Entry 395
Cultural event
18/12
There is a special kind of magic at Sandringham. It's so engrained as our Christmas destination and because of that it sort of has an air of a place out of time.
Rory seems to be in a strange tension - a mixture of awe and maybe a bit of rebellion. As if it's an amazing place and also slightly absurd. I suppose it is.
Rory is going to get to meet Rene. He's arriving on Christmas Eve. I had hoped Milton might make it but he claims he's in Moscow.
In a totally different tone but in the same vein, Papa has sent an invitation to Rory's family to join us for the new year and New Year's Eve Ball.
I'm terrified.
I don't know if I'm more scared of asking Rory on Christmas morning or meeting his parents on New Year's Eve.
Anne thinks it's the family that would be worse. She says "of course he'll say yes." and "He doesn't talk about his family, naturally that's the problem."
I don't know if problem is the word for it. It wasn't that he was even upset about the invitation. He was simply surprised. He hasn't said anything poor about them so I'm still at a bit of a loss.
The other thing I'm excited for is that Papa is planning to grant Rory the Most Noble Order of the Garter. I'm so happy - Oh.
Papa does know. He has to. He'd never make Rory a Garter Night if he wasn't sure he'd be a part of the family!
