16 September 2013
The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Adeline to Simon FitzClarence, the Earl of Munster.
The wedding will take place in the Spring or Summer of 2014 at St George's Chapel in Windsor. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.
Her Royal Highness and the Earl of Munster became engaged in August during a private holiday to the Earl's estate up in Scotland over the summer. The Earl of Munster sought and received the blessing of The Prince of Wales.
Clarence House
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Taking a deep breath as he fixed the collar of his shirt, Simon couldn't quite believe that they were in this situation; the news of his engagement to Adeline had been announced only an hour ago and now it seemed to cover every major news channel in the country.
There was no escaping the talk surrounding their coming nuptials; everyone seemed to have something to say about the news that Adeline was to marry.
"How are we doing in here?" Adeline asked stepping into the bedroom that she had once called her own, it was strange to be back here after everything especially since she had returned to Clarence House for her engagement press call.
The announcement had been given at 11am that morning, with members of the press gathering outside in the family gardens for their photocall and later that afternoon they would give their engagement interview.
"Nearly ready," Simon said peeking at Adeline, it was going to be a long day and he knew that the engagement photos that they'd had taken over the weekend would be released soon enough.
It was different and less formal from the picture that William and Catherine had shared upon their engagement, taken in the fields of Simon's country home by the Duchess of Cambridge who had been thrilled when they had asked.
It pictured the couple staring at one another, the day had been perfect for the taking of the picture and a nice break away from the city while they had the chance to still do so.
The news of their engagement had been well received by many, his mother insisting on throwing the couple an engagement party to celebrate; it had been a long time since they'd had the chance to celebrate anything really.
Adeline moved to help with Simon's tie, it matched the colour of her outfit perfectly and Simon couldn't deny how beautiful she looked in this colour.
"Are you nervous?" Simon asked as Adeline smoothed out his suit, he didn't know what to expect especially since the last time that the royal family had done this it was for William and Catherine.
Everything that they had done was more formally than it was for them, more expected of them as William was going to be King one day; whereas Adeline was never going to be.
It would take a massive accident taking out her father, oldest brother, nephew and elder brother to make that ever happen, something that Adeline nor Simon would never wish for.
"A little," Adeline admitted not exactly looking forward to speak to the press, she knew that only a select few had been called to gather in the gardens; the pictures of the newly engaged couple were expected during the photocall.
It was a short appearance, one that required little from them other than smiling; they would be officially interviewed by Tom Bradby, who had interviewed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge upon their engagement.
"I'm glad it's not just me," Simon admitted peering towards the BBC coverage of the engagement, they had been going none stop since it had come out and Simon was surprised that they didn't seem to run out of information to talk about.
It didn't matter what channel he put on it seemed, people were discussing the engagement of Diana's only daughter, on what the wedding might look like, if a title would be granted and other details that hadn't even been decided yet.
All anyone knew was that they would be wed at St George's Chapel in Windsor, like many other minor royals had been in the past few years.
For the most part everyone seemed pleased with the news, especially the idea that a mixed race man was marrying into the white royal family; saying that it was nice to see the royal family becoming more modern.
"My apologises but they're ready for you both," Edward Fox stated popping his head into the room, he smiled at the couple knowing that he would be with them until after the wedding at the very least.
Adeline and Simon looked at each other, they couldn't keep the world waiting forever.
Taking each other's hand, the couple made their way out of the bedroom and downstairs to the gardens where the world was waiting to greet the happy couple and celebrate their love with them.
***
Buckingham Palace
Watching the images of Simon and Adeline together in front of the press, Queen Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at how happy her granddaughter looked.
She had already expressed her congratulations and other than some more formal acknowledgements, she was more than happy to let Adeline plan her wedding as she wanted it.
This was her wedding, she had no expectations placed upon her like her brother had; nor was it to be a state affair because Adeline would never be the monarch and it wouldn't be a bank holiday.
"They look happy," Prince Philip noted from his place on the couch, a cup of tea in his hands as he watched the unfolding event before them and thinking of their own engagement announcement.
They'd been married for sixty-six years that year, it was hard to believe that it had been so long sometimes; his life flying by without any sign of slowing down.
His health had been deteriorating in recent years, a heart condition presenting itself in 2011 had given him quite a bit of a scare and it had taken him quite a bit of time to recover.
Prince Philip had mentioned when he had turned 79 that he had no intentions of becoming a centenarian, he could not imagine anything worse and had no desire for it when even going on to say that 'bits of him are falling off already'.
"They'll expect a grand event, they'll want nothing less for Diana's daughter," Prince Philip noted, it was almost like Adeline had no identity outside of that sometimes with the press and the cult of Diana.
Forever stuck as that ten year old little girl in many people's minds, despite the fact that she was now twenty-six years old and getting married in the near future.
Queen Elizabeth nodded her head, she would expect no less especially given that Adeline was the only daughter of a future King; there was much to be decided on that matter in fact.
"Adeline shall have the wedding that she desires, we shall make that happen at the very least," Queen Elizabeth stated firmly, she would not have anyone else make decisions especially when she knew that Adeline already had ideas of what she wanted her wedding day to look like.
Not that the Queen didn't have some ideas of her own, things that she could do to make the day a little more special and memorable for the couple.
***
Nottingham Cottage
Rubbing his nose and sniffing, Harry glared at the television as it played the scenes that had taken place that afternoon; a frown set upon his face unable to believe that Adeline had done this to him.
As the older brother he should have married next after William, it should have been him that the people were celebrating this way with his beautiful girlfriend on his arm.
It wasn't his fault that Chelsy had said no when he'd popped the question, the engagement ring stuffed in the back of his closet never to see the light of day again.
They'd wanted different things, she'd said. It was impossible to deal with the press, she said. You're not the person that I fell in love with, she said.
Harry scoffed and grabbed the glass off the table, knocking back the amber liquid that remained before pouring himself another drink.
Simon wasn't meant have lasted, Harry had been sure that he'd ducked out before all of this and cower away after the press found out that he and Adeline were together.
Instead the couple had gone further underground, keeping their heads down and not engaging with the press that hounded their every step; lawyers interceding when the press got too close for comfort but nothing else was said.
Grinding his teeth together, Harry couldn't quite wrap his head around all of this; it should have been him marrying next, he didn't understand why none of the girls that he was with wanted a future with him.
Even Cressida seemed reluctant to talk about their future, dodging his questions and insisting that they could talk about it another time.
The glass in his hand shattered by how tight he was holding it, his eyes focused on the happy smiling faces of his sister and Simon.