Wartime Princess (7 page)

 

 

Mummy and Papa held a dance here at the castle and as I'm nearly eleven, I was allowed to go!

We put on a concert the day before to raise money to buy wool. Lilibet and I were both in it and I absolutely adored it. We sang and danced, and did our French duets, which some people said was very clever. We played the piano. We bowed and were applauded. At the very end, we did Mr Churchill's ‘V' for victory sign. That made everybody cheer!

What the audience didn't know (but I told them afterwards) was that Lilibet and I helped design and paint the scenery. That was fun! I've only ever painted on paper before with small brushes, but this time we used huge brushes to paint big areas. I got in such a mess. It was glorious.

The dance was ace, as Ruby says, because there was a wonderful band, led by a man called Jack Jackson. They played all the latest tunes as well as what they call ‘old favourites', and kept going for hours and hours.

So did I! I stayed right to the very end. Mummy kept suggesting it was time to go upstairs, but I begged her to let me stay. I danced with Papa, and with Mr Tanner, the headmaster of the Royal School in Windsor, and Papa's secretary and equerry, and with all sorts of people I didn't even know! It was all so jolly. Lilibet danced practically every dance, and we all ended up doing the conga, which Papa started!

I wonder if Lilibet wished she was dancing with Philip. I bet she did! Dare I ask her?

 

 

We had a lovely cycle ride through the Great Park with Crawfie, and a huge picnic back in the Home Park. It's odd to see anti-aircraft guns so close by. I said, ‘I hope they don't blow a chunk off the castle,' and Crawfie told me that the guns have been specially fixed so they can't fire that low. That's a relief!

People waved to us, but they didn't come over. Crawfie said that was very considerate.

While we were eating, Crawfie asked why I kept fidgeting.

‘I don't know,' I said, and I didn't. But later, I realised I was fidgety because I felt uneasy. There we were, surrounded by acres of land and hundreds of trees. There could have been a spy behind any one of them, waiting for a chance to kidnap the heir to the British throne. I didn't say, of course, because I wouldn't worry Lilibet for anything. But I kept my eyes peeled.

When I mentioned that there aren't as many deer around as there used to be, Lilibet said, ‘They had to use them because of the evacuees – all those extra mouths to feed.'

How awful. Those beautiful deer. Lilibet said the evacuees must eat something, and if we had food they could use, then we should let them have it.

‘I bet they don't eat deer in London, out of newspaper.'

Lilibet became all big sister-ish then, and said, ‘Margaret Rose! Don't be unkind. Think yourself lucky that we've everything we need, while most people have to do without.'

I could do without being told off for nothing. She's fifteen, not a grown-up.

 

 

Mummy and Papa have come up to Balmoral as often as possible, and we've been having a lovely summer with Crawfie and Allah and everyone. We feel safe here, though I never forget there could be a Nazi hiding behind every pine tree. Well, not really, they'd have to find trees with thicker trunks. But when we're out riding, I'm suspicious every time I see a stag. I keep wondering, is it a stag? Or a pair of antlers tied on top of a German head?

I know all the grown-ups were taught to shoot, but Crawfie doesn't carry a gun, and nor do the men who ride out with us. Not that I can see, anyway.

 

 

Crawfie has had the most wonderful idea. She thinks we could put on a pantomime, for people to watch, and pay money!

‘What a wizard idea!' I said.

‘Margaret,' said Lilibet, ‘don't use slang.'

She's so proper. But even she was excited. ‘When could we begin, Crawfie?' she asked.

‘Slow down,' said Crawfie, laughing. ‘I must ask the King and Queen first.'

‘Oh, they'll say yes, I'm sure,' cried Lilibet. ‘Especially as it's for a good cause.'

‘Then, with luck,' said Crawfie, ‘when we get back to Windsor…'

‘Hooray!' we cheered.

 

 

It's rather chilly at the moment – we're in kilts and thick jumpers most of the time.

Lilibet twitches every time the telephone rings. I know why! It's because Philip is in London visiting Greek relations. The Greek king is living in a hotel, and Philip's staying at a house in Chester Street that belongs to Uncle Dickie, who is actually Philip's own uncle!

Uncle Dickie's real name is Louis, and he's the son of Prince Louis of Battenberg. Papa gets on well with him. Mummy is always lovely to him, because she's lovely to everyone, but I don't think he's her favourite relation. Not at all.

 

 

I'm sure Lilibet would pine away if we let her. Philip has telephoned but she hasn't seen him yet, even though we're back home. He's met Granny, and she wrote to Papa and Mummy that he's a very bright young man. She doesn't say that about everyone!

Papa told Lilibet what Granny had said, and she went pink and smiled that enormous smile she gives when she's really happy. She must have a huge crush on Philip.

 

 

The pantomime's under way and some of the cast have been chosen. Lilibet and I will have the main parts, of course. (Crawfie said there's no ‘of course' about it, but that didn't make any difference.)

Philip has been visiting our uncle and aunt at their home, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. Uncle George and Aunt Marina have a boy called Edward, and a dear little girl called Alexandra. She'll be five on Christmas Day, and she's so sweet. Everybody loves her. Edward and Alexandra are our cousins, and I suppose they're also Philip's cousins, because he is cousin to Aunt Marina, who is a princess of Greece. We royal families are so complicated!

Papa just sent a message that we are to go to Buckingham Palace in a day or two. We haven't been for ages. Lilibet's excited, I can tell, and that's not like her at all. She loves the country more than town. She's always wanted a nice country house with lots of horses, dogs and children. Now she's itching to get back to London.

‘The trees will be turning red, yellow and gold,' she said. ‘London's so beautiful at this time of year. It will be lovely to see it.'

I know what she's hoping. And I hope we'll see Philip, too.

Gosh! I think she's already sorting out the things she's taking with her!

 

 

Philip was a guest at lunch today. Goodness, that young man eats well! Perhaps the food on board ship isn't very nice, so he's making up for it. He entertained Papa with tales of life at sea afterwards. Of course, Papa knows all about that, because he's been in the navy, too.

Afterwards, Lilibet, Philip and I went for a walk in the gardens. I don't think Lilibet took much notice of the lovely autumn leaves!

As we sat by the lake, Philip said, ‘You'll be queen, one day, Elizabeth. Do you have time to do the sort of things you like, or are you always studying and learning about what you're going to have to do?'

‘I do have to study different things from Margaret,' said Lilibet, ‘but I still have time to myself. And I learn an awful lot just by watching the King and Queen.'

Philip nodded. ‘Yes, they're jolly good sorts, aren't they?'

‘I'll say!' I said, flicking bits of twig into the water. ‘Britain's very lucky to have them.'

‘And they're very lucky to have Britain,' said Lilibet.

I don't know why, but when she says that sort of thing, I feel she's putting me in my place. I told Crawfie that once, and she said, ‘No, dear, she's not. Lilibet is simply extremely serious about these things.'

Duty again, I suppose.

Anyway, we had a smashing afternoon, and we'd all worked up a huge appetite by tea time!

Mummy told Philip about the pantomime we're going to put on at Windsor. It's to raise money, of course, but we'll invite troops to watch, and Lilibet thinks they shouldn't have to pay, as they're giving so much to their country already. She said to Philip. ‘If you're in England at Christmas time, perhaps you'd…'

‘Come and see the two jolliest girls in Windsor doing their stuff on the stage?' he said, grinning. ‘If I could, I would.'

That wasn't quite the answer Lilibet wanted, I could see, so I said, ‘Oh do! I'm Cinderella and Elizabeth is Prince Charming.' Then I had a bright idea. ‘Philip,' I said, ‘wouldn't it be a good idea if you were to teach her how to be a charming prince?'

Everyone burst out laughing, which wasn't what I'd expected. But I did see Lilibet turn bright pink. Serves her right for laughing at me.

 

 

Things are getting dreadfully serious; the country must be short of soldiers. Women aged between twenty and thirty are being called up to serve in the war. They don't have to be soldiers or sailors. They can join other things, like the fire brigade, or the police. And girls aged sixteen and over are having to register their names. I suppose that's so the government will know when they're twenty.

Golly, do they really think the war will last that long? How gloomy. And I feel even gloomier when I realise that my sister will be sixteen next birthday.

Oh, come on, Margaret! (That's me giving myself a good shake.) They'd never put the future queen in the army, would they?

I'm off to rehearsal now. Look out, everyone, here comes Cinders!

 

 

Rehearsal was such fun! We don't have costumes yet, and that's what makes it all so silly that we kept collapsing with laughter. Princess Elizabeth, in a sensible skirt and jumper and her comfy brown shoes, strutting about the stage pretending to be a prince! I love doing my part, sweeping and dusting, and crying when my ugly sisters are beastly to me.

We're doing it in the huge Waterloo Chamber, which will soon have a stage. There'll be wonderful costumes, but they're being hired, so we haven't seen them yet. I can't wait. I adore dressing up.

Mr Tanner, the local schoolmaster, brings some of his schoolchildren, and they'll all be in the pantomime with us. Most of them came today. They were terribly shy at first, and so were we. Well, I wasn't actually, but Lilibet hung back, so I thought I should. Whenever we're in public, it's always useful to watch her to see what to do. She never does it wrong.

Mummy went to speak to the children, and Lilibet followed, so I did, too. Once they got used to us, and to being in the castle, we were soon all laughing and chatting. I loved being with them. Some of them asked me questions, and I asked them questions, too, about their school, and the games they play. They've learned all their lines, but so have we.

Papa refused to let us have one of the carriages indoors, but we've found a spiffing replacement to take me to the ball. It's Queen Anne's sedan chair! And we're going to fill the empty picture frames with pantomime posters, to brighten the room. An evacuee called Claude is painting them on rolls of wallpaper. I can't wait to see them!

 

 

Nobody's enthusiastic about rehearsals today, even though it's not long till our first performance. Everybody's glued to the news.

The American navy had a fleet of ships in a place called Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, in the Pacific Ocean. Two days ago, over three hundred Japanese planes bombed and torpedoed the ships. ‘Sitting ducks, poor souls,' is how one of the maids described it. Thousands of sailors were killed and over a thousand more wounded.

Just when I begin to feel there's hope the war might end, this happens. It's too awful. Lilibet said, ‘Imagine, Margaret, thousands of families are mourning their loved ones.'

And just before Christmas. It couldn't be more beastly.

 

 

One good thing (for us) has come out of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Americans have joined the war – on our side, of course. We are allies.

 

 

Our costumes are gorgeous! I have a powdered wig, except it's not actually powdered – it just looks as if it is. My final dress is a perfectly beautiful embroidered gown with lace flounces on the sleeves, and pink roses, and I have pretend jewels and a fan.

Lilibet looks super. She has a satin jacket that comes to the top of her legs, and shiny breeches that just cover her knees. Then there are long, tight boots up to her knees.

We're having a chorus of Grenadier Guards, and their bandsmen will be our orchestra. What fun to do things together! How talented we all are!

 

 

The bright Lilibet smile looks as if it's stuck on her face with spirit gum, because Philip is coming to the pantomime. He said that our invitation was a royal command, so he had no choice. I thought that was a bit insulting, but Lilibet said it was a joke.

‘He has such a jolly sense of humour, Margaret. You mustn't be offended. He doesn't mean to be rude; it's just the way his jokes come out.'

‘He'd better be careful how he tells his jokes in front of the rest of the family,' I said.

 

 

I felt too sick to get up this morning, but I had to. Mummy said it's nerves. It's dress-rehearsal day, and lots of the household and some elderly people from the village are coming to watch.

‘Suppose I forget my lines?' I groaned.

‘Don't worry, Margaret,' said Lilibet. ‘If you did, I'd whisper to you.'

‘What if you're not on stage?' I wailed.

‘Then I'll hiss from behind the scenery,' she said. ‘If you forget, move to the back, and I'll be there.'

She will, too.