The prince and I are not friends,
though he seems a nice enough guy
and I respect him and I value the role he plays.
However my uncle,
my father's big brother,
knew him better
and fed him snacks.
As a boy
the prince would slip into the palace kitchen
between meals.
Sometimes he would persuade
his big sister too.
And my uncle would sit them down
and find a snack for him
and perhaps for his sister
and he would make them laugh.
I know this because of the prince's note.
The prince sent a note to my aunt
and it was read at the family gathering
following my uncle's funeral.
A cheeky boy from Catford,
a kitchen worker,
and later the royal chef,
laughing and showing kindness to the young prince
and to the future princess royal;
now remembered and valued by family
and also by royalty.
What do you think of that?