Page 14 of The Anti-Cinderella

"There could be no doubt, " I assured my husband, cuddling my sweet baby boy close to me. "Your Granny adored you, and she knew you adored her right back."

Nicky nodded, but I knew that his loss and sadness would take a long time to process. That's as it should be. As our very wise Queen once said, "Grief is the price we pay for love."

We loved her so, and we will miss her for a long time.

Now we have a king, King Charles III. We don't know what Christmas will be like this year or in the future. Without the Queen presiding, linking all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, it's possible that the holidays will be streamlined to include only the King's children and grandchildren, perhaps his sister and brothers. Maybe we'll have to learn a new normal when it comes to December.

The Queen is dead. Long live the King.

But this year at least, His Majesty has invited all of us to come together one more time at Sandringham. Even though it's technically our year to celebrate with my family in the US, Nicky and I made the decision to stay in England. Traveling with a newborn would be a challenge, anyway, but we both want to be with everyone in Norfolk.

Alice asked me yesterday if all of the family would be sad and quiet at Christmas this year because we'll miss Gan-Gan so much. I told her that I didn't know, but that I was certain we'd all try our best to be merry, knowing it is what Her Majesty would want.

We're not sure exactly what to expect, but as I told my daughter, I'm sure of one thing: this Christmas will be one to remember, just as last year was. We will be together. And we will remember, even as we make new happy memories.

And in our hearts, those we've lost along the way will always be near.

Happy Christmas.