools, and their children, and so on.”

Diana pondered it.

There was a point. And she’d get farther away from her wicked step-mother and worse step-grandmother.

“What if I have a secret as well?”

“This has to work Diana! You’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted!” Charles yelled.

Camilla tutted at him before asking Diana to repeat herself, but she turned in on herself, shy once again. She noted to take the younger woman aside later on—without Charles.

“Charles!” Camilla snapped as he continued on, practically yelling at her about how happy she would be and how much she would love it. “You’re not making it sound very appetizing. Just—Charles—“ she now held up a finger to him. “Leave us for just a minute. Please,” she added as his face began to turn a lovely shade of red.

Charles stormed out of the sitting room, the door slammed behind him as he opened and closed them himself. He’d get a stern talking to if anyone heard it beyond the staff.

“Diana, dear,” Camilla turned to face her. Her full face still showing how young she was. “Charles means well, he truly does. He just doesn’t express his emotions very well, most of the time. Good or bad. It does take some getting used to, but I’ll be here with you. I’ll be your girl Friday if you need.”

“Shouldn’t a lady know her own husband and not second hand knowledge?” Her dream of becoming a princess was turning out to be quite different than what she’d pictured.

“Well, yes. Which is why we’re all three here. England will need a king and queen and heirs. Like I said, you’ll be able to take a lover—practically anyone would drool over you, men or women,” she laughed.

Diana looked down then up at Camilla. The older woman’s hair was flouncy, almost like hers, but less like a ballerina spinning en pointe and more like flyaways she couldn’t quite contain.

“Would you?”

“Would I what?” Camilla scrunched her eyebrows together, unsure of what she was being asked.

Diana took a breath in and reached out to her friend, clasping her hand.

“Would you drool over me?”

Camilla gasped. She bit down on her lower lip.

“I would. I told Charles you were far too pretty for him,” she laughed.

Diana’s breath grew shallow and quick and then—boom—she leaned forward and planted her lips on Camilla’s.

They both sprang back, unsure of what to say or do.

“You like women?” Camilla asked, sliding her hand down Diana’s arm.

“Yes, I believe so. I think men are attractive as well, but women are just so—“ she sighed and leaned back against the couch. “Soft and gorgeous and not harsh and cruel.”

“Oh, I’ve met plenty of cruel women, Diana. You should know growing up as a Spencer, aristocracy isn’t a fairytale.”

“You aren’t cruel and harsh, Camilla.”

They both paused, gaging the other’s look.

Camilla moved in this time, she brought her hand up to Diana’s cheek and stroked her thumb along the soft baby hairs on her face. She pressed her lips against Diana’s who was waiting for the impact. Their lips melded together like dough being kneaded for bread. Diana urged her more, her kissing growing more impatient and more needy. Camilla brought her hand up to cup the younger woman’s breast.

“Alright! Have we figured this out yet—“ Charles paused and slammed the door once more. “Bloody hell! Anyone could have walked in on you two!”

The two women regretfully pulled away, but this time they sat close enough their thighs touched. The tension seemed to break as Charles’ eyes lit up.

“No, no this is good. Right Mills?” He walked over to them and grabbed Camilla’s face by the chin, he pecked her forehead, then did the same to Diana.

“I think so,” Camilla responded, feeling Diana tense up.

“Yes, I think we have figured this out.” Diana reached over and held fast onto Camilla.

The two women looked to each other, the thought of the unknown both terrifying and exciting.

[maturemenoftvandfilms]

The Prince & I

CHAPTER TWO: The Future King

Featuring Charles, Prince of Wales

I'm a 28 PR manager working for a world wide PR firm. Recently, I was hired by Prince Andrew’s personal legal team to help clean up his “highly tarnished” reputation, so he can return to his royal duties. During our meeting, the Duke of York and I became lovers. Over the years, I had come to realize I had a predilection for famous, mature powerful men, especially well dressed ones. It didn't matter who they were. And a member of the British royal family was a prime specimen of this kind of man and the thought of him made me drool with lust.  

Anyway, in between my visits with Andrew, I received a telephone call from his older brother, Charles, Prince of Wales. He asked if I could come over to The Clarence House right away to discuss his brother's situation. I told him I'd be there right away, arriving about an hour later. I was escorted to his office where he sat. He was dressed impeccably in a navy chalk stripe double breasted suit, a crisp white shirt and blue patterned tie. Time had been kind to Prince Charles as he matured into a handsome man (at least in my eyes). His hair was now more white than brown, but this only added to his attractiveness. I was already beginning to tent my pants.

"Thank you for coming." He said.

However, I wasn't greeted by a strong confident man. The prince had a tough year with the loss of his father, Prince Philip and the absence of his own son, as Prince Harry is set to spend the holiday season at his new home in LA with his wife and their children. On top of the situation with Andrew.

As we talked, I took in his visage sitting behind his desk with a decanter of bourbon and a shot glass in front of him, looking tired and defeated with lust was coursing through my veins. I knew he was the Prince of Wales and my client's brother, but I wanted him. Bad. I had fantasized about this for years and it was time to make it happen if I could.

"Looks like you need something to take your mind off of things, your highness." I said as he chuckled in agreement.

"When was the last time you had your cock sucked your highness?" I boldly asked.

Charles froze at the question, so I got up and walked around the desk to remove the obstacle between us. He was still froze, but his lower lip seemed to quiver a bit. As if words were trying to be formed, but my now sexual presence was suffocating them. He quickly took shot of liquor. I then told him he was a very handsome man as I sat on his lap like a little kid. The prince was shocked back into reality and said "Er... this is highly inappropriate..."

I interrupted him by kissing him hard on the mouth with a little tongue thrown in. I was hot and raring to go and sitting in the lap of  the heir apparent to the British throne was quite intoxicating to me. Charles pulled back, seemingly shocked by my actions and replied "I'm the Prince of Wales and a married man. What are you thinking?"

Despite his protest I could feel the substantial bulge at his crotch. I responded by putting my arms around him and burying my face in his neck. He gasped and said "What...my wife... this isn't right."

"Relax your highness, she doesn't have to know." I said as sat in the Prince of Wales' lap, with my arms around him taking in all of the sensations bombarding my senses. The smell of his cologne-scented skin, the soft yet firm feel of his warm body, the soft wool of the suit he was wearing, and his hard-on poking at my ass. It was all too much and a dream come true at the same time.

We sat like this for a while as he was beginning to loosen up, looking into each other's eyes every so often and kissing passionately. Charles gasped about how long it had been since he'd been touched by a male and how good it felt. I asked him how long it had been and he said years ago before I met my first wife, Diana without elaborating further. He then looked at me and said "Where do we go from here?"

"That's up to you, why don't we start with the here and now?" I said before kissing him hard and placing his hand on my erection.

He directed me to lock the office door and told me I was in charge. I did as he asked before coming back, kneeling before him and with his lips still quivering, I slid my hands gently on his upper legs and savored the feel of this beautiful man. Finally, unable to take it anymore, I reached up, undid the buttons on his suit coat to give me clear access to his crotch. I ran my hand over the bulge in his pants noting how hung he must be as he gasped in pleasure.

Then I unfastened his pants, unbuttoned the bottom buttons of his dress shirt exposing his hairy belly, reached into his boxers and extracted my prize. It was 8 inches long, uncut, and beautiful. I looked at him with eyes filled with lust and longing as I slid my tongue up his cock before I slipped my lips over his manhood. Charles moaned and shivered as I deep throated him with everything I had, making him gripped the arms of his leather chair.

"So... good..." The prince moaned as it looked like he was all ready to cum and everything.

I went at this for some time, noting his rapid breathing and increasing excitement to tell when he was getting close. Now feeling my cock flutter uncomfortably in my pants, I stood up, took off my shirt showing his highness my six pack abs before lowing my pants and stepping out of them. He just sat there, observing my body, stroking his cock still rock hard in his hand. Clearly, he had other things on his mind beside me finishing his blow job.

"Come here, sit on my royal cock." Charles said as he spit on his hand, smearing it all over his cock.

I've already been fucked by Andrew's comparable cock, so I knew my hole wouldn't be so tight when accepting Charles's nice uncut cock. I turned around to position myself to the Prince of Wales cock. When I felt the tip of his head tickle my cheeks, I pushed gently down on his cock, it slide into my hole. I moaned out loud feeling it enter, but only half of it got into my ass.

"You seem loose, does this mean you've been fucked before?" Charles said grabbing onto my thighs, pulling me down onto him till I felt his pubic hair brush my smooth butt.

"Yes your highness, I've had a few guys fuck me." I told him as I bounced off him, taking out half of his cock.

Then he slammed my body back into his cock sliding all the way in me. Placing both my hands on my knees, I lifted my ass and slid back down again. I started riding him real fast till we were both dead close to cumming, so it didn't take too much bouncing until that hot cock exploded inside me. He was still inside me when I grabbed my cock and jerked it to finish off. And as I shot my load, my ass muscles tightened around his softening cock and he shot another load inside me. Now for a man in his early seventies, that was impressive. Exhausted, I climbed off him, breathing like I'd just run the marathon.

We became lovers after that and he and I managed to find time between me fucking his brother and his official duties to fuck like wild rabbits.  

#Charles Prince of Wales #Prince Charles #british royal family #royalty #fan fiction #celebrities #The Prince & I #The Future King #King Charles III

[collymore]

Charles and Camilla - nowt special really; just a couple of privileged bed hoppers showing off!

By Stanley Collymore Charles if he had any true guts or genuine gumption, which he evidently didn't, would have married Camilla from the very beginning; when both of them were ordinarily single as it was distinctly clear that he didn't, and hadn't ever loved Diana that was essentially an innocent virgin and irrefutably too an evidently naive teenager, doing as she was basically evidently told. But then, Charles' parents: Liz and Philip the basically longstandingly throughout their very pretentious own married life together; simply the odiously vile hypocritical pair that both of them were with their ongoing adulturous relationships patently attendant too, with their own personal, bastard offsprings. The coterie of Queer, Dyke and paedophile officials, who still proliferate the monarchical institution; Charles' manipulative old cow of a maternal grandmother plus Diana's own grandma, and similarly the then, Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual, Head of the Church of England that had no problem at all whatever in accommondating and also happily doing so on his watch the quite well known to him, later tried; rather criminally convicted too; evil serial paedophile Bishop Peter Ball who he did everything in his power, to simply persuade the cops to drop the case against his friend and even wrote to the court asking the judiciary not to jail this odious, predatory beast.   The same Bishop Peter Ball that was a particularly close friend of Charles, as quite evidently too was Jimmy Savile - incidentally Charles even wanted Jimmy Savile to be Harry's Godfather but Diana sensibly and adamantly wouldn't allow it; Charles also failed in his rather crucially, concerted bid to prevent his very personal friend Bishop Peter Ball from naturally being jailed. Athough the prison term was enormously curtailed. These then, are the so-called stalwarts of British society and the alleged epitome of everything which is supposedly commendable, and ethically pure amongst humanity generally and in Britain decisively that actually objected - can you tuly believe it, to the single Camilla, specifically chosen as the wife of a similarly single Charles! Because, Camilla was adjuged, by these distinctly odious hypocrites as "not pure". Outrightly she was not a virgin! And a weak Charles went along with it! Never mind in the least that Charles himself and rather aptly all those quite opposed to such a marriage, were likewise wallowing in their own lustful, motley, lecherous, debauchery. But you Camilla, officially no way! Not until, that is, quite insultingly virginity tested and assuredly proven so, Diana had produced her Palace requisite, Heir and Spare! But when on her finally waking up, to what so repugnantly she'd unintentionally  become, not a proper wife, but a used Stepford wife and broodmare; but logically rather naturally, rebelling against this was most evilly, murderously and rather fittingly for those who were involved got out of the way! Then you Camilla girl: that earlier unsuitable trollop could become Charlie's wife and similarly be designated, by his complicit mother Liz Windsor, as Britain's nationally impressive and equally significant resplendently chic Queen consort. Although obviously really not for long as we've very transparently seen; with the Palace cronies PR tasked with their unqestionably quite right-wing media worked very unflaggingly to make sure that you imbecillic sycophants gladly crowned, and delight in this vile whore as your Queen. (C) Stanley V. Collymore 7 May 2023. Author's Remarks: People in Britain being forced to use food banks to physically survive and an hereditary, unelected perceived as king by these distinctly identically same serf morons who're currently in obviously dreadful pecuniary circumstances, hail and quite incredulously do applaud this same monarch, ostentatiously draping himself and similarly too his adulterous queen in absence wealth, significantly at these serfs expense. Welcome to the Middle Ages! As for these fawning serfs, there's no cure for stupidity!

#greed #hypocrisy

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Anonymous asked: I have always appreciated your thoughtful views on the defence of the British monarchy, and as a university historian it’s reassuring to see someone using history to make invalubale insights to a controversial institution. I wonder what are your own thoughts on the passing of Prince Philip and what his legacy might be? Was he a gaffe prone racist and a liability to the Queen?

I know you kindly got in touch and identified yourself when you felt I was ignoring your question. I’m glad we cleared that up via DM. The truth is as I said and I’m saying here is that I had to let some time pass before I felt I could reasonably answer this question. Simply because - as you know as someone who teaches history at university - distance is good to make a sober appraisal rather than knee jerk in the moment judgements.

Contrary to what some might think I’m not really a fan girl when it comes to the royal family. I don’t religiously follow their every movement or utterance especially as I live in Paris and therefore I don’t really care about tabloid tittle tattle. I only get to hear of anything to do with the royal family when I speak to my parents or my great aunts and uncles for whom the subject is closer to their heart because of the services my family has rendered over past generations to the monarchy and the older (and dying) tight knit social circles they travel in.

Like Walter Bagehot, I’m more interested in the monarchy as an institution and its constitutional place within the historical, social, and political fabric of Britain and its continued delicate stabilising importance to that effect. It was Walter Bagehot, the great constitutional scholar and editor the Economist magazine, who said, “The mystic reverence, the religious allegiance, which are essential to a true monarchy, are imaginative sentiments that no legislature can manufacture in any people.” In his view, a politically-inactive monarchy served the best interests of the United Kingdom; by abstaining from direct rule, the monarch levitated above the political fray with dignity, and remained a respected personage to whom all subjects could look to as a guiding light.

Even as a staunch monarchist I freely confess that there has always been this odd nature of the relationship between hereditary monarchy and a society increasingly ambivalent about the institution. To paraphrase Bagehot again, there has been too much ‘daylight’ shone onto the ‘magic’ of the monarchy because we are obsessed with personalities as celebrities.

Having said that I did feel saddened by the passing of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. After the Queen, he was my favourite royal. Anne, Princess Royal, would come next because she is very much like her father in temperament, humour, and character, so unlike her other brothers.

I have met the late Prince Philip when I was serving in the army in a few regimental meet-and-greet situations - which as you may know is pretty normal given that members of the royal family serve as honorary colonel-in-chiefs (patrons in effect) of all the British army regiments and corps.I also saw him at one or two social events such the annual charitable Royal Caledonian Ball (he’s an expert scottish reeler) and the Guards Polo Club where my older brothers played.

I’ll will freely confess that he was the one royal I could come close to identify with because his personal biography resonated with me a great deal.

Let’s be honest, the core Windsor family members, born to privilege, are conditioned and raised to be dull. Perhaps that’s a a tad harsh. I would prefer the term ‘anonymously self-effacing’, just another way of saying ‘for God’s sake don’t draw attention to yourself by saying or doing anything even mildly scandalous or political lest it invites public opprobrium and scrutiny’. The Queen magnificently succeeds in this but the others from Charles down just haven’t (with the exception of Princess Anne).

However, many people forget this obvious fact that it’s the incoming husbands and wives who marry into the Windsor family who are relied upon to bring colour and even liven things up a little. And long before Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle (very briefly), or Lady Diana Spencer, were the stars of ‘The Firm’- a phrase first coined by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II's father who ruled from 1936 to 1952, who was thought to have wryly said, "British royals are 'not a family, we're a firm,” - it was Prince Philip who really livened things up and made the greater impact on the monarchy than any of them in the long term.  

Prince Philip’s passing belied the truth of a far more complex individual: a destitute and penniless refugee Greek-Danish prince with a heart breaking backstory that could have been penned by any 19th Century novelist, and also eagle eyed reformer who tried to drag the royal family into the 20th century. At the core of the man - lost scion of a lost European royal dynasty, a courageous war veteran, and Queen’s consort - were values in which he attempted to transform and yet maintain much older inherited traditions and attitudes. Due to his great longevity, Philip’s life came to span a period of social change that is almost unprecedented, and almost no one in history viewed such a transformation from the front row.

Prince Philip would seem to represent in an acute form the best of the values of that era, which in many ways jar with today’s. He had fought with great courage in the war as a dashing young naval officer; he was regularly rude to foreigners, which was obviously a bonus to all Brits. He liked to ride and sail and shoot things. He was unsentimental almost to a comic degree, which felt reassuring at a time when a new-found emotional incontinence made many feel uncomfortable. Outrageous to some but endearing to others, he was the sort of man you’d want to go for a pint with, perhaps the ultimate compliment that an Englishman can pay to another Englishman. This has its own delicious irony as he wasn’t really an Englishman.

There are 4 takeways I would suggest in my appraisal of Prince Philip that stand out for me. So let me go through each one.

1. Prince Philip’s Internationalism

It may seem odd for me to say that Prince Philip wasn’t English but he wasn’t an Englishman in any real sense. He was a wretch of the world - stateless, homeless, and penniless. That the Prince of Nowhere became the British Monarchy’s figurehead was more than fitting for a great age of migration and transition in which the Royal Family survived and even flourished. That he was able to transform himself into the quintessential Englishman is testimony not just to his personal determination but also to the powerful cultural pull of Britishness.

He was born on a kitchen table in Corfu in June 1921. A year later in 1922, Philip, as the the great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria and nephew of Constantine I of Greece, was forced to flee with his family after the abdication of Constantine. He grew up outside Paris speaking French; ethnically he was mostly German although he considered himself Danish, his family originating from the Schleswig border region. He was in effect, despite his demeanour of Royal Navy officer briskness, a citizen of nowhere in an age of movement. From a very young age he was a stateless person, nationally homeless. Indeed, Philip was an outsider in a way that even Meghan Markle could never be; at his wedding in 1947, his three surviving sisters and two brothers-in-law were not permitted to attend because they were literally Britain’s enemies, having fought for the Germans. A third brother-in-law had even been in the SS, working directly for Himmler, but had been killed in the conflict.

Even his religion was slightly exotic. He was Greek Orthodox until he converted to Anglicanism on marrying Elizabeth - what with his wife due to become supreme head of the Church and everything  - but his ties with eastern Christianity remained. His great-aunts Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine and Tsarina Alexandra are both martyrs of the Russian Orthodox Church, having been murdered by the Bolsheviks; Philip’s mother went on to become an Orthodox nun and a “Righteous Among the Nations” for saving a Jewish family during the Nazi occupation of Greece, spending much of her time in squalid poverty.

His parents were part of the largely German extended aristocracy who ruled almost all of Europe before it all came crashing down in 1918. When he died, aged 99, it marked a near-century in which all the great ideological struggles had been and gone; he had been born before the Soviet Union but outlived the Cold War, the War on Terror and - almost - Covid-19.

The world that Philip was born into was a far more violent and dangerous place than ours. In the year he was born, Irish rebels were still fighting Black and Tans; over the course of 12 months the Spanish and Japanese prime ministers were assassinated, there was a coup in Portugal and race riots in the United States. Germany was rocked by violence from the far-Left and far-Right, while in Italy a brutal new political movement, the Fascists, secured 30 seats in parliament, led by a trashy journalist called Benito Mussolini.

The worst violence, however, took place in Greece and Turkey. Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, what remained of Turkey was marked for permanent enfeeblement by the Allies. But much to everyone’s surprise the country’s force were roused by the brilliant officer Mustafa Kemal, who led the Turks to victory. Constantinople was lost to Christendom for good and thousands of years of Hellenic culture was put to the flames in Smyrna.

The Greek royal family, north German imports shipped in during the 19th century, bore much of the popular anger for this disaster. King Constantine fled to Italy, and his brother Andrew was arrested and only escaped execution through the intervention of his relative Britain’s George V. Andrew’s wife Alice, their four daughters and infant son Philip fled to France, completely impoverished but with the one possession that ensures that aristocrats are never truly poor: connections.

Philip had a traumatic childhood. He was forged by the turmoil of his first decade and then moulded by his schooling. His early years were spent wandering, as his place of birth ejected him, his family disintegrated and he moved from country to country, none of them ever his own. When he was just a year old, he and his family were scooped up by a British destroyer from his home on the Greek island of Corfu after his father had been condemned to death. They were deposited in Italy. One of Philip's first international journeys was spent crawling around on the floor of the train from an Italian port city, "the grubby child on the desolate train pulling out of the Brindisi night," as his older sister Sophia later described it.

In Paris, he lived in a house borrowed from a relative; but it was not destined to become a home. In just one year, while he was at boarding school in Britain, the mental health of his mother, Princess Alice, deteriorated and she went into an asylum; his father, Prince Andrew, went off to Monte Carlo to live with his mistress. "I don't think anybody thinks I had a father," he once said. Andrew would die during the war. Philip went to Monte Carlo to pick up his father's possessions after the Germans had been driven from France; there was almost nothing left, just a couple of clothes brushes and some cuff-links.

Philip’s four sisters were all much older, and were soon all married to German aristocrats (the youngest would soon die in an aeroplane crash, along with her husband and children). His sisters became ever more embroiled in the German regime. In Scotland going to Gordonstoun boarding school, Philip went the opposite direction, becoming ever more British. Following the death of his sister Cecilie in a plane crash in 1937, the gulf widened. As the clouds of conflict gathered, the family simply disintegrated. With a flash of the flinty stoicism that many would later interpret, with no little justification, as self-reliance to the point of dispassion, the prince explained: “It’s simply what happened. The family broke up… I just had to get on with it. You do. One does.”

In the space of 10 years he had gone from a prince of Greece to a wandering, homeless, and virtually penniless boy with no-one to care for him. He got through it by making a joke of everything, and by being practical.

By the time he went to Gordonstoun, a private boarding school on the north coast of Scotland, Philip was tough, independent and able to fend for himself; he'd had to be. Gordonstoun would channel those traits into the school's distinct philosophy of community service, teamwork, responsibility and respect for the individual. And it sparked one of the great passions of Philip's life - his love of the sea. It was Gordonstoun that nurtured that love through the maturation of his character.

Philip adored the school as much as his son Charles would despise it. Not just because the stress it put on physical as well as mental excellence - he was a great sportsman. But because of its ethos, laid down by its founder Kurt Hahn, a Jewish exile from Nazi Germany.

Hahn first met Philip as a boy in Nazi Germany. Through a connection via one of his sister’s husbands, Philip, the poor, lonely boy was first sent off to a new school - in Nazi Germany. Which was as fun as can be imagined. Schloss Salem had been co-founded by stern educator called Kurt Hahn, a tough, discipline-obsessed conservative nationalist who saw civilisation in inexorable decline. But by this stage Hahn, persecuted for being Jewish in Nazi Germany, had fled to Britain, and Philip did not spend long at the school either, where pressure from the authorities was already making things difficult for the teachers. Philip laughed at the Nazis at first, because their salute was the same gesture the boys at his previous school had to make when they wanted to go to the toilet, but within a year he was back in England, a refugee once again.

Philip happily attended Hahn’s new school, Gordonstoun, which the strict disciplinarian had set up in the Scottish Highlands. Inspired by Ancient Sparta, the boys (and then later girls) had to run around barefoot and endure cold showers, even in winter, the whole aim of which was to drive away the inevitable civilisational decay Hahn saw all around him. To 21st century ears it sounds like hell on earth, yet Philip enjoyed it, illustrating just what a totally alien world he came from.

That ethos became a significant, perhaps the significant, part of the way that Philip believed life should be lived. It shines through the speeches he gave later in his life. "The essence of freedom," he would say in Ghana in 1958, "is discipline and self-control." The comforts of the post-war era, he told the British Schools Exploring Society a year earlier, may be important "but it is much more important that the human spirit should not be stifled by easy living". And two years before that, he spoke to the boys of Ipswich School of the moral as well as material imperatives of life, with the "importance of the individual" as the "guiding principle of our society".

It was at Gordonstoun one of the great contradictions of Philip's fascinating life was born. The importance of the individual was what in Kurt Hahn's eyes differentiated Britain and liberal democracies from the kind of totalitarian dictatorship that he had fled. Philip put that centrality of the individual, and individual agency - the ability we have as humans to make our own moral and ethical decisions - at the heart of his philosophy.

At Dartmouth Naval College in 1939, the two great passions of his life would collide. He had learned to sail at Gordonstoun; he would learn to lead at Dartmouth. And his driving desire to achieve, and to win, would shine through. Despite entering the college far later than most other cadets, he would graduate top of his class in 1940. In further training at Portsmouth, he gained the top grade in four out of five sections of the exam. He became one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy.

The navy ran deep in his family. His maternal grandfather had been the First Sea Lord, the commander of the Royal Navy; his uncle, "Dickie" Mountbatten, had command of a destroyer while Philip was in training. In war, he showed not only bravery but guile. It was his natural milieu. "Prince Philip", wrote Gordonstoun headmaster Kurt Hahn admiringly, "will make his mark in any profession where he will have to prove himself in a trial of strength".

2. Prince Philip and the modernisation of the monarchy

In his own words, the process of defining what it meant to be a royal consort was one of “trial and error.” Speaking with BBC One’s Fiona Bruce in 2011, Philip explained, “There was no precedent. If I asked somebody, 'What do you expect me to do?' they all looked blank. They had no bloody idea, nobody had much idea.” So he forged for himself a role as a moderniser of the monarchy.

He could not have had much idea back in 1939. Back then in Dartmouth in 1939, as war became ever more certain, the navy was his destiny. He had fallen in love with the sea itself. "It is an extraordinary master or mistress," he would say later, "it has such extraordinary moods." But a rival to the sea would come.

When King George VI toured Dartmouth Naval College, accompanied by Philip's uncle, he brought with him his daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Philip was asked to look after her. He showed off to her, vaulting the nets of the tennis court in the grounds of the college. He was confident, outgoing, strikingly handsome, of royal blood if without a throne. She was beautiful, a little sheltered, a little serious, and very smitten by Philip.

Did he know then that this was a collision of two great passions? That he could not have the sea and the beautiful young woman? For a time after their wedding in 1948, he did have both. As young newlyweds in Malta, he had what he so prized - command of a ship - and they had two idyllic years together. But the illness and then early death of King George VI brought it all to an end.

He knew what it meant, the moment he was told. Up in a lodge in Kenya, touring Africa, with Princess Elizabeth in place of the King, Philip was told first of the monarch's death in February 1952. He looked, said his equerry Mike Parker, "as if a ton of bricks had fallen on him". For some time he sat, slumped in a chair, a newspaper covering his head and chest. His princess had become the Queen. His world had changed irrevocably.

While the late Princess Diana was later to famously claim that there were “three people” in her marriage - herself, Prince Charles and Camilla - there were at least 55 million in Philip and Elizabeth’s. As Elizabeth dedicated her life to her people at Westminster Abbey at the Coronation on June 2, 1953, it sparked something of an existential crisis in Philip. Many people even after his death have never really understood this pivotal moment in Philip’s life. All his dreams of being a naval officer and a life at sea as well as being the primary provider and partner in his marriage were now sacrificed on the altar of duty and love.

With his career was now over, and he was now destined to become the spare part. Philip, very reasonably, asked that his future children and indeed his family be known by his name, Mountbatten. In effect he was asking to change the royal family’s name from the House of Windsor to the House of Mountbatten. But when Prime Minister Winston Churchill got wind of it as well as the more politically agile courtiers behind the Queen, a prolonged battle of wits ensued, and it was one Philip ultimately lost. It was only in 1957 that he accepted the title of “Prince.”

Even though he had almost lost everything dear to him and his role now undefined, he didn’t throw himself a pity party. He just got on with it. Philip tried to forge his own distinct role as second fiddle to the woman who had come to represent Great Britain. He designated himself the First Officer of the Good Ship Windsor. He set about dusting off some of the cobwebs off the throne and letting some daylight unto the workings of the monarchy by advocating reasonable amount of modernisation of the monarchy.

He had ideas about modernising the royal family that might be called “improving optics” today. But in his heart of hearts he didn’t want the monarchy to become a stuffy museum piece. He envisaged a less stuffy and more popular monarchy, relevant to the lives of ordinary people. Progress was always going to be incremental as he had sturdy opposition from the old guard who wanted to keep everything as it was, but nevertheless his stubborn energy resulted in significant changes.

When a commission chaired by Prince Philip proposed broadcasting the 1953 investiture ceremony that formally named Elizabeth II as queen on live television, Prime Minister Winston Churchill reacted with outright horror, declaring, “It would be unfitting that the whole ceremony should be presented as if it were a theatrical performance.” Though the queen had initially voiced similar concerns, she eventually came around to the idea, allowing the broadcast of all but one segment of the coronation. Ultimately, according to the BBC, more than 20 million people tuned in to the televised ceremony - a credit to the foresight of Philip.

Elizabeth’s coronation marked a watershed moment for a monarchy that has, historically, been very hands off, old-fashioned and slightly invisible. Over the following years, the royals continued to embrace television as a way of connecting with the British people: In 1957, the queen delivered her annual Christmas address during a live broadcast. Again, this was Philip’s doing when he cajoled the Queen to televise her message live. He even helped her in how to use the teleprompter to get over her nerves and be herself on screen.

Four years later, in 1961, Philip became the first family member to sit for a television interview. It is hard for us to imagine now but back then it was huge. For many it was a significant step in modernising the monarchy.

Though not everything went to plan. Toward the end of the decade, the Windsors even invited cameras into their home. A 1969 BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary, instigated by Philip to show life behind the scenes, turned into an unmitigated disaster: “The Windsors” revealed the royals to be a fairly normal, if very rich, British upper-class family who liked barbecues, ice cream, watching television and bickering. The mystery of royalty took a hit below the waterline from their own torpedo, a self-inflicted wound from which they took a long time to recover. Shown once, the documentary was never aired again. But it had an irreversible effect, and not just by revealing the royals to be ordinary. By allowing the cameras in, Philip opened the lid to the prying eyes of the paparazzi who could legitimately argue that since the Royals themselves had sanctioned exposure, anything went. From then on, minor members of the House of Windsor were picked off by the press, like helpless tethered animals on a hunting safari.

Prince Philip also took steps to reorganise and renovate the royal estates in Sandringham and Balmoral such as intercoms, modern dish washers,  generally sought to make the royal household and the monarchy less stuffy, not to have so much formality everywhere.

Philip helped modernised the monarchy in other ways to acknowledge that the monarchy could be responsive to changes in society. It was Prince Philip - much to the chagrin of the haughty Princess Margaret and other stuffy old courtiers - who persuaded the Queen to host informal lunches and garden parties designed to engage a broader swath of the British public. Conversely, Prince Philip heartily encouraged the Queen (she was all for it apparently but was still finding her feet as a new monarch) to end the traditional practice of presenting debutantes from aristocratic backgrounds at court in 1952. For Philip and others it felt antiquated and out of touch with society. I know in speaking to my grandmother and others in her generation the decision was received with disbelief at how this foreign penniless upstart could come and stomp on the dreams of mothers left to clutch their pearls at the prospect there would be no shop window for their daughter to attract a suitable gentleman for marriage. One of my great aunts was over the moon happy that she never would have to go through what she saw as a very silly ceremony because she preferred her muddy wellies to high heels. 

A former senior member of the royal household, who spent several years working as one of Prince Philip’s aides, and an old family friend, once told us around a family dinner table that the Duke of Edinburgh was undoubtedly given a sense of permanence by his marriage into the Royal Family that was missing from earlier years. But the royal aide would hastily add that Prince Philip, of course, would never see it that way.

Prince Philip’s attitude was to never brood on things or seek excuses. And he did indeed get on with the job in his own way  - there should be no doubt that when it came to building and strengthening the Royal Family it was a partnership of equals with the Queen. Indeed contrary to Netflix’s hugely popular series ‘The Crown’ and its depiction of the royal marriage with Philip’s resentment at playing second fiddle, the prince recognised that his “first duty was to serve the Queen in the best way I could,” as he told ITV in 2011. Though this role was somewhat ill-suited to his dynamic, driven, and outspoken temperament, Philip performed it with utter devotion.

3. Prince Philip’s legacy

One could argue rightly that modernising the monarchy was his lasting legacy achievement. But he also tried to modernise a spent and exhausted Britain as it emerged from a ruinous war. When peace came, and with it eventual economic recovery, Philip would throw himself into the construction of a better Britain, urging the country to adopt scientific methods, embracing the ideas of industrial design, planning, education and training. A decade before Harold Wilson talked of the "white heat of the technological revolution", Philip was urging modernity on the nation in speeches and interviews. He was on top of his reading of the latest scientific breakthroughs and well read in break out innovations.

This interest in modernisation was only matched by his love for nature. As the country and the world became richer and consumed ever more, Philip warned of the impact on the environment, well before it was even vaguely fashionable. As president of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the UK for more than 20 years from 1961, he was one of the first high-profile advocates of the cause of conservation and biological diversity at a time when it was considered the preserve of an eccentric few.

For a generation of school children in Britain and the Commonwealth though, his most lasting legacy and achievement will be the Duke of Edinburgh Awards (DofE). He set up the Duke of Edinburgh award, a scheme aimed at getting young people out into nature in search of adventure or be of service to their communities. It was a scheme that could match the legacy of Baden Powell’s scouts movement. 

When Prince Philip first outlined his idea of a scheme to harness the values of his education at Gordonstoun by bringing character-building outdoor pursuits to the many rather than the fee-paying few, he received short shrift from the government of the day. The then minister of education, Sir David Eccles responded to the Duke’s proposal by saying: “I hear you’re trying to invent something like the Hitler Youth.” Undeterred he pushed on until it came to fruition.

I’m so glad that he did. I remember how proud I was for getting my DofE Awards while I was at boarding school. With the support of great mentors I managed to achieve my goals: collecting second-hand English books for a literacy programme for orphaned street children in Delhi, India with a close Indian school friend and her family; and completing a 350 mile hike following St. Olav’s Pilgrimmage Trail from Selånger, on the east coast of Sweden, and ending at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, on the west coast of Norway.

It continues to be an enduring legacy.  Since its launch in 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh awards have been bestowed upon some 2.5 million youngsters in Britain and some eight million worldwide. For a man who once referred to himself as a “Greek princeling of no consequence”, his pioneering tutelage of these two organisations (alongside some 778 other organisations of which he was either president or a patron) would be sufficient legacy for most.

4. Prince Philip’s character

It may surprise some but what I liked most about Prince Philip was the very thing that helped him achieve so much and leave a lasting legacy: his character.

It is unhelpful to the caricature of Prince Philip as an unwavering but pugnacious consort whose chief talent was a dizzying facility in off-colour one-liners that he was widely read and probably the cleverest member of his family.

His private library at Windsor consists of 11,000 tomes, among them 200 volumes of poetry. He was a fan of Jung, TS Eliot, Shakespeare and the cookery writer Elizabeth David. As well as a lifelong fascination with science, technology and sport, he spoke fairly fluent French, painted and wrote a well received book on birds. It’s maddening to think how many underestimated his genuine intellect and how cultured he was behind the crusty exterior.

He didn’t have an entourage to fawn around him. He was the first to own a computer at Buckingham Palace. He answered his own phone and wrote and responded to his own correspondence. By force of character he fought the old guard courtiers at every turn to modernise the monarchy  against their stubborn resistance.

Prince Philip was never given to self-analysis or reflection on the past. Various television interviewers tried without success to coerce him in to commenting on his legacy.But once when his guard was down he asked on the occasion of his 90th birthday what he was more proud of, he replied with characteristic bluntness: “I couldn’t care less. Who cares what I think about it, I mean it’s ridiculous.”

All of which neatly raises the profound aversion to fuss and the proclivity for tetchiness often expressed in withering put-downs that, for better or worse, will be the reflex memory for many of the Duke of Edinburgh. If character is a two edged sword so what of his gaffes? 

There is no doubt his cult status partly owed to his so-called legendary gaffes, of which there are enough to fill a book (indeed there is a book). But he was no racist. None of the Commonwealth people or foreign heads of state ever said this about him. Only leftist republicans with too much Twitter time on their hands screamed such a ridiculous accusation. They’re just overly sensitive snowflakes and being devoid of any humour they’re easily triggered.

There was the time that Philip accepted a gift from a local in Kenya, telling her she was a kind woman, and then adding: “You are a woman, aren’t you?” Or the occasion he remarked “You managed not to get eaten, then?” to a student trekking in Papua New Guinea. Then there was his World Wildlife Fund speech in 1986, when he said: “If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not an aeroplane, and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it.” Well, he wasn’t wrong.

Philip quickly developed a reputation for what he once defined, to the General Dental Council, as “dentopedology – the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it”. Clearly he could laugh at himself as he often did as an ice breaker to put others at ease.

His remarking to the president of Nigeria, who was wearing national dress, “You look like you’re ready for bed”, or advising British students in China not to stay too long or they would end up with “slitty eyes”, is probably best written off as ill-judged humour. Telling a photographer to “just take the fucking picture” or declaring “this thing open, whatever it is”, were expressions of exasperation or weariness with which anyone might sympathise.

Above all, he was also capable of genuine if earthy wit, saying of his horse-loving daughter Princess Anne: “If it doesn’t fart or eat hay she isn’t interested.” Many people might have thought it but few dared say it. If Prince Philip’s famous gaffes provoked as much amusement as anger, it was precisely because they seem to give voice to the bewilderment and pent-up frustrations with which many people viewed the ever-changing modern world.

A former royal protection officer recounts how while on night duty guarding a visiting Queen and consort, he engaged in conversation with colleagues on a passing patrol. It was 2am and the officer had understood the royal couple to be staying elsewhere in the building until a window above his head was abruptly slammed open and an irate Prince Philip stuck his head out of the window to shout: “Would you fuck off!” Without another word, he then shut the window.

The Duke at least recognised from an early age that he was possessed of an abruptness that could all too easily cross the line from the refreshingly salty to crass effrontery.

One of his most perceptive biographers, Philip Eade, recounted how at the age of 21 the prince wrote a letter to a relation whose son had recently been killed in combat. He wrote: “I know you will never think much of me. I am rude and unmannerly and I say things out of turn which I realise afterwards must have hurt someone. Then I am filled with remorse and I try to put matters right.”

In the case of the royal protection officer, the Duke turned up in the room used by the police officers when off duty and said: “Terribly sorry about last night, wasn’t quite feeling myself.”

Aides have also ventured to explain away some of their employer’s more outlandish remarks - from asking Cayman islanders “You are descended from pirates aren’t you?” to enquiring of a female fashion writer if she was wearing mink knickers - as the price of his instinctive desire to prick the pomposity of his presence with a quip to put others at ease.

Indeed many people forget that his ‘gaffes’ were more typical of the clubbish humour of the British officer class – which of course would be less appreciated, sometimes even offensive, to other ears. It’s why he could relate so well to veterans who enjoyed his bonhomie company immensely.

But behind the irascibility, some have argued there also lay a darker nature, unpleasantly distilled in his flinty attitude to his eldest son. One anecdote tells of how, in the aftermath of the murder of the Duke’s uncle and surrogate father, Lord Mountbatten,  Philip lectured his son, who was also extremely fond of his “honorary grandfather”, that he was not to succumb to self-pity. Charles left the room in tears and when his father was asked why he had spoken to his son with so little compassion, the Duke replied: “Because if there’s any crying to be done I want it to happen within this house, in front of his family, not in public. He must be toughened up, right now.”

But here I would say that Prince Philip’s intentions were almost always sincere and in no way cruel. He has always tried to protect his family - even from their own worst selves or from those outside the family ‘firm’ who may not have their best interest at heart.

In 1937, a 16-year-old Prince Philip had walked behind his elder sister Cecile’s coffin after she was killed in a plane crash while heavily pregnant. The remains of newly-born infant found in the wreckage suggested the aircraft had perished as the pilot sought to make an emergency landing in fog as the mother entered childbirth. It was an excruciating taste of tragedy which would one day manifest itself in a very princely form of kindness that was deep down that defined Philip’s character.

When about 60 years later Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spin doctors in Downing Street tried to strong arm the Queen and the royal household over the the arrangements for the late Prince Diana’s funeral, it was Philip who stepped in front to protect his family. The Prime Minister and his media savvy spin doctors wanted the two young princes, William and Harry, to walk behind the coffin.

The infamous exchange was on the phone during a conference call between London and Balmoral, and the emotional Philip was reportedly backed by the Queen. The call was witnessed by Anji Hunter, who worked for Mr Blair. She said how surprised she was to hear Prince Philip’s emotion. ‘It’s about the boys,” he cried, “They’ve lost their mother”. Hunter thought to herself, “My God, there’s a bit of suffering going on up there”.’

Sky TV political commentator Adam Boulton (Anji Hunter’s husband) would write in his book Tony’s Ten Years: ‘The Queen relished the moment when Philip bellowed over the speakerphone from Balmoral, “Fuck off. We are talking about two boys who have just lost their mother”. Boulton goes on to say that Philip: ‘…was trying to remind everyone that human feelings were involved. No 10 were trying to help the Royals present things in the best way, but may have seemed insensitive.’

In the end the politicians almost didn’t get their way. Prince Philip stepped in to counsel his grandson, Prince William, after he had expressed a reluctance to follow his mother’s coffin after her death in Paris. Philip told the grieving child: “If you don’t walk, I think you’ll regret it later. If I walk, will you walk with me?”

It’s no wonder he was sought as a counsellor by other senior royals and especially close to his grandchildren, for whom he was a firm favourite. His relationship with Harry was said to have become strained, however, following the younger Prince’s decision to reject his royal inheritance for a life away from the public eye in America with his new American wife, Meghan Markle. For Prince Philip I am quite sure it went against all the elder Prince had lived his life by - self-sacrifice for the greater cause of royalty.

This is the key to Philip’s character and in understanding the man. The ingrained habits of a lifetime of duty and service in one form or another were never far away.

In conclusion then....

After more time passes I am sure historians will make a richer reassessment of Prince Philip’s life and legacy. Because Prince Philip was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life; a life intimately connected with the sweeping changes of our turbulent 20th Century, a life of fascinating contrast and contradiction, of service and some degree of solitude. A complex, clever, eternally restless man that not even the suffocating protocols of royalty and tradition could bind him.

Although he fully accepted the limitations of public royal service, he did not see this as any reason for passive self-abnegation, but actively, if ironically, identified with his potentially undignified role. It is this bold and humorous embrace of fated restriction which many now find irksome: one is no longer supposed to mix public performance with private self-expression in quite this manner.

Yet such a mix is authentically Socratic: the proof that the doing of one’s duty can also be the way of self-fulfilment. The Duke’s sacrifice of career to romance and ceremonial office is all the more impressive for his not hiding some annoyance. The combination of his restless temperament and his deeply felt devotion to duty found fruitful expression; for instance, in the work of Saint George’s House Windsor - a centre and retreat that he created with Revd. Robin Woods - in exploring religious faith, philosophy, and contemporary issues.

Above all he developed a way to be male that was both traditional and modern. He served one woman with chivalric devotion as his main task in life while fulfilling his public engagements in a bold and active spirit. He eventually embraced the opportunity to read and contemplate more. And yet, he remained loyal to the imperatives of his mentor Kurt Hahn in seeking to combine imagination with action and religious devotion with practical involvement.

Prince Philip took more pride in the roles he had accidentally inherited than in the personal gifts which he was never able fully to develop. He put companionship before self-realisation and acceptance of a sacred symbolic destiny before the mere influencing of events. In all these respects he implicitly rebuked our prevailing meritocracy which over-values officially accredited attainment, and our prevailing narcissism which valorises the assertion of discrete identities.

Prince Philip was Britain’s longest-serving consort. He was steadfast, duty driven, and a necessary adjunct to the continuity and stability of the Queen and the monarchy. Of all the institutions that have lost the faith of the British public in this period - the Church, Parliament, the media, the police - the Monarchy itself has surprisingly done better than most at surviving, curiously well-adapted to a period of societal change and moral anarchy. The House of Hanover and later Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (changed to Windsor), since their arrival in this country in 1714, have been noted above all for their ability to adapt. And just as they survived the Victorian age by transforming themselves into the bourgeoise, domestic ideal, so they have survived the new Elizabethan era (Harry-Meghan saga is just a passing blip like the Edward-Wallis Simpson saga of the 1930s).

There was once a time when the Royal’s German blood was a punchline for crude and xenophobic satirists. Now it is the royals who are deeply British while the country itself is increasingly cosmopolitan and globalised. British society has seen a greater demographic change than the preceding four or five thousand years combined, the second Elizabethan age has been characterised more than anything by a transformational movement of people. Prince Philip, the Greek-born, Danish-German persecuted and destitute wanderer who came to become one of the Greatest Britons of the past century, perhaps epitomised that era better than anyone else. And he got through it by making a joke of everything, and by being practical.

I hope I don’t exaggerate when I say that in our troubled times over identity, and our place and purpose in the world, we need to heed his selfless example more than ever.

As Heraclitus wisely said,  Ήθος ανθρώπω δαίμων (Character is destiny.)

RIP Prince Philip. You were my prince. God damn you, I miss you already.

Thanks for your question.

#question #ask #prince philip #duke of edinburgh #queen elizabeth II #the queen of spades #monarchy #britain #british #royalty #politics #history #culture #europe #crown #icon #great briton #society

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✨Headcanon time✨

Genevieve is Jewish. Ik ik she celebrates Christmas with the 19th cenqueery gang but hear me out. Imagine Madeleine going to visit Genevieve’s grave with Atalanta when she first arrives in Mirror. They collect rocks and when they go to put them on the grave, Madeleine starts crying because their rocks barely fit on Genevieve’s tombstone because there are so many other rocks and Madeleine starts to truly realize how much time has gone by since she’d been turned into a statue. (Also Madeleine decides to learn Hebrew and Yiddish later on as a way to honour her, like she did with Aaron and Sydney, only in a much healthier way)

Whenever Morgan does something badass and Lucas is proud of her, he doesn’t say, “that’s my wife!” He says, “I’m her husband!” Like “yeah, that bombshell of a woman choose me and my love of fucking CAD!!”

For his twentieth birthday, Sydney writes Camille a fairy tale about a boy cursed to be trapped inside his own body for all of eternity until he’s saved by his platonic Prince Charming and Camille and Marcus both get very emotional over it

I really hope these aren’t too terrible 😅

~headcanon time~

Tbh I had never thought of characters's religions, ik the 19th cenqueery gang would probably have to be Anglican (although I think Camille would end up being an atheist) and that Saz are atheists because *yes* but from now on Genevieve is Jewish! Also, ik this was to talk about Madeleine/Genevieve, but I have to talk a little bit more about Genevieve being Jewish because I've just realised that one of her descendants is named after a fucking Jewish king lol, and guess who's also of (distant) Jewish heritage?

Ofc, I'd have to read on Scottish Jews, get more info on Judaism as a whole since Genevieve would be religious (and I'm sorry but my knowledge of Judaism is very poor), and probably ask you if a writing doubt arises? But, yeah, you've just made at least 4 characters Jewish/ethnically Jewish/of Jewish descent.

Anyways, Madeleine actually hasn't visited Genevieve's tomb, because it's it in the middle of the Aboveground Scottish's nowhere, it's private property, and Atalanta has very bad memories of the place (even if she doesn't know that one of the tombs there was Genevieve's, since this happened before TSC). But Madeleine will eventually visit her tomb, with Atalanta, maybe Diana, and someone else. I want her to know everything the 19th cenqueery gang did to remember her. And I want Madeleine to keep their memory with her --in a healthy way ofc-- so I'll try to see if I can fit in that scene!

(If Madeleine learns Yiddish and Hebrew, Wagner let me tell you I have the *perfect* teacher for her dosnakajsjsjakaka)

As for Lucas, he's more the type to have a short-circuit every time Morgan does something badass, Xiuying probably has a 100-photo file titled 'Lucas.exe has stopped working' with his reactions, but YES. After everything they've been through, he won't shut up about being Morgan's husband when they marry. Listen, men from Mirror China don't change their surnames when they marry, but Lucas? Yeah, no, he's very proudly Lucas Hao, Morgan Badass Hao's husband.

ALSO

(But Lucas would like to disagree with you, that nerd does arrays for fun)

MCOSMWISNWIANSIWNSISNWOWK WAGNER THAT'S LITERALLY SOMETHING SYDNEY WOULD DO 1000%

I'd ask you if I could write a short story about this, but I won't lie, I don't have time and have to write biagc + other short stories (the Coraline/Adelaide short story pt2? Yeah I haven't forgotten about it lol), so... I fucking love that headcanon, and if you want to flesh it out into something more detailed, you can definitely do it (I hope that doesn't sound like I'm pushing you to do something, I'm not lol, please believe me).

THESE WERE NOT TERRIBLE AT ALL WAGNER

#not to sound too self-absorbed but I can't wait for ck day #asks! #wagner! #the kinship chronicles #tkc

[scullysflannel]

but pls explain me season 6 🤪 (i would love to hear ur reading of mulder in s6)

lol neither one of us expected this to be 1400 words long but here we are.

So my first and most honest take on Mulder and Scully in season 6 is just that the writers were playing the game more that season. They spent five years subverting the Hollywood idea that two people who love each other have to act like they hate each other, and then the show moved to L.A. and the writers were like okay! It’s trope time! And they dropped a cow through Mulder’s roof so there would only be one motel bed for him to share with Scully. I respect the game. It’s my favorite season. But it’s a big shift from the way Mulder and Scully were written before, and it really only works because the season winds up being thematically cohesive enough to justify it, to a degree that was probably sometimes intentional and other times definitely not. Like in Arcadia I think we can all agree the writers were simply men making bad jokes about marriage.

But in the big picture, so much of the season supports the idea that Mulder and Scully are backsliding because they’re fighting the next stage of their relationship. I’ve said this before, but I think the hallway confession in Fight the Future is massive for Mulder and Scully in season 6. Way bigger than Diana. Scully says it in the season premiere: When Mulder told her that he needs her to be his scientist, the lesson she took from that was that she can’t change. The whole season thematically is about the two of them being afraid to let themselves change each other or admit they already have, because they’re afraid that if they stop being the Skeptic and Believer they stop working. They don’t want to risk losing each other. But they can’t be in a relationship if they can’t be changed by each other. So they’re stuck in this terrible limbo, and they’re not happy about it, especially because they’re already at a point where the roles they’re playing don’t fit them anymore. And at a macro level that’s honestly some of the best justification for “will they/won’t they” screwball comedy fanservice I’ve ever heard.

I love all the ways the season plays with Mulder and Scully’s anxiety. In Dreamland Mulder gets trapped in traditional married life; in Arcadia Scully signs them up for it and all he does is mock her; in The Rain King they keep getting mistaken for a couple. They’re always having to confront these domestic expectations. Neither one of them wants that life, but they were both kind of bred to expect it: Mulder the Martha’s Vineyard kid, Scully the sacrificial military wife. That’s part of what they’re struggling with: They don’t have a blueprint for what being a couple will look like for them, and they keep having these visions of the worst possible ending. “Getting out of the car” isn’t even a line until Dreamland, but Drive is literally “if Mulder gets out of the car, will someone die?” Do they die without each other (Tithonus) or because of each other (How the Ghosts)?

A lot of people have written so well about the motifs of this season. @iconicscullyoutfits pointed out how many season 6 episodes involve resets (How the Ghosts), usually with memory wipes (Dreamland, Monday) and dreams (Triangle, Field Trip). The message is that Mulder and Scully can’t move forward if they can’t get out of their own heads. (Field Trip pulls it all together by putting them in each other’s heads.) @foxmulders brought up how season 6 keeps telling Mulder and Scully they’re fated to live and die together (Triangle, Monday, How the Ghosts) but still forces them to choose each other on purpose, and I think a lot of the season lives in that tension between knowing something and still having to choose it. And @thegrotesckque has a great take on how Field Trip resolves the “getting out of the car” question (is it a betrayal for Scully and Mulder? Is it a betrayal for the show?) by proving that they’re better as a team when they stop playing Skeptic and Believer anyway. That’s what saves them.

All of that is so much better than whatever the show is trying to do with Diana. She’s not written well enough to explain why Mulder is so loyal to her (but is written just badly enough to justify Scully’s animosity lol). The X-Files doesn’t care about Diana as a person or even about her relationship with Mulder and how it affects him; it’s not like being burned by Diana brings up Mulder’s trust issues later in the season. They just wanted Scully to be jealous. It’s the weakest trope in a very tropey season; they threw in a love triangle and then immediately stopped caring about it, and not in a funny “no one else stands a chance” kind of way, although obviously yeah, no one else stands a chance.

But Diana isn’t the point. Even if she were better written she wouldn’t be Mulder and Scully’s biggest problem, because all of the interesting episodes of the season are about how Mulder and Scully are their own biggest problem. Diana just weaponizes those insecurities. Like, yes “you’re making this personal” is so rude it’s comical and Mulder is a jerk to Scully about Diana and Diana is a snob, and you can see all of that contributing to why Mulder and Scully are on edge with each other in the first half of the season. But it’s not like either one of them actually thinks Diana might be better for Mulder than Scully is. They’re just afraid they’ll let her stand in their way.

If I wanted to really give the Diana arc the benefit of the doubt, it would go like this: Diana is a catalyst for Scully to realize how much she wants to feel wanted. Mulder takes Scully for granted, and I’m usually kind of charmed by that (I know) because he trusts her so much. He’s so comfortable with her (@wtfmulder has written about this). But when Diana shows up and he starts siding with Diana over Scully, it hurts, especially because he never gives her a good reason. Really I think he’s just loyal and handling it badly. He sides with Diana because that’s the relationship he thinks needs defending right now. We talk a lot about the power imbalance in Scully’s previous relationships, but from the way Mulder behaves around his old girlfriends it seems like he’s been overpowered just as much. This is the first equal relationship for both of them.

It’s just wild that they put themselves through so much because it’s so simple. Of course Mulder loves Scully. He tells her so. But I think Dana “oh brother” Scully is right that he’s not ready to do anything about it, because if he were he’d be making her feel desired. He can say “I love you” on painkillers, but he can’t even ask her to dance in Kroner. He makes bad jokes to deflect (hence all of Arcadia). He’s just as overwhelmed as Scully is by the weight of what they are. I think in early season 6 they both still need the song and dance that gives them plausible deniability: him stealing her car keys and her insisting that she really should be getting home. And if Mulder has a hard time earnestly pursuing her, I think Scully also has a harder time than she’d admit letting herself be pursued. They’ve been kicked off the X-files. In a way just spending time together is so much more intentional than it used to be. Everything means more.

I don’t think they start to get their act together until Milagro, when Scully lets go of her desire to be pursued. The show’s method is bad—Dana Scully is never allowed to learn a lesson until her body is put in danger—but I think David Duchovny mostly saved it by making sure Mulder learns something too. Even if he had no idea what would happen right before The Unnatural, the way the episodes fall is perfect. Mulder finally figures out that Scully wants him to want to spend time with her outside work. It only took six full years. 

And then because they are very zero to sixty I think there’s a good chance they start doing IVF, like, right after that. Love that journey for them. If they started IVF before Mulder read Scully’s mind, he must have been insufferably needy. Maybe that’s why they’re so short with each other in Field Trip; they’re trying to make a baby and they need supernatural intervention to process it. It takes a literal religious revelation to convince Mulder and Scully it’s okay to hook up.

#this is so long it's fully unhinged i'm so sorry #o6666666 #season 6 #xf thoughts

[adarafaelbarba]

Unlikely reunion

Pairing: de Clermont family. Godfrey x Marceline.

Fandom: All Souls Trilogy

Warning: tw: blood. Louis calling his sister-in-law "King's Whore" (basically) in French. Threats of violence.

A/N: this is an au in which the de Clermont siblings, Philippe, Bertrand, Diana's parents and Emily return from the dead, giving everyone else at Sept Tours a bit of a shock.

A/N 2: Will also be posted on AO3 ❤️

One minute the chateau sounded alive, with how many people, vampires, daemons and witches alike, were in the place. And the next someone dropped a bottle, the glass shattering on the floor. Muffled cursing in French, English, Portuguese and everything in between followed suit as new, or should she say old, scents filled the whole place.

And then, a scent she had committed to memory as a human and that she had emerged herself in as she transitioned into a vampire. Marceline quickly, well as quick as she could after having stopped feeding, and shot out of the room, down to the living room.

She made it to the bottom of the stairs in record time, but was stopped by Marthe, «You’re in no state to see anyone at the moment my dear», she murmured, and although Marceline fought, she was no match for the older woman.

«Please Marthe, I—I need to—», the scent she had smelt became stronger as a tall vampire made his way towards the two. «Am I—is this? How long has it been since I last fed?» She thought she was seeing ghosts as the face of the man in front of her became clearer.

«Mon coeur, you’re alive?!» Godfrey exclaimed, hands cupping her cheeks and eyes scanning her face. But almost as soon as he had touched her, Marceline felt her feet give way under her and she fell forward into her not so dead husband’s arms.

He was of course quick to catch her. «When was the last she fed?» He asked, looking to Marthe, «Francoise, can you please get some blood for her?!» He turned to Ysabeau’s other housekeeper.

«She stopped feeding a few weeks ago, we all advised against it, but she was missing you too much monsieur Godfrey», Marthe noted, and Godfrey cursed, he should never have left her back then.

Just then Francoise came back with some blood bags, «We should get her to her rooms monsieur», she murmured. Godfrey agreed, picking Marceline up like she weighed nothing.

…

She didn’t want to drink at first. But with her husband’s encouraging words she let him feed her, one bag and then another. «That’s it mon coeur, just a little more, let’s get your strength back», he murmured as she drank hungrily.

«You should feed too monsieur», Francoise noted. He didn’t say anything at first, only focused on Marceline.

«I’ll feed later, but Francoise tell me, who turned her? Was it you? Or Marthe perhaps?» He asked, finally looking away from his wife.

«It wasn’t a servant who turned her, monsieur, it was your brother-in-law, Fernando. It was the only way.» At that Godfrey nodded, going back to caressing her cheek. «She wanted to be turned, we all told her the risk it would bring, but she wanted to regardless, to avenge your death.»

Godfrey let out a small laugh at that, looking at Marceline as she rested in his arms. «And did you get revenge, mon coeur?» He asked, making her look at him.

«They all suffered—greatly», she said weakly, reaching a hand up to touch his face, her fingers going through his brown locks.

«Good girl», he murmured in respond, leaning down to finally place his lips on hers.

There were footsteps leading to the door, and Francoise said a soft «I’ll give you a moment with mademoiselle Marceline. Call for me if you need anything», she said before leaving them to reconnect.

«How—how are you alive, mon cher», Marceline asked when she knew Francoise would be out of earshot. She sat up without moving too much out of his arms, needing the closeness.

«I don’t know. One minute I was dead, the next I wasn’t.» Was that how the afterlife felt like? just a very long minute?

She looked at him, «You know what year it is right?» Marceline worried he was confused as to how long he had been gone.

When he shook his head she let out a soft sigh. «It’s 2021. You’ve been dead for the past 300+ years, mon cher», she explained, taking his hands in hers.

«What?» Godfrey was right to be surprised. By all logic he wasn’t supposed to be here in this very moment. But by some twisted trick or magic, he and what sounded to be his older brother and father, along with a couple of witches, were brought back to life.

«Don’t think about it too much mon cher, focus on me», Marceline murmured, making him look at her.

Godfrey was quick to nod his head, pulling her in for a hug. «To have you in my arms again is all I wish for again. And now I don’t want to let go», he murmured, his nose nuzzling into the crook of her neck to rememorize her scent.

«It’s all I’ve dreamt of too. But would you not want to see your family some more too?» Marceline asked, looking at her husband.

«Later.» And then he kissed her again, only this time there was more passion in the kiss.

Hours, if not days, went before they finally left Godfrey’s rooms at Sept Tours to reunite with his family. In that time they had talked, cried, slept together, and fed on the blood that Francoise and Marthe had brought up for them.

One by one, Godfrey’s siblings, his brothers and sisters on Philippe’s side and Matthew, came to greet him, all pulling him in for a hug. Stasia and Freyja were almost crying with happiness for having their brothers back.

Marceline was watching the reunion unfold when Hugh came up to her. «Fernando told me about you. Says you were a good companion to him and Gallowglass», he said, taking one of her hands in his and leaning to place a kiss on it.

«Your family spoke very highly of you too, monsieur Hugh, especially Fernando and Gallowglass.» He smiled at that cupping one of her hands in both his while she rested her free hand on top of his.

Next to meet her was Ysabeau’s second son, Louis, looked at Marceline with a smirk on his lips. «Hello Louis», she said, greeting him. If there were people she hadn’t missed, it would be the likes of Louis and his twin sister Louisa. The two were absolute devils, and she remembered how little she had enjoyed spending time with them, even if she had barely spent any time with Louisa.

«I’m surprised they still keep you around, although from what I gathered Fernando hasn’t bored of you yet», his words stung, but she didn’t let it show. She could feel her father, Gallowglass and Godfrey look at them, but she kept her cool, didn’t say anything back to him. Marceline knew better than to talk back to someone as unstable as Louis. «Come now, catin du roi, aren’t you going to respond?» He asked, cupping her cheek to make her look at him.

«I suggest getting your hands off my wife before I rip them off for you, frére», Godfrey was by her side in a matter of seconds, staring down his younger brother. But Louis made no point to move, only laughed at Godfrey’s protectiveness.

Matthew hurried over after his brother, grabbing hold of the back of Louis’ neck, «Apologize to Marceline, brother, I won’t ask so nicely again», he growled. When Louis made no point to apologize Matthew twisted one of his arms behind his back. «I suggest you do as you’re told.»

Surprising everyone, Louis let out a scream in agony as they could all hear the bones in his arms breaking. «Never», he bit out, trying to break free from Matthew. But unlike his older brother and twin sister, Louis wasn’t as strong.

«Apologize or you’ll be gone from here soon enough», Matthew sneered. Louis looked to his mother and siblings for any help, but they were all standing there, forming a circle around them, seemingly to make sure he didn’t get away.

«I—I’m sorry—Mademoiselle», Louis said, groaning in pain as Matthew kept a hold of his brother’s arm. «I’ll never call you that again.»

Marceline looked past Godfrey’s shoulder, her eyes meeting Matthew’s, nodding at him. And with that, Matthew let go of Louis, pushing him to the side.

After that, the room became quiet again, and Marceline felt an awkward aura around them all. «I think I should go upstairs, let you all chat, and reunite», she said, stopping her husband when he tried to go with her. «You have a lot of things to catch up with your family about, mon cher, I’ll be in your rooms when you’ve had your time with them.» Leaning up, she placed a soft kiss to his cheek. «I’m not going anywhere any time soon.»

#adow #a discovery of witches one shot #a discovery of witches #my oc #karen writes #all souls trilogy

[inky-duchess]

Court Archetypes: The Dynasty

Royal families are just one big chain of flaws and strengths. All dynasties have their issues. When writing your royal and noble families in your fantasy works, it is best to study some archetypical royal families.

The Wealthy

Some dynasties keep their power by money, splashing the cash in ways their counterparts cannot.

The Medici: The Medici began as simple bankers. Through the years they rose through the ranks, from merchant class to obtaining power in the Florence government and then becoming one of the most powerful families in Italy, perhaps Europe. The Medici remained at the forefront of all arts and finance, as well as intrigue. They were the richest banking family, backing other dynasties and kingdoms in their ventures.

House of Romanov: The Romanovs were a relatively unknown noble family until the reign of Ivan the Terrible. When Ivan died without an heir, the nobles of Russia chose young Michael Romanov to be the new king. The Romanovs were autocrats, building a vast empire on the backs of serfs and their expansive powers. Some Romanovs were brilliant (Catherine the Great, Peter the Great, Alexander II, Elizabeth I, Alexander I) and some less so (Nicholas I, Nicholas II, Peter III, Paul I). But all were fucking loaded. The Romanovs were the richest royal family for many generations. Their palaces were the grandest and their jewels were to die for. The Romanovs came to a violent end in the Russian Revolution, for a list of reasons but chief among them being the extravagant and lavish lifestyle they had lived while Russia suffered.

The Treacherous

You can choose friends but not your family. Some families backstab each other so much its a wonder their arms don't present as a bloody dagger.

Ptolemy: The House of Ptolemy was founded by the Macedonian general Ptolemy, friend and some say half brother to Alexander the Great. When Alexander died, his generals divided up the empire. Ptolemy was granted Egypt. The Ptolemys wed one another for centuries, uncle to niece, sister to brother, daughter to father. The Ptolemys were a treacherous bunch. They betrayed one another for the crown, murdered family members. Just look at the last four monarchs of the dynasty. Blood, incest, betrayal, fratricide, suicide, battles, beheadings. It's Game of Thrones on acid.

House Of York: The House Of York ruled over England for 25 years. Edward IV had two brothers, George and Richard. They had a cousin called Warwick, the Kingmaker. Edward married a woman not of Warwick's liking. Warwick deposed Edward, marrying his daughter to George. When the nobles refused to make George king, Edward regained the throne. In a second effort, Warwick and George crossed over to the enemy House of Lancaster. Warwick wed his daughter to the Prince Edward of Westminster. George betrayed Warwick and went back to his brothers, leaving Warwick to die on the battlefield. George was constantly betraying Edward, even hiring a wiseman to predict Edward's death. George was drowned in a vat of wine. Edward died a few years later and Richard became protector of the kingdom, Regent for the young princes. He seized the throne for himself, disobeying his brother's last wishes.

Julio-Claudian Dynasty: To say the Julio-Claudians were treacherous would be an understatement. The Roman Emperors were volatile. Even the wise Augustus is no exception, having exiled his owned daughter because she was promiscuous. His adopted son Tiberius may have poisoned him as well as the much loved . Tiberius then imprisoned Germanicus's wife and let her starve to death. He then murdered all but one of the sons of Germanicus. Tiberius then adopted the boy, Caligula. Caligula then may have had Tiberius smothered. Caligula then had the other nephew of Tiberius killed. Caligula was killed by his guards and his uncle Claudius became Emperor. Claudius then named his stepson Nero as heir after his son Britannicus was poisoned possibly by Nero or his mother, Agrippina. Claudius was then poisoned and Nero ascended the throne. Nero chafed at his Mother's influence had tried to kill her by sinking her ship. When she crawled ashore, a guard was sent to kill her. Nero was driven to suicide.

The Unhappy Family

Some royal dynasties are nothing more than unhappy families. Whether it be strained relationships between parents and children or between siblings, some families do not get along.

Plantagenet: The Plantagenets were never a happy family. Begin at the start. Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine and they had five sons. Henry II fought with his sons over ceding over any control over the empire. The sons went to Henry's enemy for help in their rebellion. Eleanor rode to join them but was captured. She was held prisoner until Henry died. Later down the line we have Richard II who was a bit of a tyrant. He hated his nobles and made their life hell. He had one uncle killed and conspired against his cousins. While he was in Ireland, his cousin Henry Bolingbrook stole his throne (haha serves the dickhead right. Karma is a bitch dickie). Henry imprisoned Richard in a cell where he starved to death.

House Of Windsor: Was there ever a dynasty with such destructive tendancies as Windsor? First we have George V who argued with his son David. David loved an American divorcee named Wallis Simpson and was not exactly the model royal. When he ascended the throne as Edward VIII, he gave it up to marry his love leaving his brother Albert or George VI to be king. George died after the strains of WWII and the remainder of the royal family blamed David for his death. Elizabeth II ascended the throne. Princess Margaret loved a palace aide and asked to marry him. The Church refused to allow the wedding to go ahead and allow Princess Margaret to keep her royal status. In the end, Margaret chose her royal status. She later went on to have an unhappy marriage with Anthony Armstrong-Jones. Elizabeth II's eldest son Charles loved an unsuitable woman, Camilla and was pressured into marrying a more appropriate bride, Diana. The marriage was terrible and they divorced. The cycle of unhappy marriages and family relations still play out before us even today.

House Of Hanover: The House Of Hanover never got on. George I imprisoned his wife for infidelity and fought with his son because he was more popular and stole his children. George II fought with his son and daughter in lawn. George III went mad and had to suffer his sons. George IV shagged and ate his way through the kingdom as Regent, before becoming king at sixty. His daughter died, the last legitimate heir. His brothers married to sire an heir, only producing one, Victoria. Victoria fought with her son, blaming him for her husband's death. The Hanoverians had issues.

The Incestuous & Problematic

These are the houses that have serious issues. As opposed to the last heading, these families love each other a little too much.

House Of Hapsburg: The Hapsburgs didn't begin as incestuous. As their empire began to stretch across Europe covering most of the German and Austrian states as well as Spain, they began to wed the two branches of the House together, the Austrian and the Spanish. These uncle-niece and first cousin-first cousin marriages resulted in deformity. Children born of these incestuous matches were stricken with the infamous jaw deformity, the Hapsburg jaw which made the lower half of the mouth stick out.

House Of Borgia: The Borgias may or may not have had an incestuous relationship between two of its scions, Lucrezia and Cesere. It was rumoured that the brother and sister pair were sleeping together and even more ludicrously rumoured that Lucrezia was banging her own father Pope Alexander VI. It was likely just slander. The Borgias were infamous for their affairs with poisons. Lucrezia alone was rumoured to carry the famous poison Canterella in a ring on her finger, being able to poison any unsuspecting victim. Cesere is rumoured to have killed his younger brother Juan or at least had him killed. The Borgias were a powerhungry and driven bunch, so all these rumours stuck like glue.

#court archetypes #royal courts #royal court #court #royalty #royal #british royal family #house of romanov #house of york #house of lancaster #house of hanover #house of Hapsburg #medici #house of windsor #fantasy guide #fantasy nobility #fantasy royal family #fantasy royals #fantasy royalty #writing advice #writing advice writing resource #writing advice writing reference #writing resources writing reference #writing resources #writing reference #writing reference writing resources #writing references

[jiejie-eonni-onee-sama]

All hail to My King! (Part 2)

For the lovely @marilynmonroefanfics​ 💝💖💘😘

Hope you will love the story!

N.B: This is the second part of I’d put a crown at your feet... So, it will be an AU, like the previous part.

July 29th, 1981. Saint Paul’s Cathedral.

The wedding bells rang again in the sky of the United Kingdom. After years of expectation, Charles of Wales, Crown Prince of the United Kingdom, finally get married. And the lucky woman was the young Diana Spencer, a charming blonde woman whose shy looks enthralled the country.

All the people were delighted to admire this modern fairytale and cheered for the new royal couple.

While the entire kingdom celebrated this event, the royal family prepared themselves for this incredible event. At the altar, Charles waited for his future wife, slightly nervous.

"Come on, Charles, breath! It looks like you're going to faint!" joked Andrew.

"Leave me alone! It's not you who is getting married!"

"Calm down, Charles! He just wanted you to relax!" stated Edward.

Sighing, the prince glanced at his parents: Philip gently smiled at his son, while Elizabeth nodded by way of encouragement. Charles noticed the presence of Piero, who was sitting between Margaret and Anne. The latter beamed at him and slightly waved as a sign of support. 

Smiling, the heir apparent to the British throne discreetly waved back before he chatted with his brothers. 

Piero genuinely smiled: he was so thrilled when Charles told him about his engagement. He would remember the first day Charles introduced him to the young Diana Spencer... 

Flash-back. February 16th, 1981.

"So am I finally going to meet your mysterious friend named Piero, Charles?" asked Diana.

"Indeed, my love. I wished that you met him sooner, but we did not manage to find some time. But, here we are!"

"You seem very attached to him. Do you have a special bond with him?"

"You are not far from the truth. To be honest, Piero is very dear to me and to some members of my family. And I really want to introduce you to him." 

"I am honored." gently smiled his fiancee.

A few minutes later, they arrived near a beautiful house in Westbourne. The young woman noticed a car she immediately recognized.

"Isn't that the car of your father?"

"Uh? Oh, indeed: it is his car!"

They got out of their car and went to the door.

"Do you think your friend is going to like the flowers I bring?" asked Diana as she picked the bouquet.

"I am certain he will appreciate, dear."

Clearing his throat, the prince knocked on the door. To be honest, he was a bit nervous introducing Diana and Piero. After all, it was the first time they will meet in person. If only his mother had not discovered the truth about Piero and his father, he would have done it sooner.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Piero appeared with a big smile on his face.

"Charles! How do you do?"

"Good afternoon, Piero. I am fine, thanks. And you?"

"I feel like a million bucks, thanks."

Charles gestured towards Diana, who blushed.

"Piero, I would like to introduce my fiancee, Lady Diana Frances Spencer, to you. Diana, this is Mister Piero De Angelis, artist by profession."

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mister De Angelis," politely muttered Diana.

"The pleasure is mine, my dear. I was impatient to meet you too: Charles did not stop talking about you..."

"In good terms, I hope..." giggled the young woman.

"Oh, you have no idea. I'm afraid that the English language lacks words for our dear Charles to say how perfect you are!"

"You're kind, thank you... Oh, I brought this bouquet for you!" she said while handing the flowers to their host.

"That's very lovely, thanks. Come in, we have so many things to talk about..."

The pair entered the house and followed Piero to his indoor garden, where they sat down.

"So, Diana... Can I call you Diana?"

"Of course!"

"Very well. So, Diana, how do you handle the media?"

"The best I can: they can be very intrusive. But Charles is very supportive, so it helps a lot. And I can count on Andrew and Edward to help me!"

"Yes: I've heard that they threw snowballs at photographers during the Christmas Party at Balmoral!"

"Absolutely. Mother was not very pleased, but it was fun!"

"Oh please: don't talk about her! Your mother is such a killjoy!"

Diana snorted. She admitted that her royal future mother-in-law was quite stern and strict, but she never heard someone said it loud... except Margaret!

"Diana spotted my dad's car near your house. Is that normal?"

"Yes, it is right: he is here!"

"Where?"

"Much to my dismay, he is in the kitchen!"

"In the kitchen?" asked the pair, puzzled.

"And why is he in the kitchen?"

Piero comically sighed.

"Because, for God only knows why, your dear father decided to cook for you today!"

"COOKING?" screamed Charles.

"But does he know how to cook?" asked Diana.

"Well, I am afraid that he never saw a pan on his entire life!"

"I HEARD YOU, PIERO!" yelled Philip from the kitchen.

"It was on purpose, darling!" yelled back the man with a mischievous smile.

Diana raised an eyebrow: did Piero just called Philip darling? It was unusual...

Philip appeared with a large plate in his hands.

"Sorry for the waiting... But I wanted to not blowing up the kitchen!"

"You better not soil my kitchen, or I let you cleaning up!"

"No worry, angel: your kitchen is untouched... Oh, sorry: hello, the fiances! How are you?"

"We are fine, and we were wondering about your cooking skills!"

"I did not know you cooked!" genuinely said Diana.

"To be honest, I wanted to try something for our little reunion far from Buckingham Palace. And to please our host, I tried Italian gastronomy!"

Piero looked at his lover, shocked.

"Wait a minute! Did you try to cook something from Italy? From my familial roots?"

"Yes, why?"

"Honestly, Philip... I hesitate between happiness because you honor my culture and dread. After all, I fear a culinary disaster!"

Diana and Charles burst into a fit of laughter when they saw Philip stared in amazement.

"Do you have such little faith in my abilities, my love?"

"Mmmmh... It depends which abilities you are talking about!" smirked Piero.

When he understood the innuendo, the prince consort brightly blushed.

"PIERO!"

While Diana laughed, Charles cleared his throat.

"Hm, Father, Piero: I did not tell Diana..."

"You did not tell me about what?" inquired the young woman, perplexed.

Charles glanced at his father and his best friend before speaking:

"Well, as you have guessed, my parents' marriage was broken for many years."

"Yes?"

"In fact, it is the case, and my mother even had a lover, Mister Acherville. So, this situation strained the relationships between all the members of our family. It lasted 4 years until my dear aunt Margaret introduced Piero to my dad during a party. And since this day... they started a love affair!"

The young woman gasped.

"You mean... Piero is your father's boyfriend?"

"To put it simply, yes. And those two lovebirds are together since 1972."

He gently held Diana's hand.

"Honestly, I really tried to find how to tell you about this. But I thought that the better solution was that you see it by yourself."

Diana nodded, surprised.

"Well, that was unexpected... But, on the other hand, when you introduced me to your family for the first time, I spotted that your parents did not seem close to each other. Of course, it could be explained by the etiquette, but I did not feel any warmth, not a single trace of love. I guess it is the consequence of a dying love... And I know what I am talking about since my parents divorced when I was a child..."

She warmly smiled.

"But, it is a good thing that your father finds someone to love. And I can see that it is a genuine bond."

The three men sighed, relieved. At least, Diana was not against it.

"Well, I guess that it went better than I expected." smiled Piero.

"Son, you choose right: your future wife is a good person. Keep that in mind!" stated Philip.

"I would never forget that, Father," answered Charles.

The dinner went smoothly, between fits of laughter and passionate discussions. During the dinner, Piero gets to know Diana better. Her shining personality, her lovely laugh, her shy smile... Every part of her was astonishing. Admittedly, Charles chose wisely his future wife.

Back to the present.

Suddenly, cheerings can be heard outside the cathedral as Diana appeared, dressed in her white wedding gown. She shyly glanced at Charles with a graceful smile on her face. Walking her down the aisle, her father, the Earl of Spencer, was proud and moved to marry his daughter to the Crown Prince.

Piero looked at the future husband and wife as they exchanged their vows. All with the benediction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He felt that Charles and Diana would be happy together. As long as they never forget the essential, everything would be fine...

June 21st, 1982. At Piero's home.

In the living room, Philip paced up back and forth, much to Piero's annoyance.

"For Lord's sake, stop pacing like a caged lion! It bothers me, and I can't concentrate on my paint!"

"I know, I know... But I am worried!"

Piero rolled his eyes.

"Thank you, I have noticed! But it would be fine: Diana is with the best doctors! It will be fine!"

"I know... But I can't help!"

Sighing, Piero put his paintbrushes away and said:

"Philip, there is no need to worry: I am sure everything will be okay. Moreover, Charles is with her!"

The prince consort sat down and replied:

"Yes, I should not worry. But Diana's pregnancy was so stressful for her that I don't know how she would handle this birth!"

Piero scratched the back of his head: poor Diana! Her first pregnancy was an ordeal, to say the least! Of course, he, Charles, Philip, Anne, and Margaret were supportive and tried to ease her pains. 

He did not want to admit it, but he was a bit worried too...

Suddenly, the phone rang, startling them.

"Do you think it's them?"

"Just pick the phone, and you'll see!"

Philip answered the call.

"Hello?"

**"It's me, dad!"**

"Ah, Charles! What a relief! Do you have any news?"

**"Sure, I have! Is Piero here?"**

"Here I am!" said the latter, who arrived near the phone.

"So, the news?"

**"They are wonderful, to be honest. So, I can proudly say this: Dad, Piero, for the third time in your life, you are grandparents! And it's a boy!"**

"A BOY?" happily exclaimed the two lovers.

"What lovely news! What are his names?"

**"We named him William Arthur Philip Louis."**

"A touching tribute to your old father!" smiled Philip, moved by this news.

"And how's the mother?" inquired Piero.

**"Diana is exhausted but healthy and happy!"**

"Brilliant... You see, until your call, your father was scared to the core!"

"Did you really need to tell him?"

**"Well, at least, there is nothing to worry about, dad. Now, I have to leave you: I have to call Mother, and the people are impatient to meet my son!"**

"I understand... See you later!"

Once the conversation finished, Philip happily sighed:

"I wonder how he will look like, this little William!"

"We'll see when we'll meet him. I am sure he would be a lovely child."

"As long as he does not have his father's ears!"

"PHILIP MOUNTBATTEN! Take back immediately what you said... Otherwise, you sleep on the couch!"

"What? No, you would not dare..."

"Watch me..." smirked the artist as he ran to the bedroom.

"Not so fast, young man !" laughed the Duke as he ran after his lover.

To sum up, it was another afternoon like the others for Philip and Piero.

September 15th, 1984. In Kensington Palace.

"It's a boy again!" happily exclaimed Piero as he hung up the phone.

"Well, at least, Lizzie won't fear for her lineage!" snickered Margaret.

"And how they name him?" asked Philip.

"Henry Charles Albert David!"

"ALBERT?" exclaimed Margaret.

The two men looked at her, puzzled.

"Is there anything wrong, Maggie?" asked Piero.

"No... It's just that... Albert was my father's name."

She gently smiled.

"Finally, there is a new Albert in the family. Let's hope this little Harry will have a long and a nice life!"

Philip poured three glasses of champagne and handed them to Margaret and Piero.

"Now, let's raise our glasses to Harry!"

"TO HARRY!" happily exclaimed the artist and the princess.

As they cheered, this trio seemed to live total happiness, ready to deal with all the ordeals of life.

March 12th, 1986. Buckingham Palace.

"I really hope that this evening will be festive: I despise boring events!" sighed Margaret.

"Like all of us!" replied Piero.

"But the Queen required our presence, so let's do it!" said Diana, adjusting her dress.

"You heard the lady? Let's get over this! Besides, French President François Mitterrand would, at least, be more interesting than his American counterpart, Mister Reagan!" declared Philip.

The quartet got out of the car and went to the main room of Buckingham Palace. Walking down the corridors, the staff greeted them with deference:

"Good evening, Sires. Your Highnesses..."

"Good evening!"

Even Piero was greeted as if he was a member of the Royal Family. After all, the staff knew about Piero's existence since his confrontation with the Queen in 1979. But the artist was polite and kind towards them, so they treated him well and kept his relationship with Philip secret.

Before they arrived at the main room, Margaret asked with a mischievous tone:

"Ready for the show?"

"Shall we go, Maggie!" laughed Piero.

Two servants opened the doors, and they discovered a crowded place. 

A servant announced:

"His Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Her Highness, Princess Margaret, Countess Snowdon, Her Highness Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sir Piero de Angelis."

All the people turned around and gasped in amazement when they saw the four newcomers arriving in the room. 

Indeed, Margaret wore a turquoise dress, while Diana showed a beautiful turquoise necklace around her neck. As for Philip, he carried a turquoise brooch on his buttonhole, and Piero wore a turquoise tie. All seemed to shine among the guests... 

A detail that bothered the Queen to the highest degree: of course, she must have known that those four would show off this evening.

Behind her, her devoted squire/lover, Roger Acherville, muttered at her ear:

"Pathetic! Look at them, dear! They disrespect your authority!"

"I am not sure that it was Diana's idea, neither Margaret... Even it would not be a surprise!"

"I am ready to bet that this parasite De Angelis was behind this farce. And, of course, your dear husband followed like a lost puppy!"

Meanwhile, the other guests complimented the royal newcomers with deference.

"Your Highness, you look ravishing in this suit!"

"Princess Diana, you are amazing tonight!"

"Mister De Angelis, your reputation as a fashionable man was not a rumor but the truth!"

"Princess Margaret, how gorgeous you are!"

Charles went to his wife and gently kissed her hand.

"My dear, you never cease to amaze me!" the prince whispered to her ear.

"You flatterer! I only tried to be beautiful for you!" Diana giggled.

At the moment, Piero saluted Misters Mitterrand and Reagan, as well as their respective wives.

"It is an exquisite honor to meet you, Monsieur De Angelis!" stated the French President.

"My husband and I admire your artistic work!" admitted Mrs. Danielle Mitterrand with a warm smile.

"Indeed, you are a talented man! I really appreciated your last painting, Peaceful Ireland." added the American Head of State.

"Personally, my firm favorite is your sculpture entitled Pure Embrace. It's amazing how you manage to convey the feeling of love through your work of art!" explained Mrs. Nancy Reagan.

"Ladies and gentleman, the humble artist in front of you is moved and honored by your compliments!" said Piero with a deep bow to them.

Margaret triumphally smirked: she knew this young man she met in 1972 will be famous, one day. And she was not disappointed by his incredible success. 

A few minutes later, they were all gathered in the dining room of Buckingham Palace, along with Andrew, his girlfriend Sarah Ferguson, Anne, her husband Mark, Edward, and the Queen Mother. The atmosphere was charming and elegant, with passionate conversations.

Suddenly, Mrs. Mitterrand asked:

"Mr. De Angelis, is it true that you have other talents?"

"Oh, I don't know..." slightly blushed Piero.

"I've heard that he has an amazing voice!" added Sarah.

"Oh, what a chance! I would be so glad to hear him singing!" happily exclaimed  Mrs. Reagan.

"If Her Majesty agrees, Mister De Angelis can demonstrate his singing talent!" suggested President Reagan.

Under the insistence of her guests, Elizabeth agreed:

"Well, if Mister De Angelis agrees, I allow him to perform!"

"In this case, just provide me a microphone, and let's start the party!" said Piero as he got up.

A few minutes later, everything was ready, and Piero went behind the microphone:

"Tonight, let's be elegant: I shall sing some Broadway classic!"

"Oh, that's exciting!" smiled Andrew.

Piero made a gesture to the musicians who started to play. And as soon as he was ready, the man sang:

You could have a great career, and you should! 

Only one thing stops you, dear: you're too good! 

If you want a future, darlin', why don't you get a past? '

Cause that fateful moment's comin' at last...

We're all alone. No chaperone can get our number. 

The world's in slumber--let's misbehave! 

There's something wild about you, child, that's so contagious. 

Let's be outrageous--let's misbehave! 

Philip nearly choked on his whiskey when he heard the lyrics: it can't be! He dared singing this!

Margaret tried to hide her hilarity but struggled: she should have known that Piero would provoke the Queen, but she did not expect this joke!

Diana and Charles sniggered: they were sure those lyrics were addressed to Philip... in front of Elizabeth!

Andrew, Sarah, and Edward tried to not burst into laughter, but the situation was too hilarious.

Anne and Mark stifled their laughs by covering their mouths, but it was hard to stop giggling like schoolboys.

The other guests snorted with laughter as they found the choice of the song pretty daring!

As for the Queen, she politely listened: she must admit that Piero was a good singer. Yet, she did not know the reason for the hilarity of her guests... 

However, the Queen Mother understood what the song implied and tried to not be scandalized. She never accepted the presence of Piero in Philip's life, even if she admitted that he was a good influence on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

When it came to Acherville, he was boiling with rage. Among the few anti-Pieros, he probably was the most virulent towards the artist since the revelation of his love affair with the Duke of Edinburgh. 

There was no place for two royal favorites at Buckingham Palace, and he swore to himself that he would do anything to oust his archnemesis... 

Meanwhile, Piero, who ignored the turmoils of his enemy, continued to sing, much to some guests' entertainment:

When Adam won Eve's hand, he wouldn't stand for teasin'. 

He didn't care about those apples out of season. 

They say that spring means just one thing to little lovebirds. 

We're not above birds--let's misbehave! 

It's getting late, and while I wait, my poor heart aches on. 

Why keep the brakes on? Let's misbehave! 

I feel quite sure un peu d'amour would be attractive. 

While we're still active, let's misbehave! 

If you would just be sweet and only meet your fate, dear, Would be the great event of 1928, dear. 

I always squeeze my Pekingese whenever he's good. 

Your pedigree's good. 

Let's misbehave. 

The hour is prime 

We're wasting time procrastinating. 

Start osculating!

Let's misbehave!

The guests applauded his performance, with some of them laughing at the message of the song.

As the artist he was, Piero saluted his audience before coming back to his seat.

"It was a wonderful performance, Mister De Angelis! Even if the choice of the song was risqué!" chuckled Mrs. Mitterrand.

"Tell me, Monsieur De Angelis: the song was not addressed to our wives?" inquired the French President.

"Oops, I get caught!" said Piero with a mischievous smile.

The two first ladies laughed, followed by their respective husbands.

"Oh, dear: you are one of the funniest men I ever met... Even if I appreciated your gesture, my love only belongs to my dear Ronald!" smiled Nancy while glancing at her husband.

"And my devotion is all yours, my darling!" answered Ronald as he kissed her hand.

"I share her opinion: you may be charming, but nothing would come between François and me!" continued Danielle.

"Ah, ma chère: we are bound to grow old together. A blessing, isn't it?" added François with a tender gesture.

The event went well and lasted until 3am. Once the guests went back to their hotels or their houses, Diana, Charles, Andrew, Sarah, Anne, Mark, Philip, Piero, Margaret, and Edward relaxed while walking through the corridors.

"It was a nice evening! Even if nobody foreshadows our Piero's performance!" stated Margaret, smiling.

"For sure, we will always remember this moment!" laughed Edward.

"I can't believe you dared sing about sex in front of two presidents! We're lucky that nobody knew the truth!" smirked Philip.

"It sounds like you have some plan tonight, Father!" grinned Andrew.

"Don't be too imaginative, young man!"

Suddenly, Diana exclaimed:

"I want to do something crazy!"

"What?" asked Charles, puzzled.

Without a word, Diana took off her shoes before jumping on Piero's back.

"Ouch! Respect the old man I am!" laughed the artist.

"I've always dreamed of doing this!"

"Piggyback ride? Really?" snickered Edward.

"If Piero is an old man, so what am I?" asked Philip.

"A living dinosaur!"

"MAGGIE!" screamed Philip, while the others laughed.

"Great idea, Diana! Let's do this, Andrew!" exclaimed Fergie as she jumped on her boyfriend's back.

"The night is not over, so I guess we can go crazy!"

"I JOIN!" yelled Anne, who jumped on Mark's back.

"I am surrounded by grown-up children!" laughed Charles.

But the little fun abruptly stopped.

"Pathetic! If Sires Reagan and Mitterrand saw you at this moment, they would poorly think of all of you!"

All stopped and turned around to see Acherville, standing behind them, his arms crossed on his chest and an arrogant smile on his face.

"Oh no: here comes the party-pooper in chief!" grumbled Edward.

Next to Acherville were Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.

While Queen Mum was intrigued, the Queen was harsh:

"May I know what you are doing? Acting like children?"

She glared at Diana:

"Get off the back of Mister De Angelis, right now."

Hurt, Diana went down, as Elizabeth pursued her lecture:

"I can't believe that you, the wife of the Crown Prince, acted like a stupid girl and rode the back of this... man!"

"Be careful about what you're going to say!" snarled Piero.

"Show some respect to Her Majesty!" shot back Acherville.

"Oh, shut up, you boot-licker! Nobody asked for your opinion!" snapped Margaret.

The others stared at Acherville with angry eyes. Since the beginning of his relationship with the Queen, this man gained influence over Elizabeth. Much to her family's despair, this upstart had succeeded in becoming the sovereign's right-hand man.

And since Elizabeth had great affection for her favorite, Acherville was not ready to clear off.

"And you, Philip, haven't you done anything to stop them from behaving like immature children?"

"Honestly, Elizabeth, could you worry about more important things than that? May I let you know that it is three in the morning, that there is no head of state around, and that we have the right to let off steam a little! "

"Exactly, it's three in the morning, and you're supposed to go to sleep and not act like schoolchildren!"

Achervile smirked:

"You are lucky that the dinner was a success. Otherwise, there would have been dire consequences ... Especially against someone!" the former squire said, staring at Piero.

"Don't be a smartass! Just because you're the Queen's lover doesn't mean that you are the King!" snarled De Angelis.

"I have no orders to receive from an entertainer!" Acherville replied condescendingly.

Annoyed by the behavior of his mother's lover, Edward intervened in the conversation:

"For heaven's sake, Acherville! Go to hell and leave us alone!"

Everyone turned to the 22-year-old young man who looked pissed off: Edward was a calm and patient person. To see him get angry, you really had to push him to the limit!

"Edward? What does this language mean?" wondered the Queen Mother.

"I wouldn't allow such language from you, young man!" added the Queen.

"But I've had enough of this jerk, that's what I mean! He allows himself to disrespect all of us, whether it's your own children or the palace staff! You bet that everyone hates your playboy, mom!"

Elizabeth replied in an icy tone:

"Edward Antony Richard Louis Windsor, I order you to apologize to Mister Archeville immediately!"

"Apologize to that bastard? I'd rather die!"

Slowly, Diana walked towards her mother-in-law and said with a calm tone:

"And to think that you lectured on how to be a good mother during my first pregnancy! But I see that you have nothing to teach anyone on this subject where you are hardly brilliant, Your Majesty!"

Elizabeth wanted to protest, but she saw in the eyes of her daughter-in-law that she had no interest in interrupting her.

“Now I understand why your children say they grew up without their mother. It's not just because of your many official trips, but because of your indifference to them. I don't understand how you can ignore the flesh of your flesh, to the point of turning a blind eye to their suffering. I would never do such treatment on my children, ever! And I hope you will be a grandmother worthy of your grandchildren!"

Diana turned to Acherville and said threateningly:

"As for you, scoundrel, I strictly forbid you to approach my children, is that clear? Otherwise, I promise to make your life a nightmare, whether you sleep with the queen or not!"

"Well spoken, Diana!" exclaimed Margaret.

As for Charles, he was both surprised and amused: he did not know that his sweet wife hid such a character. And it did not displease him, on the contrary...

“Before I forget: now you will treat my husband, Anne, Andrew, and Edward with the respect they deserve. Remember that I married the future King of England, and his siblings are princes and princesses of the UK."

"But..."

"SHUT UP, I AM TALKING! And you're going to stop condescending Piero. This man might not be an aristocrat like you, but he's so much better than you. If anything happened to him, I would hold you responsible. And even if you took his place with the Queen, Philip remains the Prince Consort, and you will stop disrespecting him. Am I clear?"

Acherville had a cold sweat: the scathing tone of the Princess of Wales and the hateful look she gave him scared him.

As for Elizabeth, she was amazed. She, who thought that Diana would be an obedient and submissive young girl, had misjudged her daughter-in-law.

Resuming a semblance of dignity, she said soberly:

"Very well, I take note of your complaints, and I leave you. Good evening!"

Then, she turned around and walked away, followed by her mother and her lover.

Once the trio had left, Piero turned to Diana and said:

"Well, my dear, we can say that you have quite a character!"

He took her hands and added:

"Thanks for standing up for me!"

"There is no need to thank me: you have always been so nice to me. Besides, I could not let this man disrespect you! Neither to you nor the others."

“Brother, you married the right person," Andrew said.

"I see it day by day ... However, Diana, Mother is not completely wrong about riding on Piero's back."

"What do you mean?" Fergie asked worriedly.

Charles smiles mischievously:

"Come on, Diana! I am your husband: you are supposed to climb on my back!"

With a little cry of joy, the princess jumped on her husband's back.

Amused, Andrew had an idea:

"Shall we race?"

"YES!" replied the others.

Margaret and Philip teamed up while Edward climbed onto Piero's back.

"Ready? On your marks! 3.2... Hey! Father, that is cheating!" Anne yelled when she saw her father leave before the end of the count.

"Let's catch them!" exclaimed Piero happily.

They all started running through the halls of the palace, laughing. But this mad rush ended in the palace gym when they fell on the sports mats.

There was a silence, then they gave a fit of giggles at the result.

"Well, what a race! We start again when you want!" laughed Edward.

"I'm too old for that kind of bullshit!" Philip grumbled, massaging his lower back.

"Ah, you see! I was right when I said you were a dinosaur!" Margaret laughed, making the others laugh.

Philip looked falsely offended before responding:

"Dinosaurs don't compare with fossils!"

Margaret decided to counterattack:

"So, like that, am I an old fossil? Take that, diplodocus!"

And she threw a pillow in his face.

"YOUHOU! A pillow fight!" cried Edward, who attacked Andrew and Sarah.

"That's all we needed!" Charles exclaimed before Diana slammed a pillow right in his face.

"Take this!" laughed the young woman.

"So, you dared attacking me? Come over here!" laughed the prince while pursuing his wife armed with a cushion.

And it was a crazy pillow fight that lasted several minutes before everyone stopped, exhausted but hilarious.

"Well, you could say it was a memorable pillow fight!" Margaret sighed, smiling blissfully.

"You are right, Aunt Margaret! The best pillow fight of my life!" Andrew laughed.

Glancing at the clock, Charles said:

"I think we should go get some rest! I know tomorrow is a day off, but we need to get our sleep time back!"

"He's right ... Come on, good night!"

After wishing each other good night, they all left for their respective residences. Only Piero and Philip were left alone, enjoying the restored calm.

Suddenly Philip said:

"You know if Diana hadn't yelled at Acherville to defend you ..."

"Yes?"

"I would have done it."

"I know, don't worry. Our dear princess was faster than you, that's all."

The artist embraced his lover tenderly:

"I do not doubt for a minute that my handsome sailor would have come to my rescue!"

Amused, the prince stroked the young man's face and whispered:

"I love you, Piero!"

"I love you too, Philip!"

In the end, it was another victory for the pair and a new lease of life for Philip.

Meanwhile, Margaret went back home when Howard greeted her.

"Good evening, Ma'am. Or should I say good morning, given the hour?"

"Oh, dear Howard, you worried about me? What a sweet man!" gently smiled Margaret.

"But Ma'am, that is my duty!" answered the butler, blushing.

"Aw, how cute!" cooed the Princess as she playfully pinched her butler's cheek before heading to her bedroom.

"Good night, Howard! You can sleep: I won't wake up until 2 in the afternoon!"

Still surprised, the butler smiled: he should have known that even if she was 56 years old, Princess Margaret still being cheeky sometimes.

But at least, his life was not monotonous, and she was the most likable employer he ever had. Besides, he knew that he was the privileged witness of an extraordinary love story...

July 23rd, 1986. Westminster Abbey.

Once again, the bells of Westminster Abbey rang in the London sky. A new Royal wedding was celebrated all over the country. This time, it was Prince Andrew who gets married to his girlfriend, the charming redheaded Sarah Ferguson. 

While the newlyweds saluted the crowd from the balcony, Piero looked at them with tenderness. They seemed so happy and thrilled to start their new life together... 

"And to say that Andrew told me he did not want to be an adult when he was younger..." smirked Philip.

"Well, Sarah made him change his mind!" replied Piero, who smiled while looking at the groom and bride waving at the crowd.

Besides them, the Queen was happy for her third child to get married. However, something still bothered her: Piero.

Since she knew about her husband's affair with the artist, her children demanded that Piero would be present at every event they attended, their weddings included. 

A situation that annoyed Elizabeth, to say the least: this entertainer took her place in the family. All with the benediction of her children! Even the palace staff approved their relationship and treated Piero like a member of the royal family!

And her grandchildren... She may have a good relationship with them, but they prefer spending time with De Angelis. They even called him "Nonno Piero"! What an outrage!

Philip and her keep appearances of a happy marriage for the Crown's sake, but it was not the truth for years.

She hoped that Philip would grow tired and break up with the young Mister de Angelis, but nothing happened. Worse, they were in love like the first day.

Luckily for her, she had Roger by her side to support her and provide the love she needed.

As for Queen Mum, she did not approve of neither of the two royal favorites. But she had to admit that Piero is slightly more humble than Acherville. The latter reminded her of the former King Edward VIII... 

Nobody could tell what would happen in the following years. But for sure, one day, one of the two royal lovers had to be out of the picture...

September 15th, 1987, in Westbourne

In his house, Piero was finishing his next creation. Indeed, the famous German playwright Gerald Höfler asked him to create and supervise the scenery of his next play, A matter of mistakes. As the premiere was planned for mid-October at the London Coliseum, Höfler wanted his drama to be remembered. Until now, he praised Piero's designs, saying they were beyond his expectations.  

Once he finished his work, Piero proudly smiled: he was satisfied with his production! He could not wait to show the result!

He packed up his work and drove to the theater. Once he arrived, he went to the room, where he saw the dramatist supervising the rehearsal.

The artist greeted him:

"Hello, Gerald!"

The German man turned around and happily exclaimed:

"Piero, Mein Lieber! What a blessing to see you again! How is your work going on?"

"Well, I can proudly say that I have finished!"

"Wunderbar! Show me your masterpieces!"

Piero handed him his portfolio, and Gerald checked it with impatience. Considering his facial expressions, the artist guessed that the playwright was satisfied with his work.

"Piero, Liebe... You are beyond my expectations!"

"Really?"

"Yes... The colors are harmonious, and it matches every scene... No one ever shows me such wonderful work!"

"Well, I am glad that you liked it!"

Suddenly, the German man came closer to him, inches between their faces.

"I hope that your creations got the praise they deserve..."

"Oh... Yes, of course!"

"That's great!" muttered Gerald while he gently stroke Piero's hand, much to the embarrassment of the latter.

"Uh, Gerald? What are you doing?"

"Just... thanking you..." whispered the playwright, as he leaned closer in an attempt to kiss the Italian man.

Panicked, Piero stood back and stammered:

"Listen, Gerald: you're a good man, and I enjoy working with you! But we can't be together!"

"Was?"

"I know, it might be surprising, but I am with someone, and I am happy with him!"

"Does he deserves you?"

Piero slightly smiled.

"More than you ever imagined..."

"And who is this lucky man?"

"Well... It's complicated..."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that I want to keep my personal life private!"

A smirk came across Gerald's face.

"Or let's just say that you are lying..."

He sensually held Piero's waist, much to the latter's fear.

"Whoever shares your bed - if he exists - I can be better than him... Wanna try?"

As the artist was stammering an answer, a familiar voice boomed:

"Is everything alright, gentlemen?"

The two artists turned around, and Piero was relieved to see Philip arriving.

But the look in his eyes said that he was pissed off... Let's hope that he won't make a scene.

Immediately, Gerald stood back and bowed:

"Your Highness, it is such a pleasure and honor to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." shortly answered the Duke.

Piero bit his lip, trying to hide his smile: he did not except his lover being jealous to this point. At least, it stopped Gerald's courting.

"May I know what the prince consort is doing in this place?"

"As the patron of the Drama Arts festival, I wanted to see how the artists are doing..."

"We are doing well, Your Highness! Indeed, we will be ready for the premiere, thanks to Mister de Angelis!"

The prince consort retorted:

"So, it explained why you tried to kiss him?"

Gerald was speechless by the bluntness of this statement, while Piero covered his mouth, stifling his laughter. Indeed, he discovered the jealous side of Philip's personality.

"Uh... Your Highness... It was not what you think..."

"Do you consider that I am blind?"

"Was? No, no! I would not dare to say something like that!"

"I am reassured. Now, if you excuse me, I had an appointment with Mister de Angelis. As you may know, he is one of the organizers, and we must refine some details. After all, we want this celebration to be perfect, isn't it?"

The German dramatist stuttered:

"Well, of course, Your Highness!"

"Brilliant. I shall leave you: I think you had a lot of work!"

"Sure... I have to go! Have a good day, Sir!"

Philip left the place, followed by Piero, who smirked. Seeing Gerald being so livid was a funny view.

Once they got in the car, they drove to Kensington Palace. On their way, the Duke suddenly held Peter close to him.

The artist chuckled:

"Don't tell me you were jealous..."

"I swear that if you were not here, I would punch this jerk!"

"PHILIP! Please, don't jeopardize your reputation!"

"As if I care! I would let no one even barely touch you..."

He leaned close to his face.

"You're mine, and mine only."

"And I will always be yours, my Viking Prince... My mighty Mars."

"My little Mercury..." smirked the prince consort before feverishly kissing his lover.

Piero kissed him back, smiling: now, he was confident that Philip was a fiercely jealous lover. It seemed they are going to have fun in the future...  

October 20th, 1987, Buckingham Palace.

In Buckingham Palace's reception room, the splendor of the British Crown was set for the prestigious guests: indeed, Prince Rainier of Monaco and his wife, Grace Grimaldi, came to England for an official visit.

All the Royal Family was present to welcome the princely couple. Adjusting his tie in the bathroom, Piero was a bit nervous: he was really admirative of Grace when she was an acclaimed actress. He could not still believe he would meet one of the Hollywood icons.

Suddenly, he felt Philip's hands gently massaging his shoulders.

"Calm down, Piero: it would be fine. You survived your encounter with President Mitterrand and President Reagan, so you can survive this one!"

"I know, I know. But this is so different for me: Grace Kelly is my childhood idol! It seems so unreal!"

The Duke of Edinburgh gently kissed his lover's cheek.

"Have no fear, my angel: everything will be fine. Besides, I am sure the Grimaldi would be pleased to meet one of the best British artists of the century!"

The artist laughed.

"Oh, stop that! You're going to make me blush!"

"And you are so adorable when you do this!" chuckled the prince consort.

Abruptly, someone knocked at the door, and they heard Howard's voice:

"Mister De Angelis, Your Highness: I am here to tell you that their Royal Highnesses Prince Rainier and Princess Grace are about to arrive!"

"We'll be here in a minute. Thank you, Howard!" replied Philip.

He turned to Piero.

"Ready for the show?"

"Do I have the choice?"

"I take that as a yes. Come on, let's greet our guests!"

A few minutes later, they arrived in the reception room. They found Elizabeth, Acherville, Charles, Diana, the Queen Mother, and Margaret talking to each other. They all turned their heads and saw the two lovers arriving.

"There you are! You're in time for our guests!" stated the Queen with a cold tone.

"I am always on time, dear wife!" replied the prince consort.

The main door opened, and a servant announced:

"Their Royal Highnesses Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco!"

The sovereign saluted the Monegascan royals.

"It is such a pleasure to greet you, dear Rainier and Grace!"

"The pleasure is reciprocated, Your Majesty."

Grace went to salute Piero, giving him her most beautiful smile.

"Good evening, Mister De Angelis. I am so glad to finally meet the talented artist Danielle praised so much!"

Trying to not faint, Piero managed to answer:

"It is an honor to finally meet one of the most amazing women of our time."

He swore he did not know where he found the strength to not pass out: his legs were like jelly at the moment.

"You're very kind, Mister De Angelis."

The diner went smooth, animated by passionate conversations. Much to Piero's dismay, Acherville tried to brag about his cultural knowledge.

"Which artist do you enjoy the paintings, Princess?" he asked.

"Apart from Mister De Angelis? Well, I really enjoyed Delacroix's works of art. I also like Monet, Turner, Gainsborough, Picasso..."

"Really? You like Picasso's art? Honestly, it is not my cup of tea!" replied the squire.

"Why?" asked the former actress.

"Well, he is gifted, for sure, but... There is something in his paints I can't understand: it looks like nonsense."

"It is the purpose of abstract art, Mister Acherville!" replied Piero, making the guests laugh.

Philip glanced at his lover with pride: he perfectly snubbed Acherville, all in front of their companies! He guessed that Elizabeth was not pleased to see her favorite embarrassed. 

When the dinner reached his end, all the guests relaxed in the corridors. Rainier went to see Piero:

"May I speak with you in private, Mister De Angelis?"

"Of course, Your Highness!" answered Piero, puzzled.

They walked a little bit before the Prince of Monaco said:

"Mister De Angelis, I might sound rude or crazy, but I would like to order you a painting!"

Piero was astonished: he did not expect this one!

"Well... Of course, what can I do for you? Which type of paint do you want?"

"I would like you to paint a portrait of Grace."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes... I wish to offer this portrait for her birthday..."

The prince had a dreamy smile.

"She is everything I ever wished for. I don't know if you understand what I mean, but... When you find your significant one, you will do everything for this person!"

The artist gently smirked.;

"Oh, I understand, Your Highness. I understand very well..."

He nodded.

"Don't worry, I will work on your wife's portrait. I will make sure that it would ready on time for Her Highness's birthday!"

"Thank you very much, Mister De Angelis! She would be thrilled to have one of your creations." happily exclaimed Rainier as he shook hands with the British-Italian artist.

"The pleasure is all mine, Sir!" replied Piero.

Two hours later, the Monegascan couple went back to their hotel. Meanwhile, Piero walked down the corridors when suddenly, a hand grabbed him by the collar and pinned him against the wall.

He opened his eyes and discovered the furious face of Acherville.

"So, I hope you enjoyed humiliating me in front of everyone! How dare a commoner speaking like this to me?"

"Leave me alone, you jackass!" grimaced Piero while he struggled to get out of Acherville's grip.

"Not so fast! If you want to stay in one piece, here's my offer: get out of here and never come back!"

But the artist was not easily impressed.

"Over my dead body, you sucker!"

Acherville smirked like a predator.

"Well-chosen words, Signore!"

But as the Queen's favorite prepared his fist to punch Piero, a firm hand stopped his gesture.

"Would you care to tell me what are you doing, Sir Acherville?"

The two men saw Philip standing behind Acherville, his hand firmly gripping the squire's wrist. His furious glare terrified the squire.

"Let Piero go, or I swear that your wrist will be the first thing I will break!"

Reluctantly, Roger loosened his grip, and Piero managed to breathe. 

"Why don't you mind your business? He humiliated me!"

"Oh, but you managed perfectly to humiliate yourself without his help! Besides, admit it: you just needed an excuse to lash out at him!"

Acherville gritted his teeth: even if Philip was an old man, he had enough strength to follow through with threats. 

He pulled his hand back.

"Alright, you win. But it's not the end, Your Highness. One day or another, your little clown had to bow out. And be sure that I'll do anything!"

"Is that a threat?" snarled Piero.

"No... Just a warning."

The squire turned around and walked away. Once Acherville left, Philip rushed at Piero's side.

"Are you alright, Piero?"

"I knew better days... Apart from that, I am okay!"

Relieved, the prince gently held his lover against him. 

"Thank God, I arrived before he beat you!"

"I had no worry, you know. Because I knew you would come to save me..."

Piero gently stroked Philip's cheek.

"We survived through 15 years together. It is not like something is going to tear us apart."

"You're right, my little Delacroix."

Lightly leaning his head on his lover's shoulder, the artist whispered:

"I am so grateful to have you here with me, my Viking prince."

"And I am so glad to be by your side, my Italian angel." chuckled the Duke as he kissed Piero's head.

For sure, they are meant to stay together a long time...

December 24th, 1991

The thick snow covered the Scottish landscapes, turning them into fairytale scenery. Even if his Mediterranean roots enjoyed the warmth of summer, Piero has a soft spot for the enchanting British winter. Everything seemed so calm when the snow fell.

While admiring the view, the artist did not hear Margaret coming near to him:

"Looking for your next painting, caro Piero?"

"Hey, don't startle me like that!" laughed the man as he turned around.

"Oh, come on! Don't be such a wimp, darling!"

"Don't be a prick, Your Sassiness!" 

The princess laughed.

"Ah, my dear painter! At least, you master the art of banter!"

Margaret looked at the peaceful winter afternoon with a musing smile.

 "I always enjoyed Christmas time at Balmoral... It's like time stopped just for a few days, and you can be yourself for this short time." 

"I understand what you mean. Everything becomes eerie at this moment."

"I agree."

She smiled.

"And this year, we have The Little One with us!"

The Little One. This was the nickname Margaret gave to Grace Cecile Margaret, the third child of Charles and Diana. The little princess was born on July 23rd, during a hot summer day: poor Diana nearly passed out of exhaustion! But in the end, everyone was healthy and happy. And to say that little Grace made hearts melt was an understatement. 

"Yes, now there she is! Isn't she so cute?"

"You bet she is! You know what? If she looks like her mum when she grows up, she would be England's next darling!"

Piero snickered.

"I am not sure it will please Charles..."

"Poor nephew: he is not out of the woods with his good-looking children!" laughed Margaret.

"Especially when you decide to dress them like little top models!"

"What? It will be a shame to not dress them like the princes and princesses they are!"

Suddenly, Edward's voice called them.

"Aunt Margaret? Piero? Where are you?"

"We're here in a minute, dear." replied the princess before telling her friend.

"Come on, dear: they are worried about us!"

"Then, let's not be long in coming!"

The duo walked back near Balmoral Castle, where they found the rest of the family enjoying the afternoon.

While Diana held her six-month daughter in her arms, Charles looked after William and Harry. As for the two boys, they built a snowman with their cousins Peter, Zara, and Beatrice, with the help of their uncle Edward. At the same time, Fergie talked with Andrew, Anne, and Mark, while holding Eugenie. 

"Here come the two Fashion Icons! What were you doing?" asked Charles.

"We were planning a coup d'Etat, darling!" jokingly retorted Margaret.

"Oh, Dear Lord: trouble is among us!" replied Anne.

"I bet they were kissing!" joked Andrew.

"Do you want me to get killed by your father?" said his aunt.

"And I only belong to him. And no one else!" added Piero.

"Speaking of my dear brother-in-law, where is he?"

"He paid a visit to a friend who lives not far from here. The poor lad suffered a broken leg after a bad fall!" explained Mark.

"Oh, dear! I hope he will get better soon!" 

"I think so... Ah, I think Father is coming back!" stated Edward.

Indeed, the Range Rover parked, and Philip appeared.

"Hello everyone! Did I miss something?"

"Not at all: we explained to Margaret where did you go."

"Alright... Wait: where are Elizabeth and my mother-in-law?"

Diana replied.

"The Queen is rehearsing her Christmas speech, and the Queen Mother prefers staying inside, as she does not want to catch a cold!"

"Alright!"

He went to Piero and gently kissed his gloved hand.

"Aren't you cold, my beloved?"

"I am fine, thanks. Don't worry about me!"

This sweet moment was interrupted by an infamous voice.

"Oh, isn't that sweet?"

All turned to see Roger Achervillle, standing next to a wall, his arms folded on his chest.

"Oh, I nearly hope he fell in a frozen lake!" grumbled Charles.

"May we know what you are doing here?" sighed Fergie, exasperated.

"Nothing special, except that I see this family being soiled by some unwanted people!" snarled Acherville while glancing at Piero.

"As if you were pure as the driven snow! In case you forgot, you are unwanted in this family! Unlike Piero, no one ever wanted you here!" riposted Mark.

"Remember what happened the last time you tried to threat us..." warned Philip.

"Don't lecture me, you arrogant prick! Unlike me, a real British aristocrat, you are just an immigrant brought near the Crown by pity!"

Suddenly, snowballs were thrown at him by William, Peter, and Zara.

"Leave Grandpa and Nonno Piero alone, you bully!"

"Nobody wants you here, you dumbass!"

"Take that, you killjoy!"

The adults were impressed by their children's rebellion: usually, they ignored Acherville or tried to be polite to a minimum. But this time, they really want to defend Piero.

However, Acherville would have none of it and decided to admonish them.

"Come here, you little..."

"BEBOP, OLD MAN!" yelled Harry and Beatrice, who knocked him over with their sleds.

"Well done, kids!" smirked Margaret.

Furious, the squire got up and turned to the Princess:

"Don't you dare encouraging them, you witch!"

"ROGER ACHERVILLE, HOW DARE YOU?"

All turned and saw the Queen who stood at the entrance of the palace, furious.

"But dear..."

"I don't want to hear your excuses! No one ever speaks to my sister with that tone! You are not above her!"

All were shocked: it was the first time they heard Elizabeth yelling at her favorite like that.

"But Elizabeth, she encouraged your grandchildren to disrespect me!"

"Grandma, he wanted to slap us!" protested Beatrice.

"WHAT?"

"Lizzie, it's a lie!"

But the Queen was furious and did not want to hear his complaints.

"Don't even call Beatrice a liar, again! Let me be clear: you have no authority upon my grandchildren, understood?"

Acherville nodded, defeated.

"Fair enough. Now, shall we all come back inside? The dinner is ready." she said.

All went into the palace, taking off their coats and heading to their rooms. Once they get dressed for dinner, the royal family sat down and started to enjoy the recipes prepared by the cooking staff. 

The atmosphere was pleasant, even if all were still surprised by the Queen's outburst of rage.

"So, what do you think Santa Claus will bring you this year?" asked Andrew to his daughter.

"I don't know... A car?"

"Aren't you too young to drive, Beatrice?" laughed Philip.

"I asked for a pair of rollers: I hope I would have them!" stated Harry.

"If you were a nice boy, you would have them!" replied Fergie.

"And you, great-grandmother, what would you like for Christmas?" asked William.

"Oh, my boy, I have no idea... This evening together is already enough. Even if..."

She stopped in her tracks, slightly frowning.

"Is anything upset you, Mother?" asked Margaret.

"Oh, dear... I can't find your father's portrait!"

"Which one?" inquired Elizabeth.

"The one I gave him for our twentieth anniversary. I cannot find it!"

"Is this picture important for you?" asked Acherville.

He immediately regretted his question as the Queen Mother looked daggers at him.

"Indeed, Mister Acherville. This portrait of my dear Bertie belonged to the cherished memories I had of him."

Usually, Piero would smirk at the view of his nemesis being roasted by Queen Mum. But he saw a glimpse of hurt and sadness in her eyes, which broke his heart.

Philip often told him how much she loved her dear husband, and she was still mourning him.

Later that evening, all went to bed. As Philip laid down in his bed, Piero joined his lover and cuddled him.

He glanced at the clock, who indicated midnight and muttered:

"Buon Natale, amore mio!"

Smirking, the Duke kissed him and answered:

"Merry Christmas, my love!"

They both fell asleep as the churches' bells rang gently in the air to celebrate Christmas...

The next morning.

The calm over Balmoral was disrupted by running footsteps and peals of laughter.

"Philip?" muttered Piero in a sleepy voice.

"Yes, my love?" answered the prince.

"Brace yourself: here comes the storm!"

The next second, William, Harry, Zara, Peter, and Eugenie bargained into their bedroom and jumped on their bed.

"GRANDPA! NONNO! GET UP, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY!" they happily yelled.

"Thank you, I have noticed!" growled Philip, still sleepy.

"Did not you forget something?" asked Piero, smiling.

"Ah, right! One, two, three..."

And all the kids said, with their most angelic smiles:

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

"I prefer! Merry Christmas too, kids!" chuckled Philip.

"Come on, Grandpa! The presents are here!" squealed Eugenie before running to the dining hall, followed by her cousins.

Once they are alone, the two lovers laughed.

"Well, they are very excited!" said Philip.

"You bet they are! At least, I hope they would keep this ability to be amazed by every single moment like this!" replied Piero.

"I am sure they will. But, before we join the rest of the family..."

The duke cupped his lover's face between his hands and kissed him.

"Merry Christmas, my darling!"

"Merry Christmas, my love!"

Suddenly, they heard Harry saying impatiently:

"Grandpa, Nonno, please stop kissing and come down!"

"Such authority! I wonder from who he takes this character!" laughed Piero.

They got up and put on their bathrobes before leaving the bedroom. On their way, they greeted the staff and wished a Merry Christmas.

When the pair arrived, all the family was gathered in the dining room, with presents near the Christmas tree.

"Ah, here you are! Merry Christmas!" happily exclaimed Fergie, who greeted them.

"Merry Christmas too, dear Fergie!" gently answered Piero.

"I see that you did not open the presents yet!" stated Philip.

"Well, the children insisted that we waited for everyone to be present before doing so!" explained Diana.

"How lovely!" smiled Piero.

The Queen Mother appeared in the company of Margaret.

"Merry Christmas to all of you!" gently said the matriarch.

"Thank you, Grandmother!" replied Anne.

"Can we open the presents, now? Please?" begged Harry.

"What are you waiting for? Open them!" declared Margaret with a mischievous smile.

All opened their presents and discovered what they received. Harry was thrilled to see he finally received his rollers.

Meanwhile, Grace was spoiled with many plushies and other toys.

At the same time, Margaret thanked Piero for the lovely bracelet he offered her.

"Darling, you did not need to spoil me like that!"

"Only the best for a dear friend!" 

Suddenly, Acherville cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention.

"Come on, what did he plan again?" sighed Mark.

Acherville walked towards the Queen Mother and respectfully bowed.

"Your Majesty, it's with a great deference that I bring you this humble present for this Christmas Day!" he said while handing her a wrapped gift.

"A present? For me? Oh, I did not expect it from you, Mister Acherville. Nevertheless, I appreciate the gesture!"

She took it and tore the wrapping paper, revealing an elegant small box. 

"Charming... And may I know the purpose of this present?"

"Well, as your vanity case must be elegant as you, I thought this small box would be perfect for your dentures!"

When she heard that, the Queen Mother was infuriated.

"SUCH IMPERTINENCE! DON'T YOU EVEN DARE BRING PRESENTS, YOU RUDE SYCOPHANT!"

The other adults present stifled their laughter with difficulty. However, the children did not even try to hide their hilarity and cried out of laughter.

As for Acherville, he was mortified: he counted on this present to win the Queen Mother's alliance, and he failed.

Feeling that it was the perfect moment, Piero walked towards the Queen Mum and said with a respectful bow:

"Ma'am, with your permission, I would like to give you my Christmas present!"

Intrigued, the woman asked:

"So, you have a present for me too? Very well, where is it?"

"If you would follow me, please..." gestured the artist.

Puzzled, the former Queen got up and followed Piero while the other royals looked at each other, perplexed: what was this famous present?

Meanwhile, Piero and Queen Mum entered the familial gallery portrait. She nearly had an attack when she saw the picture of her husband, which disappeared back to its place!

"How could it be?"

"Well, I have to confess: I was the one who took the portrait!"

She turned to him, confused:

"But why on Earth did you do such a thing?"

Piero started to explain:

"Philip told me how unconditionally you loved your husband and how you cherish every memory of him. And you held this painting dear. So, I decided to restore it as a Christmas present for you."

The Queen Mother stayed silent, unable to say a single word.

The artist, fearing that she was upset, said:

"I understood that you may be mad at me and that you would despise me more. But I just wanted to say that I never faked my respect towards you, and I really admire your sincere love for your late husband..."

Suddenly, she turned to him and bowed her head.

"Mister De Angelis, I shall admit that your present was unexpected. But thanks to your talent and kindness, this portrait seems lively again. Like my dear Bertie was here, with us."

She raised her head, and Piero saw some tears in her eyes:

"Maybe I disapprove of your relationship with Philip, but at least, you never try to claim a place that was never yours. And you always show respect to my husband's legacy. Please, be sure you have all my respect and my gratefulness towards you."

The artist was taken aback: he really did not expect this one! She even granted him her respect!

Slowly, he bowed to her:

"I am glad to see that my work was above your expectations, Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Mister De Angelis..."

They came back to the dining room, where the Queen Mother explained the whole situation to her family.

All were surprised and moved by this gesture... except one, obviously!

Later that day, all the royal family went for a walk in the snowy landscape. 

Walking next to his mother, Harry asked:

"Mum?"

"Yes, darling?"

"When people love each other very much, they get married. Right?"

"It often happens, yes," replied his father.

"Well, in this case... Why Grandpa did not marry Nonno?"

Diana and Charles looked at each other, embarrassed. How to answer this tricky question to a seven-year-old boy?

Luckily, the Prince of Wales started to explain, carefully choosing his words:

"Well, as you may know, Grandpa and Grandma were already married when Grandpa met Nonno..."

"Yes?"

"But it is complicated for the Queen to divorce. So, even if they do not like each other like they used to, they have to stay together for the public's sake."

"But it is not fair!"

"Unfortunately, it is. Also, nowadays, it is still complicated for same-sex couples to publicly love each other. Besides, nobody is ready for a royal man to be in love with another man."

The little prince protested.

"But all this family is ready! And I am ready too, as I accept them!"

Fondly smiling, the Princess of Wales gently ruffled her son's red hair.

"I know, my little ginger. But we need more people to accept. Unfortunately, it takes time, but one day, it would be different if children like you start to fight for this!"

The young boy nodded.

"I guess you're right, mum."

Beatrice asked.

"But, Uncle Charles..."

"Yes, Beatrice?"

"You said that people do not accept same-sex lovers. But then, why people won't accept Nonno and Grandpa?"

Zara replied:

"Because they did not see how amazing they are, and that's a shame!"

"I agree!" added Peter.

Anne and Mark smiled at their children's remarks. 

At the same time, Piero and Philip, who walked at the end of the group, were moved by their grandchildren's speeches.

"They cannot be more perfect..." smiled the artist, wiping away a tear.

"I know, my love. I know..." gently muttered the prince as he held his lover's hand.

This Christmas went better than expected...

February 14th, 1992. In a mansion in the Essex countryside.

Sitting in his studio, Piero was painting portraits of the royal children. He chuckled as he thought how fast they grew up. Indeed, Peter was 15 years old, while his sister Zara would turn 11 in May. As for William and Harry, they will be 10 and 8 soon, while their baby sister, Grace, would celebrate her 1st birthday in July. Little Beatrice went on her 5th birthday, while little Eugenie would be 2 the following month.

Those children brought happiness in Piero's life: even if they were not related by blood, he loved them as if they were his own family members. And the feelings were reciprocated: all of the children called him Nonno Piero. They were so cute!

He enjoyed taking them to museums or teaching them artistic activities and sometimes brought along his nephews and nieces with him.

Once he finished the paintings, Piero put his brushes away and gazed at his work, satisfied. He was sure it would please Philip's children.

Thinking of his lover, the artist sighed: he wondered what the prince planned for their Valentine's day. Unfortunately, Philip won't be able to be here until the late afternoon, as he had some official events to attend.

But Piero had the habit of suffering in silence: after all, it was the case for twenty years.

The Italian-British smiled: twenty years together. Time flies so fast...

Cleaning up his painting tools, he went to the bathroom and took a shower before putting on his best clothes for his lover.

Satisfied with the result, Piero decided to entertain himself by reading some book in his room while waiting for his lover to come home.

Buried himself in his reading, he did not hear his lover coming back... until he heard some music coming from the garden.

"What the...?"

He opened the window and nearly screamed of surprise when he saw Philip, dressed in his best suit, gently smiling at him. At his feet, a radio playing a familiar tune, and the prince started to sing:

Le ciel bleu sur nous peut s'effondrer,

Et la terre peut bien s'écrouler.

Peu m'importe, si tu m'aimes

Je me fous du monde entier!

Tant que l'amour inondera mes matins,

Tant que mon corps frémira sous tes mains.

Peu m'importent les problèmes,

Mon amour puisque tu m'aimes.

The artist was amazed: he did know Philip knew how to sing! And he was surprisingly a good singer. Smiling, he leaned on the small balcony while the prince kept singing:

J'irais jusqu'au bout du monde,

Je me ferais teindre en blond,

Si tu me le demandais!

J'irais décrocher la lune,

J'irais voler la fortune,

Si tu me le demandais.

Je renierais ma patrie,

Je renierais mes amis,

Si tu me le demandais.

On peut bien rire de moi,

Je ferais n'importe quoi,

Si tu me le demandais.

Philip could not help but smirk at his lover: it seemed that his idea worked. Honestly, he was lucky that one of Margaret's friends was a voice teacher. It was out of the question to sing off-key for his sweetheart, especially during Valentine's day.

With those thoughts in his mind, he started the most emotional part of the song:

Si un jour la vie t'arrache à moi,

Si tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi

Peu m'importe, si tu m'aimes,

Car moi je mourrais aussi!

Nous aurons pour nous l'éternité

Dans le bleu de toute l'immensité.

Dans le ciel, plus de problèmes

Mon amour, crois-tu qu'on s'aime?

It was true: Philp would never want to live any longer if Piero was torn away from him. Since their first meeting in 1972, he knew deep inside that the young man would become an essential part of his life. 

He owed him his happiness and life. After all, he tended the emotional wounds of his children and put this family together again.

But what mattered the most for him was that the artist made him believe in love again: when his marriage crumbled down, Philip thought he would never find someone to give his affection to. 

But here they were, and that was all that mattered.

Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment.

When he opened his eyes, Philip was surprised to notice that Piero was not at the balcony. 

"Let's hope I did not scare him with my poor performance."

Suddenly, he heard the door opened, and Piero rushed into his arms, kissing him feverishly.

Chuckling, Philip kissed him back, enjoying the presence of the man he loved the most in his arms.

When they had to take a break, the prince whispered:

"Happy 20th Valentine's Day, angelo mio!"

"I knew you would never forget it!" smiled the artist.

"How could I? You illuminated my life for twenty years, now. Remind me to thank Margaret for that!"

"You will do it tomorrow, my love. Now, what are we going to do?"

Philip smiled.

"Let's go back inside, shall we? I had a little surprise for you!"

The pair went back to their house and headed to the living room.

Piero gasped in surprise when he discovered the beautiful bouquet of red roses that took center stage on the table.

"Philip... It's amazing!"

"I wanted something simple yet elegant for you. Should I precise that there are twenty roses in this bouquet?"

"You did not miss the detail, right?"

"I am a man of precision."

He cleared his throat.

"Piero, there is something I wanted to give you..."

The latter raised an eyebrow: what could Philip give him?

"What is it?"

"Just before I give you this present, do you remember the little speech of Harry about you and I not getting married?"

"Yes?"

"Well, I would try to make up for this mistake..."

He went on one knee and pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket.

Piero clapped his hand on his mouth, astonished. 

"Oh, Dio Mio! Philip..."

"I wished that, in another life, we would be able to show our love and unite our lives... And I also wished that I was around your age and not being a septuagenarian..."

"Oh, don't be harsh about yourself: you still look good!"

"I appreciate your kindness... Anyway! Even if we cannot live the way we want, I never regret having you here with me. And as our grandchildren said, it was not fair that I cannot officially give you my last name."

He opened the small box, revealing a beautiful silver ring with the coat of arms of the Duke engraved on it. 

"So, Piero Armando Raphael De Angelis, would you give me the greatest honor to be a non-official Mountbatten?"

Trying not to cry, Piero nervously laughed as he answered:

"Do you really need to ask the question? Yes, I do!"

Relieved, the prince put the ring on the artist's finger and got up.

Then, he wrapped his arms around the artist's waist and gently kissed his lips.

Nothing compared to the love he felt for this angel, and he planned to keep him at his side as long as he lived.

April 28th, 1994. Kensington Palace

Philip and Margaret enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage stroll around the large estate of Kensington on this beautiful spring day.

"Finally, a sunny day! I thought it would never happen!" happily sighed Margaret, adjusting her hat.

"You're right! At least, I have a day off, and the far I am from Elizabeth and her boot-licker, the better I feel!!"

"So am I! God, he pisses me off every time I see his face!"

The prince chuckled: he enjoyed badmouthing Acherville behind his back with Margaret. 

As she was his ally, his sister-in-law never missed an occasion to slander about their enemy in common.

"Anyway, let's enjoy this wonderful moment! Speaking of that, I wished the rest of the team was with us!"

"Except the children who are at school or kindergarten, where are the others?"

"Let's see... Charles visits Scotland, while Andrew and Fergie pay a visit to charity work in Manchester. Your wife and her jackass-in-chief greet the new ambassador of Morocco. Diana and Piero are currently visiting a hospital for children. Mum had tea with one of her friends, Anne and Mark are with the Olympic team... and Edward has his day off too!"

She mischievously smirked.

"And I know what he is doing!"

"Tell me more..."

"He has a date, sir!"

Philip nearly fell off his seat.

"He has a girlfriend?"

"You bet he has! He and Sophie Rhys-Jones - that's her name - are together for a few months!"

The prince smiled, amused.

"Well, he managed to keep it a secret from me. But I guess he has the right to have his own life: after all, he will be thirty!"

He turned to Margaret.

"Speaking of upcoming events, are you excited to marry your daughter?"

"You bet I am! David is a nice guy: she picked the right man!"

"I'm glad for her!"

The two fancied the calm surroundings when an idea popped into Philip's mind.

"Maggie..."

"Yes?"

"I have an idea..."

"I'm in, no matter what. What do you plan this time?"

The Duke smirked.

"Well, what if we pick up the children from school... with the horse carriage?"

She laughed.

"Like old times? I'm in, Philip! Just before, can we go back to the house? I need more appropriate clothes!"

"Off we go, Margaret!"

An hour later, they were on their way to the schools, with new clothes.  While Philip drove the carriage, Margaret checked the schools' addresses.

"Let me see... The first school on our way is where are Zara and Will!"

"Here we go!"

On their way, the royals were met by curious bystanders who greeted them.

When they arrived at the school, all the pupils were amazed by the scene: the prince consort and the Countess of Snowdon driving a horse carriage.

One of the teachers managed to ask:

"Your Highnesses... Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes: could you tell me where are my grandchildren?"

At the same time, the two teenagers went out of their classrooms and gasped at the scene.

"GRANDPA? AUNT MARGARET?"

"In-person, children. Now, get in there: we have to pick the rest of the tribe!"

Giggling excitedly, Zara and Will rushed to the carriage and jumped inside, under the cheers of their classmates.

Once the teenagers were settled, Philip pulled on the reins, and the carriage followed its path.

Their next stage was Peter's high school. At their arrival, Margaret noticed the young man talking with some classmates. She smirked as she saw the girls blushing and fidgeting the edges of their skirts while talking to her great-nephew.

"Isn't that sweet? This boy is a heartbreaker!"

"I guess so... But it's time to go home! PETER!" called out Philip.

The young man turned around and waved:

"I arrive!"

Peter excused himself towards his friends before he went near the carriage and jumped in it.

"Here I am!"

"Perfect, young man! Now, who is the next one?"

"It's Harry and Beatrice, and then we can pick up Grace and Eugenie!"

The youngest royal grandchildren were over the moon when they saw their grandpapa and their great-aunt picking them from school with a horse-drawn carriage.

Soon after, the group went back to Kensington Palace when Margaret exclaimed:

"Hey, I have an idea!"

"What?"

"What if we pick up Diana and Piero? After all, it's on our way!"

The prince shrugged.

"If you say so..."

"Don't play that game with me, old man! I know that you are secretly pleased with that idea..."

Philip struggled to not smirk.

"If you start sweet talking to me, how could I resist?"

His sister-in-law grinned triumphally.

"I knew it! Alright, let's go to the Evelina Children's Hospital!"

Meanwhile, Piero and Diana finished their visit, guided by a physician.

"Your Highness, Mister De Angelis, I would like to thank you for this significant visit in the name of the staff."

"It's us who should thank you, Doctor Lewis. You and your medical team do an amazing job here." replied the princess.

"She is right: all the recent signs of progress made in research are full of hope!" added the artist.

A young nurse came near them.

"Excuse me, Your Highness ..."

"Yes?"

"There is the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret waiting for you outside with the children."

"WHAT?" exclaimed Diana and Piero, who rushed outside to find that the nurse told the truth.

"Well, dear daughter-in-law, admit that you weren't expecting this?"

"No, indeed!" laughed the Princess of Wales.

"I was not told that we would be entitled to a princely carriage!" Piero smiled.

"Look, Mom: Grandpa picked us up from school like that!" exclaimed Grace.

"My God, that must have caused a sensation!" chuckled the artist.

Piero glanced at Philip with a slight smile on his lips: he would not be surprised that his lover had this idea.

"Come on, both of you: we're going back to Kensington Palace!" Margaret declared.

Immediately, the two friends boarded the carriage, and the small group set off for the return trip.

This vision of the royal family caused the amazement and joy of the people, who greeted them with honks.

For their part, the children waved their hands in the direction of motorists.

Obviously, such an event attracted the curiosity of several journalists who attempted to interview Prince Philip and his family.

"So, Your Highness, how do you feel as you take this walk?"

The prince consort smiled:

"At the moment, I'm not the queen's husband. I'm just a grandfather who came to pick up his grandchildren from school."

"In a horse-drawn carriage?"

"So what? It is an ecological transport, and that makes the children happy!"

"Moreover, it allows us to take advantage of this beautiful spring day!" Margaret added.

Suddenly, a car driven by students arrived near them. One of the passengers opened the window:

"Hi, there! Listen in: it's a bop!"

The other passengers opened their windows, and the royals heard the radio playing Easy Lover by Phil Collins.

"They have a nice music taste!" laughed Piero.

As for the children, they started moving on their seats, shaking their heads in sync with the music.

"Have fun, children!" smiled Diana.

The Duke of Edinburgh briefly glanced at his passengers with a tender smile: if only he could have more sweet moments like that with his loved ones.

As for Margaret, she closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of the spring sun on her face. This feeling of freedom was a blessing for the young sister of the Queen. Speaking of the latter, she wondered how her sister would react when she would see the images... 

Half an hour later, they arrived at Kensington Palace. As they were about to cross the portal, a journalist asked them:

"Your Highnesses, can we have your opinion about the newly elected president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela?"

Philip turned and shouted:

"I wish him all the best: after all, he had a lot of work to do!"

Upon those words, the family entered the park, and the portal closed its doors.

Once they were far from the crowd, the royals went out of the carriage.

"That was so cool! Can we start it again?" asked Peter.

"I'm afraid that your grandmother would not approve!" stated Margaret.

"Let's go inside: I am sure Howard must have prepared his delicious caramel biscuits!"

"YEAH! CARAMEL!" exclaimed Harry, Grace, and Eugenie, who rushed to the mansion.

While the rest of the family went inside, Piero and Philip stayed alone.

"I guess it was your idea?"

"Indeed!"

The artist smirked.

"You had a brilliant idea..."

The prince gently held his hand.

"I just wanted to please my grandchildren... and my secret husband!"

"I am flattered!" muttered the British-Italian man before kissing his lover.

As they enjoyed this sweet moment, they heard William saying:

'Mum, they are kissing again!"

The two stopped, and Philip started to run after his grandson, a smirk on his lips:

"Come here, you little..."

The 12-year-old boy shrieked with laughter before trying to escape from his grandfather. As for Piero, he gently grinned as he saw his family happy. 

The artist noticed some change since a few years after he started dating Philip: he felt that the atmosphere was happier and more welcoming. He must credit Diana and the grandchildren for this difference.

"Nonno! Come inside: it's tea time!" called Grace.

"I arrive, my little fairy!" replied the man who joined the rest of the family.

Meanwhile, in Buckingham Palace.

In the main living room of the royal palace, Elizabeth enjoyed a steaming cup of tea with her mother and Charles.

"How was the meeting with the new ambassador of Morocco?" asked the Queen Mother.

"It went well: Mister Haddaoui is a pleasant gentleman! Speaking of that, he gave me a message from Prince Mohammed. He wanted some news about his cherished goddaughter!" explained Elizabeth.

"That is very kind of him: I will write to him later!" replied Charles.

Suddenly, they heard the BBC anchorman saying a piece of unusual news:

**"Today, an unexpected view happened in London, while the Queen met the Moroccan ambassador: indeed, His Royal Highness Prince Philip was spotted driving a horse-drawn carriage, in the company of Princess Margaret, the Princess of Wales, his grandchildren, and Piero de Angelis, the famous artist..."**

The Queen nearly choked on her tea.

"WHAT?"

To prove the statement, the channel broadcasted footage of the royals in the carriage.

**"It looked like the youngest members of the Royal Family enjoyed this unique moment as they were spotted dancing on some music played by bystanders. At the same time, some of our colleagues tried to interview the prince consort. 

The Duke of Edinburgh replied that he was only a grandfather who picked his beloved grandchildren from school. When he was asked about President Mandela's election, he answered that he only wished success to the new leader of South Africa. 

Many people praised this idea, saying that it showed a relaxed side of the royal family..."**

"HOW DARE THEY?" screamed the monarch.

As for Charles, he smirked:

"Well, at least, they looked happy!"

"Of course: you praised everything your father and this... man do!" scoffed his mother.

Exasperated, the Crown Prince snapped:

"Stop badmouthing Piero! At least, he showed me the parental love you denied me!"

"Charles! Please, calm down!" exclaimed his grandmother.

The Queen stayed silent, but the harsh words of her son opened her eyes: unfortunately, she was not a mother in the eyes of her children anymore. As she was not a wife in the eyes of Philip...

So, when she laid in her bed that night, she sighed:

"Am I only a queen, and not a mother?"

Acherville held her:

"Don't bother! They would never compete with you. Forget Philip and his little lover! One day, they will fall apart!"

She nodded but stayed unconvinced: how long will she be alienated from her own flesh and blood? A little voice in her head yelled at her that Acherville was no stranger to this situation...

March 18th, 1996. Los Angeles, The United States.

The least that can be said was that Philip, Margaret, Diana, Charles, William, Harry, Grace, and Piero were warmly welcomed in the United States. Indeed, they were popular in America, especially Piero, whose works of art sell like hotcakes.

All the Hollywood celebrities fought to have the privilege to speak with the royals. Richard Gere, Sigourney Weaver, and many famous names tried to meet them.

But only a legendary pair was honored entertaining those favorite guests in their villa: Marlon Brando and Marylin Monroe, one of the most glamourous couples of Hollywood.

In their seventies, the two legendary actors never lost their glamour neither their fame. And they loved each other like they never had before.

They became friends with Piero when the latter went to the United States to present his creations. At the time, Marlon wanted to buy one of his paintings to give to his wife. They get on well, and the British-Italian artist became a good friend of them. It went to the point that Marylin became a friend of Diana and the godmother of Grace.

In the Rose Charm Villa, all sat in the living room, enjoying a good drink.  Piero spotted loving pictures of the couple with their children and grandchildren. 

"What do you think of Los Angeles, Your Highness?" asked Marlon while he sipped on his whiskey glass.

"Very lively...and noisy!" smirked Philip.

"Father!" exclaimed Charles.

"Did you really need to say that?" sighed Piero while elbowing his lover.

Diana gently laughed.

"At least, he is honest about it!"

"And you, Mister Brando: what is your opinion about England?" asked Margaret.

"Old, rainy, and boring!"

"MARLON!" exclaimed his wife as she slapped him on the hand.

"Ouch! But darling, I am just joking!" 

"That was not funny!"

William and Harry snorted with laughter: it was funny seeing adults bickering!

As for Grace, she was sitting near her godmother and looked at the scene with enjoyment. 

"Is your husband always like that, Auntie?"

"Oh, my poor little butterfly: you have no idea! He makes me crazy every day!" sighed the actress.

"Men are all the same!" smirked Margaret.

"MAGGIE!"

"What? It is the truth!"

"I am a man, and I feel offended!" replied Charles.

"WE ARE NOT MEN YET, AND WE ARE OFFENDED TOO!" added William and Harry.

All laughed when someone knocked at the door.

"Come in!" answered Marlon.

A maid appeared at the door:

"Excuse me, Ma'am, but you have guests!"

"Oh, really? Thank you, Georgia: let them in, please!" replied Marylin.

The maid stepped aside and appeared Grace of Monaco and Jane Russell.

Delighted to see her friends, Marylin got up from her seat and greeted them with open arms.

"Grace, Jane! What a pleasant surprise!"

"Hello, Blondie! Long time no see!" joked Jane.

"We heard that our dear royals are here, so Jane and I thought that we can pay you a visit!" explained Grace.

"Both of you are always welcomed here! Please, take a seat!"

The two newcomers greeted the rest of the guests.

"Oh, dear Piero! It's been a long time since my visit to England!" smiled Grace.

"A very long time, indeed!"

"Grace showed me the portrait you created for her birthday: I am jealous!" laughed Mrs. Russell.

Piero felt light-hearted: he never expected being surrounded by the three actresses he admired the most! If Philip was not near him, the artist would have passed out!

Speaking of the latter, the prince smirked when he saw his lover awed in front of his idols.

At the same time, the three actresses recalled good memories of their careers.

"Oh, do you remember the shooting of Merry Girls?" inquired Jane.

"Oh, my favorite movie!" exclaimed Diana.

"I really enjoy this movie: it is so funny and brilliantly written!" added Charles.

"It is one of my preferred old Hollywood movies!" outdid Piero.

Grace explained:

"It was the only movie we shot together... and my only comedy!"

"We had so much fun on set!" smiled Jane.

"Oh, one of the best moments of my career!" added Marylin.

"You were astonishing in that movie!" smiled Marlon while kissing her hand.

"You flatterer!" she laughed.

They spend the rest of the day in the garden, enjoying a delicious dinner and looking at the Californian sunset.

His elbows resting on the low wall, Philip looked at the scenery with a relaxed smile on his lips. He smirked as he saw Marylin and Piero gently chatting.

"A pleasant view, isn't it?"

The prince turned and saw Marlon Brando joining him, a Martini glass in his hand. The actor smiled as he spotted his wife laughing with the artist.

"We are both lucky, huh?"

"What do you mean?" asked Philip.

Brando sighed before explaining:

"A long time ago, I only have to snap my fingers to have all the women I want. But I was not happy: I felt something was missing in my life."

A sly grin appeared on his face.

"And then, she appeared like a silver lining. Beautiful, smiling, calm, and loving. She was like the sun after the storm. She kissed my wounds and calmed my fears... She gave me beautiful children and offered a better life than I expected."

"I understand what you mean... I feel the same since Piero accepted to be with me... I owe him so much!"

Marlon raised his glass.

"Then, let's have a toast to the loves of our lives!"

The prince smirked and clinked his glass on Marlon's drink.

"To the loves of our lives!"

As they enjoyed the peaceful Californian evening, Philip and Marlon talked about the future. But no one had a clue about what could happen...

August 31st, 1997. Paris, France.

On the Parisian night, a black car drove fast on the roads. Onboard, Charles, Diana, and Piero came back from an official dinner organized by President Jacques Chirac. 

This getaway helped Diana and Piero to take their minds off a painful memory. A month ago, they attended the burial of their dear friend Gianni Versace, the iconic fashion designer. The Italian man was killed by a deranged man in Miami for unknown reasons. 

Both the princess and the artist were devastated by this tragic loss. And to think that he was already designing Grace's wedding dress... It was not surprising, as he adored the little girl as if she was his own.

As for Piero, he lost a dear friend and a fellow Italian. The artist remembered how much he cried in Philip's arms as he heard the news on television.

To help them cope with this tragedy, Charles suggested they accompany him to France. 

This strategy seemed to work, and the Prince of Wales was proud of his plan.

On their way back to their hotel, they were accompanied by Dodi Al-Fayed, the son of wealthy business Mohamed Al-Fayed, one of the other guests at the dinner. The Egyptian film producer has a showy character, which displeased Charles.

"When we will arrive at the Hotel Ritz, I'll show the art collection my father displays in his private room! I am sure a man with artistic talents such as Mister De Angelis would appreciate it!"

"You must be right, Mister Al-Fayed!" politely answered the latter.

"What kind of works of art your father owns?" asked Diana.

Al-Fayed showed his flirtiest smile and answered:

"Let your imagination do the work, dear Princess. But I am sure no masterpiece doesn't compete with you!"

The Princess of Wales blushed with embarrassment while her husband scowled at the Al-Fayed heir. As for Piero, he rolled his eyes: he started to find the man unpleasant.

Suddenly, Diana spotted paparazzi chasing them on motorcycles.

"I must be dreaming! Here they are AGAIN!" she scoffed.

"They are like weed: unstoppable and annoying!" snickered Charles.

"What a lovely metaphor!" laughed Dodi.

The driver started speeding, which puzzled Piero.

"Aren't we going a bit too fast?" he asked.

No answer.

"Excuse me, could you slow down?" inquired Dodi.

But the car went faster and faster as they entered the Pont de l'Alma tunnel.

"Charles, we are going too fast!" panicked Diana.

"SLOW DOWN!" yelled Charles.

Even their bodyguard barked at the driver to slow down. But it was too late, as they plowed into a pillar.

"WATCH OUT!"

And the car violently collided head-on with the pillar, half-destroying it.

All the passengers felt the intensity of the impact and suffered many injuries.

While Dodi fell unconscious, Diana, Piero, and Charles stayed conscious.

"Charles? Piero? Are you alright?" asked Diana with a trembling voice.

"I am here, my love... Even if my ribcage might be broken!" groaned Charles.

"I... I don't feel my back, but I am alive..." whined Piero.

Both men turned to Diana and noticed her bruised forehead and her bleeding legs. She seemed shocked but alive.

"Darling, look at me! Stay with us: the emergency services will be here soon!" Charles reassured her.

"But what about the driver? The bodyguard? And Mr. Al-Fayed?"

Piero glanced at the driver and the bodyguard.

"I can't tell if they are still alive or not... And as for Mister Al-Fayed, he passed out!"

Suddenly, a bunch of young French people, around their twenties, rushed near them. 

One of them, a black guy, asked:

"Hé, là-dedans! Vous allez bien?" (Hey there! Are you OK?)

Charles managed to ask:

"S'il vous plaît, Monsieur, appelez une ambulance!" (Please, sir: call an ambulance!)

Another youngster, an Arab-descent girl, peaked at the passengers and exclaimed:

"Oh, la vache! Mais ce sont le Prince Charles et la Princess Diana! Et lui, c'est Piero De Angelis, le célèbre artiste!" (Holy cow! They are Prince Charles and Princess Diana! And the other guy must be Piero De Angelis, the famous artist!)

"Lui-même, enchanté!" (Himself, nice to meet you!) grimaced the latter.

The young girl jumped near Piero and gently said:

"Pas de panique, monsieur: mon ami a appelé les pompiers! Ils vont vite arriver!" (Don't worry, sir: my friend called the firemen! They will be here in a minute!)

Meanwhile, the other youngsters pushed the photographers away:

"Dégagez, bande de connards! Vous pourriez les aider au lieu de prendre des photos!" (Move, you morons! Instead of taking pictures, you could help them!)

"Et foutez le camp, l'ambulance arrive!" (Get out of the way! The ambulance is about to arrive!)

At the same time, bystanders looked at the accident scene with horrified looks on their faces. Some of them insulted the photographers, blaming them for the accident.

In the car, Diana struggled to breathe. Trying to reassure her, the young black man took her hand:

"Du calme, ça va aller! Vous entendez l'ambulance? Elle arrive!" (Calm down, everything will be alright! Do you hear that? The ambulance arrives!)

The princess stammered:

"William... Harry... Grace..."

Guessing that she talked about her children, he gently replied:

"Vous en faites pas, ils vont bien!" (Don't worry, they are fine!)

"Aidez-la, je vous en prie..." (Please, help her!) muttered Charles as he passed out.

As for Piero, his vision started to blur. He fought to stay awake, but he felt his body giving up.

As he fell into unconsciousness, he saw the face of Philip...

°°"I am sorry, amore mio..."°°

Meanwhile, at Balmoral Castle.

The Queen was sleeping in her bed, with Acherville at her side. Suddenly someone hurriedly knocked on the door of her bedroom.

Worried, she got up and opened it to see her butler with a concerned expression on his face:

"What happened?"

"Ma'am, I am afraid that I have terrible news from Paris about their Royal Highnesses and Mister De Angelis..."

"What have they done again?" grumbled Acherville.

At the same time, Philip, Margaret, and the Queen Mother arrived, panicked.

"What's wrong?" inquired the matriarch.

The servant took his breath before revealing:

"Our ambassador in Paris just called me to say that the Prince and the Princess of Wales, as well as Mister De Angelis, are involved in a terrible car accident!"

Elizabeth gasped in horror while Queen Mum fainted in the arms of a maid. Margaret stayed silent, tears falling in her cheeks. As for Philip, he felt like the sky fell on his head: it cannot be!

Acherville took his head between his hands and muttered:

"May Lord help us..."

He worried that the eventual deaths of Charles and Diana would break Elizabeth's heart. However, he cannot help but think of his potential triumph if Piero succumbed to his wounds. Finally, this prick would be out of the picture once and for all!

Suddenly, the Queen exclaimed:

"Where are the children?"

"They are in their beds, Ma'am. They are soundly asleep!" stated the butler.

"Good. Don't wake them up until further notice. Everyone in the living room, now! We have a situation to handle!"

On their way to the living room, all stayed quiet. They were all scared and worried. If the worst happened, they would not know how to tell the children that they lost their parents and their Nonno in this tragedy...

They sat on the couches, Margaret holding the arms of her mother and Philip. She stuttered:

"How? How could it happen?"

She turned to her mother with teary eyes:

"Oh, Mum! I don't know if I would cope..."

"They will be fine, Maggie. Do not worry!" her mother gently smiled while holding her hand.

As for Philip, he held back the tears that threatened to fall. It reminded him of painful memories...

He silently prayed:

"Mother... Cecile... Wherever you are... Please, protect them! I cannot bear to lose other loved ones in an accident!"

Paris, in the morning.

Piero slowly opened his eyes, a painful headache still hitting him.

He noticed that he was in a white room and concluded that he was in a hospital.

He heard footsteps, and a young nurse arrived near him:

"Comment vous sentez-vous, Monsieur De Angelis?" (How do you feel, Mister De Angelis?)

"Ou... Ou suis-je?" (Where... Where am I?)

"Vous êtes à l'hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière. On vous a amené ici après l'accident de cette nuit." (You are at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. You have been brought here after you accident, last night.)

The artist remembered everything. The dinner, the paparazzi who were chasing them, the collision, the feel of blood on his body... 

He asked:

"Ou est Charles? Ou est Diana?" (Where Charles is? Where Diana is?)

"We are here, Piero!"

Piero turned his head and saw Charles and Diana, wounded but alive. He let out some tears of relief:

"Thank God!"

He wiped his eyes and asked:

"How do you feel?"

"A bit dizzy, but apart from that, I feel better!" answered the Prince of Wales.

"I recover from this horrible night!" replied the Princess with a tired smile.

Suddenly, a physician entered the room. He said with a strong French accent:

"Good morning. I am Doctor Bruno Riou. I was the doctor who took care of you after your accident. As you seemed all awake, I come to check if everything is alright..."

"Excuse me, Doctor?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"Do you have any news of Mister Al-Fayed? And what about our driver and bodyguard?"

The doctor shook his head.

"Your Highness, I have the regret to tell you that your driver and your bodyguard died shortly after the arrival of the ambulance men. As for Mister Al-Fayed, he succumbed to his wounds after he arrived in this service. I am sorry..."

"Oh, Lord! Poor of them!" Diana cried as she covered her mouth.

Charles reached her hand and gently squeezing it reassuringly.

"My God..." muttered Piero.

He turned to the doctor.

"What about us?"

"Well, His Highness the Prince of Wales suffered a broken wrist and some cracked ribs. As for the Princess of Wales, she has a sprained ankle and some concussions! And you, Mister De Angelis, your back is aching, your knee is sprained, and you have a broken arm! We can say that the three of you are very lucky to make it out of this tragedy!"

"Indeed, Doctor Riou..." nodded Charles.

He exclaimed:

"What about the youngsters?"

"The youngsters?"

"I think my husband talks about the young people who tried to help us..."

"Ah, them!"

The surgeon chuckled.

"Well, they are fine, and they are hopping up and down with impatience as they want to see you! They are doing it for two hours!"

"Are they?" asked Piero.

They heard a voice:

"Mais laissez-nous les voir, putain!" (Let us see them, damn it!)

"Ah indeed, they are!" chuckled Diana.

"Doctor Riou..." asked Charles

"Yes?"

"Please, let them in: we want to thank them for their kindness towards us!"

"If you want, Your Highness..."

As Riou was about to leave, Diana called:

"Doctor Riou..."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Thank you."

The physician smiled:

"I only did my duty, Your Highness. Now, I leave with your visitors!"

He stepped aside and let the youngsters enter the room. They arrived with flowers and cakes.

"Salut! Comment ça va?" (Hiya! How you do?) asked the black guy.

"Surveille tes manières, Issah! Ce sont des célébrités, pas tes potes!" (Watch your manners, Issah! They are royals and famous people, not your buddies!) scolded his friend, the Arabic girl.

"Ne vous en faites pas pour ça, mademoiselle: j'ai entendu bien pire!" (Do not worry about it, miss: I have heard worse!) smirked Charles.

"Tu vois, Leïla: ils sont sympas!" (See, Leïla: they are nice!) answered Issah.

"Vous vous sentez mieux?" (Do you feel better?) asked a Caucasian guy.

"Oui, nous allons mieux. Merci, Monsieur..." (Yes, we are feeling better. Thank you, Mister...) asked Diana.

"Frédéric, mais mes amis m'appellent Fred." (I am Frederic, but my friends called me Fred)

"Votre voix m'est familière: n'est-ce pas vous qui avez insulté les photographes?" (Your voice sounds familiar: isn't you who threw insults to the photographers?) inquired Piero.

"J'avoue, c'est moi! Mais ils l'ont mérité!" (I admit it: it was me! But they deserved it!) 

"On nous a dit pour votre chauffeur et votre garde du corps, ainsi que pour l'autre personne avec vous. On est désolés pour ça..." (We heard about your driver and your bodyguard, plus the other guy in the car. We're sorry about that..." politely said a Asian girl.

"Nous apprécions votre sympathie, Mademoiselle..." (We appreciate your sympathy, Miss...)

"Jade Zhao, Votre Altesse." (Jade Zhao, Your Highness).

Suddenly, a nurse rushed into the room.

"Pardon de vous interrompre, mais le Président Chirac, la Première Dame, et Monsieur Tiberi, le maire de Paris, souhaitent vous voir. Dois-je les laisser entrer?" (Sorry to interrupt you, but President Chirac, First Lady Bernadette Chirac and Mister Tiberi, Mayor of Paris, wish to see you. Shall I let them in?)

"Laissez les venir, mais ces jeunes gens restent ici!" (You can let them in, but those young people stay!) declared Charles.

"Entendu, Votre Altesse!" (Understood, Your Highness!)

A few minutes later, President Chirac entered the room, accompanied by his wife and the mayor of Paris.

"I am relieved to see you alive and recovering, my dear friends!" declared the French President.

"It is very kind of you to visit us!" replied Piero.

"That is the least we can do, Mister De Angelis!" stated Mrs. Chirac.

Diana cleared her throat before gesturing at the young French people:

"Mister Chirac, those young people here helped us while we were trapped in the car. They provided us help and kindness before the arrival of the emergency services. We owe them a lot!"

The president turned to Issah, Leïla, Frederic, and Jade who looked shy.

"Jeunes gens, vous avez accompli un acte héroïque. En portant secours à ces personnes, vous avez montré le grand coeur qui bat dans la potrine du peuple français. Je tenais à vous adresser mon admiration et mes respects pour votre action." (Young people, you heroically acted yesterday. By rescueing those persons, you showed how big-hearted the People of France is. I wanted to express you my admiration and my respect for your action.)

"Euh... Merci, M'sieur le président!" (Thanks, Mister President!) answered the youngsters, intimidated.

Piero, Diana, and Charles gently smiled. Now, they longed to come back home...

At the same time, at Balmoral Castle.

A maid rushed to the living room and barged into the room where were Elizabeth, Acherville, Margaret, the Queen Mother, and Philip.

In the meantime, they were joined by Anne, Andrew, and Edward. The three siblings feared for their brother, their sister-in-law, and their dear friend.

"Your Majesties, Your Highnesses... and Mister Acherville. Forgive me for this intrusion, but I have some news from Paris!"

"Please, tell me they survived!" begged the Queen Mother.

"Indeed, Your Majesty: I have excellent news. Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Mister De Angelis survived the accident!"

All let out a sigh of relief. Margaret sobbed of happiness in the arms of Philip. As for the matriarch of the Royal Family, she thanked God for saving her grandson.

Elizabeth let a few tears rolling on her cheeks: she felt grateful to God for sparing the lives of Charles, Diana, and Piero.

She asked the maid:

"May I have the whereabouts of the other passengers?"

"Unfortunately, Your Majesty, they all passed away."

The Queen nodded before ordering:

"Provide me the addresses of their families: I will write them letters of condolences!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

While the maid came back to work, Anne cried in the arms of Andrew:

"They are alive... Thank God, they are alive!"

"Yes, they are!" muttered her brother, fighting back the tears.

A few hours later, Elizabeth was at her desk, writing the letters of condolences she addressed to the mourning families.

Acherville knocked at the door:

"May I come in?"

"Yes."

Her lover arrived near her.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel... relieved. I would not know what to do if they did not survive!"

"I see..." muttered Acherville.

She looked at him, puzzled.

"Is there something bothering you, Roger?"

He smirked.

"Nothing gets past you, Lizzie."

"Could you tell me what upsets you?"

Acherville cleared his throat before explaining:

"Listen: I am happy for you that Charles and Diana survived. The children will be so happy..."

"Cut it out and tell me the truth!"

He sighed and said:

"I might sound cruel and heartless, but it is a shame that De Angelis is still alive!"

Elizabeth jumped out of her seat, shocked.

"HOW DARE YOU SAYING SUCH A THING?"

"Come on, Lilibeth: you cannot stand his sight! Remember that he stole your husband and rose your children against you!"

"I am aware, thank you! But I would never, NEVER, wish him dead!"

Acherville grinned.

"Don't lie to yourself! You wanted him out of the picture for a long time! Would you dare to tell me that you never wish something bad happen to De Angelis?"

He regretted his remark when she furiously glanced at him:

"Do you think that I am like you? That I would dare to break my family for my pleasure? No, Roger: I am not you and thank God, I will never be!"

She breathed.

"Look what I did for you: I alienated myself from my children, my sister, and my grandchildren. I made a mistake a long time ago, but I was too blind, or too proud, to acknowledge it..."

She glared daggers at him.

"And you, instead of helping me, you pushed my family away. You treated them poorly, mocked and bullied them! No wonder why they all prefered Piero De Angelis over you!"

The Queen calmed herself. Then, she declared with a firm tone:

"Roger, I think we should have a long conversation. And I must warn you: it will be unpleasant..."

A few days later.

When he entered his house, Piero felt safe: it was good to be home again. He sat down on his couch and relaxed. 

The artist was tired: he spent a long time seeing his family. His poor parents, his siblings, and his nephews and nieces wanted to see him. They all panicked when they heard about the accident in Paris. But now, Piero wanted some peace before he would see the Royal Family tomorrow.

As he dozed off on the couch, he heard the door opening. Intrigued, he got up and discovered Philip standing in the room.

"Philip?"

"Hello, my love." muttered the prince.

Piero tried to come closer, but Philip was faster and held him in his arms.

"You should not move your leg. After all, you have a sprained knee..."

"Oh, it's okay..."

The artist felt the embrace becoming tighter. Then, he heard soft sobs coming from his lover.

"Philip? Philip, what's wrong?"

The British-Italian artist slightly stepped back and saw tears flowing down the cheeks of his prince.

"My God, Philip! What happens?"

To be honest, it was the first time Piero saw Philip crying like this. He already saw him being sad or upset, but he never saw a single tear in his eyes.

The artist cupped the face of his lover between his hands and gently asked:

"Talk to me, my love. What's wrong?"

Catching his breath, the Duke managed to say:

"I thought... I thought that I lost you! When they told me about the car crash, I assumed that you were going to die!"

He took a breath before resuming:

"I would lose my will to live if you disappear! I cannot overcome this life without you by my side..."

Piero shushed Philip by giving a peck on his lips. 

"But I am here, now. I am alive! And I am so glad to be in your arms again!"

He nuzzled against his lover's neck, breathing his scent.

"I won't go away! I would never dream of leaving you. Remember what I told you: I will always be yours, no matter what happens."

Those words calmed Philip as he wiped away his tears. Then, he kissed his young lover on the lips.

"I am so relieved to have you here..."

"So am I."

The prince smirked.

"Come on, let's go to bed!"

The artist raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry to temper your ardor, darling, but the doctor asked me to have some rest. So, no bedroom antics!"

"I think I will survive... More seriously, I think your bed would be more comfortable for you!"

They went upstairs, and Philip gently laid Piero on the mattress before sitting next to his lover.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel relaxed."

"Good... Now, look what I brought you!"

The prince showed a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

"Oh, that's interesting! But what are we celebrating? My miraculous resurrection?"

His lover grinned.

"I would say that we are celebrating our triumph."

The artist was puzzled.

"Our triumph?"

"Nobody told you? Well, I am honored to have this privilege to tell you the great news..." answered Philip as he poured some champagne before handing the glass to Piero.

"So, what can make you so happy?"

Piero did not expect that.

"My beloved, I have the pleasure to tell that you will never see Acherville again!"

The artist nearly choked on champagne.

"What?"

"That's the truth: Elizabeth and Acherville broke up. Well, she decided to end their relationship."

Piero was speechless: he did not think a second that Elizabeth would break up with Acherville. But, on second thought, it was a relief: now, he would not have this sword of Damocles above his head.

The artist slightly laughed, relieved:

"My my, what a blessing! At least, me, the little entertainer, had the last laugh!"

He turned to his lover and put his arms around his waist:

"Bringing the champagne was really appropriate, darling. This news makes me feel better!"

"I am glad, my love." smirked the prince before pulling the artist into a kiss.

As they laid down on the bed, Philip and Piero relished their victory. Not only life did not tear them apart, but they also defeated their enemy once and for all. 

Let's hope the upcoming century would bring them joy and serenity...

June 19th, 1999. Saint George's Chapel.

The crowd loudly cheered and applauded the royal newlyweds. Indeed, Edward, the last child of the royal couple, married his girlfriend, Sophie Rhys-Jones, a young commoner. Now, the people can say that all the children of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married.

And like every royal event, Piero was among the guests: how could he miss the marriage of Edward? The two had a special bond, as Piero practically raised him as if he was his own son. 

As the family went out of the chapel, Diana went near Piero and asked:

"They made a lovely couple, isn't it?"

"I agree, my dear. Those two lovebirds are made for each other..."

"Like you and Father!" muttered Charles, smirking.

"If you say so..." grinned the artist.

He tenderly glanced at the pair. He was glad that Sophie joined the family: she was a sweet and smart young woman. A bit shy at the beginning, but she improved her self-confidence.

Sophie and Piero quickly get along with each other, as the new princess was passionate about arts. They could talk about arts for hours...

Now, as the 20th century was about to end in a few months, there was nothing better than a wedding to close this era.

Westminster Abbey. April 9th, 2002.

This time, the Westminster Abbey bells sadly rang in the Londonian Sky. A huge crowd gathered near the paved forecourt to bid farewell to the Queen Mother.

Among the guests, Piero walked behind Charles and Diana while holding Margaret. He could not still believe that she passed away. Of course, she reached her 101st birthday, but it was a bit sudden. Although, he should have guessed that their meeting in February would be the last one...

Flash-back. Windsor Castle, 20th February 2002.

In the corridors of Windsor Castle, Piero followed the butler who led him to the apartments of the Queen Mother.

"So, you said she required my presence?"

"Indeed, Mister De Angelis. However, I could not tell you the reason for this urgent request. Her Majesty did not want to explain me..."

"Well, I will find out..."

They arrived in front of the door. The butler gently knocked before opening:

"Your Majesty. Sire De Angelis has arrived."

"Let him in, please. Thank you, Francis."

Piero entered the room and bowed in front of the Queen Mother.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am."

"Good afternoon, Mister De Angelis. A pretty cold day, isn't it?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

She gestured him to sit.

"Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?"

"A cup of tea would be fine, thank you."

As she handed him his cup, Piero noticed how tired and sad she looked. Last year, she nearly had a heart attack when Margaret narrowly survived a stroke. Since this incident, she has suffered several health problems.

Clearing his throat, the artist asked:

"So, Ma'am, you wished to see me..."

"That is correct, Mister De Angelis."

"Without being rude, may I know why?"

The matriarch of the royal family took her breath and started to explain:

"I need to see you again before it would be too late..."

"I beg your pardon? But Your Majesty, you seemed to recover..."

The Queen Mum had a bittersweet laugh.

"Don't judge a book by its cover, Mister De Angelis. Every day, I feel my body being weaker and weaker... Anyway, I need you to tell you this."

She cleared her throat and started her speech:

"Mister De Angelis, when you arrived there, I thought of you as an enemy, a home breaker who steals my daughter's husband. But the time went by, and I saw you repair my grandchildren's broken hearts and heal my son-in-law's pain. 

I saw you enjoying life along with my Maggie: she never looked so happier before you came. I saw you leading my great-grandchildren to a better future, surrounded by love and wonder. I saw you being a faithful servant to the Crown and the country, at your level.

I saw you respecting the legacy of my husband and always treating me with regard.

I have been horrible to you, and I am sorry for those harsh words I may throw at you all those years.

I will be grateful for all your efforts to bring this family together.

I don't know, and I am not sure I deserve it, but may I ask you to forgive me?

I accept your answer, come what may."

To say that Piero was astounded would be an understatement. Of course, their relations were more cordial since Christmas 1991. But he never expected the Queen Mother to apologize. 

Honestly, he never held a grudge against this woman: she only wanted to preserve her family from another scandal.

He reverently took her hand and said:

"Your Majesty, I appreciate your honesty, and I am moved by your kind words on my behalf. Have no worry: I never had resentful feelings towards you. I understood your motivations: your only priority was to protect your family, and I respect that."

He gently smiled.

"I already forgave you, Ma'am."

The Queen Mum held back a sob.

"Thank you so much, Mister De Angelis."

They talked for hours until Piero took his leave. As he was heading to the door, the Queen called him out.

"Mister De Angelis, may I ask you one last favor?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Please, look after them for me. I will leave this world in peace, as I know my family will be in good hands."

"I will, Your Majesty. I promise..."

Back to the present.

Looking at the sky, Piero had a small and sad smile: at least, he hoped that she will be reunited with her beloved husband.

"Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment..." (God reunites those who love).

Two months later. In the gardens of an Essex mansion.

Entering the place, Philip and Piero wondered why they were invited here. 

"Do you know what your son meant when he asked us to come here ASAP?" asked Piero.

"Who knows what Charles can plan? Especially when he has the help of Diana!" snickered Philip.

They arrived into the gardens and nearly fell of surprise when they saw all their beloved ones gathered. All wore their best outfits and sat on white wooden benches.

At the end of the red carpet, Peter stood under an arch covered with flowers.

"Uh, could you explain what you are all doing here?" asked Piero.

"Why do I feel something suspicious?" inquired Philip.

Suddenly, Margaret came between them and held their arms.

"Don't worry, boys: it's just a little something Will and Peter planned for one year, now."

"And what is it?"

The princess smirked.

"Let's just say that we wanted to make your fairytale come true..."

Then, she led the two lovers down the path before letting them in front of Peter.

The 25-year old young man cleared his throat and started to talk:

"Dear family, we are all gathered today in this beautiful place to marry those two amazing men: Piero De Angelis & Philip Mountbatten. For me, they are Grandpa and Nonno."

The two men realized what their family planned behind their backs. Philip facepalmed while Piero giggled.

Peter continued his speech:

"Even if they are together since 1972, all the grandchildren and I decided to plan and prepare the wedding they deserve. And, as the oldest grandchild, I have the honor to marry them!"

"He takes his role seriously!" smirked Philip.

"Shh, don't disturb him!" gently said Piero.

William, Harry, Grace, Eugenie, Beatrice, and Zara proudly smiled: they were pretty satisfied with their organization.

Then, Peter asked:

"Philip Mountbatten, my dear Grandpa, do you take Nonno Piero De Angelis as your husband? Do you promise to love him, cherish him, stay with him in good and bad times, and be faithful until death do you apart?"

"I do!" answered the prince with a genuine smile.

The young man turned to Peter and asked:

"Piero De Angelis, my dear Nonno, do you take Grandpa Philip Mountbatten as your husband? Do you promise to love him, cherish him, stay with him in good and bad times, and be faithful until death do you apart?"

"I do, of course," muttered Piero, with loving eyes towards his unofficial husband.

"If any of you has a reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace!"

"I dare anyone to object to this wedding!" exclaimed Margaret, making everyone laugh.

As no one objected, Peter called his young cousin:

"Eugenie, bring the rings!"

The little girl arrived, presenting a little red cushion where rested two golden rings.

"How did you pay those rings?" asked Philip.

"GUESS WHO?" exclaimed Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward with a big grin on their faces.

The prince shook his head with a smirk on his face. Then, he picked a ring and put it on Piero's finger.

"With this ring, I, Philip Mountbatten, swear to love you and only you. I promise to be eternally yours and to stay by your side."

The artist gently picked the other ring and put it on Philip's finger while saying:

'With this ring, I, Piero De Angelis, swear to love you and only you. I promise to be eternally yours and to stay by your side."

With a big smile on his face, Peter declared:

"Now, I pronounce you husband and husband."

He turned to his grandfather.

"You can kiss the groom."

"As if he needed your permission!" snickered Zara.

"Anyhow, they just waited this moment!" snorted Grace.

"Oh, my poor darling: they did not only kiss when they are all alone..." muttered Margaret.

"MAGGIE!" exclaimed Piero and Philip.

"Grandpa, Nonno: are you kissing or not?" impatiently asked Beatrice.

"Yes, ma'am." grinned the prince as he cupped the face of his lover between his hands and kissed him on the lips under the applause of the guests.

While applauding, Margaret tenderly smiled at the two lovers:

°°"After all, they deserve their happy end..."°°

2019, 29th June, at Piero's house.

If you asked Piero to pick three years he loved to remember, he would have pick 2011, 2014, and 2017. Indeed, those three years were when William, Grace, and Harry get married.

As he looked at a photo album, he gently smiled at the beautiful pictures of the first wedding. He fondly remembered the marriage of William, who married his long-time girlfriend, the charming Catherine Middleton. 

How intimidated she was when they first met: the poor girl could not stop fidgeting her fingers! But now, they really get along with each other, and she even let him look after their children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.

Piero turned the page and looked at the second wedding in the Wales family. This time, it was his little Grace who married her boyfriend, Arthur Hargrave. This brilliant young man was the perfect choice for her. And he was also very daunted when he met Piero for the first time. The artist thought Arthur would pass out of dread! But now, it was ancient history... 

Piero grinned as he remembered Charles and Diana were moved to tears while the Prince of Wales walked his only daughter down the aisle. Everything went perfectly... apart from the best friends of the groom who put on a musical show for the newlyweds!

And now, Grace and Arthur are parents of two children, Marius and Christopher.

As he turned the page, the British-Italian man fondly looked at the last marriage: Harry's wedding.

After a tumultuous love life, the second child of Charles and Diana tied the knot with Aïssa Hoarau, a lovely French mixed-race girl. Like the other fiances, she was nervous when she met "Nonno" Piero. But now, they really get along. Moreover, the pair was blessed with the birth of their first child, Leopold.

However, in every picture, Piero spotted the bright smile of Margaret. Dear Margaret...

The artist tried to hold tears back as he remembered this horrible day of October 2018, when he received the call of David, Margaret's son, who told him that his mother passed away in her sleep.

Piero and Philip were devastated by her passing: after all, she introduced them during this party in 1972. She was their friend and ally against Acherville until his disgrace in 1997 and his death in 2001. 

The artist would never forget the tears in Elizabeth's eyes as she buried her little sister. Even if they had a conflicted relationship, the two women were close to each other.

Piero sighed: Margaret has joined their dear friends. His heart ached as he recalled the deaths of Grace, Rainier, Marylin, Jane, and Marlon. All were gone...

"Piero?"

The voice of Philip snapped him out of his gloomy thoughts. He quickly wiped away his tears and smiled at his lover:

"Yes, darling?"

"What are you doing?"

He shrugged.

"Oh, nothing... I just look at some family pictures."

The prince sat near his unofficial husband and looked tenderly at the pictures.

"Some of the best days of my life..."

"Indeed."

Philip put his arm around Piero's shoulders.

"I miss her too, you know. But you know, Margaret suffered a lot. At least, she is in peace!"

"I know. It's just that... Maggie became a friend, almost a sister. It was hard to say goodbye!"

"I understood... But don't mess up with your health!"

"Speaking of that, it was a good thing that you retire from official life. After all, you had several heart surgeries..."

"Don't worry for me, my angel. I am a tough guy: I survive!"

The artist put his head on the shoulder of the prince.

"At least, we have more time together..."

"That's the man I secretly married. Thank God, your optimism is still intact!"

The two stayed together, holding hands as they enjoyed the presence of each other. After all, they have all the time in the world...

2021, April 9th. Buckingham Palace.

This morning, Philip felt weak. Feeble would be exact. 

At this moment, he knew that this morning would be his last on Earth.

Using his fading strength, he called:

"Jordan!"

His servant arrived at his bedside:

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Please, call my family, and tell them to hurry!"

Worried, the servant asked:

"Your Highness, is there something wrong?"

"I feel like... I'm dying."

Horrified, Jordan nodded and rushed outside the bedroom. He picked the internal phone and called all the royal family members.

Within the following minutes, all the adults rushed to Philip's bedroom.

The moment they saw him, they all understood what happened.

"Oh no... Tell me it is not happening!" sobbed Aïssa while holding Harry.

"Father..." muttered Edward, holding back his tears as his wife held him.

As he tried to ease their pain, the Duke attempted to joke:

"Oh, come on! Don't look at me like that: it seems like you're attending a funeral. Well, it will be the case, I'm afraid!"

Elizabeth sat next to him and held his hand:

"Philip..."

"You know what it means, Liz: I will leave you soon... even if we were not that close for years."

"A situation that I will forever regret!" confessed the Queen with a sad look in her eyes.

Philip knew what she meant: since the death of Acherville in 2001, she tried to win him back. But it was too late: his heart belonged to someone else.

Speaking of him, where is Piero?

"Piero... Where is Piero? I need to see him!"

"I called him, Your Highness: he is on his way!" reassured Jordan.

"Is Mister De Angelis's presence necessary?" asked the Queen.

"MOTHER!" yelled Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward, offended.

"Piero is a part of our family, so he has to be there!" added William.

Meanwhile, at the doorsteps, Piero rushed as fast as he could: when he received the call, the artist knew that something terrible would happen. He prayed that he did not arrive too late.

On his way, Jordan, Philip's young butler, welcomed him:

"Mister De Angelis..."

"Please, Jordan: tell me I am not too late!"

"No, sir: indeed, His Highness required your presence viva voce!"

"I would not be surprised!"

The servant led him to Philip's bedroom. When he arrived, Piero saw the grieving faces of his "family." He understood that the thing he feared the most was about to happen.

He came closer and asked with a trembling voice:

"Philip?"

The Duke turned his head and weakly smiled:

"Come closer, my angel!"

As the Queen stepped aside, Piero seated at Philip's bedside and took his hand:

"I went here as fast as I can..."

"I know, I know..."

The prince gently skimmed his lover's cheek, wiping away a falling tear.

"I don't know if I told enough how handsome you are. Even after all these years, it seems like you never aged!"

"Oh, don't be ridiculous: you are handsome, too!"

Philip scoffed.

"Me? I look like a scarecrow! Or a mummy!"

"Please, don't belittle yourself..."

The artist bit his lip, trying to hold back his tears. He knew that this would happen one day, although it hurts.

"I cannot believe you are going to do this to me..."

"What are you talking about, darling?"

"Leaving me. Marylin, Grace, Rainier, Marlon, Margaret... All left, and now I have to tell you goodbye!"

He wept:

"It is not fair..."

Philip gently squeezed Piero's hand.

"Don't be sad for me, my beloved. If today has to be my last day, then it shall be. Even if I wish I knew you sooner!"

The Duke sighed.

"Almost fifty years together... It seems so short, but I enjoyed every second spent with you!"

"And I am grateful to you for making my life extraordinary!"

All the people present in the room were overwhelmed by this moment. There was no word strong enough to describe the unconditional love between those two men.

Suddenly, the Duke made a gesture, pointing at his nightstand.

"Charles?"

"Yes, Father?"

"Would you please give me that huge black box which is under the shelf?"

Nodding, the Crown Prince went near the nightstand and pulled out the black box.

"What is it?" asked Andrew.

"You'll see... Open it, son."

Charles opened the box, revealing a beautiful crown. Piero gasped at the sight: he recognized that crown!

"Is everything alright, Piero?" gently inquired Kate.

"What is the problem with this crown?" asked Anne.

The Duke of Edinburgh started to explain:

"In 1979, as I buried my dear uncle, Louis Mountbatten, I realized what were the essential things in my life. But this tragedy opened my eyes to something else: it showed me that I finally found love again. So, after the funeral, I went to the palace, picked this crown, and drove to Piero's place. Then, I put this crown at his feet while I swear that I will always be him, no matter what happens."

He weakly smiled.

"It was like my first proposal... The proof of my unconditional love to him!"

With shaking hands, Philip put the crown on Piero's head.

"All my life, I dedicated my love and faith to you, who gave me the honor of your affection. I never looked at someone else like I look at you. I always stayed by your side, in good and bad times. I may be a prince, but you are, and you will always be my king."

The artist stayed silent, tears rolling down on his cheeks. After all those years, Philip kept this crown which was the milestone of their relationship.

"I may spend all these years in your shadow, Philip, but I never regret it. If I had to do it again, I would keep it the same way..." he whispered, holding back a sob.

The prince gently wiped away the tears.

"Don't cry for me, my love... We'll meet again... like in this song by Vera Lynn."

The artist nodded.

"Could you please sing it for me?"

Piero calmed himself before he started singing:

We'll meet again.

Don't know where

Don't know when.

But I know we'll meet again 

Some sunny day.

Keep smiling through

Just like you always do

'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

Philip joined him, humming along:

So will you please say hello

To the folks that I know.

Tell them I won't be long.

They'll be happy to know 

That as you saw me go

I was singing this song.

All the family members looked at this scene with tears in their eyes as they were about to say goodbye to their beloved father and grandfather: life would be different without him. As for the staff members who listened at the doorstep, they struggled to stifle their sobs. Most of them were the privileged witnesses of this unusual yet beautiful love story. A love story that was close to the end...

We'll meet again.

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again 

Some sunny day.

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again

Some sunny day.

Keep smiling through 

Just like you always do

'Til the blue skies

Drive the dark clouds far away.

So will you please say hello

To the folks that I know

Tell them it won't be long.

They'll be happy to know 

That as you saw me go

I was singin' this song.

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again 

Some sunny day.

Once he finished the song, Piero closed the distance between Philip and him as he gave his lover one last kiss:

"My handsome Viking..."

"My sweet artist..."

While he gave this ultimate proof of love, Philip Mountbatten drew his last breath and closed his eyes.

As he stopped the embrace, Piero felt something was wrong and asked:

"Philip?"

No answer. At this moment, the artist understood that his prince passed away. Sobbing, he hugged the cold body of his lover and muttered:

"Wait for me, my love. We'll meet again, I promise..."

A few years later, in England...

"Are you sure you don't want to stay a bit longer?" asked Charles.

"No, thank you. That's very kind of you, but I am tired."

Charles sighed. Since the passing of his father in 2021, Piero was not the same man. Of course, his grief healed, but the new King of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth felt that his friend still mourned the love of his life.

"You can stay here if you want. We can prepare you a room!" added Diana.

"No, really. I appreciate the gesture, but I need to go home. I have a paint to finish..."

"Alright, as you wish!"

Charles called a servant.

"Would you please escort Mister De Angelis to his car?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Piero got up from his seat and kissed Charles and Diana goodbye.

"Will you be there for tea tomorrow?" asked Diana.

"I won't miss it!" smiled Piero.

The artist went out of the palace and got in the car before his chauffeur started to drive him home. While they looked at the car drew away, the royal couple felt a pang in their hearts.

"I feel something wrong, Charles. What if he did something terrible?"

"I don't think he will, Di. But, for sure, he never recovered from the passing of Father."

At the same time, Piero looked at the landscape, thinking about all those years since Philip died in his arms. 

The burial was an ordeal, to say the least. The artist had to hold back his grief, as the public was not supposed to know about their love affair. 

And to think that Elizabeth tried to prevent him from being among the guests... Her last attack against him, he supposed. Luckily for him, all the family members got his back, and he gained the right to say goodbye to Philip.

He needed time to heal this heart-breaking pain, but thanks to the love of his family, he felt better.

Three years later, the Queen passed away in her sleep after apologizing for all the wrong she had done to her family. 

Four months after her state funeral, Charles and Diana were crowned King and Queen consort of England. Of course, Piero was among the guests of the coronation.

Thus far, Charles and Diana were popular and achieved modernizing the monarchy with the help of their family.

As for Piero, he pursued his career and received many praises and awards. His life was complete, at least...

"Sire? We just arrived at your home?"

Piero woke from his daydream and went out of the car:

"Thank you, Mark. Have a goodnight!"

"Have a goodnight, Sire!"

The artist entered his home and went to his office. Once he arrived in this room, Piero picked his diary and wrote down those lines:

As I came to the last chapter of my life, I was often asked what I want people to remember when they think about me. Well, I just require that they would think of me as a man who loved and lived his life as he wanted. For my legacy, I just leave my creations, my memories, and my unconditional love. Love was my motto and guidelight through the years.

Satisfied with this paragraph, the artist took a bath. Then, he went to bed and laid down as he felt powerful tiredness overwhelming his whole body. He closed his eyes and muttered:

"My handsome Viking..."

The next evening.

During the news bulletin, the BBC TV anchor declared with a sad tone:

"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. As we all know, an official report released by the De Angelis family announced the passing of the famous British-Italian artist, Piero De Angelis. He was 92 years old. 

After this tragic announcement, hundreds of people went to his residence, dropping flowers and letters of condolence to his siblings, nephews, and great-nephews. Similar scenes were seen near Buckingham Palace, as Mister De Angelis was a close friend of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Diana.

Many celebrities and Head of States sent their condolences to them: from the Pope to the President of the United States, by way of members of the government, all praised the contribution of Mister De Angelis to arts and his dedication to many charities.

As for the members of the Royal family, some of them released official statements. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, shared their grief and cherished all the moments spend with Mister De Angelis. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Aïssa, stated to be devastated by the news. 

The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, Arthur and Grace, informed us of their profound sadness.

As Princess Anne and her husband spoke about their sorrow, the Duke and Duchess of York shared their heartbroken feelings about this loss while the Earl and Countess of Wessex said to have lost a father and friend figure.

Later that day, the King and Queen released a statement where they shared their grief and sorrow about the passing of Piero De Angelis.  They praised his gentle character and benevolent presence in their lives.

Furthermore, they officially announced that a state funeral will take place the following week, as a tribute to Piero De Angelis's works and achievements at the service of his country."

Meanwhile, in Buckingham Palace.

Charles looked at the window as he watched people leaving flowers and cards at the portal.

He was amazed by the sincere emotion of the people. It was insane to see how Piero was loved in England and abroad.

He sadly sighed:

"I am sure you would have loved it, Piero."

The king heard his wife coming next to him. She gently held his hand, trying to comfort him:

"They knew Piero was an angel..."

"Indeed."

The Queen put her head on his shoulder: 

"I miss him too, you know. But, at least, they will be together again!"

"You're right..."

Charles had a small smile:

"With a bit of luck, Aunt Margaret will welcome him in Heaven!"

"I am sure she would give him a triumphant reception!" 

The royal couple stayed silent a few minutes before Diana asked:

"I suppose that we would not tell the truth about Piero and your father?"

"Not yet. I don't think the people will be ready to hear that." replied her husband.

The former Lady Spencer nodded before looking back at the crowd. Even if it was a pity that this love story would be hidden for a long time, she understood that the monarchy must not take any risk...

Three days before Piero's funeral, in England.

All the media went frenzy: indeed, one of Piero's servants sold copies of his diary to some newspapers. In the excerpts, he showed parts where the late artist confessed about his love affair with Prince Philip. This revelation caused a surprise in the United Kingdom and abroad.

However, this situation displeased the royal family:

"HOW DARE HE? SPILLING ALL HIS SECRETS FOR MONEY?"

"Calm down, Charles: it is not good for your nerves!"

"Listen to your wife, dear brother. However, I agree: this man acts like a jerk! Did he lost all the respect he had for Piero?"

"If Mother was here, Andrew, she would have lectured you for hours!" smirked Anne.

"How the public reacts?" asked Edward.

"I don't know... Let's hope they would not react too badly!" replied Sophie.

"I would not cope with the people spitting on Nonno's memory!" stated Grace.

Suddenly, William called them:

"It's the news bulletin! They are about to speak about it!"

All rushed to the living room and sat in front of the television.

The TV anchor started his speech:

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The trend topic of the last days is this revelation about the late Piero De Angelis and Prince Philip. 

Indeed, thanks to the passages from his diary and the testimonies of former employees of Buckingham Palace, we can confirm that the two men had a love affair that lasted almost fifty years until Prince Philip's passing in 2021. 

We asked different people in the streets what are their opinions about this revelation. Here are their answers..."

Different interviews of diverse people were shown and the Royal family was surprised by the reactions:

"When my friends told me about it, I was shocked at first. Then, I read the diary of Piero... and I was moved to tears! They really loved each other, for sure! It was a shame that they were not able to love in plain sight, but I understand." stated a young woman.

"This man lived a pure and sincere love story with the man he cherished. That's the most important thing!" explained an old lady.

"Piero De Angelis was an amazing man. But that is awesome: seriously, he was Prince Philip's lover! Now, I  understood why the prince consort seemed more relaxed!" said a young man.

"I hope this story will help people to accept the LGBTQ+ community. Who knows: maybe in the future, we will have a gay king or a lesbian queen?" told a bunch of youngsters.

"I was surprised to hear this story... But after all Mister De Angelis did for the Royal family and the country, I will never blame him. This man was a good person and we must remember him that way!" declared an old man.

The TV anchor reappeared on screen:

"It seems to show that the reactions are positive. On the internet, many messages on social media prove this tendency. The majority of users praise or acclaim this unusual love story. Even celebrities give their opinions, such as Lady Gaga, Ava Max, or Bruno Mars, who approved this romance.

Le's hope that one day, the Royal Family would give us their version of this story."

Harry smirked:

"It looks like we don't have the choice..."

"Perhaps some of us can give interviews about it!" submitted Beatrice.

"In this case, let's wait a few weeks or months after the funeral!" recommended Peter. 

"Good idea, brother! I think it is the best solution!" approved Zara.

Eugenie looked at the picture of Piero and Philip on the table and said:

"I think Piero wished to tell the world about his love for Grandpa. Now that they are both gone, we have the mission to tell the truth and to protect their memories!"

"Well spoken, dear cousin." smiled Louise.

"I wonder what people would do during the funeral..." asked James.

"We will see on time..." replied Kate.

"At least, we can be sure that they won't be disrespectful towards Piero!" stated Arthur.

"At least, indeed..." muttered Aïssa.

The members of the royal family braced themselves for the upcoming funeral. Meanwhile, the country gets prepared to say goodbye to one of his most beloved artists...

Three days later, the day of Piero's funeral.

The warm sun of May was hidden by grey clouds, and a gentle wind blew through the trees and buildings in London. An immense crowd gathered near Westminster Abbey as the funeral procession passed by. 

Behind the coffin walked the entire royal family, along with the De Angelis house. All struggled to hide their grief as they were about to bury their dear friend and relative.

Along the way, several cameramen and journalists aimed their lens at the ceremony, broadcasting this event across the globe.

The Archbishop of Canterbury came to meet them, renewing his sincere condolences.

Then, all sat on the benches, and the priest started his speech, heard by the crowd thanks to speakers:

"Dearly beloved, we are all gathered today as we say farewell to Piero De Angelis and to commit him into the hands of God."

He paused a moment before continuing:

"All his life, Piero proved that he was a gift sent by the Almighty. He was a gift to his family, as he brought joy, love, and pride to his parents and his siblings. He was a gift to his friends, as he proved to be a loyal and cheerful companion. He was a gift to the world, as he shared both his talent for arts and his dedication to charities.

Moreover, he was a gift to the man he dedicated his life and love with no hesitation. 

Piero stayed discreet during all this time, playing the role of a benevolent and gentle friend to the royal children. To quote Her Majesty, Queen Diana, he became the guardian angel of Buckingham Palace."

Faint sobs echoed on the stone walls as the youngest members of the Royal Family cried their dear Nonno. As for the youngest generation of the De Angelis Family, they wept over the memory of their beloved Zio Piero.

"All who once crossed paths with our dear Piero always talk about a gentle, patient, funny, and loyal man. Some of us do not approve of his decision to be the lover of Prince Philip. But it would be a shame to belittle his peaceful influence on his second family, to quote him."

Outside the Abbey, people were crying or praying. Among them, a young girl named Aliyah. She went with her friends to attend the funeral. 

Wiping a tear, Aliyah wanted to do something as a tribute to the late artist.

Noticing a microphone on a speaker, she connected the wire and waited for the end of Princess Grace's speech. Once the silence back, she started singing:

Mon Dieu

Mon Dieu

Mon Dieu

Laissez-le moi

Encore un peu

Mon amoureux!

Un jour

Deux jours

Huit jours

Laissez-le moi

Encore un peu

A moi!

She picked this song by Edith Piaf, as she heard that Piero loved the tunes of the French singer. Besides, he wrote down in his diary that Mon Dieu epitomized his feelings during Philip's funeral. 

Le temps de s'adorer,

De se le dire.

Le temps de s'fabriquer

Des souvenirs.

Mon Dieu

Oh oui! Mon Dieu!

Laissez-le moi

Remplir ma vie.

Amazed by this unrehearsed performance, people around Aliyah started to sing along with her.

Six mois

Trois mois

Deux mois

Laissez-le moi

Pour seulement

Un mois!

Le temps de commencer 

Ou de finir

Le temps d'illuminer

Ou de souffrir

The voices of this improvised choir reached the ears of the families in the church.

"But what happens?" asked Anne.

"It happens what I hope the most," replied Charles, relieved.

"Nonno would have loved it!" smiled William through tears.

At the same time, all the crowd sang at the top of their lungs:

Mon Dieu 

Mon Dieu

Mon Dieu

Même si j'ai tort,

Laissez-le moi

Un peu.

Même si j'ai tort,

Laissez-le moi

Encore!

There was a silence, then people politely applauded Aliyah's initiative.

At that very moment, the funeral reached its end. The two families went out of the church, following the coffin.

Suddenly, people started to sing L'Hymne à l'amour with emotion. Moved to tears, the royals and the De Angelis did not hold back their feelings and gently waved at the crowd, thanking them for this proof of love.

At the end of this sad day, after Piero's coffin was laid near Philip's grave, all the journalists quoted this inhumation as royal and beautiful. A burial worth of a king...

When Piero opened his eyes, he realized that something was off.  He got up and found out that he was not in his bed, neither in his home. Instead, he was in a calm and lovely garden.

The only sound he heard was the warbling of the water. Looking around with amazed eyes, the artist tripped and nearly fell in the fountain.

"Phew! That was a close one! Wait a minute..."

As he looked at his reflection on the surface, Piero almost screamed: he was young again!

At that moment, he understood that he was dead. This thought gave him a lump in his throat: he did not have the time to say goodbye to those he loved...

But another thought soothed his mind: his presence here meant that he will meet again his beloved who died before him. 

Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him, and a voice said:

"I have waited a long time for you, my angel!"

Piero turned around and gasped as he saw his lover, young again and smiling at him.

"PHILIP!" he screamed as he ran into his arms.

The two tightly hugged each other.

"I have missed you so much!" muttered the artist.

"Here I am now, my love!"

The prince gently stroke the cheek of his beloved.

"And as we are finally reunited, we have all the eternity for us!"

"What could be better?"

They shared a kiss, celebrating their love.

Then, they pulled back, and Philip said:

"Let's go, now! I know some people who are very impatient to see you again..."

As Philip and Piero walked down the garden, the prince muttered at the artist's ear:

"All hail to my king!"

First of all, thanks for the reading! I really hoped that you enjoyed the story!

Secondly, I want to precise that this story is an AU and a fiction: don’t take it as pure truth! If you disagree with the subject, please, tell it respectuously!

Anyway, don’t hesitate to send me requests!

See you soon and take care! 😘😍🥰😷

Disclaimer: This aesthetic was made by me!

#requests #the crown #the crown au #elizabeth ii #prince philip #princess margaret #prince charles #princess diana #tobias menzies #drew roy #olivia colman #helena bonham carter #josh o'connor #emma corrin

[vtmb2s]

I had this from an ask meme from like 2 months ago or so and deleted the og post, I dunno why -_-  anyway it was in my google docs so I’m reposting it

🔥

How did they first meet? What was their first impression of each other?

You know… fun Zion Canyon trip!! (credit for this one goes to Dany cause I don’t have good ideas but the whole ordeal would actually happen pre-game, because that’s when the courier would most likely sign up for a caravan I think) 

Audrey thought Follows-Chalk was just messing with her when he said who they were gonna meet, no way this guy is still alive. Needless to say she hates him, she’s heard enough horrendous things about him in her NCR days to form her opinion. He didn’t like her much either aaaghhh how can you see through my fake atonement thing where I’m basically doing the same as before. (she doesn’t really see through it initially, she’s just too stubborn to buy the whole redemption arc thing from the beginning and ends up realizing that she just happened to be right). Understanding why she doesn’t trust him but also resenting that. 

Who felt romantic feelings first?

fjjhdsjhd he does probably, vaguely. She has a much harder time accepting it considering his background and all that, so that came later.

Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

YEAH! Both actually, enemies to vaguely friends to lovers and all that but like I said, Audrey has a much harder time coming to terms with this, she feels a little stupid about it because she knows what this guy has done!!! ( and he knows that, hence why he’s pushing it all down in favor of his stupid little revenge thing) He’s so weird and just looks like a mummy, what is there to like objectively. But she does. What thematic parallels do to a mfer 😔

Who initiated the relationship?

She did… Canyon visit nr 2, she technically fucking hates it there but for some reason she wants to go back (well. you know why), perhaps just a little vacation. And well there was clearly something there so why act on it. The most embarrassing moment of her life but it’s worth it I suppose. 

Who said “I love you” first?

Also her… Sorry queen you have to do all the work

Who gets jealous easily?

I think him but not in a way where he’d say anything, he’s just like 😐 but you can’t see it because. bandages. And Audrey has no competition lol so. 

Who is more protective?

Also him, she gets into more stupid shit and isn’t as crazy. 

Who remembers the little things?

She does :)

Who uses the cheesier pickup lines?

God neither. They’re too weird for pickup lines. If anything Audrey would list a few bad ones she overheard on the strip as a joke.

What does a first date look like for them?

They don’t go on dates lmao. What is there to do in a canyon, they’d just go to some random place where there are no other people and talk about whatever.

What do they like to do together?

Just mundane things, doing random shit while one is talking about whatever. A lot of times it’s just Audrey chatting about something funny or weird that happened to her on her travels while she puts on one of her favorite holotapes and does something, her stories are more light-hearted after all :/

Other than that… nothing too insane, they’re too weird to have proper hobbies. Her making him read his stupid mormon bible out loud so she can hear his sexy grandpa voice 😍

Do they like PDA?

No -_- maybe hand holding when no one’s looking, if anything. 

What are their big spoon / little spoon arrangements?

God he’s probably gonna die if she tries to spoon.

Does one like the cuddle more than the other?

She does but it’s not really possible sometimes. Leans against him until he's like aha. okay that’s enough :/

Who hogs the blankets?

Audrey does. She never sleeps much when she’s travelling so when she finally does get a proper night’s rest it’s limbs thrown around. Taking the entire blanket for herself. Sleeping for 20 years.

Do either of them like to cook?

I can’t imagine either, she just does it out of necessity. She can’t cook though, it’s blamco mac and cheese every mf day.

If they get married, who proposes first?

Godddd realistically he would at least think about it but they don’t get married lol. The mental image of it makes me cringe too much.

What kind of wedding do they have?

:/

Did any of their friends or family want them to get together? Does anyone object to their relationship? 

NO LMAOOOOO no one wanted them to get together and pretty much everyone would object to it if they knew. She probably doesn’t tell her family but if they knew they’d be against it, for obvious reasons. She doesn’t tell her friends either except Callisto lol, who thinks it’s epic somehow. Great Khan past and all that, not that she agrees with the legion in any way but 🤷‍♀️

Do they have any kids?

Maybe they do… maybe not. Who knows, I don’t control them.

(I made up two but Idek if they exist. a son named Ben and a daughter, Rachel. they’re weird and that’s all you need to know)

Do they have any pets?

I was gonna say no but she still has Rex who she forgot to return to the King 💔

DIANA/KING

How did they first meet? What was their first impression of each other?

In the followers' camp, not long after she moved to Freeside :) iirc the King tells a story about how he went to the Followers Camp to seek help regarding Rex and ended up yelling at them and even knocking out a few doctors.. something similar, one of his guys got their ass beat and the King got impatient and asked why tf this is taking so long. And Diana told him to sit his ass down and wait, which resulted in an argument 🙄 As for the first impression. Diana thought he was just your typical annoying man, maybe sexy and in a cooler suit than the guys on the strip, but annoying nonetheless. And the King thought she was being rude and had a big mouth. But again, kind of in a sexy way.

Who felt romantic feelings first?

THE KING… pretty quickly actually. A few months after the argument they had at the old mormon fort. For Diana on the hand it took a little bit longer :/

Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

Hm not really, but like I said Diana didn’t really fall that fast for him. She met him shortly after she left the Gomorrah (she was a dancer, not a prostitute but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t seen and experienced some shit) so she’s not really thinking about men and pretty much ignores him flirting with her (also he stops once he finds out about her past lol). She figures she likes him because they do have the same principles and something about being good people in a shitty world and all that so there’s a lot of admiration there, also their shared love for music and stuff. Elvis things. But she’s trying to heal from the shit she witnessed at the strip so no thanks!! Until… until...

Who initiated the relationship?

Well… technically him, he was the first one to flirt with her probably but she never really paid any attention to it. The actual relationship though.. her.

Who said “I love you” first?

Diana but I think he would have said it too… she was just faster 😌

Who gets jealous easily?

Both do. She’s sexy so nasty old men will flirt with her while she’s doing her job but the King doesn’t have to know that because he would be MAD. Diana on the hand will act like she’s mad at him when random people are being a little too friendly with him -_-

Who is more protective?

HE IS… that one text post about saying “that’s my wife” and punching someone. Yeah.

Who remembers the little things?

He does :) Little things she likes, her favorite song or stupid little things she finds funny… sigh

Who uses the cheesier pickup lines?

THE KING but unironically. Some Elvis shit, telling her she got him “all shook up” or something and she’s into it!!!

What does a first date look like for them?

He wouldn’t say this counts (she would) but technically that one time she was doing some random music thing with her freeside kids for fun and he showed up to talk to her and Diana was like. Hey wait, why don’t you stay and sing something for these kids :-) it was stupid but fun I guess and they hung out after, her saying how impressed she was because her kids were having a good time and so was she :)

What do they like to do together?

Like on the (unofficial) first date, doing random performances together. I guess he can sing (I think?? all Elvis impersonators can sing in my mind) and she’s a dancer so.. fun!! Other than that, watching random Kings member #58 perform on their little stage, going to ugly Freeside Casinos and leaving immediately after they lose 3 caps, just fun things!! Also he likes to listen to her talking about random stuff she read in her magazines. 

Do they like PDA?

Fuck yeah… Diana constantly having her legs in his lap whenever possible, him having his arm around her shoulders or on her waist all the time. Physical contact but in a cool way. 

What are their big spoon / little spoon arrangements?

They wouldn’t spoon I think but she’d sleep on his arm :) wakes up and it’s numb but that’s okay

Does one like the cuddle more than the other?

Like I said. constant physical contact (but in a cool way) but actual cuddling WOULD be a thing in private.

Who hogs the blankets?

Diana -_-

Do either of them like to cook?

l can’t imagine him being able to cook but she can. Yes I do the cooking yes I do the cleaning. 

If they get married, who proposes first?

There’s no real proposal probably, It would just come up in a conversation and they’d decide to have one of these quick Las Vegas weddings.

What kind of wedding do they have?

Again. One of these quick Las Vegas weddings… people get married by the King but who marries HIM 😔 (probably one of the other kings). It’s not much but it fits them, I don’t think huge wasteland weddings are much of a thing anyway (or weddings in general) sooo...

Did any of their friends or family want them to get together? Does anyone object to their relationship? 

No one objected, except maybe annoying ass Pacer for literally no reason and some random followers :/ As for Pippa and Isabel (Diana’s besties), they didn’t meet before she started dating the king so they obviously weren’t rooting for them to get together but they wouldn’t object to it either, I think. Isabel certainly doesn’t, she likes the King and thinks they fit. Idk what Pippa thinks she’s not my oc, but I don’t think she’d object to it either.

Do they have any kids?

NO lmao. No biological ones at least, Diana has her Freeside orphans though that she takes care of (kinda), they’re basically her kids. She even refers to them as such :-)

Do they have any pets?

Heh… Rex :-)

GEORGIE/C*RVO

How did they first meet? What was their first impression of each other?

In the distillery district 😳 On the first mission, Georgie prob caught him sneaking around her clinic (by accident) and was like. WTF get out with your creepy mask… wait ACTUALLY since you’re good at sneaking can you get me [random thing for her medical research that she has tried to get her hands on for ages] and i can give you a discount on health potions and free leeches 😏 NPC behavior… 

Georgie thought the mask looked fucked up and he seemed mysterious but well. She meets strange people every day so 🤷‍♀️ Also she thinks it’s kind of sexy. He thought she was a bit strange, but ig he liked her. She’s funny. 

Who felt romantic feelings first?

GEORGIE. relatively quickly actually, she really likes him early on but she doesn’t really say anything with Jess’ death being so recent :/ He does… later on, about two or three years after dh1, probably when she’s on official business in dunwall tower (YES underqualified royal physician Georgie is a thing now 💕) and she remarks a random cut he has on his cheek & turns his face to get a closer look and he’s like 😳😳😳😳 why do I like that she just did that. Love Wins.

Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

Her kind of, again with the whole Jessamine thing because it was so recent and she’s like aaagh i'm not gonna hit on a guy in mourning so she tries to ignore it 😐 

Who initiated the relationship?

GOD technically Georgie, she didn’t say anything of course because she’s too weird but she does kiss him first... and makes him leave right after :/

Who said “I love you” first?

He does… Georgie would NEVER say it first and doesn’t say it right back immediately but. He knows she’s weird about things so it’s okay.

Who gets jealous easily?

Her. That is a thing. 

Who is more protective?

Both :-) 

Who remembers the little things?

Also both but mostly him. Remembering the weird little things she offhandedly mentioned she likes. Or her little plague research things. 

Who uses the cheesier pickup lines?

Both but they’d just whisper them to each other for funsies when they’re somewhere. In public.

What does a first date look like for them?

They wouldn’t have a proper official first date but it’d likely be some random event they’d both be at when she’s the royal physician (I don’t think she’d get invited to anything but well. Maybe the Boyles run out of crazy things to do at their parties and invite her) Or taking a walk at Dunwall’s somewhat nicer-looking docks. Something boring. 

What do they like to do together?

Also boring things. They’re old, nothing too crazy. Chatting about random stuff whenever she’s over at Dunwall tower, taking walks in the gardens together and watching ships or something, talking shit about aristocrats that they find annoying or just about weird hobbies, maybe she can bring him along to meet her friends (who he already knows) to look at rats in alleyways but he eats them idk. Summons a whole swarm of rats but they end up trying to kill them 

Do they like PDA?

NO. I don’t think she’d be too much into the whole ~aristocrat life~ after becoming the royal physician and just does business-related things but neither would want people talking about this. Semi-secret relationship for no reason and they’re both more private sooo

What are their big spoon / little spoon arrangements?

She’s the little spoon.. likes being held :)

Who hogs the blankets?

He does -_-

Do either of them like to cook?

No lol

Did any of their friends or family want them to get together? Does anyone object to their relationship? 

I think the only person really knowing of this is Marzanna (AGAIN. by dany… Georgie is also besties with Slackjaw… the Rat Smackers. but she wouldn’t tell him about this lol), who would probably not object to it?? but I don’t think anyone else would be rooting for them. I guess Emily likes her as her cool doctor but NO WAY that’s gonna be her stepmom :/

Do they have any kids?

No :/

Do they have any pets?

Georgie has a cat. Not together though, Pluto is hers.

#hee hee

[virgil-is-a-cutie]

All The Good Girls Go To Hell

This is based on the ask I got of Snow being the bad guy and which turned to Snow White Going Evil AU. Also the title is from Billie Ellish's song. Also thanks to @thegayestasexual for helping me with the title. Also genna base Mira's looks on the comics but add the parts from the show as well. As well as change a few things.

Warnings: none so far really just slight mention of alcohol use

Diana was excited for her story to start right away. Her class had graduated a few months ago and she was eagerly waiting for her fairytale to start.

Mira hadn't even enacted anything on her which was strange really.

She must be planning something spectacular!

She was pacing the walls of Good Castle when she curiously looked out a window and furrows her eyebrows.

A black horse, which oddly had a skull crown decorating it, with knights guarding it, which was somewhat odd since the only person in the land of Ever After who had a black horse with skulls delicately placed on it was...

Oh.

Mira Queen.

Diana frowns, 'why would Mira be here?' she thought before she lit up at the realization.

Every past telling of the Snow White story had the Evil Queen of the story marry into the White family. However, that really couldn't be the explanation

She rushed her way downstairs and skidded as she heard the giggles of Mira Queen who was smiling at something Snow's father, Good King (Edward King), had said.

The giggling caught her off guard, but she shook it off.

"Hey dad," Diana said with a bright smile before furrowing her brows as her father looked at her nervously before smiling big again.

"Diana dear! The person I was looking for," he said with a kind smile.

"What for?" she asked curiously as she glanced at Mira who was wearing a lovely dress that had more bright color in it really.

"I have some news to tell you my dear," he said softly as he glanced at Mira before looking at his daughter, "Mira and I are courting," he says.

Diana blinked and took a step back at the news. Sure her mother died when she was just a few days old and sure it had to do with her birth combined with how her Evil Queen made the poisoned apple a bit too strong.

Or so they say.

That and because they had to start the tale early because Diana's mother had gotten pregnant at 15 years old with her Good King and didn't want word of what Alice White had done.

Of her being pregnant, so Grimm had told her parents and the Evil Queen of their tale to start the tale early. So as to not have a scandal.

No one suspected anything really.

Mira's mother, Miranna Queen (who was in a way Diana's step grandmother), had been 21 years old because Mira's grandmother had Miraralla first while Alice's mother had Alice 6 years after the birth of Miranna Queen.

So all this time her father spent his time raising her with her maternal grandmother, who was resurrected for the specific purpose to raise Diana, by his side. Never getting in a relationship with anyone, since he was raising the next Snow White.

So to hear that her father, who is 34 years old, is dating Mira is a shock.

Especially since Mira is the same age as Diana.

Even though past tellings had Queens marry that age as well.

Or a bit older.

She smiles weakly, which went unnoticed by Mira and Good King who were holding hands.

She was weary now.

She... didn't think this would happen at all really.

___

"They make such a lovely couple," Diana jumps as she turned to look at Red Ridding Hood, Crimson Hood, and The Big Bad Wolf, Remus Badwolf.

Mira's bffas of course, whom came to the party dinner Good King had hosted.

How odd she had friends who were supposed to be enemies.

Diana smiled weakly and glanced at Diana who was with Edward, the couple were happily talking with Fiona Thorn, better known as Maleficent, and Valarie Goodfairy.

Mira wore purple fish tail skirt that had black stitching that helped make it seem as if animal bones were decorating the skirt, a black queen Anne top with black platform heels. Her hair was done in a fishtail braid, her small crown with the bone of a raven sitting on top delicately on her head.

The sight of beauty.

Diana pushed down the burst of jealousy she had for Mira.

It was ok, she was Snow White, the most fairest, of course Mira would be the fairest 1st. That's how the story goes.

She looked away after a minute to look back at Crimson and Remus and smiled wearily, "indeed."

Crimson bit back a smile, she and Remus knew from Mira that she felt as if Diana was uncomfortable with the relationship of her enemy with her daddy dearest. However, to Crimson and Remus it was clear Mira truly did love Good King. The man had wooed her well and he didn't care at all about her being his daughter's enemy.

The two have been dating for over 5 months, well 7 if you count the 2 months when they kept their relationship a secret, and they looked to be going strong.

"Nothing wrong with it," Diana said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes as she looked back to see Good King place a kiss on Mira's cheek.

Diana wished Willow was there, but her tale was already in progress and well... she wasn't really allowed to dinner parties or anything really.

She did see the ugly stepsisters and their evil mother. So there was that. However, they left after a while once it was 9 PM, she just hoped Willow was ok.

The poor girl never had a chance to leave the home she was now trapped in.

Emerald Lockes was here though, but the woman was so annoying with how she silently criticized the palace each time she came for a visit.

Diana bit back a groan before putting on a dazzling smile and walked up to Emerald.

At least she could talk with her.

Albeit probably not that of interesting things.

___

A year in a half (or almost 2 years and a month really) to Mira and Good King's relationship and Diana was getting impatient.

When the heck will their tale begin?!

She was thinking this during a ball that her father had thrown for Mira's 21st birthday and everyone was invited.

Diana wore a sweetheart gown

With her hair in a curls, but she felt a bite of anger seeing what Mira was wearing.

(Mira wore this)

With her mint blonde hair in waves with a small braided part in it.

It was a simple but elegant look that she had somehow been able to pull off with the many animal bone jewelry she wore.

She smiled sweetly to guests and danced with random Charming princes before pausing in confusion as the music stopped.

A spotlight flashed onto her father, who was smiling at Mira who had her hands on the pockets of her dress, whom held a microphone.

The next few things her father said caused her to stand there frozen as the whole room cheered and clapped.

Her father proposed to Mira.

Mira was marrying her father, the Good King, Diana's daddy dearest.

She felt her stomach clench before breathing deeply.

A few hours after the ball ended she paced her room and took deep breaths.

"It's no problem! Plenty of Queens have married a Good King to progress or create a story before poisoning their Snow White," she whispers to herself as she chugged on the bottle of wine that she had sneaked out of the wine cellar.

Her lips were a light blue, the bottle half empty, it was full when she entered the room.

"Yeah...no need to worry! Plenty of them even divorced their Good King," she giggles nervously.

Not remembering that it was a rare few of Queen who did end up divorcing their Good King, but that was years and years after their tale was done.

"Our tale is meant to start," Diana hisses before taking another drink as she remembered how her father called Mira beautiful.

"He's speaking out of love of course," she mumbled to herself.

____

Diana stat there frozen as Mira walked down the isle.

A week had passed after Mira's 21st birthday and the wedding was happening.

Everyone who was important was invited, even the common folk.

Much to the surprise of no one, Mira opted to wear a black wedding gown.

Her blonde mint hair now dyed black was in curls and she held the black roses close to her as she reached Edward. Remus having walked her down the isle.

It very much suited her.

The rest of the wedding was a blur, all Diana remembered was feeling ice in the pit of her stomach.

'Just part of the story,' Diana chanted in her head throughout the whole day.

3 months later Dia- no! Snow White was now in the woods with the seven dwarfs.

In the glass coffin they made her.

3 months after she had been awoken by her prince, Prince Draiden Charming, and married him she was now living the best life.

She had her own kingdom, well... the kingdom that all past Snow Whites were able to rule over once their story finished.

Her grandmother had given it to her after she got back from her honeymoon.

She fixes her hair when she pauses a little.

"I haven't seen father for almost 4 months," she whispers shocked before finally deciding to go over to Good Castle to visit her father. Surely Evil Queen and him have already divorced.

The story already ended, no need for them to be married!

Snow made her way to Good Castle, she hopped off the carriage and in excitement threw open the doors. She looked around furrowing her eyebrows.

There were many dark knights guarding the place.

....that could only mean one thing.

Evil Queen was still here.

"Ah! Snow! What a lovely visit!" Mira called out from the top of the stairs, her mint blonde hair in a messy braid as she wore a black and violet fish tail skirt with a long sleeved button up black shirt with slingback heels.

"Hello Evil Queen," Snow said with a weak smile which wasn't noticed by Mira who smiled as her husband hugged her.

"There's my beautiful wife! The fairest in my heart," Edward said playfully.

Snow freezes at that. Evil Queen? The fairest?

But.... she was the fairest! Her! Snow White! She, Diana White,THE Snow White was the fairest!

She felt as if she was splashed with cold water.

But she felt as if a damn had been broken.

Mira couldn't still be married to Snow's father unless.... unless their story hasn't actually finished.

If it did then Mira and Good King have to have divorced by now....

"Snow?" Snow blinked and fought off the urge to sneer at her enemy as shr looked up st Mira.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to stay for lunch? Me and Edward have a few things to do later on so really lunch time is the perfect time to catch up," Mira said with a bright smile.

"Sure!" Snow said ignoring the hisses in her mind as Good King cooed at Mira and called her beautiful.

'Draiden never calls me beautiful,' Diana thought bitterly.

'Surely our tale isn't done,' Diana thought darkly as she was handed her plate.

The anger inside of her continued to grow the whole week as she kept visiting and watched how wonderful her father and her enemy's marriage was. Her marriage wasn't like that at all.

How unfair.

Mira couldn't be the fairest. Snow White was!

But Good King kept calling her beautiful! He HAS to call Snow that.

She is his daughter. It's fair.

But he never did it.

How unfair.

Jealousy continued to grow.

She was the fairest.

All of Ever After knew that.

But it looked like they needed a reminder.

Tag: @2sunchild2 @thegayestasexual @unmaskedagain @captainrose35 @falling-electricxangel @calliopeia @mlbchaosqueen @animalgirl05 @alicesangelofmusic @thyladyanput

#jenny writes #ever after high #ever after high au #snow white turns evil au #i changed a few things since i can and will