Murder Most Royal

I’m lost without him and the only thing that helps is to talk to other people who knew him and understand. As someone who knew him from childhood, I’m sure Your Majesty must feel the same way too.

With great fondness, and wishing you a happy 2017,

Your obedient servant,

‘How astonishing,’ the Queen said.

‘So that’s why the police weren’t unduly worried. They must have known.’

‘Lying low. I can’t say I blame her,’ Lady Caroline said. ‘All that press attention would be awful. Even so, she’s quite bold, isn’t she? Shall I do the usual? “Her Majesty would like me to thank you for your letter .

‘Yes. And do say, again, how sorry we are. I think that should be enough.’

But the letter became a topic of conversation again over a game of charades in the saloon after dinner. Lady Caroline had joined the family and guests, who by now included the young princesses and an eclectic assortment of old friends. While everyone was working on the film, book and TV titles to put in the hat, Lady Caroline turned to the Queen and said, ‘The cheek of that girl! Astrid Westover.

Lady Caroline had a loud voice, honed on many a lacrosse pitch in her youth, and everyone’s ears pricked up.

‘Ooh! Astrid? Who was marrying Ned St Cyr?’ Beatrice asked. ‘What did she say?’

‘She made it very clear,’ Lady Caroline suggested, ‘that she would like to visit Sandringham. Didn’t she, ma’am?’

‘Yes, she did, rather.’

‘I’ve never seen so many hints. I half expected her to say she was popping over in the morning for a chat.

‘Oh, can we invite her?’ Eugenie asked. ‘She might know something about what happened.’

‘What a gruesome subject,’ the Queen said. ‘Especially for someone so close to Ned.’

‘I should think she just wants a decent recce round the house and a chance to see us all doing the jigsaw,’ Philip observed, with great perspicacity, in the Queen’s opinion, especially given the chief constable’s recent visit.

‘You could always ask her and see,’ Beatrice suggested.

‘I must admit,’ Lady Caroline said, ‘I’d love to see if she’s as forward in person as she is on paper.

‘I’m not sure it’s a trait I want to reward.’

‘You have to give her brownie points for chutzpah,’ Philip conceded.

The Queen intended to remain firm. She did not invite people to join the family just because they had expressed an interest in doing so. If she did, she would need a place the size of several Wembley Stadiums. However, she was an indulgent grandmother.