The King's Daughter

Chapter Two: Royal Introductions

7th of June 1934 - Buckingham Palace

Holding the baby in her arms, the Duchess of York shifted nervously as she waited to present her youngest daughter to the King and Queen; their fifth grandchildren and third granddaughter, a blessing without a doubt. 

The Duke of York stood beside his wife, nervously waiting to be summoned before his strict father, who had never been entirely fond of his second son and had belittled him growing up. 

Albert had been a rather sickly child, easily to frighten and somewhat prone to tears, he had a stutter that continued to this day and was left- handed despite being forced to write with his right hand. 

He had chronic stomach problems as well as knock knees, for which he was forced to wear painful corrective splints; all of which had endeared him less to his father, who he rarely saw. 

Queen Victoria had been rather distressed when Albert had been born on the 34th anniversary of the death of his great-grandfather Albert, Prince Consort; she had only been mollified days later when he had been named after the man. 

Elizabeth offered her husband a reassuring smile, knowing that presenting their daughter to the King and Queen was a must; Violet was fifth in line to the throne behind her uncle, father and older sisters. 

They had only recently returned to London from her family estate in Scotland, where they had enjoyed a quiet start to their life as a family of five surrounded by her family. 

"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of York," the footman announced to the King and Queen, bowing his head to them as Albert and Elizabeth walked into the room behind him. 

King George was stood beside the window, looking out of the room while Queen Mary was seated upon the couch; the two turning at the announcement of their arrival. 

"M-m-may I p-p-resent our d-d-d-daughter Violet," Albert said almost wanting the ground to swallow him up, he looked down at his feet almost ashamed that despite his work with Lionel Logue the stutter sometimes could not be helped. 

A reassuring look from Elizabeth did little to boast his confidence, before she made her way further into the blue room and towards her mother-in-law. 

Queen Mary watched her daughter-in-law approach her, while she would not have been her first choice for Albert, he had picked his partner well especially considering his last choice of woman.

Elizabeth carefully handed Violet over to Queen Mary, sitting beside her mother-in-law whose face revealed nothing as she stared down at her youngest granddaughter. 

Violet was a pretty baby, that much Mary could decide as she stared down at the infant that had been placed into her arms; no doubt she would be a beautiful girl one day like her older sisters. 

"Lilibet and Margaret are thrilled to have a sister," Elizabeth noted, her two older daughters had been most pleased when they had been introduced to the baby. 

Lilibet and Margaret had reacted well to the addition of a younger sister, Lilibet had been ever so helpful and the nanny had assured Elizabeth that all was well within the York nursery. 

"I am sure they are," King George noted with a nod of his head, moving to stand behind his wife and look down upon his newest grandchildren with interest; no doubt this one would look like her sisters in due course. 

There was no denying that Albert and Elizabeth had produced beautiful girls, it was a shame that they had no luck having a son; especially with David's disinterest in settling down with a suitable woman.

A continued source of embarrassment for both of his parents, neither of them seemed to be able to convince him to settle down with someone respectable that would one day be his Queen Consort.