Chapter Text
June 1987
Anne walked briskly through the hallways of Buckingham. She had a meeting with her mother and being late was not something either of them appreciated. Considering the nature of the meeting, she was perfectly aware that it was in her best interest not to be late.
Arriving to where her mother’s office was, and after confirming she was free and waiting for her, Anne knocked on the door. After receiving permission, she entered her mother’s office quicky seeing her with her equerry, Commander Timothy Laurence, discussing the schedule for the week much to the princess’s surprise.
“Ah, Anne, how was the trip, we heard that the traffic was horrible this morning, I wasn’t sure you would make it.” As she spoke, the Queen rose to properly greet her daughter, while Tim bowed his head.
“The trip was fine Mummy; I was stuck in traffic for a while, but I left home early. Are you busy? If so, I can come later.” Anne always affronted her problems head on, but truth be told, she was dreading the thought of having this conversation with her mother. Raising her head, she realised that Tim was looking at her, giving her a warm smile. She had not expected to see him there, but truth be told, his presence reassured her and gave her strength. They had been secretly seeing each other for the last almost 6 months and Anne could just barely admit that she was falling in love with him. If a year ago they had told her that not only would she be having an affair but that it would be with someone working on the palace she would have had them committed.
While lost in her musings, her mother had dismissed the equerry and was serving tea. Anne sat down on the sofa and waited for her mother to join her.
“So, tell me dear, what do you wanted to talk to me about with such urgency? You said it was quite personal but that you would prefer to tell me first without involving your father.”
“It’s about my marriage” Anne took a breath to brace herself. It was not easy talking about this, especially to her parents, who had the closest to a perfect marriage she could imagine. Having been struggling for quite a while in hers, she did not know how to approach this or if she would be understood. However, she knew she could do nothing is she lacked the sovereign’s approval, and for that, this discussion with her mother was necessary.
“Oh, have you made up with Mark? I know his behaviour has not been the best but forgiving him is certainly the right option. Peter and Zara will surely thank you both.” Both the Queen and the Duke knew Anne’s marriage was not at its best moment, but they hoped it would be nothing more than a bump in the road.
“Mummy, mummy, it’s not that. Quite the opposite actually” The Queen fell silent, her demeanour drastically changing.
“What exactly do you mean by that” The iciness of her tone gave away her displeasure.
Anne, not backing down went ahead with what she had wanted to discuss. “As everyone knows by now, Mark and I have barely been seeing each other but when we do, we do nothing but discuss and we no longer seem to be able to be in a room without shouting at each other. Furthermore, I know he has been sleeping around with several women and really, at this point I think its better we set the steps in motion to divorce in a couple of years”
“Divorce? Anne, please think of the kids, they are surely better with two parents in the house. Besides, while Mark’s behaviour has certainly not been up to standard, it’s no reason to leave.” During her daughter's speech, her face had remained impassive, but upon hearing the last piece, she had not been able to contain herself.
Divorce was not something the English church or society looked upon kindly, and she had certainly not been raised to think that upon the first obstacle you should give up on your marriage.
“I am aware Mummy, and I promise you I tried everything I could think of so he would return home, to me. But it seemed as if I no longer was enough and I just stopped trying, if only to avoid myself the heartache.” Her voice broke while uttering the last sentence. She had already mourned her marriage and made her peace with it but thinking of those months and years where she had been facing everything alone was always hard for her. Thank God she now had Tim. In the time she had known him, first as a friend and later as a lover, she had received more support and comprehension than in the last couple of years.
With her husband gone most of the time, the responsibility of running Gatcombe and arranging things for the kids had fallen all on her and all of that without considering her work and trying to save her marriage while the press gloated about the icy princess finally being left, too cold to handle. She was burnt. Besides, this was not something she could freely talk to her parents about, and while her relationship with Charles had always been close, his own problems made him quite oblivious to everyone around him and she had not wanted to bother him.
The Queen started to see all the pain her daughter had been hiding. For the last couple of years, Mark’s presence in family events had been lowering and each time the topic came Anne was quick to move to another one. Truth be told, she was a bit surprised that Anne was requesting divorce, her daughter had a resilience and endurance her brothers lacked, and she started to suspect that something else was going on.
“Anne, I know you have not wanted us to interfere in your marriage, and we mostly haven’t. However, this situation you are speaking of is not something new. Why suddenly the divorce? Why can’t you go as you have, as many other couples do? It’s not something strange or frowned upon in our circles if you do so discretely” The
Queen knew she would have to meditate her decision, but regardless, she wanted to have all the facts before making one. Right now, she felt that something big was missing. She knew her daughter.
“Yeah. There is something else, which will make all this difficult to keep under wraps if leaked.” Taking a sip of tea, Anne used the opportunity to compose herself. It had not been long since she had discovered this herself and it was still difficult for her to digest it. “You see Mummy, a couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from New Zealand. It was a woman trying to reach Mark. Apparently not only did he have an affair with her, but a baby girl came from it. Before you ask, I contacted a private detective, and I am convinced that she is saying the truth.”
“A child? What did he say when you told him? What do you plan on doing? But most importantly, how are you?” All the colour had left the Queen’s face, as a wife herself, she could not even begin to imagine what her daughter was going through, on her own. It was clear that things in her marriage had been a lot more dire and difficult than what any of them had been imagining. Her heart went out for her daughter, who had been going through this difficult situation alone.
“I have more or less made my peace with it. When I confronted him, he said not to bother myself with his businesses, that my place is to support him as the good wife I am supposed to be and to leave him alone with his things” Anne’s tone was angry and hurt, a few tears rolling down her cheek. “Of course, I had something to say to that which he did not take too kindly to, left the house and I have not seen him since, nor do I want too to be honest.”
Taking a breath, Anne continued. “Seeing as this marriage is not beneficial to myself or to the crown any longer, I believe it would be better for anyone to part ways. This way I can start looking towards the future instead of being stuck on the past.” At this a small smile appeared in her face for the first time during their conversation.
“So, does this future you are talking about have any particular man in it?” The Queen was not naïve, she had realised that for the last half a year or so her daughter had recovered a certain air about herself she had not noticed was missing. While they had thought that Mark was the responsible one for the improved mood of her daughter, she was starting to think that maybe there was another man in Anne’s live.
Seeing as she was having a honest and heartfelt conversation with her mother, she decided to tell her most of the truth. “It is true that I have begun a relationship with a man. It is early stages though, and while we are both committed to the relationship only time will tell how it finishes. Regardless of that, I do not want the divorce because of him. I want it because I don’t think I deserve the treatment I have received from my husband, nor do my kids deserve to be subjected to constant fights.
Any future Mark and I could have had is long gone, and the idea of spending the rest of my life on my own does not appeal to me in the slightest. Besides, that baby is the proof that everything the press has been saying to be true and really, if I can spare myself some of the humiliation I would like to. You know that sooner or later the press will get a hold of this information and, even if for selfish reasons, I would like to be as far as possible by then. I believe that my times as Mrs. Mark Phillips is over, and I would like that to be official, as soon as possible.”
“Anne, dear, you must be aware that with the current situation of Charles’s marriage and your position as the daughter of the sovereign, I have to consider your petition very carefully and consult with several other people. Your separation may not be possible just yet.” After hearing what her daughter had been going through, she would like nothing more than to distance her from Phillips as soon and as far as possible, but her position required certain sacrifices and careful considerations on some decision. It seemed this would be one of those.
“I understand Mummy, I did not expect for it to happen overnight. But due to the amount of time it will take for the proceedings to finish, I thought it would be better to start them as soon as possible.” She was not exactly pleased, but it had been better that she thought.
“So now tell me, who is this man you are so hung over. I must tell you; we have noticed how much your mood has improved these last months; we just did not know there was another who behind it. How does he feel about this?”
“He is not aware of our meeting. Since I concerted this visit, I did not have the chance to speak to him. But he knows how unhappy I am trapped there, so it was just a matter of time. He is incredible, he understands me and supports me but at the same time he is not intimidated by my status and is not afraid to point out to me when I am in the wrong. Besides, he is sweet, intelligent, charming and a real gentleman.” As soon as she started talking, Anne’s face changed, a dreamy look taking over her face. The Queen realized that it was much more than a simple infatuation on her daughter’s part. A knock on the door interrupted her.
“You Majesty, your next meeting is due to start in five minutes, should I postpone it?” Tim’s voice was clear even through the thick door.
“No, I’m going. I believe we have finished here Anne. How about we dine in a couple of days? This way I will have been able to talk to the necessary people and I will have an answer ready.”
“Ok, Mummy. Thanks for everything.” Curtsying one last time, Anne left the room. On the hallway, seeing that there was no one near, she stopped to briefly and hurriedly talk to Tim.
“Hey, sorry to blindsight you this way but I have told my mother that I want a divorce and that I am seeing someone. Rest assured; she doesn’t know who. Come tonight to my room and I will tell you everything?”
Tim, left speechless, could only nod and by the time he had recovered, she was long gone. He entered the room musing about what he had just been told. He knew Anne wasn’t happy in her marriage and that the news about her husband’s daughter had devastated her, however, he was also keenly aware of who she was and of the respect she held both, to her mother and to the institution. He had not expected her to do this so suddenly. She certainly had a way of always surprising him.