Finding a prince. That’s the dream. Someone to slay the dragon, climb the tower and whisk the princess away from reality. They’re hard to find, and even harder to catch- sort of like leprechauns.
I’ve been lucky enough to find two princes in my lifetime. One, my husband (no, he’s not paying me to write that), the other, Prince Charles.
Prince Charles and I never had a love-love relationship. I was always more partial to his brother Andrew, the handsome helicopter pilot; and eventually Prince William-but only in his twenties.
My grandparents (on both sides) were royal watchers. They used to joke that I could marry one of the queen’s grandsons. Sadly, I never made it to London, when I was single, to hunt one down.
My grandpa took me down to the legislature when I was five or six to see Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth when they sailed to town on the Royal Yacht Britannia. It was pouring with rain and we couldn’t see much, but we did get close to the ship.
Now, twenty-seven years later, it was important to introduce my children to the tradition of royal watching. Little did I know on our inaugural trip, they would bear witness to one of the top five moments of my life.
Prince Charles shook my hand and spoke to me.
I didn’t think he saw me lurking behind the man and woman in the front row. Honestly, I’d experienced more than I ever thought I would after scoring poll-position with the motorcade. But a second glance before he walked away, was all it took for our worlds to collide.
“Oh and there’s a little one,” he said. ”How is she?” At least I think he called my wee daughter a “she” as he extended his hand.
“Good, good. She’s twelve weeks old,” I answered, taking his hand and twisting so he could fully see Miss S. To her credit, Miss S peered at him.
“Is she your first born?”
“No, my first born is right here.” I turned to point to Miss Q, hanging out on her daddy’s shoulders.
“And is she taking to her sister?”
“Um, yes, slowly.” With a grin.
He chuckled and continued working the line.
Clearly the deepest conversation he’s had, and surely the most memorable.
Yes, tonight I found a prince. For one moment I caught him and he whisked me from reality. But like Cinderella losing her glass slipper, the motorcade pulled away, the rain began to fall, Miss S started to cry, I was snapped back to reality.
