The Gown

Miriam arrives at Mr. Hartnell’s office with a little basket of supplies she might need to fix the gown. With several others from Hartnell and the royal household, she sets off to the palace. They go through the ambassador’s entrance instead of the servant’s entrance because of the crowds. Miriam is sent to the bridesmaids to help with their dresses.

Miriam is assigned to help Lady Mary Cambridge get dressed. After she finishes, Mr. Hartnell slips out to check on things again, and then it’s time for the bridesmaids to leave. As Miriam starts cleaning up, an attendant tells her to come downstairs where the servants line up against the wall and watch the processional leave. Miriam is touched by the tenderness between Princess Elizabeth and her father the king. They go upstairs and tidy up, then Mr. Hartnell says they are free to enjoy the festivities. Miriam decides to go home and see Ann.

Miriam is setting out tea when Ann gets home. Ann changes into her nightgown because she’s cold and tired. They turn on the radio to hear the events of the wedding day. Miriam tries to get Ann to eat, but she refuses. Miriam realizes that Ann is pregnant. Ann says she is going to move to Canada with Milly. She breaks down crying because she is sad to leave her home. Miriam comforts her, saying Ann is just beginning again, and she will survive.

Daniel picks Heather up to go to Miriam’s exhibition at the Tate Modern Museum. At the reception, there are hundreds of people, but Daniel escorts Heather around and makes sure she is comfortable. During her speech, Miriam thanks the museum, Daniel for persuading her to do the exhibition, Heather for finding her, and Ann for being her first friend in England and the one who convinced her to do art. After the speech, Heather looks at the exhibition while everyone is still at the reception. Miriam finds her and points out an embroidered portrait of Ann.

Heather asks Miriam about her grandfather, and Miriam says his name was Jeremy and that he hurt Ann. Ann left England because it was easier to go to Canada where no one would know her child was conceived out of wedlock. Miriam missed Ann terribly, but she understood her reasons for leaving and not keeping in contact. Heather asks Miriam if she can interview her for a piece about Elizabeth’s wedding gown, and Miriam agrees. Miriam admits that Daniel had already mentioned it to her. She has never done interviews before because nobody seemed to care about her story. They just wanted to hear the narrative they already had in their minds. Heather doubts her grandmother wanted her to expose her life like this, but Miriam says she put Heather’s name on the embroidery for a reason. Miriam gives Heather the sample she saved from the wedding gown, the sprig of heather that Ann added to the train. Miriam said it was inspired by the pot of white heather the queen had given her from Balmoral, which Ann brought with her to Canada. Heather confirms that it still grows in her mother’s garden as well as her own. Miriam is glad that Ann’s heather lives on.