| CROWN II | 👑👑

CHAPTER 48 : BACK TO SCHOOL AND WORRY FOR GRANNY

Date: September 2021
Place: London and Windsor Castle

The arrival  of autumn leaves beneath her polished school shoes made Matilda smile as she walked hand-in-hand with her father, William, towards the school gates. The air was crisp, the sun peeking through scattered clouds, heralding the start of a new term. Matilda's navy uniform was impeccably pressed, her satchel slung over one shoulder, and her brown curls tied neatly with a ribbon.

"Are you excited, Tilly?" William asked as they neared the entrance. His face bore the warm yet measured expression of a parent hoping to instill calm confidence.

"Mm-hmm!" Matilda nodded enthusiastically. "I can't wait to tell Maria and James about our summer in Jordan! And we're starting the Tudors in history. Do you think Granny will help me with my projects about them?"

William chuckled. "I'm sure Granny would be delighted. But remember, no sneaking questions to her about what they were really like."

Matilda giggled. "I'm not going to ask if she remembers Henry VIII, Papa!"

At the gates, Matilda's friends Maria and James were already waving, their excitement mirrored in her own eager smile.

"Bye, Papa!" Matilda called, bounding towards her friends.

"Have a good day, Tilly!" William waved back, standing for a moment to watch her happily reunite with her classmates before heading back to Kensington Palace.

The rhythm of school quickly consumed Matilda's days. History lessons became her favorite part of the week, and she often regaled her family with tales of Tudor feasts, court intrigues, and lavish coronations during dinner.

"Did you know the Tudors once had a banquet with over a thousand dishes, Mama?" Matilda exclaimed one evening, her fork paused mid-air as she shared her newfound knowledge.

"Really? That sounds like quite a feast," Catherine replied, smiling as she refilled Charlotte's glass of water. "I think I'd need a week to recover after a meal like that."

"Me too," Charlotte added, wrinkling her nose. "That's too much food."

"It was probably a show of power," Matilda continued earnestly, quoting her teacher. "Granny says things like that are important for monarchies."

William raised an eyebrow at Catherine, impressed by Matilda's growing understanding of royal history. "Well, let's hope Granny doesn't expect us to have thousand-dish feasts anytime soon."

The conversation turned to other topics, but Matilda remained engrossed in her thoughts, already planning her next visit to Windsor to share her Tudor discoveries with her grandmother.

A Visit to Windsor

Later that month, Matilda had the opportunity to visit Windsor Castle with her parents and siblings. While George and Charlotte played in the garden, Matilda found herself seated beside the Queen in her private sitting room. The warm autumn sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating the rich red and gold tones of the room.

"Granny," Matilda began, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, "did you know the Tudors used to have feasts that lasted for days?"

The Queen, dressed in a soft lavender cardigan, looked up from her tea with a smile. Though her health had been more delicate recently, her mind remained sharp, and she relished moments like these with her grandchildren.

"Indeed, Matilda," the Queen replied, setting her cup down with care. "Though I imagine they might find our modern schedules far more exhausting than their banquets. Could you imagine what they'd say about the number of events we attend in a week?"