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.
It was a crisp January morning at Anmer Hall. Frost clung to the windows, and the garden lay blanketed in white, a peaceful scene that seemed to reflect the quiet beginning of a new year. Inside, however, the Cambridge household buzzed with excitement. Today was no ordinary day—it was Catherine's 40th birthday, and the children were determined to make it unforgettable.
In the cozy warmth of the family room, Matilda sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by colored pencils, markers, and sheets of paper. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she worked on her special project: a manga-style portrait of her mother.
"George, pass me the pink pencil," Matilda called, not looking up from her drawing.
George, lounging on the sofa and flipping through a book, glanced over. "What's it for? Her dress or her cheeks?"
"Both," Matilda replied with a grin. "Mama's always glowing, don't you think?"
Charlotte giggled from her spot by the fireplace, where she was tying ribbons around a box. "You're such a perfectionist, Tilly. But it does look really pretty."
"Thanks," Matilda said, sitting back to inspect her work. The portrait captured Catherine in her iconic elegance, but with a whimsical touch—big, sparkling eyes and flowing hair like a heroine straight out of a storybook.
Louis, meanwhile, was busy stacking blocks precariously near the coffee table. "Can I see, Tilly?" he asked, crawling over with a curious look.
Matilda held the picture high. "Not yet, Lou! It's a surprise!"
"But I wanna see!" he whined, reaching up.
"Patience, little man," George said, pulling Louis onto his lap before he could knock over the pencils. "You'll ruin it if you touch it now."
Charlotte smirked. "Typical Louis—always in the middle of everything."
The door opened, and William walked in, carrying a tray with hot chocolates. "How's the birthday prep coming along, team?" he asked, handing each child a mug.
"Almost done!" Matilda replied, taking a sip. "Do you think Mum will like it?"
"She'll love it," William said confidently, ruffling her hair. "She always says your drawings are her favorite presents."
"What about the cake?" Charlotte asked, bouncing on her toes.
"Already sorted," William replied with a wink. "A chocolate sponge with vanilla buttercream—her favorite. And before you ask, yes, there's enough icing for everyone."
Louis clapped his hands. "Cake! When can we eat it?"
"Not until after dinner," George said, rolling his eyes. "You know that, Lou."
"Dinner's ages away," Louis grumbled, but the sight of Matilda adding finishing touches to her drawing distracted him.
As the afternoon wore on, the family worked together to decorate the dining room. George and Charlotte hung streamers and balloons, while Matilda placed her completed portrait in a golden frame. She set it on the table alongside a bouquet of Catherine's favorite flowers—lilies and white roses.
"Perfect," she murmured, stepping back to admire the arrangement.
The sound of approaching footsteps made them all scramble to their hiding spots. William called out, "Catherine, could you come in here for a moment?"
When Catherine entered the room, the children leapt out from behind the furniture.
"Surprise!" they shouted in unison.
Catherine laughed, her face lighting up with delight. "Oh, you little rascals! What's all this?"
"Your birthday party, Mama!" Louis said, tugging on her hand to lead her to the table.
George gestured proudly to the decorations. "We did all of it ourselves."
"And I made this for you," Matilda added, handing over the framed portrait with a shy smile.
Catherine's eyes widened as she took in the drawing. "Matilda, this is incredible! It's so creative—like something from a beautiful story."
Matilda beamed. "I wanted to make it special, just like you."
Catherine knelt down and pulled her into a warm hug. "Thank you, darling. It's perfect. You're all so thoughtful."
That evening, the family gathered around the table for dinner. William proposed a toast, raising his glass of sparkling cider.
"To the most wonderful wife and mother, who makes every day brighter for all of us. Happy 40th, Catherine."
"Hear, hear!" the children echoed, clinking their glasses of juice.
After dinner, the moment Louis had been waiting for finally arrived. William brought out the cake, candles flickering on top. They sang "Happy Birthday" at the top of their lungs, and Catherine blew out the candles with a laugh.
"What did you wish for, Mama?" Louis asked, his mouth already full of cake.
Catherine smiled. "I wished for more moments like this—with all of you."
As the evening wound down, the family moved to the living room for a movie night. Matilda curled up beside her mother, feeling proud of the day's success.
"Mama, do you think you'll hang my drawing in your office?" she asked sleepily.
"Absolutely," Catherine replied, brushing a strand of hair from Matilda's face. "Every time I see it, I'll think of today and how lucky I am to have you."
Matilda closed her eyes, content. For her, the best part of the celebration wasn't the decorations or the cake—it was knowing her gift had made her mother happy. And that, she thought, was the best feeling in the world.
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