The Royal Scandal | Prince William |

Milestones Pass By

June 22, 2017

"Your Royal Highnesses," a short woman with red pixie hair makes her way forward, and as she curtsies and shakes Jaclyn's hand, Amelia tries to hide behind her mum's pant legs. Several people line the porch outside of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and even though she's focused on the woman in front of her Jaclyn can sense Amelia's sudden nerves.

William stands closer than normal, giving their daughter a second to adjust while bending awkwardly to keep holding her hand.

"Thank you for having us today." Jaclyn says, combing through Mia's hair the way she likes, and in a softer voice she urges the woman closer. "She's shy." It doesn't help that photographers are lurking around the edges, and she's not quite old enough to understand their purpose, but she's getting old enough to be nervous.

"That's okay," she laughs with a smile that pinches her cheeks, "They make me nervous too!"

Amelia hides behind her hands at the woman's loud declaration, her knuckle turning white in William's hand. They share a look then, still trying to navigate how they can get their daughter to open up naturally because the longer she hides Jaclyn can feel the articles writing themselves.

"Amelia, remember, we're going to see some puppies." That seems to get her attention because she steps away and peers up at them with unsure big eyes. Jaclyn's heart squeezes, her hand stilling in her daughter's long waves. She knows how much they resemble each other, the jokes that circle the internet that she copied and pasted herself into a smaller version, but it's moments like these where the resemblance vanishes.

She looks up through long lashes and a tilted head, and her face morphs into a ghost. Just like William used to do, just like... Diana, but she carries herself like a Spencer so it makes sense.

If William sees it he doesn't hesitate just pulls her forward until they're before the line of workers and volunteers who all bow or curtsy. Amelia smiles hesitantly, but she keeps turning back around to shoot Jaclyn confused looks.

It's only when they're safely within the shelter that the shyness melts away, and she pulls William with a new vigor towards the dog kennels.

"This is Bruno." a young man whose shirt tag shows he's a volunteer leads out a wary mongrel that's a few years old.

"Remember Mia, be careful." But she doesn't need to be reminded. All of her boiling hyperness mellows as she approaches the dog, lifting her hand first for him to sniff before she pets him. Quickly the dog warms up to her and they're both sitting on the ground, his head in her lap.

It's like that with all of them. A dog is brought out and Mia instantly charms them, even the cats curl up happily on her lap, and she strokes their heads until they purr.

"You're like a Disney princess," the volunteer, whose name is Martin, laughs. He's crouching down beside her, holding one cat while another calico kneads her legs. The action makes Mia giggle, but she looks up at Jaclyn and William with excited eyes and a splitting grin.

"Did you hear what he said?" She gets out through cheeks that are tight and flaming red.

"I think Martin said you're like a Disney princess."

She giggles again, turning back to the sleeping cat in her lap, and even the one Martin is holding tries to get back to her. It's interesting how excited the simple statement makes her considering she is an actual princess, but to her Disney princesses are the real deal.

"Princess Jasmine is my favorite," she says aloud, and then patiently waits for Martin to tell her his. "Oh, I guess... Ariel was always my favorite growing up."