Page 26 of The Heir Apparent
For Amira to be partying just days after her husband’s tragic death in a ski accident, along with her father-in-law, Prince Frederick, and her brother, Krishiv Shankar, is being seen as tacit confirmation that all was not well with the royal couple.
“If nothing else, it’s poor form,” said royal commentator Harold Himmelhoch.
“I don’t care what was happening in the marriage, she should be sombre, reflective and humble in the midst of this great tragedy to help Britain through its grief. But of course, Princess Alexandrina has always been a bad influence, so it’s no surprise the duchess’s behaviour took an unfortunate turn the moment the princess touched down in London.”
It’s understood from royal courtiers that many palace insiders were bracing themselves for the return of Princess Alexandrina, who defected from the family and moved to Australia when she was 18.
The death of her mother, Princess Isla, is understood to have been the catalyst for Alexandrina’s decision to step back from royal duties.
Princess Isla was vacationing on the Italian Riviera in 2011 with her children Louis and Alexandrina when she fell off a yacht and drowned.
The royal twins were asleep in their villa in Rapallo, unaware that their mother had taken the boat out late at night.
Princess Isla was an experienced yachtswoman, but a coroner concluded that she slipped from the boat while under the influence of prescription medication and alcohol.
When her children awoke the next morning and found their mother missing, they called local authorities.
After an extensive three-day search, Princess Isla’s body was found floating at sea, 100 miles from her last known location.
Palace insiders say the tragedy had a profound impact on Alexandrina. She and Prince Louis were just 17 at the time.
But there have long been rumours of a spectacular row betweenAlexandrina, Louis and Amira when the princess found out her brother was secretly in love with her best friend.
“Alexandrina reportedly disapproved of the match,” said Mr. Himmelhoch.
“But I always suspected she simply couldn’t stand having to share the attention with another pretty young woman. Instead she threw a great big tantrum and moved to Australia, hoping her father would beg her to come back.”
After the tragic deaths of Prince Frederick and Prince Louis, Alexandrina has now rocketed up the line of succession to be the Queen’s heir.
It’s understood that the Queen is yet to discuss with the young princess if she intends to claim her place on the throne or finally rescind the status that she has spurned for so long.
Princess Alexandrina is a second-year resident at Hobart General Hospital, and thePosthears that she hopes to pursue specialty training in obstetrics in a year’s time.
“An admirable goal, to be sure,” Mr. Himmelhoch said.
“But one cannot deliver babies on the throne. If she is to be queen one day, she can no longer have it both ways. She will have to make her choice.”
Alexandrina may be the first heir in British history to rescind her claim to the throne, in which case her uncle Prince Richard, the Duke of Clarence, will become first in line.
But Mr. Himmelhoch is sceptical it will come to that.
“Like her mother before her, Alexandrina adores the spotlight. Like her mother, she cannot stand when eyes are not on her, and just like her mother she is prone to throwing a fit when she doesn’t get her way,” he explained.
“I cannot say if she will make a good queen, but she will certainly be an eager one.”
I handed Vikki back her phone.
“I’m sorry, I was just trying to make her feel a bit better and I shouldn’t have put the music on,” I said. “This is all just Richard’s usual shit—but his target is me, not her.”
She said nothing for a long while and I tried to look neutral while my gin-soaked bloodstream hummed inside me. The idea of a McDonald’s breakfast—a bacon and egg McMuffin, two hash browns and a large chocolate thickshake—was simultaneously revolting and alluring.
“Lexi,” she finally said, “have you decided what you’re going to do?”
I hesitated, then decided she could always handle the truth. “I think I should probably just go home. I’m not good at this.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not a question of talents or capabilities, Lexi. You’re the heir now. It’s yours.”
I stared at my hands clasped on top of my white linen duvet.
