The chapel at Balmoral was full. But not with unknown politicians or celebrities. This was to be a quiet clandestine affair, a family wedding, away from prying eyes and the paparazzi—though Penny was adamant about selling the pictures to the tabloids and donating all the money to Medica. She was also planning to do the same with her wedding gown. We’d decided to do it this way manly because we both didn’t want anything extravagant and couldn’t wait, but also because we didn’t want to overshadow William and Sophie’s huge upcoming wedding. But I still had to pinch myself that I was there, with my parents sitting stiffly in the front pew.

My meeting with them two months before had been unusually calm. I was expecting a fight and went in guns blazing. I had to admit I had been even more frightened of them being uncharacteristically reasonable as they listened to my demands, as I was when my father gave me the stare I had received so often as a boy. The damage was already done, I told them, I’d proposed and that was that.

But they still heard me out, and then told me regardless of my hasty action that they would consult with their advisors and get back to me. Perhaps I had William, and in turn Frederick for his influence, to thank for softening them up and making our parents at least consider my demands instead of issuing an automatic no.

I wondered who my father would consult for the conundrum I’d laid at his feet. I knew he had small groups of people—little think tanks—he deliberated with when important issues arose, but I hadn’t thought there would be one for: “wayward son demands to marry an American woman and lead a normal life doing what he wants”.

It would appear that I was wrong; the king truly did have assistance for every eventuality.

Later that same day, I returned to the hotel in the Strand that Penny was booked into, and took her out for afternoon tea with my sister, Charlotte. I knew if anyone would vouch for us, it would be her, and I was so glad when the two women, who were so very dear to me, got on like a house on fire. Within a week, they were out shopping together, and Lottie procured Penny an entire new wardrobe that would be suitable for a future princess.

I was finally called back to the palace a fortnight later. I was more nervous than I ever remembered being, and began to think that the delay meant no. During the wait, Penny and I distracted ourselves with each other, the city, then again with one another. Holing up in the discreet hotel, instead of Durham House, for fear of the paparazzi getting wind of our relationship before we were ready (or permitted) to announce it. As the days went by a part of me wanted to leak it to the press and force my father’s hand. But Penny persuaded me not to.

“Have a little faith,” she said before kissing me to distraction.

Of course she’d been right and our dreams were turned to reality. We’d been given my parents blessing.

I’d been unable to even say “thank you”; I was so flabbergasted when they actually said yes, that I could marry Penny and that I could pursue my career fully.

“Robert, my boy,” my father said glancing to my mother for a second. “I know I have been tough on you, but you do know it is because I love you, don’t you?”

I nodded, and he stepped forward on rickety legs to take hold of my shoulders. I followed the gesture up with a brief hug. It meant the world to me those words and I was adamant that I wouldn’t let either of them down.

Now I stood at the altar, waiting anxiously for my bride to arrive. I know it was traditional that she could be late, but with each passing moment the army of bats warring in my stomach were itching to get out.

“Do you think I have time to nip to the toilet?” I asked William, my best man. He chuckled and shook his head.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be here,” William reassured me as he patted me on the back. I often wondered how he dealt so easily with all the attention, and the pressure of being a future king. I didn’t envy him his position one bit, but my brother had always been my very best friend, and I was honoured he had agreed to stand up beside me. Though I wished Frederick could’ve been there too.

Mark Latimer, my ex-army buddy, winked at me as he rushed up the aisle to take his seat, his ushering duties completed. That could only mean one thing, I thought; she was finally here and on her way!

The organ began to sound, and I turned to look down the aisle.

My sisters emerged first and then… my mouth went dry.

A shimmering beauty in white lace stood at the end, her proud mom by her side. They walked slowly towards me, but Penny was so covered up I wasn’t even sure it was her inside the vast wedding dress and full train, and then Angel appeared from behind to lift the veil. She smiled at me warmly and stepped back, having also taken Penny’s bouquet from her hands.

Penny looked up at me, her big, vivid green eyes luminous in the softly lit ancient chapel. She looked more beautiful than ever, and I beamed at her as her mom put her hand in mine. She had tiny flowers in her long strawberry blonde hair, which had been artfully pinned into gentle waves and twists.

I barely remembered a thing after that; I became lost in wonder at the sight of her, and the thought that this stunning creature would be mine to have and to hold forever. But I knew we said our vows and the minister turned to me and said that I could kiss my bride.

I took her in my arms, and almost forgetting where we were, I kissed her as if nobody was watching, jumping back in astonishment when a round of applause erupted behind us. I looked at Penny and we grinned at each other awkwardly.

“Easy there, tiger. Got to leave something to the imagination,” Penny said, giggling after the kiss.

We turned, and I saw a soft smile on my father’s face. It was an expression that few people outside of the family ever saw, and I knew it made Penny’s heart soar. I could see it all over her face. She lit up, like a Christmas tree, from within. I must admit, it made me feel happy and proud too that I hadn’t let my parents down, that they did in fact approve of me and my choices at last.

My mother was cheering, albeit politely, and my sister’s were on either side of Penny’s mom, and was offering her, at the very same time, their handkerchiefs to wipe her happy tears away.

“It’s almost exactly like I dreamed it would be!” Penny whispered.

“What’s missing?” I asked, intrigued. I had never had Penny pegged as the romantic type to have fantasised about her wedding day. She was so practical and brilliant in a crisis. Not that those traits should ever mean that she wasn’t entitled to be a little soppy if she choose.

“Well, in the dream I had on the plane when we came back here to face your family, we got married in a cathedral, but this is so much nicer. Just the people we love, and who love us most in the entire world, in this old romantic place.”

I put my arm around her and pulled her to me.

“So, what happened after the ceremony in your dream?” I asked curiously.

“I have no idea, I woke up when the priest said you may kiss the bride, and there you were kissing me in reality. And what a kiss that was,” she sighed happily.

“Well, I certainly intend to do a lot of that,” I admitted. “Now, how long do you think we need to stay at the reception before it is polite to sneak off and be alone?”

“About four hours I believe,” my mother said with a knowing grin as she walked up the aisle to be the first to greet us as a married couple. “Welcome to the family, my dear,” she said to Penny as she kissed her gently on the cheek. “Now, Robert. You make sure that you look after your wife properly out there in that camp,” she said to me as she put forward her cheek for me to kiss.

“I will, I promise.” I assured her.

My Grandfather and grandmother, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were next, but their words were short, perhaps even censored. But they kissed Penny on both cheeks, shook my hand and then took their leave. My father was already escorting my mother to the small waiting crowd outside. The four of them walked in stately splendour through the church, and we followed, William and Sophie gesturing for us to go before them.

And hand in hand we did, as we would walk through life from this day forth.

Penny turned her face up towards mine “Robert, erm…” she whispered as we walked into the bright Scottish sunshine.

“What, my darling wife?”

“Well, about what Her Royal Highness said—”

“You mean my mother?”

“Yes… it’s just that I might not be able to go back to Chad just yet, after all…”

I tried to figure out the meaning of her words by the look on her face, but she was carefully maintaining the smile she’d been keeping ever since we had announced our engagement. Media training was tedious, but it worked and her Cheshire cat grin was proof of it.

“Why ever not?” I asked stupidly, then I glanced at her again, her glowing skin, the twinkle in her eye and knew exactly what she was hinting at. “Oh, my God! I’m going to be a dad?” I said, my face falling into a look of complete surprise, my stomach doing somersaults.

“Smile you gorgeous fool… let’s pray your sisters didn’t catch that face or our secret will be out before we have a chance to have it confirmed and tell our parents,” she teased me.

“You mean you think you are pregnant again?”

“Shh!” she laughed. “But yes, it would seem we make a potent combination. I’m late and I’m ninety-nine percent certain that I have a royal bun in my oven; but we need to check it out!”

Abandoning protocol completely, I picked her up and whirled her around in delight.

“Oh, Penny, that is wonderful! You’ve made me the happiest prince alive!”

* * *

We were due to fly to Mustique, a private island in the Caribbean, the next morning for our honeymoon, but I insisted that we go to our family physician and get Penny checked over before we did. I didn’t want her flying unless we had the nod.

She emerged from her examination with a huge grin all over her gorgeous face.

“So are we?” I asked excitedly. She nodded, clearly lost for words.

“It’s early days, eight weeks along, so hopefully the press won’t do any involved arithmetic and simply believe your little prince or princess is nothing more than a honeymoon baby. There’s also no reason to think that Penny should have any problems with this pregnancy, but we’ll monitor her closely,” said Dr Peebles as he followed behind her. He had been my family’s physician for almost forty years and I trusted his judgement.

“Is it okay for her to fly?” I asked, prepared to wrap her up in cotton wool and bubble-wrap if needs be.

“Yes, that will be fine. Enjoy your honeymoon both of you. Now get out of my office and go and have some fun,” he encouraged us.

Penny still hadn’t said a word as we pulled into the airport.

“Is this all really happening?” she finally said, her voice disbelieving and breathy. “I mean, as a little girl you dream of marrying the handsome prince, and having a baby, and living happily ever after in a castle, but it doesn’t ever actually happen!”

“Well, us handsome princes need love too, so why not?”

She grinned and stroked my cheek. I kissed her on the forehead.

“We don’t pick just anyone, you know? Our princesses need to have good hearts, be brave and true, care about others, and be generous and tough.”

“I’m not sure I can do all of that!”

“I know you can. I’ve seen you do it,” I said seriously. “And you are going to need to be it all over again!”

“Why, what on earth have you done now that I don’t know about?” she said with a sigh, clearly preparing for the worst, though she was smiling.

“Well, if you are going to have my baby, we might need to rethink our plans a little. We need to find Angel two brilliant doctors to replace us in Chad, because I have no intention of ever leaving your side again; and we need to work out what our next dream is.”

“Well, you still have time to apply for that consultant position,” she said seriously. “Maybe I could offer my skills to some of the charities in London, I mean, do you want to live in London?”

“I’d prefer to live somewhere a little quieter and I have an idea that you will too after staying in the madness that is Durham house. I could work at the Royal Infirmary maybe, and you, well, the world is your oyster. If you want to get back into medicine, I will back you all the way.”

“A place in the country would be nice, but we will visit my mom a lot too, right?” she asked.

“Of course, and she can come and stay whenever she likes.”

Her grip tightened on my arm, a look of inspiration lightening up her eyes.

“Do you think I could maybe run a UK arm of Medica here?” she said. “I’d hate to abandon Angel and Amy, and Shane and everyone completely.”

“I think that would be perfect, and you know you’d have mother’s backing for it too. And I will be more than happy to blatantly use all my contacts and my family name to help make it a success!” I pulled her to me, kissed her soundly, and placed a hand over where our baby was growing. “But whatever we do, you two are my dream now.”

Life was going to be perfect, and we would be free to choose whatever we wanted to do. My father had given his word… as long as I never did anything to embarrass him ever again!

I would try my best, but it seemed I may already have broken that promise a little as I stroked my wife’s belly and dreamed about the child we would have in our arms before we knew it.

I could honestly say, with my wife in my arms and a new life on the way, I had never been happier to be Robert Rothchester in my life.