Captivated

Royals

Okay, just gonna throw it out there that you all really should have seen this chapter coming lol. Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I love the royals, so they had to make a cheeky little cameo. Enjoy, comment, and vote!
-ab

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May 23, 2025

Harper

"Harper, I don't want to freak you out or anything, but did anyone tell you who just entered the theatre?" Ava asks me, looking up from her phone as I'm securing my wig with a few more bobby pins.

"What?" I ask, looking up. "Ava, what are you talking about?"

"I'm not sure you want to know this one."

"Um... well, that's lovely," I giggle nervously. "I don't know if I would rather be nervous about a mystery guest or be anxious because I know who is watching me."

"So... should I tell you, or-"

"The suspense is going to kill me," I cut her off. "Just tell me."

"Prince Harry and Meghan Markle."

My eyes widen as I do a bit of a double take. "Like... the Duke and Duchess of Sussex?"

"Those would be they," Ava tells me.

"Oh god," I laugh. "Why did I let you tell me?"

"Don't freak out," Ava laughs. "I shouldn't have said anything, probably."

"You think," I roll my eyes. "Oh well, I'm not nervous now or anything."

"Just do the show like you always do."

"Is that good enough for the royals, though?"

"That's good enough for the casting directors, so it's good enough for the royals. They don't sing. They are just here to enjoy the show," Ava tries to assure me.

"Don't tell me you aren't nervous about this?"

"I'm trying to calm myself down just as much as I am you," Ava laughs. Just after that, we hear the tannoy crackling on.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your places for the top of the show. Five minutes until curtain."

Ava and I look at each other, taking a deep breath.

We make it through to the interval, and after the curtain closes on 'One Day More,' I immediately pull up my skirt and run back to the dressing room, in desperate need of a sip of water.

"Ava!" I exclaim. "I didn't screw up the high note in 'Heart Full Of Love' in front of the royals!"

I watch as my friend rolls her eyes while pulling the door to our dressing room shut. "It's not like you ever screw up your high notes, girlfriend."

"But if I was going to do it, my luck would be to do it in front of somebody really important like that."

"You're doing amazingly well," Ava assures me.

"Thanks," I smile. "You are too."

We both squeal, wrapping each other in a hug as we start to change into our costumes for the next act.

"Remember when they got married? I was like... sixteen, if I'm correct. I watched that entire wedding broadcast... like, my eyes were glued to the telly. It was all so magical to me."

"Oh my goodness, I remember it like it was yesterday," Ava agrees. "What a gorgeous wedding, hm?"

"I had dreams of having a wedding like that when I was younger, but money is a thing, so I'd suppose that's not really an option..."

"No, probably not," Ava giggles. "Patrick will make you happy, though, no matter what."

"God, I hope it's with Patrick, when it finally happens," I sigh. "When we met, and we fell in love, I realized that I no longer cared about what my wedding looked like... only that he was there. I stopped fantasizing about the guests, the dress, the flowers... only the man. A certain man with brown hair, big dark eyes, and the cutest little smile."

As I talk about my boyfriend, I feel happiness bubbling up inside of me. I know that Ava can tell, becuase she smiles and wraps her arm around me in a little side hug. "See, that kind of happiness is going to be what makes your wedding day so magical, not  the glitz and glamour."

I giggle and look at Ava. "I can't picture it any other way than with Patrick. I just don't think I'd be content with that, and I don't think he would be either."

"Then it's only a matter of time before you're the princess to his prince," she winks at me, squeezing my hand.

The two of us finish up the show together, then an announcement comes on, informing the entire cast that we are invited to say hi to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the stage.

"Well, what do you say? Should we go?" Ava asks me.

"Of course!" I exclaim, letting out a little giggle as I grab my phone to inform Patrick that I'll be back late, then sticking it into the pocket of my jeans.

"So, when's the big move for you and Patrick? I mean, I can't remember the last time that you actually slept at your own apartment..."

"Yeah, I don't think any of us can," I chuckle. "Just kidding, it was about a week ago, but we will be moving in together officially after Patrick graduates and Nessa finishes up her semester at university. She has a friend who is taking my place and wants to start with the July rent money... I think we are looking into a moving date of June 29, as Patrick graduates on the 28, and Nessa takes her last final on June 26."

"That's coming up pretty soon then."

"Not soon enough," I laugh, pushing open the door to the wings of the stage, where we see some of our cast mates standing in a little group, presumably with Prince Harry and Meghan in the middle.

Ava and I patiently wait our turn, and eventually get to speak to the prince and his wife.

"The show was amazing," Meghan tells us, giving each of us a hug.

"We are so impressed by all of you," Prince Harry nods.

"Thank you so much," Ava smiles.

"It's so amazing to meet you both," I chime in. "I've been so influenced by both of you since I was a teenager."

"Thank you," His Royal Highness replies.

We speak for a few more moments before the two move on to talk to other cast members. After a little bit, we all take a big cast picture with the happy couple, both for our promotional purposes and their own uses, as well.

After they thank us one more time, we all part, and Ava and I run to the dressing room to quickly grab our things before we have to hurry to get the tube. Thankfully, I manage to make it with the proper amount of time to get back to Patrick's flat before the train shuts down for the night. Ava will be able to get home, too.

"I can't believe that just happened," I laugh as we wait for the train.

"Me either," she replies. "That's definitely one of the craziest, but coolest, things that I've ever experienced, in my entire life."