Diana

"She's...beautiful."

Kate nodded sleepily. She lay quietly on the bed next to Will. "She's just...oh, God!"

Diana wasn't crying. "Why isn't she crying?"

"Dunno," said Kate, "I think she likes you."

Will grinned. She was beautiful. She had fortunately bypassed his nose and ears and hair, but had his eyes.

"They're my eyes."

"You've said this." Kate sat up. They sat there, on the bed, in silence, and Will reviewed the day.

First, his wife had gone into labour at the coronation, meaning that he was still only the King by ascension, rather than the crown, and Kate was still Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Then, the baby had come out feet first and he'd fainted with fear, only for the baby to be born with very few complications, and come out healthy as anything. And only a few hours later, they were allowed to leave for home! Well, new home. They'd moved to a new apartment when Diana was born, a bigger one. It had a double bed against the wall, with, Will noted happily, monogrammed pillows; a chest of drawers (inherited from the Queen); a television set into the wall opposite the bed; two bedside tables on either side of the bed (Will's had a lamp, a Ngaio Marsh and some chocolate. Kate's had a lamp, a copy of 'Parenting for the ridiculously rich', 'Post-Natal Depression- a guide' and some milk) and a cot.

Will looked at Kate, pale and tired, but very, very happy.

"Shall we put the news on?"

"Sure," said Kate, "But if it gets too embarrassing, switch straight over to Friends."

The news was all over it. "...And back to that breaking news. During the live, televised coronation of Their Majesties, Queen Catherine went into labour- let's have a look at the footage."

The screen cut to the Abbey footage. There was the Archbishop, following King William to the throne; then a scream from Kate, bloodcurdling and instinctive. King William began to run as the clerics on all sides crowded round her. Kate disappeared from view until an almighty bellow of 'Give her space!' from Will.

"I didn't know I was that loud!" he laughed.

"I didn't know I screamed," replied Kate grimly.

The footage went on, of Will gently rocking the crouching figure. Huw Edwards's commentary continued, improvised. "I don't know what's happened...I've just...just heard that...she's gone into labour. Her Majesty...has gone into labour. You can see His Majesty there, comforting her, talking to Prince Harry. We've got a lipreader here, who's saying that Prince Harry is saying something like 'Think of mum,' after His Majesty said 'What do I do?'. This is coming to us live."

The screen cut back to the newsreader turned to a woman in a blue suit. "Now, Helena Gershwin, what do you think of His Majesty bellowing at the clerics to-" He checked his notes, "ʻGive her space'?"

Will changed the channel. Diana began to shift. "I think she wants you," he said softly.

Kate took Diana and began to breastfeed her. The next news channel was American and had given the coronation its own theme tune and graphics card. "...If you've just joined us, the main headline tonight is that the Queen of England has gone into labour, and we are awaiting a press release from Buckingham Palace..."

Will gasped and jumped off the bed like it was boiling water. Diana gurgled. "What's wrong?" Kate said.

"I need to make a speech!" he exclaimed, wrenching the door open.

"No! Will! Come back!"

Will came back in. "What?"

"You're...only wearing pyjama bottoms."

Will looked down. "Oh yeah," he muttered. He went and sat on the bed. Just as he was about to get up and see what he had in the chest of drawers (some shirts, trousers and his stag-do gift from Harry- a dressing gown with a picture of Kate on it, with a wedding tea towel in the pocket), a servant came in, bowed hurriedly and said, "The Privy Secretary requests Her Majesty's appearance on television; she is to report to the studio at once." Kate stood up.

"Perhaps a detour to the wardrobe would be necessary," added the servant, eyes stalking up from the bare feet, past the old PJ-bottoms, and resting on Will's old Alton Towers T-shirt, that fitted him when he was 15- Kate was now 30.

"OK," said Will, "Can I come?"

"Do I look OK?" asked Kate again.

Again, Will lifted her chin with his finger and whispered softly, "You look perfect," and Kate smiled. She did look perfect- the dress was exactly the right shade of cream, and the pearl necklace matched beautifully. Her shiny hair was up in a neat bun, and she didn't look one bit like a tired new mother. Another servant came up to her, bowing at both of them. "Here is your speech, Your Majesty, it will also be on the autocue," he turned to Will, "You will stand here, Your Majesty," he motioned behind the large camera "And we start in two minutes. Your Majesty," he turned again to Kate, "Please take your seat."

Kate sat down in a very stiff chair. The studio was an official room with pictures of Will on the wall and papers neatly scattered to her right and behind.

Kate breathed, smiled, focused on the autocue and watched as the servant counted down to one.

"Good evening, Britain. As you all know, I was due to be crowned Queen today, along with my husband, the King. However, I went into labour a few days early. I was taken to St Mary's Hospital, where I gave birth to my daughter," she took a deep breath and braced herself, "Diana. Her full name is Diana Elizabeth Anne Rose. Elizabeth, after a wonderful Queen from whom we can take many excellent lessons. Anne, after a fine horsewoman, volunteer, and charitable soul. And Rose, because she is the most beautiful child any mother or father could ask for. And, of course, Diana, for a beautiful woman, a kind patron of many charities, but most of all, the King's mother."

Will's eyes filled with tears. He walked away, towards the nanny, carrying the almost silent Diana. "I'm going to go for a walk."

"No, your Majesty! The speech isn't over!"

Will just took Diana and sighed. "Tell her Majesty I'm where she'd expect me to be."

Will sat down on the edge of the fountain. The sky was grey and dark, and London was lit with an orange glow. "This is your grandmother's memorial fountain, Diana. She was called Diana, too. She was beautiful."

Diana looked up at him with her big brown eyes. He looked out to the sweep of the fountain, the water pooling in the middle where he sat, shoes by his side, bare feet swishing. "She was wonderful."

"Tell me about her," said a familiar voice. Kate sat down beside them and gave Will a You-Know-Kensington-Gardens-Was-A-Lovely-Gesture-And-Very-Poignant-But-You-Left-Me-In-The-Middle-Of-A-Speech look.

Will looked out to the trees. "She was a lovely woman. A great mother. When I was six, she hid all my birthday presents around the house. And she told Harry to lead me round saying if I was colder and hotter. When I was thirteen, she let me drink my first glass of champagne. I went to lunch with her a few weeks later and I famously asked for a glass of wine. She said to me, 'William, you know you do not drink alcohol'. And I replied 'You know, mummy, that I do'. And when I was seven, Harry was feeling sad because he'd just found out that he wouldn't be able to go to Ludgrove with me. So mama bought him the uniform and I showed him all my things, and explained that he'd go when he was seven, and I'd still be there to show him the ropes. When I was ten, she and dad started to fight, so I'd take Harry up to the playroom and cuddle him and tell him stories. And then I'd put him to bed and read him a story, then go to the bathroom door, where mama would have locked herself, and talk to her and tell her how everything was fine and she was still the Princess of Wales, and she'd come out and pretend she hadn't been crying, and I'd follow her to bed, and say at the door, 'Mama, I love you'. And when she..." he trailed off, but Kate nodded, "Grandma came into our room, Harry and I, and told us we were very brave, and admitted that she actually was rather fond of mama."

He broke down in tears.