the royals were family friends and neighbours. princess elizabeth was a few years older. she's seen here with younger sister margaret, who's staring down enviously at lady anne's silver shoes. what would a typical day down at the beach with princess elizabeth, princess margaret and you and your sister... 7 we were ensconced with our nannies in the children's hut. and, you know, we all had our spades and buckets, but i was so lucky to have had that sort of a wonderful time. the 31st of january 1952. after waving his daughter off on a tour of the commonwealth, king george vi returned back to sandringham. about three days before he died, he was shooting with my father — they were shooting hare — and nobody expected the king to die. the king was part of the community, wasn't he? so although this was worldwide, global news, it would have been felt much more personal here in norfolk.