Page 100 of Traitors Gate

‘The Irish State Carriage,’ continued Dimbleby as the royal couple clip-clopped down the Mall towards Horse Guards, ‘is accompanied by a mounted guard from a division of the Household Cavalry, who will escort the monarch to the Palace of Westminster.’

As William hadn’t written a single note on his pad, he was beginning to wonder if …

The only thing Miles wondered was when Warwick would be called for and summarily dismissed. He would like to have been a fly on the wall at that particular meeting, but you can’t have everything. He continued to watch the ceremony while Tulip fetched him another coffee.

Booth Watson poured himself a double gin, a little early perhaps, but then it was going to be a long day. He watched as the State Coach entered Parliament Square, and the Union Flag on the Queen’s Tower was lowered, to be replaced by the Royal Standard, which fluttered in the breeze. The carriage came to a halt outside the Sovereign’s Entrance as a guard of honour presented arms and the Band of the Grenadier Guards played the national anthem.

‘Her Majesty is never late,’ remarked Dimbleby as Big Ben struck the quarter hour.

The Queen stepped out of the carriage to be met by the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquess of Cholmondeley and Black Rod, who bowed before four royal ushers accompanied Her Majesty into the building, where she disappeared out of sight.

‘At eleven twenty-seven,’ declared Dimbleby with the confidence of history, ‘the Queen will progress from the RobingRoom on the first floor to the chamber, where she will deliver her speech to both Houses.’

‘She’ll have worked it out by then,’ said Miles, ‘even if Warwick hasn’t.’

Tulip was puzzled, but knew when to remain silent.

Her Majesty entered the Robing Room at 11.19 a.m. and disappeared behind two red screens to find her dresser awaiting her. Mrs Kelly curtsied and stepped forward to help Her Majesty on with the heavy red and gold robe of state. When the dresser had completed her task, the Queen double-checked her image in a long mirror, made a tiny adjustment and nodded. The sign for Mrs Kelly to pull open the red screens where the Lord Chamberlain would be waiting dutifully, holding a plush red cushion on which rested a crown.

When the Queen picked up the crown, a flicker of surprise appeared on her face, but she didn’t comment. She placed the crown on her head and adjusted it until it was comfortable. She then joined the long procession line and took the arm of her liege, but not master.

The state trumpeters announced the arrival of the royal party, and the procession set off at an orderly pace, making its way slowly through the Royal Gallery and across the Prince’s Chamber before finally entering the Upper Chamber. Their Lordships rose as one to greet their monarch and remained standing until she had climbed the three steps and taken her place on the throne. Prince Philip took the seat on her right, while Field Marshal Lord Bramall stood a step below on her left, bearing the Sword of State, to remind all those present of her authority as sovereign. Miles smiled. At least that was the real thing.

Their Lordships, wearing long red robes trimmed with white ermine, resumed their places on the red leatherbenches. The Lord Chancellor stepped forward, bowed and handed the Queen her speech, before retreating backwards.

The Queen opened the folder of a speech she was acquainted with, as she’d read it twice the previous evening in the privacy of her study.

She looked up to see the Law Lords perched around the Woolsack in front of her, the bishops in ecclesiastical dress seated in their reverend places, while the remainder of the red benches were filled with the ancient and the modern, from the hereditary fifteenth Duke of Hamilton to a recently ennobled life peer from Weston-super-Mare. Her gaze moved on to the bar of the House at the far end of the chamber and settled on Tony Blair, her tenth Prime Minister, who was standing next to the Leader of the Opposition, John Major, who looked as if he hadn’t been invited to this party.

The Queen put on her glasses and looked down at the first sentence of the speech.

‘My Lords and members of the House of Commons, my government intends to govern for the benefit of the whole nation. The education of young people will be my government’s first priority.’

Miles looked closely at the Queen and assumed by now she must know the truth, and possibly they were still the only two who did. However, others would have to share their secret before darkness fell, including Commander Hawksby and Chief Superintendent Warwick, who surely would have both resigned before the day was out.

‘… other measures will be laid before you. My Lords and members of the Commons, I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your councils.’

The Queen closed the red folder that bore her crest and the Lord Chancellor stepped forward to retrieve it. Whenshe rose from the throne and took the arm of her consort, their Lordships stood again and remained standing until the royal party had left the chamber and processed back to the Robing Room.

Only a select few witnessed the shedding of the royal robes along with the nation’s treasures. The Sword of State was laid to rest in its box before being locked up for another year. The Lord Chamberlain hovered in front of the Queen as she lifted the crown from her head and placed it gently back onto its royal cushion. He was taken by surprise when the Queen whispered, ‘I presume there’s a simple explanation?’

• • •

Faulkner told Tulip to turn off the television before saying to a passing officer, ‘I need to call my lawyer.’

• • •

Commander Hawksby switched off the television, turned to William and said, ‘As the crown and sword are now on their way back to the palace, you’d better get moving if you’re still hoping to play your part. Though I confess I won’t totally relax until you’re able to confirm they’re both safely locked back up in the Tower for another year.’

‘Agreed,’ said William. ‘And I’d be the first to admit I may have overreacted, but only because Miles Faulkner was involved.’

‘Quite understandably,’ said the Hawk. ‘Now you’d better get going. Can’t afford to keep his nibs waiting.’

William and Paul left the Hawk’s office and quickly made their way downstairs to find Danny already seated behind the wheel of a familiar Land Rover, its engine running.

‘Your next problem,’ said Paul as he joined William in the back of the car, ‘is what you’re going to do about Faulkner.’

‘Nothing before the Crown Jewels have been returned to the Tower, and only then will I give him a second thought.’

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