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CHAPTER 68 : QUEEN'S FUNERAL

Date: September 19, 2022
Location: Westminster Abbey, London, United Kingdom

The grandeur of Westminster Abbey was both awe-inspiring and somber. Its ancient stone walls, bathed in the golden light filtering through the stained glass windows, bore witness to a historic moment as the world gathered to say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II. The air was heavy with reverence and grief, and the eyes of millions were fixed on the proceedings. Inside, the royal family sat together in the front pews, united in mourning.

Matilda sat between her siblings, George and Charlotte, her posture straight and her face calm, but her young heart was racing. She wore a simple black dress, her hair neatly braided, and her hands rested protectively on either side of her siblings. George, trying to emulate their father's composed demeanor, sat stiffly in his dark suit, while Charlotte clutched a small handkerchief, dabbing her teary eyes occasionally.

As the funeral service began, the soft choral hymns echoed through the Abbey, filling every corner with a bittersweet melody. Matilda stole a glance at her father, Prince William, who sat beside Catherine. Their faces were stoic, but the grief was unmistakable in their eyes. This wasn't just a state occasion for them; it was the loss of a grandmother and a matriarch who had been the bedrock of their family.

From the corner of her eye, Matilda spotted Harry and Meghan. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seated further back, their presence a subtle yet noticeable tension in the room. Meghan, dressed in all black with a dramatic hat, scanned the royal family with a fixed expression. When her gaze landed on Matilda and her siblings, Matilda could feel the weight of it, and her instinct to protect George and Charlotte flared up.

"Keep your head up, Charlotte," Matilda whispered softly, adjusting her sister's hat that had tilted slightly. "We're representing Granny today."

Charlotte nodded, her lips trembling but determined to stay composed. George, sitting on Matilda's other side, leaned toward her. "Do you think Granny would have liked this?" he asked in a low voice.

Matilda turned to him, her eyes softening. "She would have loved it, George. All these people here because they cared about her. It's like the whole world is saying thank you."

As the Archbishop began his eulogy, Matilda's attention drifted momentarily to Meghan again. She noticed how Meghan leaned toward Harry, whispering something. Harry's face was neutral, but Matilda couldn't shake the feeling that Meghan's presence here was overshadowed by unspoken tension. Matilda clenched her jaw slightly. How could they act so casually, as though nothing had happened? Did they forget how their actions had hurt Granny?

Charlotte tugged gently on Matilda's sleeve, pulling her from her thoughts. "What's wrong, Tilly?" she asked quietly.

Matilda shook her head and gave her sister's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Nothing. Just keep listening," she said, her voice steady, though her mind was far from calm.

As the service progressed, Meghan made a subtle attempt to approach the younger royals during a quiet interlude. Rising from her seat under the pretense of adjusting something, she moved toward Matilda, George, and Charlotte, her steps soft but deliberate. The moment was brief but charged with tension.

"Hello, you three," Meghan said softly, her tone overly sweet. "I just wanted to say how proud your Granny would be of you today. She always spoke so highly of you."

Matilda's spine stiffened. She turned her head slowly, her green eyes locking onto Meghan's with an intensity that belied her eleven years. "Thank you," she said coolly, her voice polite but distant. Then, shifting subtly, she placed an arm protectively across Charlotte's shoulders, ensuring her younger sister stayed firmly within her shield.