I'm the Princess of Wales; He's a Prince of Belgium

2001

2001

"Must go you go to school so far away, Willy?" The nine-year-old Princess of Wales complained, skipping beside her eldest brother.

William was due to start classes at University of St. Andrews in Scotland, of all places! Caroline and Harry had joined their father and brother as they got Will settled into the university.

Will lifted Caroline into his arms, exclaiming, "Oh, don't you pout, Car! I'll call you all the time and Christmas isn't so far away. The time will fly by."

Caroline vehemently disagreed. "Nuh-uh! That's forever from now! I'm going to be so lonely. You're going to be in Scotland and Harry at Eton. At least when you were both at Eton, I got to see you."

Charles interrupted into his children's conversation. "Come now, Caroline. Be happy for you brother. This is a great opportunity for William. This is an important time in his life. Change is natural and your brothers have to live their own lives."

"Dad!" Harry shook his head at his father's lack of tact.

Charles quieted his middle child with a fatherly stare. "Your sister needs to understand that it is only natural to grow apart from your siblings as you grow older."

"I agree," William said, surprising everyone. "The distance between us will grow as we age at certain times in our life, but we will always find our way back to each other. See, baby? Just think about that and Christmas will arrive faster than you think."

Harry nodded and enthused, "Yeah, Cari! Besides, you'll be at primary and you'll see Grammy and Grandpa; and you'll be with Uncle Edward and Aunt Sophie!"

He referred to the fact that the young princess hardly ever was with Charles at Clarence House. For half of the year, she lived with Elizabeth and Philip, or Edward and Sophie. Caroline attended St. George's School at Windsor. The school was near Bagshot Park, the home of Edward and Sophie; and, Windsor was the weekend getaway for Elizabeth and Philip.

Harry's deterrence worked. Caroline was always excited to spend time with her grandparents, and favorite uncle and aunt.

As the family passed walked across the quad outside St. Salvator's Hall, two of its members caught sight of a girl running across the grass. The girl was tall with dark-brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was very pretty.

The unknown girl, feeling the stares of the two royals, glanced in their direction. William quickly diverted his attention back to his father. But, not the young princess. Caroline grinned at the older girl and waved.

The girl returned Caroline's wave in kind and watched as the family disappeared into the residence hall. She couldn't believe that she had been unaware of the royal family's presence across the quad!

The girl shook her head and continued her run through campus. If only, she knew what the future held for her. This would not be the last time Catherine Middleton would see the Royal Family.

Oh no. Not by a long shot.