This is the story of Princesse Matilda Victoria Eleanor de Galles. The Eldest daughter of Princess Catherine and William of Wales. The futur queen of England.
Christmas morning at Sandringham was always filled with excitement. The royal family had long upheld their Christmas traditions, and for George, Charlotte, and Matilda, this year was a particularly special one. For the first time, the younger Cambridge children, accompanied by their big sister Matilda, would walk to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene with the family, joining the crowds who came to watch the royal Christmas procession.
The morning began early, with a flurry of activity as the children got dressed in their finest winter clothes. George, six, and Charlotte, four, wore carefully selected outfits—George in a sharp woolen coat and Charlotte in a red dress with matching accessories. Matilda, who was eight, felt a thrill of pride as she looked in the mirror. Her dress was a rich navy blue with little silver details, and she wore it with confidence. Her younger siblings were excited, but also a bit nervous about their first public Christmas outing, and Matilda, the caring big sister, did her best to reassure them.
As they walked down the grand staircase of Sandringham House, Matilda noticed Charlotte fiddling with her mittens, her brow slightly furrowed. Gently, Matilda took Charlotte's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, Charlotte. Just smile and say hello to everyone who waves at you. It'll be just like when we're at school."
Charlotte looked up, her face relaxing. "Okay," she whispered, and smiled back.
When it was time for the walk to church, the royal family made their way outside to where the public had gathered, bundled up in coats and scarves against the winter chill. The sight of the children, particularly George, Charlotte, and Matilda, caused a ripple of excitement in the crowd. People waved eagerly, calling out Christmas wishes, and many had brought bouquets of flowers for the children.
As they walked, George and Charlotte held onto their mother's hand, with Matilda close by, occasionally smiling at the crowd and waving alongside her family. She felt a surge of pride in helping her younger siblings through their first royal outing. George gave a few shy waves, and Charlotte lit up every time someone handed her a bouquet, her face beaming with delight.
Matilda caught her father's eye and grinned, and William gave her an encouraging nod. She was doing a wonderful job, making both her parents proud. When a little girl in the crowd handed Matilda a small bunch of white roses, she thanked her sweetly, exchanging a few words before moving on. The crowd's cheers grew louder, and Matilda felt the warmth of the moment, realizing just how special this tradition was.
After the service, they all returned to Sandringham House for a quiet family Christmas lunch. The children were in high spirits, sharing stories about the people they'd seen and the flowers they'd collected. William and Kate looked on with pride, happy to see how well their children were growing into their roles.
Later in December, just before Christmas, the whole family took part in a special project. They had been invited to appear in a documentary, A Berry Royal Christmas, with the famous British cook Mary Berry. The BBC had organized it as a festive special, where William and Kate would spend time cooking with Mary, learning traditional Christmas recipes and sharing family memories. George, Charlotte, and Louis were excited to make a brief appearance too, especially Matilda, who loved watching cooking shows and was thrilled to meet Mary Berry in person.
On the day of filming, the children were invited into the kitchen to help prepare desserts, a task they all took very seriously. Mary Berry greeted them with a warm smile and taught them how to make small Christmas puddings and decorate gingerbread men.
Matilda, ever the responsible older sister, took charge, helping Charlotte and Louis with their baking. George was focused on his task, carefully spooning the ingredients and trying his best to follow Mary's instructions. The kitchen was filled with the delicious scent of spices and baking, and the children's laughter as they worked.
"Alright, little chefs," Mary said with a twinkle in her eye, "who wants to taste?"
The children's hands shot up eagerly. Matilda, proud of her little sister's handiwork, watched as Charlotte took her first bite and grinned in delight.
"It's delicious, isn't it?" Kate said, laughing as she watched her children sample their creations.
Matilda nodded enthusiastically. "I think it's one of the best Christmas treats we've ever made, right, Charlotte?"
Charlotte giggled, her face sticky with icing, and nodded. "Yes! Maybe we can make this every Christmas!"
As the family gathered around the kitchen table, enjoying their homemade treats, Matilda felt a warm glow of happiness. She looked at her parents, then at her siblings, and thought about how special this Christmas had been. The outing to church, the documentary, the chance to cook alongside Mary Berry—all of these moments felt like treasured memories she'd hold onto forever.
When the filming wrapped, Mary gave each of the children a small festive apron as a keepsake. Matilda wore hers proudly, feeling very grown-up.
That evening, as the family relaxed by the fire, Matilda reflected on the day's events. She watched her little siblings playing nearby, feeling an immense sense of love and pride. William noticed his daughter deep in thought and leaned over, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"You did wonderfully today, Matilda," he said, his voice warm with affection. "Your mum and I are very proud of you."
Matilda looked up, her eyes shining. "Thank you, Papa. I'm just happy we're all together, making Christmas memories. I want us to keep this tradition forever."
And so, surrounded by her family, Matilda felt grateful for the Christmas season, for the warmth of family, and for the simple moments that would stay with her forever. As the fire crackled and the evening grew darker, Matilda knew she'd cherish this Christmas at Sandringham for the rest of her life.
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