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73.

I rang Granny on January 3.

We’re coming back to Britain, I said. We’d love to see you.

I told her explicitly that we hoped to discuss with her our plan to create a different working

arrangement.

She wasn’t pleased. Neither was she shocked. She knew how unhappy we were, she’d seen

this day on the horizon.

One good chat with my grandmother, I felt, would bring this ordeal to an end.

I said: Granny, are you free?

Yes, of course! I’m free all week. The diary is clear.

That’s great. Meg and I can come up for tea and then drive back to London. We have an

engagement at Canada House the next day.

You’ll be exhausted from the travel. Do you want to stay here?

By “here” she meant Sandringham. Yes, that would be easier, and I told her so.

That would be lovely, thank you.

Are you planning to see your father too?

I asked, but he said it’s impossible. He’s in Scotland and can’t leave until the end of the

month.

She made a little sound. A sigh or a knowing grunt. I had to laugh.

She said: I have only one thing to say about that.

Yes?

Your father always does what he wants to do.

Days later, January 5, as Meg and I boarded a flight in Vancouver, I got a frantic note from our

staff, who’d received a frantic note from the Bee. Granny wouldn’t be able to see me. Initially Her

Majesty thought this would be possible, it will not…The Duke of Sussex cannot come to Norfolk

tomorrow. Her Majesty will be able to arrange another mtg this month. No announcements about

anything shall be issued until such a meeting takes place.

I said to Meg: They’re blocking me from seeing my own grandmother.

When we landed I considered driving straight to Sandringham anyway. To hell with the Bee.

Who was he to try to block me? I imagined our car being stopped at the gate by Palace police. I

imagined smashing past security, the gate snapping across the bonnet. Diverting fantasy, and a fun

way to spend the trip from the airport, but no. I’d have to bide my time.

When we reached Frogmore I rang Granny again. I imagined the phone ringing on her desk. I

could actually hear it in my mind, brrrang, like the red phone in the VHR tent.

Troops in Contact!

Then I heard her voice.

Hello?

Hi, Granny, it’s Harry. Sorry, I must have misunderstood you the other day when you said you

didn’t have anything going on today.

Something came up that I wasn’t aware of.

Her voice was strange.

Can I pop in tomorrow then, Granny?

Um. Well. I’m busy all week.

At least, she added, that was what the Bee told her…

Is he in the room with you, Granny?

No answer.