𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍; george weasley

020

TWENTY

As the sleek convoy of cars approached the gates of Buckingham Palace, the teenagers inside couldn't help but glance nervously at the frenzy of flashing cameras. Diana's calm voice broke the tense silence.

"Do not, under any circumstances, look out the windows," she instructed firmly. "They'll take pictures of anything. We're almost there."

The cars passed through the gilded gates, and the moment they were within the secure grounds, the paparazzi fell back, shouting and jostling for position behind the barriers.

The cars rolled to a stop near the grand entrance, and as everyone began stepping out, Victoria turned to her friends.

"Go ahead inside," she said softly, nodding toward the palace. "I'll just be a moment."

Her friends hesitated, glancing toward the towering building and then back at her. Diana stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "It's all right. Go on. Victoria and I will be right behind you."

Reluctantly, the group moved toward the entrance, where staff waited to usher them inside. Fred and George kept glancing over their shoulders, clearly uneasy, but Victoria gave them a reassuring nod before turning to Diana.

Mother and daughter stood side by side in front of the car, their hands entwined as they waved at the gathered crowd. Diana's grace and Victoria's youthful charm created a striking image.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Victoria spotted a small group of girls standing near the gates. They were clutching bouquets of flowers, their faces lit with excitement and awe.

Victoria's lips curved into a soft smile. Without a word to Diana, she stepped away, heading toward the gate.

The little girls' eyes widened as Victoria approached, and one of them—a blonde girl no older than seven—held out her bouquet with trembling hands.

"Are those for me?" Victoria asked kindly, crouching down to their level.

The girl nodded shyly. "Y-Yes, Princess."

"They're beautiful," Victoria said, taking the bouquet with care. "What's your name?"

"Ellie," the girl whispered.

"Well, Ellie, I'm Victoria, but you can call me Tori," Victoria repeated warmly. "Thank you so much. This means the world to me."

Another little girl, this one with curly red hair, mustered up the courage to speak. "You're really pretty, Princess Victoria."

Victoria chuckled. "Well, thank you. You're very pretty too. And Tori, please."

The girls giggled, clearly thrilled by her attention.

"Do you live nearby?" Victoria asked.

Ellie shook her head. "No, we came all the way from Manchester just to see you!"

Victoria's heart swelled at the sincerity in Ellie's voice. "That's such a long way! I hope you didn't get too bored on the trip."

The girl with red hair chimed in, "It's okay! We brought books."

Victoria laughed. "Smart idea. Well, thank you for coming all this way. It's lovely to meet you both."

Before standing, Victoria noticed Ellie's little brother hiding behind her. She leaned over and waved. "Hi there! What's your name?"

The boy peeked out, clutching a stuffed bear. "Jamie," he mumbled.

"Hi, Jamie. I'm Victoria," Victoria said softly. "Nice to meet you."

The little boy smiled shyly, and Ellie beamed.

Victoria glanced back toward the gates, where the paparazzi were furiously snapping pictures, their shouts louder now. Turning back to the children, she said, "Thank you again for these beautiful flowers. You've made my day. Stay safe, okay?"

The girls nodded, their faces glowing with happiness, and Victoria gave them one last smile before standing and walking back toward the palace.

Diana stood next to George, who watched the girl in awe. The woman smiled and whispered, "She's a wonder isn't she."

George responded with just a hum, never taking his eyes off Victoria.

As Victoria made her way back, the paparazzi erupted, shouting her name and asking endless questions.

"Victoria! Who were the children?"
"Princess Victoria, over here!"
"Are you and your mother planning another public appearance soon?"

She kept her head high, her expression serene, ignoring the chaos behind her as she walked through the grand entrance.

Inside, her friends were waiting, peeking through the tall windows at the spectacle outside. Fred raised an eyebrow as she entered. "What was that all about?"

Victoria shrugged lightly, still holding the bouquet of flowers. "Just meeting a couple of fans."

George smirked. "And here I thought we were the lucky ones who got your attention."

Victoria rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered. She glanced at the flowers in her hand and set them down on a nearby table, ready to face the rest of the day ahead.