A Royal Christmas Secret (2026) Movie Script
Thanks for covering close
at the restaurant for me.
After you burned your third order
of salmon,
I realized you might be doing
more harm than good.
For the record,
I only burned two.
Okay, two.
I'm still worried about you.
You don't have to worry about me.
I'm fine.
I know this is about Steven.
Are you guys okay?
We're over.
What? Just last week,
you said that he might be the one.
Hey Em, it's me.
Speak of the devil.
I have nothing to say to him.
Go tell him that.
I'll wait in the other room.
Em, hey, I didn't mean to upset you.
Honestly, I, I don't even know
what I did exactly. Um.
That's the problem.
Okay, well, but can we maybe sit down
and talk about it for a minute?
No, you won't be here long.
We have nothing to discuss.
Oh, I don't understand.
One minute, we were drinkin'
hot chocolate, right, and then...
You mean my mom's
special candy cane cocoa?
Yeah, okay, yeah, it was a very special,
your mom's very special hot chocolate.
See, this is exactly what I mean.
You'll never get it.
It's over, Steven.
No, Em, please, come on,
I, I can get into
the hot chocolate candy canes.
Or I'll, I'll watch Love Actually again.
I won't even make jokes this time.
That was rough.
Good morning, Mother.
Good morning, Nicholas.
You're certainly up early
this morning.
The annual Christmas gala
is less than a week away,
and there's still so much to do.
But why are you up so early?
I told Leo I'd go to the shelter with him
to help build the playground equipment
that you and Father donated.
That's very sweet of you.
But don't they have people for that?
Yes, they do.
And you're looking at one of them.
We're called volunteers.
Nicholas, I know what a volunteer is.
I'm proud of all you do
for the women's shelter.
I only wish youwere this dedicated
to your royal duties.
Royal duties? You and Father
don't give me any royal duties
unless my royal duties are
a few ribbon cuttings
and public appearances
while I wait for Father to die so I can
become the next king of Verdonia.
Don't say things like that,
even in jest.
Sorry, Father, uh, only kidding.
Oh, I know you are, son.
Succession is a patient man's game.
Don't worry.
I remember the feeling very well.
Richard, don't encourage him.
Darling, he's right.
He's not a child.
We need to start giving him more
responsibilities to prepare him.
One day, the country
will be his to run.
I'll let you two sort this out.
Leo's waiting for me.
Don't look so sad.
He's putting his time to good use,
helping with Leo in the shelter.
I know, you're right.
We're lucky to have him.
I only wish he had this much energy
finding Verdonia's next queen
and having a family of his own.
Darling, when Nicholas
does find a wife,
what will that leave you
to worry about?
Very funny.
For your information, right now,
I'm worried about the gala.
This one has to be extra special.
Why is that?
Oh dear, I've seen this look before.
I do believe my lovely wife
is up to something.
You'll know soon enough.
You know what I always say,
there are two kinds of people
in this world.
Oh no, not this again.
Those who love Christmas
and Scrooges.
Well, what if Steven isn't exactly
a Christmas kind of guy?
That's an understatement.
He's definitely a Scrooge.
I was so excited to show him
my decorations.
I invited him over for some
of my mom's candy cane cocoa.
I love her candy cane cocoa.
Well, he didn't. He was all bah-humbug
and no ho-ho-ho.
He literally said, and I quote,
Doesn't this all seem a little excessive?
- It's not funny.
- I know.
You know, growing up, my mom
and I didn't have much money
but, she somehow always managed
to make Christmas magical.
Our house was filled
with homemade decorations
and always smelled
of her candy cane cocoa.
Christmas carols played 24/7,
and she always wore this pin
that her mother gave her,
every day in December.
Did you explain that to him?
Christmas is a feeling.
You either have it, or you don't,
and I can't make him.
I'm sorry, Emily.
Queen Charlotte,
how may I assist you?
Good morning, Angela.
Do you need anything from me
for the gala?
I can't belive it's almost here.
Uh, no, ma'am.
I've been coordinating everything
with the house staff,
and our guest chef arrives
tomorrow morning.
Did you see her resume?
She's a very talented pastry chef.
Yes, ma'am, she's exactly
who I would have picked
if you would've allowed me
to do the hiring for the kitchen.
You know I take that responsibility
very seriously.
Bringing someone to work
in the castle
is like bringing someone
into our home.
Everyone must be thoroughly vetted.
Yes, ma'am, I completely understand.
Plus this year needs to be
the gala of them all,
for our special guest.
Special guest, ma'am?
I haven't been made aware
that we are expecting anyone.
That's why I am telling you now.
I've invited someone very special
to accompany Nicholas this year.
So exciting.
He must be thrilled.
I sure hope he will be.
Prince Nicholas doesn't know, ma'am?
He will soon enough.
And that reminds me, I need
to check in with her. Carry on.
This gala just got very exciting.
Packing is so difficult.
I'm sorry, ma'am,
but we've still got quite a lot of things
to go through.
It's impossible to decide
which things I can do without.
How could you choose,
when you look good in everything?
Here they come.
I'm not a baby.
Get off.
This is sliced incorrectly.
Who is calling me at this hour?
It's Queen Charlotte, ma'am.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Give it to me.
Hi. Good morning,
Queen Charlotte.
Lilith, darling, how are you?
Oh, I, I'm wonderful.
My, my assistant and I are having
a glorious time packing for my trip.
Oh, that's wonderful.
We've updated your itinerary.
The royal jet will pick you promptly up
at six o'clock.
Oh, I, I don't wanna be any trouble,
but I really appreciate it.
It's our pleasure.
We're excited to have you here
for the gala.
We'll see you soon.
Thank you, and bye.
Could this be any more exhausting?
I'm sorry, miss, but meeting
the prince will certainly be worth it.
Meet the prince?
Oh, if all goes according to plan,
you will soon be attending
to Princess Lilith,
wife to the future king of Verdonia.
You're in a good mood this morning.
Well, Mom always said it's hard
not to be happy when you jingle, so.
So I wanted to tell you yesterday,
but you were too upset.
What is it? Are you okay?
I'm better than okay.
I'm pregnant.
Congratulations!
I'm so excited for you.
I thought you stopped trying.
We stopped the fertility treatments,
but I went to the doctor yesterday
to confirm,
and she said, sometimes,
when people stop feeling the pressure,
it just happens naturally.
You and Eric must be so thrilled.
Oh, we are.
But it means I have to turn down
that guest chef job
in Verdonia last minute.
Have you talked to your doctor
about travel?
It wouldn't be for too long.
You sound just like Eric.
The doctor said
it shouldn't be a problem,
but, I'm not willing to risk it.
I mean, this baby's all
we've ever wanted.
I applied for the position
when we stopped the treatments.
Verdonia was supposed
to take my mind off of everything.
Wait, Emily, you should go
in my place.
- What?
- Yes.
No, no, I... No, I, I don't know
anything about any of it.
They, they wouldn't want me.
That's not what I mean.
Go as me.
You mean...
- Pretend to be me.
- That's crazy.
Okay, royal families
are your thing, not mine.
But besides, I don't even know
where Ferdonia is.
It's Verdonia, not Ferdonia,
and it's a small country in Europe.
You can learn. You're perfect.
Well, I am perfect, but I'm not you.
Besides you interviewed
with the queen personally.
She's not gonna fall for it.
Are you kidding?
It was a phone call.
She doesn't even know
what I look like.
Plus it's the queen.
She probably doesn't remember
with everything she has goin' on.
Come on, the time away from Steven
will be really good for you.
Plus the queen said
she wants me to bring American
Christmas spirit to their gala.
She really said Christmas spirit?
Yep.
Okay, I know it'll work.
You were supposed to cover for me
at the restaurant while I was gone,
so I'll cover for you instead.
Maybe.
There's your Christmas spirit.
Okay, but what about flights?
They reimbursed me to book my own,
and I got travel insurance,
so it'll be easy peasy.
We better get you packed, okay.
You have a flight tonight.
We come here all the time.
Why are you so paranoid?
There are no tabloid photographers
or super fans here.
You're right, we come here all the time,
and I'm always paranoid.
You have a point.
I guess you are consistent.
Here, put this on
before we get mobbed.
Okay, so I was wrong.
There are a couple of fans here.
But they're not here for me, mate.
I'm not the prince.
I guess you haven't read the latest
edition of the "Daily Spark".
"A Tale of Two Bachelors"?
"Verdonia's two most eligible
bachelors are none other"
"than Prince Nicholas
and his best friend, Leo Stanford."
"Chums since primary school,"
"it is common that
when you see one of them,"
"the other is close behind."
So put this on
before we get mobbed.
Try asking me nicely.
You happen to be talking to one of
Verdonia's most eligible bachelors.
Just put it on.
That's a lot of red and green.
Oh, and jingle bells.
Well, you said that Queen Eliz...
No, Queen...
Queen Charlotte.
Right, Queen Charlotte requested
some American Christmas spirit.
And who am I to deny royalty?
Yeah, you should learn her name.
Do you know her husband's name?
It's King Richard,
and her son is Prince Nicholas.
Have you even looked at this binder?
It has everything you need to know.
Well, to be fair,
you just dropped it off this morning.
They have a son?
I think it'd be cute to have a kid
running around for the holidays,
a little prince.
Yeah, you need to study the binder.
Prince Nicholas isn't a little boy.
He's our age.
And he's cute and single.
Do you have anything red, green,
and lacy in here?
Not funny.
Hey, a royal fling would be
a great way to get over Steven.
But you are pretending to be me,
so you need to uphold
my excellent reputation.
Well, I'm sure a royal fling
is forbidden.
Maybe. I guess I probably should have
read that binder too, huh?
All right, let's go. Security's always
worse for international flights.
It's so beautiful.
It is.
Yes, it's very impressive,
but this is the main house.
We're headed to the kitchen.
I'll go find Chef Angela.
You wait here.
Thank you, I'll, uh, start
getting familiar with the place.
I like you, Jess, so I'm gonna give you
a friendly piece of advice.
Don't do anything
until Chef Angela fills you in
on how she likes things done.
She's particular.
I'm sorry,
I don't mean to frighten you.
You'll get used to it,
if you stick around.
What have I've gotten myself into?
That is an excellent question.
I have one too.
Who are you?
Sorry, I was just talking to myself.
I'm Em, um...
Jess, Jess Walters.
And you? Do you work here?
Work here?
Something like that.
I take it you're new,
and you sound American.
Yes, I'm new and American.
I'm a chef.
I was brought here to help
with the annual Christmas gala.
Excellent. Holidays are
a very busy time around here.
Have you worked here for long?
I feel like I've been here
my whole life.
Yet sometimes, I guess,
I feel out of place.
Oh, so like a freelancer?
I'm busy right now.
Show her to her room.
Oh, I'd better get out of here
so I don't get you in trouble
with Chef Angela on your first day.
I'm Nick, by the way.
It's nice to meet you, Nick.
Maybe I'll see you around the castle.
I'd be happy to give you
a private tour of the place.
You can do that?
I thought
the royals were very particular.
Get her changed.
I'll be there in 30 minutes.
I'll be in the study tonight
at 10 o'clock, if you're interested.
Third door on the right, upstairs.
Chef Angela asked me
to show you to your room
so you could get changed before
the two of you get started.
This way.
This is one of our smaller rooms,
but Chef Angela felt
it would be adequate
since you're only here
for a short time.
Through that door,
you have a private bathroom.
And your chef whites are in here
that you can wear while
you're working here, if you need.
That's sweet, but I actually
brought my own.
Ah, well, if you don't have
any questions for me,
Chef Angela is expecting you
in the kitchen in half an hour
to get things started.
Thank you, Reginald.
It is my pleasure.
Oh, and don't worry about a thing.
You're going to do great.
Excuse me. Chef Angela?
I heard you, Jess.
One moment.
It's nice to meet you, chef Angela.
Your chef whites
aren't exactly white.
Um, yeah,
I hope that's not a problem.
When I interviewed with the Queen,
Her Majesty,
Her Royal Highness...
I'm sorry. What do we call her?
Her name is Queen Charlotte,
and we don't call her anything.
I doubt you'll have an occasion
to speak with her.
Noted. Well, when I interviewed
with Queen Charlotte,
she said she wanted me to bring some
American Christmas spirit to the castle.
Even if she did say that,
I'm concerned
that what you are wearing
might be a bit too festive,
even for the queen.
What might be too festive for me?
My apologies.
I did not mean to speak for you.
I'm concerned that
what our guest chef is wearing
might be a bit too festive.
You know what, it's okay.
I'll, I'll just go change.
No. Don't.
I quite like it.
It's very festive.
I don't know
why we haven't done it sooner.
Order them for everyone.
Yes, ma'am. I'll take care of it.
Your brooch is lovely.
It was my mother's.
I must say, you sound a little different
than you did on the phone.
I never forget a voice.
Yeah, actually,
I was recovering
from a really bad cold.
I was trying to make it,
you know, not too obvious.
Yes. That must be it.
Well, Jess, welcome to Verdonia.
Thank you, Your Majesty,
Royal Highness.
Don't expect that much interaction
with the queen in the future.
Yes, chef.
We have work to do.
Come stir this.
How's everything?
How's the palace?
How was your first day?
Oh, I'm so jealous.
Don't be, I just got on break,
and I'm pretty sure the head chef
already hates me.
Well, you technically.
That's crazy. Nobody hates you.
Well, she does. But I'm pretty sure
she might hate everyone.
Okay. How's everything else?
I met someone. His name is Nick.
And he works at the castle too.
In the kitchen?
I'm not sure what he does actually,
but, I can ask him tonight
when he gives me a private tour
of the castle.
Oh, private tour, wow.
Is he cute?
Very, and so is his accent.
Oh, I'm so excited for you.
Me too, but I should probably
get back to work.
Have fun. Keep me posted.
Bye.
Jess, you made it.
Are you sure we're allowed
to wander around the castle?
Did anyone tell you not to?
No, but I didn't really get through
the whole binder.
Binder?
Yeah, the big book of rules.
Oh, maybe it's just
for the kitchen staff.
- Probably not.
- What?
Nothing, I, I just meant
I never received
a binder with a lot of rules.
You've said you've been working here
for a long time, right?
What is it that you do exactly?
Well, I, um, build stuff.
I was actually
just chatting about my duties
with my boss earlier today
after I'd built a swing set.
Oh, so you're like a handyman.
Yeah, you could say that.
Great, if anything in the kitchen breaks,
I'll let you know.
You never know when
you're gonna need a royal handyman.
Well, what about right now,
for the tour?
This is the study.
I wouldn't come
in here during the day.
Queen Charlotte uses it to work.
She uses it as an office.
Oh, I actually met Queen Charlotte
earlier today.
She was really lovely to me.
Really? That's nice to hear.
She was a lot more welcoming
than Chef Angela.
Not surprising.
Come on, I'll show you the rest
of the castle.
Finally, a room I'm familiar with.
Can I make you a hot cocoa
to warm up?
I love cocoa.
Uh, maybe I should help.
Cocoa's actually my specialty.
Thank you for the tour.
With all the Christmas decorations,
the castle feels
like a winter wonderland.
Do you like Christmas?
Of course. Who doesn't?
Christmas always makes me feel
like a kid again.
When I was younger, I used
to lay under the Christmas tree
for hours just staring up
at the lights.
It felt like I was in a snow globe.
I probably sound crazy.
But I just love snow globes.
No, it sounds incredible.
What is this that you sprinkled
on top of the whipped cream?
A little Christmas magic.
See if you can guess.
Peppermint. It's delicious.
That is the best cocoa I've ever had.
It's my mom's candy cane cocoa.
Cheers.
You have a little...
There's still more.
I had a really nice time tonight,
but, my day starts early tomorrow,
so, I should probably get to bed.
It's a good idea.
I'd love to see you again,
though, before you leave.
Chef Angela hasn't given me
my schedule yet,
but, I'd like that too.
Goodnight, Jess.
Goodnight, Nick.
Wow, that was fast.
Took me a week to get mine.
Well, you are not the queen.
This is Rachel.
She was off yesterday.
Welcome, Jess.
I hear these were your idea.
- I love them.
- Thank you. It's nice...
Enough chitchat.
I am going to meet Gloria
to discuss the tablescapes for the gala.
Rachel, I will need for you
to start lunch.
Yes, chef.
And Jess, I need you
to inventory the pantry
so that we can order whatever it is
you might need for your desserts.
Desserts?
For the gala.
The queen chose you specifically
because you're a pastry chef.
Yes, of course.
I am a pastry chef.
And you'll run everything by me,
and no more crazy uniforms.
I don't wanna come in dressed
like an elf tomorrow.
Are you okay?
You look sort of pale.
Yeah, I'm, I'm fine.
Don't worry,
your award-winning macarons
will be the hit of the gala.
Yeah, could you excuse me
for a moment,
I, forgot something in my room.
I'd hurry back if I were you.
There you are.
Okay, spill the tea, now.
There's no time for that.
We have a big problem.
Why didn't you tell me
you put your award winning macarons
on your resume?
I was so worried about all the rules
that I forgot about the cooking.
Okay, well, they only hired me,
I mean you,
because you're a pastry chef.
Okay, it will be okay.
You can do it.
No, I haven't made macarons
since culinary school,
and they were more like
tiny pastel tragedies.
All right, don't worry.
I'll, I'll teach you all my tricks.
Great. I can see it now.
I'll put you on video call,
and you can teach me
how to make macarons
while Chef Angela watches.
Okay, your night is my morning.
So we'll just, we'll do it
when everyone's asleep.
Actually, that might work.
Okay, what else do you think
I should make?
Ooh, make your tarts.
Everyone loves those.
Just, just make 'em mini, so, you know,
fancy people always love small foods.
Yeah, mini tarts. I can do that.
Oh my gosh, you should serve
your mom's candy cane cocoas
in little espresso cups.
That'd be so cute, with the whipped
cream and the candy cane dust.
That's a great idea.
Okay, I should probably head back
before chef Angela notices I'm gone.
Chef Jess, do you have a minute?
I should really be getting back
to the kitchen.
But sure.
Do you need something?
I want you to know that I saw you
last night, having cocoa.
You need to be careful.
Of Nick?
Nick?
Yeah. He seems like a great guy.
Am I missing something?
Do you work with him?
No, I don't work with Nick.
Then what's with the warning?
Is it his family?
Well, yes.
But he seems so sweet.
Don't tell me his family is
with the Verdonia mafia or something.
No, he's not a member of the mafia.
Look, I know you're only here
a short time,
but Queen Charlotte
has some pretty strict rules.
Does the palace
have no fraternizing rule?
Well, I'm certain the queen
would frown on you
starting any type of relationship
with Nick.
Well, I appreciate your warning,
but, Nick's just being friendly.
Is that all?
Um, yes.
Don't worry, you're safe.
Chef Angela hasn't returned.
I'm happy to help you
with the desserts.
I'd love to learn.
Really?
That would be great.
Oh, and my room is right
next door to yours.
I could come over later
and show you some pictures
I took of last year's gala.
That would be amazing.
Thank you so much
for printing these out for me.
Of course. It's nice having
someone my age in the castle.
I'm excited to work with you too.
These are definitely giving me
a better idea of what to expect.
I'm glad. I honestly think the key
is having just lots of little desserts
so the guests can try them all.
My friend Jess said the same thing.
You have a friend named Jess too?
Yeah, it's the craziest thing.
Doesn't that get confusing?
Yeah, lately it really does.
Well, I have the early shift tomorrow,
so I should get to bed.
But don't worry, if you need anything,
I'm here for you.
Thank you.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Interesting text?
You shouldn't scare
your mother like that.
I just came to say goodnight, Mother.
What are you hiding?
Nothing. I guess I'm just
feeling very hopeful.
I'm feeling hopeful too.
Before I forget, you're having dinner
at the chateau tomorrow night
with Lilith Abernathy.
Is this another one of your setups?
Darling, you asked
for more responsibility.
Consider this diplomatic relations.
Your reservations are at seven.
What a coincidence!
I have Friday morning off too.
Yes, right, Mom, I'm going to learn
how to make macarons
from an award-winning pastry chef.
You and me both.
Great. You know,
I think it's a good idea
you're doing a trial run
in the palace's oven before the party.
Macarons can be
very temperamental.
Do these look right?
Yes, they're perfect.
Okay, now bang the pans
on the counter to pop the air bubbles,
but let 'em dry for an hour
before you bake 'em.
Behind you.
Oh, I gotta go.
Hi.
You're making macarons?
My favorite.
They're my specialty.
The queen requested
I make them for the gala,
so I'm just testing out
the palace ovens.
Macarons can be
very temperamental.
Makes sense. Can I help?
Sure.
The next step is banging them
on the counter
to get all the air bubbles out.
Like this.
This is fun.
What are you doing up so late?
Uh, gettin' a snack.
Uh, what do we do now?
Now we let the dough dry out
for an hour, and then bake 'em.
Oh, so you have an hour to kill?
I guess so.
Go get your coat.
I wanna show you something.
I promise I'll have you back
within an hour.
Castle's so peaceful
this time of year.
It's so beautiful.
Yes it is.
I love spending time out here.
I can see why.
I hate for this to end, but I, promised
I'd get you back in an hour, so.
I guess we should go back.
I had a really...
- I'm sorry, I shouldn't...
- No, it's okay.
Well, I'll leave you
to your macarons.
I had fun tonight.
Me too.
You still good to go out with me
tomorrow morning?
Of course.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la
Who made the macarons?
Apparently, Jess did, last night.
She used the kitchen, after hours?
Didn't she read the binder?
I think it shows initiative.
The gala is fast approaching,
and, everything must be perfect.
A surprise visit
from His Royal Highness.
Avoiding your mother again?
No. I come bearing gifts.
Well, actually,
it's more of a bribe.
I'm intrigued.
What secret do you need me
to deny this time?
Very funny, but we both know
you could put me in some real trouble
if you wanted to.
True, very true.
So what do you need?
I wanna bring Jess by
this morning.
But she still doesn't know
I'm a prince.
I thought I thought
you were going to tell her.
I'll tell her after she meets you,
and we show her around the shelter.
There must be something
really special about this one.
You've never wanted
to bring anyone here before.
You're right.
So will you help me?
Of course.
But, I would've done it
without the bribe.
I need you to tell her
just how much my family
helped the shelter,
so she knows we're good people.
That's a brilliant plan.
But I have one question.
What?
How are you going
to bring her here?
I don't drive.
It's going to be a little odd
if Nick the handyman
has his own personal driver.
You don't suppose that she'd buy
that I'm so essential
that they assigned me a driver
to keep me on schedule?
Nobody's that good.
Can I use your car?
No. Not going to happen.
You said it yourself,
you don't drive.
I know how to drive.
Driving the golf cart around
the palace grounds does not count.
Then teach me. Quick.
You want to drive my car,
my hunk of junk, as you call it?
It's perfect.
It's exactly
what a normal handyman would drive.
And if I wreck it,
it's still a hunk of junk.
Get your keys. I'll tell Reginald
to go back to the palace.
That was fantastic.
Fantastic is not the terminology
I would use.
We were in an empty parking lot,
and you almost killed me twice.
You're exaggerating.
Plus I'm only going between here
and the castle.
I'll take the back roads.
This goes against all
of my better judgment.
But if you wreck my car,
I'll just tell your mother you stole it.
Probably wise.
Good morning, Jess.
Someone had
a busy night last night.
That's an understatement.
I'm sorry. I probably
should have asked.
I decided to test out the ovens
last night when I couldn't sleep.
I think I'm still getting used
to the time difference.
No need to apologize.
Your macarons are lovely.
They'll be perfect for the gala.
I'm glad you like them.
I also finished inventory.
I left a list of all the ingredients
I'll need for the desserts
on your clipboard.
Excellent. Enjoy your morning.
We have a busy afternoon
ahead of us.
I'll be back by noon, ready to work.
What do you have planned
this morning?
Uh, just going to explore Verdonia.
I was worried you weren't coming.
Sorry, I stopped by the kitchen
to see what Chef Angela thought
of the macarons.
And?
She loved 'em.
See for yourself.
Wow. Best I've ever had.
But you don't seem as happy about that
as I would imagine you would be.
Something seemed off with Rachel.
I hope I didn't upset her.
I wouldn't worry about it.
Rachel's a sweetheart.
I hope you're right.
So where are we going today?
Somewhere very special.
That reminds me,
I brought something special for you.
I don't expect you to wear them,
but hopefully just having them
will make you happy.
Your kind gesture
already made me happy.
Here we are, the waiting room.
Good morning, ladies.
Good morning.
And last but not least, my office.
- Nice.
- Thank you, thank you.
Please make yourself cozy.
Did you see?
That was Prince Nicholas.
Uh, excuse me.
I'm just gonna get a quick drink.
Should I go check on him?
No. He's fine.
And this gives us
a minute to talk.
So what do you think of the place?
Oh, it's amazing.
You're doing such good work here.
And everyone is so nice.
Thank you.
We've got quite a bit of help
from the royal family
and volunteers like Nick.
He really loves it.
I can tell he's proud
of the work he does here.
Nick is one of a kind.
However, hopefully
I'm not overstepping when I tell you
that Nick has been volunteering here
for quite many years
and has never brought
anyone here before.
Really? I'm flattered, I...
Sorry about that. Good as new.
Uh, we'd better go so that we can
get you back to the castle on time.
Oh my gosh, you're right.
This morning just flew by.
- Thank you so much, Leo.
- It was a pleasure.
Thank you for bringing me here today.
I can see why you love
this place so much.
Glad you like it.
There's somethin' else
that I wanted to talk to you about,
but I don't wanna rush it.
Maybe I could meet you
at the courtyard at 10, tonight?
I'd like that.
Hey, I haven't offended you,
have I?
You are certainly full of secrets.
Are you mad I made the macarons
last night without you?
I'm still counting on you
to help me make them for the gala.
The macarons are the least of it.
I'm sorry. I don't understand.
Why act like you're so nervous
about the gala?
With your connections,
you have nothing to worry about.
My connections?
I saw the two of you together
last night in the courtyard.
Me and Nick?
He's not your ex, is he?
I didn't know.
I am most certainly
not dating Prince Nicholas.
What? Prince who...
Prince Nicholas is off limits.
The rules are clearly stated
in the binder.
Don't you mean
Nick the handyman?
What?
Quick, tidy up. Queen Charlotte
is coming this way
with Prince Nicholas's special guest.
Of course, we look forward
to seeing you too. Thank you.
Thanks for the loan, no new scratches
on me or the car.
I'm relieved.
What did you think of Jess?
She's great.
Out of your league.
How'd she take the royal news?
I'm telling her tonight.
There wasn't enough time to explain
everything properly.
Or you're just a royal chicken.
That too.
But she genuinely likes me for me,
and I've never experienced that before.
Everybody always knows me
as a prince first.
You want to be the one to tell her.
Definitely.
So don't dilly-dally.
And finally, I'd like to introduce you
to our kitchen staff.
First we have our head chef, Angela,
our guest chef, Chef Jess,
and that's Chef Rachel.
Lily?
Do you two know each other?
No, I assure you we do not,
as I have never been called Lily.
Oh. Sorry, I must be mistaken.
It's fine. No harm.
Now that we have that settled,
I would like everyone to welcome
Lilith like she's part of the family.
She will be attending the gala
as Nicholas's special guest.
It's an honor.
We are all here to serve you.
If there's anything you need,
other than your imported glacier water,
your hand-churned butter
for your scones,
or your white truffle oil from Alba,
please let one of us know.
Oh, you are so sweet, but, I certainly
wouldn't want to be any trouble.
It's no trouble at all.
The cooking staff is here to serve you.
Now, let me show you to your room
so you can rest.
With the gala only two days away,
I've made a reservation for you
and Nicholas at the chateau
so our wonderful cooking staff
can stay focused.
Right this way.
I'll be right back,
I forgot something in my room.
Come in.
Are you okay? Chef Angela
wanted me to check on you.
I assume you're upset
because you didn't know
Prince Nicholas had invited
a special guest to the gala.
It's worse. I didn't even know
he was Prince Nicholas.
What?
He told me he was Nick,
the royal handyman.
What?
Prince Nicholas, a handyman?
You definitely didn't read the binder.
Yeah, that's what he told me.
Why would he lie?
I don't know.
But I guess
it doesn't really matter anymore.
He and Lilith will be riding off
into their fairytale sunset.
Have you really met Lilith before?
I'm certain of it.
You never forget
the person who bullied you
throughout primary school.
No, you don't.
And now I get to cater to her
every whim.
How did I get so fortunate?
I should get back to the kitchen.
We have a lot to do.
What do you want me
to tell Chef Angela?
Nothing. I'm coming with you.
We'll get through this gala together.
All right then. Let's do this.
Overnight delivery for Jess.
What is that?
You'll see.
Bells? I didn't think
you could get any more festive.
My mom always said it's hard
not to be happy when you jingle,
but I could take them off.
I don't wanna be a distraction.
By all means,
wear your bells and be happy.
The palace has much to celebrate
this holiday season.
Are you receiving packages here?
Yes. I hope that's okay.
I needed the special candy canes
for my mom's candy cane cocoa.
I'll be making it for the gala.
Special candy canes?
I didn't think there was such a thing.
My mother was from Germany,
and she swore
that her hometown
made the first and best candy canes.
I think it's exactly what we need.
Only the best for the gala.
I could prepare you a cup
for your approval.
I like your initiative.
Please, carry on.
I came to find you.
I want you to take Nicholas and Lilith
on a romantic drive after dinner.
Show her around Verdonia.
Of course, whatever you wish.
Good.
Oh, come in.
I'm excited to try this.
I love cocoa.
Hmm, delicious.
The peppermint is exquisite.
It's like Christmas in a cup.
That's what we'll call it,
if that's all right with you.
I know it's your mother's recipe.
Christmas in a cup.
She would've loved that.
It'll be the hit of the gala.
Thank you, Queen Charlotte.
Thank you, Jess.
I am stuffed.
How was your dinner?
Underwhelming.
It could have been better.
Sorry to hear that.
Oh, no, I'm, I'm often disappointed
by things that don't quite live up
to my standards.
Speaking of, I, uh, I had assumed
that there would be paparazzi
and, you know, that everyone
would recognize us while we were out.
This is the prince.
No, the staff here go
to great lengths
to allow my family
to dine privately, so.
Oh, I suppose that's okay.
Um, so tell me about the gala.
- Will I be introduced as your date?
- Oh, it's not...
Will there be a royal photographer?
Oh, formal photos would be so lovely,
especially one day
they'd be really good for...
Whoa, whoa, stop, hey.
Please don't finish that sentence.
What?
When your mother invited me,
she insinuated that I was one
of the few women
that she thought would be fit
to be your...
- No, really, stop.
- What?
I can assure you I am the only one
to make that decision.
I think this has all been
a huge misunderstanding,
and I, think it's best
if you don't attend the gala.
That's fine.
I'm sorry, sir.
Was it the food?
No, the food was perfect,
as always.
It was me.
I'm afraid I offended
my dinner companion.
I'm sorry to hear that, sir.
Don't be,
she's not who I should have been
sharing this lovely meal with anyway.
If I may offer some advice,
you should go to her.
Wait, I'm not finished.
Nicholas, are you jingling?
Indeed, I am. Someone special
gave these to me
and said it's impossible
to be unhappy when you jingle.
I've heard that recently myself.
Seems to be working so far.
How was your evening?
We weren't expecting you home
so early.
Yeah.
It was a disaster.
And Lilith will not
be attending the gala.
What?
Mother, you need to stop
trying to play matchmaker.
It's not the same as setting up
play dates when I was a child.
Don't be so dramatic, Nicholas.
Darling, he's right.
Nicholas needs
to find someone on his own terms.
Thank you, Father.
Goodnight.
Don't worry,
I'm sure
he'll find the perfect woman.
You know, the heart wants
what it wants,
or else it doesn't care.
Are you really using a quote
from Emily Dickinson against me?
Believe I just did.
So let me get this straight.
You are supposed to go meet
Prince Nicholas tonight in the courtyard,
and you're standing him up?
No, I'm standing up
Nick the handyman.
Prince Nicholas
is someone I've never met.
What time
are you supposed to meet?
10:00.
It's already 10:10.
Don't you think
you should go talk to him?
With his special guest in town,
I doubt he'll be
at the courtyard either.
I thought you didn't care.
I don't.
But if I did care,
it would be about someone
who's only focused on me.
Look, I've known
Prince Nicholas a long time.
And trust me,
by the way he's acting,
he is only focused on you.
Go talk to him.
It's nice to meet you,
Prince Nicholas.
Believe me, I was gonna tell you
today at the shelter.
We just ran out of time.
Remember I told you
there was something else
that I wanted
to talk to you about tonight?
Honestly, I'm more upset about Lilith,
your special guest.
Mother's special guest.
You didn't invite her?
Of course not.
I knew nothing about her.
I was told
it was for diplomatic relations.
That's an interesting way
of putting it.
As a matter of fact, tonight at dinner,
I told her that she should not
attend the gala.
You uninvited me to the gala for this,
this tiny little...
Really, stop.
Don't say anything that you'll regret.
That I'll regret?
I think I'll excuse myself
and let you handle this situation.
Wait. Are we good?
I think so.
Is everything okay?
I'm sorry, but I need your advice.
I don't know what to do.
I just learned that Nick the handyman
is Prince Nicholas.
Wait, what?
You're dating Prince Nicholas?
The handsome Prince Nicholas?
That's the one.
How did you not know?
Oh, yeah, that's right.
The binder, I know,
I didn't read the binder.
But what do I do?
I really like him.
What's so funny?
You guys are both
pretending to be someone else.
In a way, that means
the prince has fallen for me.
I better tell Eric
he has some competition.
Focus, please.
I'd start by telling him the truth
about who you are too.
Then let him worry
about his family's rules.
Good morning, Queen Charlotte.
I hope you enjoyed your breakfast.
May I get you anything else?
No, thank you.
I'm here to speak with Jess.
Oh, my apologies, ma'am.
She's not in yet.
We stagger our shifts.
I'm happy to send for her.
Not necessary.
Just have her come to the study
before she starts working.
Of course, ma'am.
Oh, Chef Angela asked me
to let you know
that Queen Charlotte wants to see you
in her study before you start your shift.
Oh no. Do you think she found out
about me and Nick?
That's what I was thinking.
You might wanna hurry.
There you are.
Please come in.
I'm actually surprised
how difficult this is for me.
But I'm afraid
I'm going to have to let you go.
This country and our castle
are run with honor,
and you have not lived up to it.
The rules are clearly spelled out
in the binder.
I'm so sorry, Queen Charlotte.
I didn't mean break the rules.
I didn't...
We've arranged for you to be
on the first flight back to America.
What about the gala,
and the desserts?
Your presence will only be
more difficult for my son.
Chef Angela and Chef Rachel
will have to handle it all.
It won't be as good,
but with Lilith leaving,
somehow it just doesn't seem
as important.
I don't know what else to say
except I'm deeply sorry.
I'm certainly glad this charade
didn't last any longer.
Nicholas's heart is already broken.
That will be all.
I regret having to tell you
that I am sending our guest chef home
before the gala.
There will be no more mention of her
in the castle.
I trust the two of you
will be able to handle everything.
Yes, ma'am, whatever you need.
Thank you. I'm grateful.
What are you working on?
Reginald is taking Lilith
to the airport shortly.
So I'm preparing a basket
of all her specially requested items
as a parting gift.
I've prepared some of your favorite
things for your travels home.
Oh, you really ought to watch
where you're walking,
especially in such,
uh, confined quarters.
Thank you so much
for the basket though.
It was really very thoughtful of you.
That doesn't look good.
I need to take you to go get an X-ray.
No, get someone else to take me.
Just get her out of here.
Shall we?
Lovely meeting you.
Hey, is everything okay?
No, nothing is okay.
They're gonna have to cancel the gala.
It's Chef Angela.
What happened?
Lily. Lily happened.
I'm not following.
Lily tripped Chef Angela
as she was leaving.
She may have broken her arm.
I told you she was a bully.
Reginald just took her to the hospital.
I've been prepping all day,
but I, I can't do it all myself.
Well, have you told Queen Charlotte?
No, Prince Nicholas heard
what happened
and asked us not to tell her.
He's afraid she'll be crushed.
Well, let me help you.
It's the least I can do,
and I'll stay out of sight,
and no one will know I'm still here.
I can't ask you to do that.
Plus, if Queen Charlotte finds out,
it'll be the end for me too.
The desserts won't be as fancy,
but I'll just figure something out.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Chef Angela, are you in here?
I'm sorry, don't be mad.
I just wanted to help.
Did Rachel ask you?
No, actually,
she asked me not to help.
But I kind of feel like
some of this is my fault.
More than some of it.
I know you're mad at me,
but don't let it ruin the gala.
And honestly, you kind of did
the same thing to me,
and I forgave you.
What? The same thing?
This is not the same thing.
I'm not married.
Married? What?
Oh, Jess is married.
Yes, Jess. Mother told me
you're married.
No, no, I'm not married.
I'm not even Jess.
She's my best friend,
and she is very married, and pregnant.
She found out right before
she was supposed to come here
and didn't wanna cancel last minute,
so I came in her place.
So you are not married?
No, I am most definitely not married.
My name is Emily.
Emily Parker.
And I'm sorry I wasn't truthful
about who I am,
but, I thought that's why
your mom fired me
and why you were mad.
Because I was pretending
to be someone I'm not.
I guess we both have that
in common.
Is it broken?
Yes, and it's too swollen for a cast,
so, I must wear this for now.
What are you two up to?
Um, making macarons for the gala.
I thought you were banned
from the palace.
Did Queen Charlotte
approve you being here?
No, I did,
and Mother must not find out
about any of this until after the gala.
Are you still able to oversee
everything tomorrow?
Of course.
I still have one good arm.
Then I will finish them tonight.
We will finish them.
Mother's coming.
How is everything going?
I was just coming to check on that.
Uh, Chef Angela, Chef Rachel
have everything under control.
Excellent.
Our guests will be here soon.
Oh, you decided to make
the macarons?
I didn't think there'd be enough time.
Chef Rachel stayed up late
to make them, right?
Mm-hmm, yes, that's right.
It appears you two
have handled everything.
Come, Nicholas,
we need to prepare for our guests.
I can't believe we pulled it off.
Thank you both for making it happen.
I think we should hug.
- Oh, my arm.
- Sorry, sorry.
Oh, but I'm full.
I'll take one, actually.
Very wise.
Oh, darling,
you've outdone yourself again.
You really have, Mother.
Everyone's having a great time.
Indeed, it's a wonderful party.
Nice.
Oh. Thank you, Reginald.
If you'll excuse me, there's something
urgent I must attend to.
Mother, I'm sure everything
is absolutely fine in the kitchen.
Where is she?
Lilith left.
I'm quite aware she left.
And I'm also aware of the disaster
she left behind.
Now, where's Jess?
I know she made the cocoa.
I'm sorry, Queen Charlotte.
I know you asked me to go,
but, I couldn't leave Rachel
to handle everything
after Chef Angela got hurt.
Well, that's quite admirable of you,
especially after the way
I treated you,
but I can't condone
what you've done.
Uh, Mother.
I'd like you to meet Emily,
Jess's very single best friend.
Don't worry,
I'll explain everything later,
but, for now,
you have a gala to attend to.
My darling,
our guests are calling for you.
Very well.
You should go back to the gala too.
I think we have everything
under control now.
Only if you promise to meet me
in the courtyard tonight at 10.
What is that?
Open it and see.
You remembered
that I love snow globes.
It's Verdonia.
It's beautiful.
Not as beautiful as you.
And if I have my way, one day,
the real Verdonia will be yours.
Hi, Queen Charlotte.
Hello, Lilith.
I'm so happy to see you.
I just wanted to say thank you so much
for not making me wear
those awful prison uniforms.
I mean, orange is really not my color.
You have yet to ask
how Chef Angela is doing.
Oh, I, I was just about to.
Uh, I feel just absolutely terrible
that she had that accident,
and she fell, and she tripped
and hurt herself.
I mean, this has all just been
a really big misunderstanding.
We've convinced Chef Angela
not to press charges.
And we, the royal family, are declined
to pursue any legal action against you.
Thank you.
Under one condition.
I marry your son?
No, you are banned from
the country of Verdonia forever.
A ROYAL CHRISTMAS SECREFAST TITLES MEDIA
at the restaurant for me.
After you burned your third order
of salmon,
I realized you might be doing
more harm than good.
For the record,
I only burned two.
Okay, two.
I'm still worried about you.
You don't have to worry about me.
I'm fine.
I know this is about Steven.
Are you guys okay?
We're over.
What? Just last week,
you said that he might be the one.
Hey Em, it's me.
Speak of the devil.
I have nothing to say to him.
Go tell him that.
I'll wait in the other room.
Em, hey, I didn't mean to upset you.
Honestly, I, I don't even know
what I did exactly. Um.
That's the problem.
Okay, well, but can we maybe sit down
and talk about it for a minute?
No, you won't be here long.
We have nothing to discuss.
Oh, I don't understand.
One minute, we were drinkin'
hot chocolate, right, and then...
You mean my mom's
special candy cane cocoa?
Yeah, okay, yeah, it was a very special,
your mom's very special hot chocolate.
See, this is exactly what I mean.
You'll never get it.
It's over, Steven.
No, Em, please, come on,
I, I can get into
the hot chocolate candy canes.
Or I'll, I'll watch Love Actually again.
I won't even make jokes this time.
That was rough.
Good morning, Mother.
Good morning, Nicholas.
You're certainly up early
this morning.
The annual Christmas gala
is less than a week away,
and there's still so much to do.
But why are you up so early?
I told Leo I'd go to the shelter with him
to help build the playground equipment
that you and Father donated.
That's very sweet of you.
But don't they have people for that?
Yes, they do.
And you're looking at one of them.
We're called volunteers.
Nicholas, I know what a volunteer is.
I'm proud of all you do
for the women's shelter.
I only wish youwere this dedicated
to your royal duties.
Royal duties? You and Father
don't give me any royal duties
unless my royal duties are
a few ribbon cuttings
and public appearances
while I wait for Father to die so I can
become the next king of Verdonia.
Don't say things like that,
even in jest.
Sorry, Father, uh, only kidding.
Oh, I know you are, son.
Succession is a patient man's game.
Don't worry.
I remember the feeling very well.
Richard, don't encourage him.
Darling, he's right.
He's not a child.
We need to start giving him more
responsibilities to prepare him.
One day, the country
will be his to run.
I'll let you two sort this out.
Leo's waiting for me.
Don't look so sad.
He's putting his time to good use,
helping with Leo in the shelter.
I know, you're right.
We're lucky to have him.
I only wish he had this much energy
finding Verdonia's next queen
and having a family of his own.
Darling, when Nicholas
does find a wife,
what will that leave you
to worry about?
Very funny.
For your information, right now,
I'm worried about the gala.
This one has to be extra special.
Why is that?
Oh dear, I've seen this look before.
I do believe my lovely wife
is up to something.
You'll know soon enough.
You know what I always say,
there are two kinds of people
in this world.
Oh no, not this again.
Those who love Christmas
and Scrooges.
Well, what if Steven isn't exactly
a Christmas kind of guy?
That's an understatement.
He's definitely a Scrooge.
I was so excited to show him
my decorations.
I invited him over for some
of my mom's candy cane cocoa.
I love her candy cane cocoa.
Well, he didn't. He was all bah-humbug
and no ho-ho-ho.
He literally said, and I quote,
Doesn't this all seem a little excessive?
- It's not funny.
- I know.
You know, growing up, my mom
and I didn't have much money
but, she somehow always managed
to make Christmas magical.
Our house was filled
with homemade decorations
and always smelled
of her candy cane cocoa.
Christmas carols played 24/7,
and she always wore this pin
that her mother gave her,
every day in December.
Did you explain that to him?
Christmas is a feeling.
You either have it, or you don't,
and I can't make him.
I'm sorry, Emily.
Queen Charlotte,
how may I assist you?
Good morning, Angela.
Do you need anything from me
for the gala?
I can't belive it's almost here.
Uh, no, ma'am.
I've been coordinating everything
with the house staff,
and our guest chef arrives
tomorrow morning.
Did you see her resume?
She's a very talented pastry chef.
Yes, ma'am, she's exactly
who I would have picked
if you would've allowed me
to do the hiring for the kitchen.
You know I take that responsibility
very seriously.
Bringing someone to work
in the castle
is like bringing someone
into our home.
Everyone must be thoroughly vetted.
Yes, ma'am, I completely understand.
Plus this year needs to be
the gala of them all,
for our special guest.
Special guest, ma'am?
I haven't been made aware
that we are expecting anyone.
That's why I am telling you now.
I've invited someone very special
to accompany Nicholas this year.
So exciting.
He must be thrilled.
I sure hope he will be.
Prince Nicholas doesn't know, ma'am?
He will soon enough.
And that reminds me, I need
to check in with her. Carry on.
This gala just got very exciting.
Packing is so difficult.
I'm sorry, ma'am,
but we've still got quite a lot of things
to go through.
It's impossible to decide
which things I can do without.
How could you choose,
when you look good in everything?
Here they come.
I'm not a baby.
Get off.
This is sliced incorrectly.
Who is calling me at this hour?
It's Queen Charlotte, ma'am.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Give it to me.
Hi. Good morning,
Queen Charlotte.
Lilith, darling, how are you?
Oh, I, I'm wonderful.
My, my assistant and I are having
a glorious time packing for my trip.
Oh, that's wonderful.
We've updated your itinerary.
The royal jet will pick you promptly up
at six o'clock.
Oh, I, I don't wanna be any trouble,
but I really appreciate it.
It's our pleasure.
We're excited to have you here
for the gala.
We'll see you soon.
Thank you, and bye.
Could this be any more exhausting?
I'm sorry, miss, but meeting
the prince will certainly be worth it.
Meet the prince?
Oh, if all goes according to plan,
you will soon be attending
to Princess Lilith,
wife to the future king of Verdonia.
You're in a good mood this morning.
Well, Mom always said it's hard
not to be happy when you jingle, so.
So I wanted to tell you yesterday,
but you were too upset.
What is it? Are you okay?
I'm better than okay.
I'm pregnant.
Congratulations!
I'm so excited for you.
I thought you stopped trying.
We stopped the fertility treatments,
but I went to the doctor yesterday
to confirm,
and she said, sometimes,
when people stop feeling the pressure,
it just happens naturally.
You and Eric must be so thrilled.
Oh, we are.
But it means I have to turn down
that guest chef job
in Verdonia last minute.
Have you talked to your doctor
about travel?
It wouldn't be for too long.
You sound just like Eric.
The doctor said
it shouldn't be a problem,
but, I'm not willing to risk it.
I mean, this baby's all
we've ever wanted.
I applied for the position
when we stopped the treatments.
Verdonia was supposed
to take my mind off of everything.
Wait, Emily, you should go
in my place.
- What?
- Yes.
No, no, I... No, I, I don't know
anything about any of it.
They, they wouldn't want me.
That's not what I mean.
Go as me.
You mean...
- Pretend to be me.
- That's crazy.
Okay, royal families
are your thing, not mine.
But besides, I don't even know
where Ferdonia is.
It's Verdonia, not Ferdonia,
and it's a small country in Europe.
You can learn. You're perfect.
Well, I am perfect, but I'm not you.
Besides you interviewed
with the queen personally.
She's not gonna fall for it.
Are you kidding?
It was a phone call.
She doesn't even know
what I look like.
Plus it's the queen.
She probably doesn't remember
with everything she has goin' on.
Come on, the time away from Steven
will be really good for you.
Plus the queen said
she wants me to bring American
Christmas spirit to their gala.
She really said Christmas spirit?
Yep.
Okay, I know it'll work.
You were supposed to cover for me
at the restaurant while I was gone,
so I'll cover for you instead.
Maybe.
There's your Christmas spirit.
Okay, but what about flights?
They reimbursed me to book my own,
and I got travel insurance,
so it'll be easy peasy.
We better get you packed, okay.
You have a flight tonight.
We come here all the time.
Why are you so paranoid?
There are no tabloid photographers
or super fans here.
You're right, we come here all the time,
and I'm always paranoid.
You have a point.
I guess you are consistent.
Here, put this on
before we get mobbed.
Okay, so I was wrong.
There are a couple of fans here.
But they're not here for me, mate.
I'm not the prince.
I guess you haven't read the latest
edition of the "Daily Spark".
"A Tale of Two Bachelors"?
"Verdonia's two most eligible
bachelors are none other"
"than Prince Nicholas
and his best friend, Leo Stanford."
"Chums since primary school,"
"it is common that
when you see one of them,"
"the other is close behind."
So put this on
before we get mobbed.
Try asking me nicely.
You happen to be talking to one of
Verdonia's most eligible bachelors.
Just put it on.
That's a lot of red and green.
Oh, and jingle bells.
Well, you said that Queen Eliz...
No, Queen...
Queen Charlotte.
Right, Queen Charlotte requested
some American Christmas spirit.
And who am I to deny royalty?
Yeah, you should learn her name.
Do you know her husband's name?
It's King Richard,
and her son is Prince Nicholas.
Have you even looked at this binder?
It has everything you need to know.
Well, to be fair,
you just dropped it off this morning.
They have a son?
I think it'd be cute to have a kid
running around for the holidays,
a little prince.
Yeah, you need to study the binder.
Prince Nicholas isn't a little boy.
He's our age.
And he's cute and single.
Do you have anything red, green,
and lacy in here?
Not funny.
Hey, a royal fling would be
a great way to get over Steven.
But you are pretending to be me,
so you need to uphold
my excellent reputation.
Well, I'm sure a royal fling
is forbidden.
Maybe. I guess I probably should have
read that binder too, huh?
All right, let's go. Security's always
worse for international flights.
It's so beautiful.
It is.
Yes, it's very impressive,
but this is the main house.
We're headed to the kitchen.
I'll go find Chef Angela.
You wait here.
Thank you, I'll, uh, start
getting familiar with the place.
I like you, Jess, so I'm gonna give you
a friendly piece of advice.
Don't do anything
until Chef Angela fills you in
on how she likes things done.
She's particular.
I'm sorry,
I don't mean to frighten you.
You'll get used to it,
if you stick around.
What have I've gotten myself into?
That is an excellent question.
I have one too.
Who are you?
Sorry, I was just talking to myself.
I'm Em, um...
Jess, Jess Walters.
And you? Do you work here?
Work here?
Something like that.
I take it you're new,
and you sound American.
Yes, I'm new and American.
I'm a chef.
I was brought here to help
with the annual Christmas gala.
Excellent. Holidays are
a very busy time around here.
Have you worked here for long?
I feel like I've been here
my whole life.
Yet sometimes, I guess,
I feel out of place.
Oh, so like a freelancer?
I'm busy right now.
Show her to her room.
Oh, I'd better get out of here
so I don't get you in trouble
with Chef Angela on your first day.
I'm Nick, by the way.
It's nice to meet you, Nick.
Maybe I'll see you around the castle.
I'd be happy to give you
a private tour of the place.
You can do that?
I thought
the royals were very particular.
Get her changed.
I'll be there in 30 minutes.
I'll be in the study tonight
at 10 o'clock, if you're interested.
Third door on the right, upstairs.
Chef Angela asked me
to show you to your room
so you could get changed before
the two of you get started.
This way.
This is one of our smaller rooms,
but Chef Angela felt
it would be adequate
since you're only here
for a short time.
Through that door,
you have a private bathroom.
And your chef whites are in here
that you can wear while
you're working here, if you need.
That's sweet, but I actually
brought my own.
Ah, well, if you don't have
any questions for me,
Chef Angela is expecting you
in the kitchen in half an hour
to get things started.
Thank you, Reginald.
It is my pleasure.
Oh, and don't worry about a thing.
You're going to do great.
Excuse me. Chef Angela?
I heard you, Jess.
One moment.
It's nice to meet you, chef Angela.
Your chef whites
aren't exactly white.
Um, yeah,
I hope that's not a problem.
When I interviewed with the Queen,
Her Majesty,
Her Royal Highness...
I'm sorry. What do we call her?
Her name is Queen Charlotte,
and we don't call her anything.
I doubt you'll have an occasion
to speak with her.
Noted. Well, when I interviewed
with Queen Charlotte,
she said she wanted me to bring some
American Christmas spirit to the castle.
Even if she did say that,
I'm concerned
that what you are wearing
might be a bit too festive,
even for the queen.
What might be too festive for me?
My apologies.
I did not mean to speak for you.
I'm concerned that
what our guest chef is wearing
might be a bit too festive.
You know what, it's okay.
I'll, I'll just go change.
No. Don't.
I quite like it.
It's very festive.
I don't know
why we haven't done it sooner.
Order them for everyone.
Yes, ma'am. I'll take care of it.
Your brooch is lovely.
It was my mother's.
I must say, you sound a little different
than you did on the phone.
I never forget a voice.
Yeah, actually,
I was recovering
from a really bad cold.
I was trying to make it,
you know, not too obvious.
Yes. That must be it.
Well, Jess, welcome to Verdonia.
Thank you, Your Majesty,
Royal Highness.
Don't expect that much interaction
with the queen in the future.
Yes, chef.
We have work to do.
Come stir this.
How's everything?
How's the palace?
How was your first day?
Oh, I'm so jealous.
Don't be, I just got on break,
and I'm pretty sure the head chef
already hates me.
Well, you technically.
That's crazy. Nobody hates you.
Well, she does. But I'm pretty sure
she might hate everyone.
Okay. How's everything else?
I met someone. His name is Nick.
And he works at the castle too.
In the kitchen?
I'm not sure what he does actually,
but, I can ask him tonight
when he gives me a private tour
of the castle.
Oh, private tour, wow.
Is he cute?
Very, and so is his accent.
Oh, I'm so excited for you.
Me too, but I should probably
get back to work.
Have fun. Keep me posted.
Bye.
Jess, you made it.
Are you sure we're allowed
to wander around the castle?
Did anyone tell you not to?
No, but I didn't really get through
the whole binder.
Binder?
Yeah, the big book of rules.
Oh, maybe it's just
for the kitchen staff.
- Probably not.
- What?
Nothing, I, I just meant
I never received
a binder with a lot of rules.
You've said you've been working here
for a long time, right?
What is it that you do exactly?
Well, I, um, build stuff.
I was actually
just chatting about my duties
with my boss earlier today
after I'd built a swing set.
Oh, so you're like a handyman.
Yeah, you could say that.
Great, if anything in the kitchen breaks,
I'll let you know.
You never know when
you're gonna need a royal handyman.
Well, what about right now,
for the tour?
This is the study.
I wouldn't come
in here during the day.
Queen Charlotte uses it to work.
She uses it as an office.
Oh, I actually met Queen Charlotte
earlier today.
She was really lovely to me.
Really? That's nice to hear.
She was a lot more welcoming
than Chef Angela.
Not surprising.
Come on, I'll show you the rest
of the castle.
Finally, a room I'm familiar with.
Can I make you a hot cocoa
to warm up?
I love cocoa.
Uh, maybe I should help.
Cocoa's actually my specialty.
Thank you for the tour.
With all the Christmas decorations,
the castle feels
like a winter wonderland.
Do you like Christmas?
Of course. Who doesn't?
Christmas always makes me feel
like a kid again.
When I was younger, I used
to lay under the Christmas tree
for hours just staring up
at the lights.
It felt like I was in a snow globe.
I probably sound crazy.
But I just love snow globes.
No, it sounds incredible.
What is this that you sprinkled
on top of the whipped cream?
A little Christmas magic.
See if you can guess.
Peppermint. It's delicious.
That is the best cocoa I've ever had.
It's my mom's candy cane cocoa.
Cheers.
You have a little...
There's still more.
I had a really nice time tonight,
but, my day starts early tomorrow,
so, I should probably get to bed.
It's a good idea.
I'd love to see you again,
though, before you leave.
Chef Angela hasn't given me
my schedule yet,
but, I'd like that too.
Goodnight, Jess.
Goodnight, Nick.
Wow, that was fast.
Took me a week to get mine.
Well, you are not the queen.
This is Rachel.
She was off yesterday.
Welcome, Jess.
I hear these were your idea.
- I love them.
- Thank you. It's nice...
Enough chitchat.
I am going to meet Gloria
to discuss the tablescapes for the gala.
Rachel, I will need for you
to start lunch.
Yes, chef.
And Jess, I need you
to inventory the pantry
so that we can order whatever it is
you might need for your desserts.
Desserts?
For the gala.
The queen chose you specifically
because you're a pastry chef.
Yes, of course.
I am a pastry chef.
And you'll run everything by me,
and no more crazy uniforms.
I don't wanna come in dressed
like an elf tomorrow.
Are you okay?
You look sort of pale.
Yeah, I'm, I'm fine.
Don't worry,
your award-winning macarons
will be the hit of the gala.
Yeah, could you excuse me
for a moment,
I, forgot something in my room.
I'd hurry back if I were you.
There you are.
Okay, spill the tea, now.
There's no time for that.
We have a big problem.
Why didn't you tell me
you put your award winning macarons
on your resume?
I was so worried about all the rules
that I forgot about the cooking.
Okay, well, they only hired me,
I mean you,
because you're a pastry chef.
Okay, it will be okay.
You can do it.
No, I haven't made macarons
since culinary school,
and they were more like
tiny pastel tragedies.
All right, don't worry.
I'll, I'll teach you all my tricks.
Great. I can see it now.
I'll put you on video call,
and you can teach me
how to make macarons
while Chef Angela watches.
Okay, your night is my morning.
So we'll just, we'll do it
when everyone's asleep.
Actually, that might work.
Okay, what else do you think
I should make?
Ooh, make your tarts.
Everyone loves those.
Just, just make 'em mini, so, you know,
fancy people always love small foods.
Yeah, mini tarts. I can do that.
Oh my gosh, you should serve
your mom's candy cane cocoas
in little espresso cups.
That'd be so cute, with the whipped
cream and the candy cane dust.
That's a great idea.
Okay, I should probably head back
before chef Angela notices I'm gone.
Chef Jess, do you have a minute?
I should really be getting back
to the kitchen.
But sure.
Do you need something?
I want you to know that I saw you
last night, having cocoa.
You need to be careful.
Of Nick?
Nick?
Yeah. He seems like a great guy.
Am I missing something?
Do you work with him?
No, I don't work with Nick.
Then what's with the warning?
Is it his family?
Well, yes.
But he seems so sweet.
Don't tell me his family is
with the Verdonia mafia or something.
No, he's not a member of the mafia.
Look, I know you're only here
a short time,
but Queen Charlotte
has some pretty strict rules.
Does the palace
have no fraternizing rule?
Well, I'm certain the queen
would frown on you
starting any type of relationship
with Nick.
Well, I appreciate your warning,
but, Nick's just being friendly.
Is that all?
Um, yes.
Don't worry, you're safe.
Chef Angela hasn't returned.
I'm happy to help you
with the desserts.
I'd love to learn.
Really?
That would be great.
Oh, and my room is right
next door to yours.
I could come over later
and show you some pictures
I took of last year's gala.
That would be amazing.
Thank you so much
for printing these out for me.
Of course. It's nice having
someone my age in the castle.
I'm excited to work with you too.
These are definitely giving me
a better idea of what to expect.
I'm glad. I honestly think the key
is having just lots of little desserts
so the guests can try them all.
My friend Jess said the same thing.
You have a friend named Jess too?
Yeah, it's the craziest thing.
Doesn't that get confusing?
Yeah, lately it really does.
Well, I have the early shift tomorrow,
so I should get to bed.
But don't worry, if you need anything,
I'm here for you.
Thank you.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Interesting text?
You shouldn't scare
your mother like that.
I just came to say goodnight, Mother.
What are you hiding?
Nothing. I guess I'm just
feeling very hopeful.
I'm feeling hopeful too.
Before I forget, you're having dinner
at the chateau tomorrow night
with Lilith Abernathy.
Is this another one of your setups?
Darling, you asked
for more responsibility.
Consider this diplomatic relations.
Your reservations are at seven.
What a coincidence!
I have Friday morning off too.
Yes, right, Mom, I'm going to learn
how to make macarons
from an award-winning pastry chef.
You and me both.
Great. You know,
I think it's a good idea
you're doing a trial run
in the palace's oven before the party.
Macarons can be
very temperamental.
Do these look right?
Yes, they're perfect.
Okay, now bang the pans
on the counter to pop the air bubbles,
but let 'em dry for an hour
before you bake 'em.
Behind you.
Oh, I gotta go.
Hi.
You're making macarons?
My favorite.
They're my specialty.
The queen requested
I make them for the gala,
so I'm just testing out
the palace ovens.
Macarons can be
very temperamental.
Makes sense. Can I help?
Sure.
The next step is banging them
on the counter
to get all the air bubbles out.
Like this.
This is fun.
What are you doing up so late?
Uh, gettin' a snack.
Uh, what do we do now?
Now we let the dough dry out
for an hour, and then bake 'em.
Oh, so you have an hour to kill?
I guess so.
Go get your coat.
I wanna show you something.
I promise I'll have you back
within an hour.
Castle's so peaceful
this time of year.
It's so beautiful.
Yes it is.
I love spending time out here.
I can see why.
I hate for this to end, but I, promised
I'd get you back in an hour, so.
I guess we should go back.
I had a really...
- I'm sorry, I shouldn't...
- No, it's okay.
Well, I'll leave you
to your macarons.
I had fun tonight.
Me too.
You still good to go out with me
tomorrow morning?
Of course.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la
Who made the macarons?
Apparently, Jess did, last night.
She used the kitchen, after hours?
Didn't she read the binder?
I think it shows initiative.
The gala is fast approaching,
and, everything must be perfect.
A surprise visit
from His Royal Highness.
Avoiding your mother again?
No. I come bearing gifts.
Well, actually,
it's more of a bribe.
I'm intrigued.
What secret do you need me
to deny this time?
Very funny, but we both know
you could put me in some real trouble
if you wanted to.
True, very true.
So what do you need?
I wanna bring Jess by
this morning.
But she still doesn't know
I'm a prince.
I thought I thought
you were going to tell her.
I'll tell her after she meets you,
and we show her around the shelter.
There must be something
really special about this one.
You've never wanted
to bring anyone here before.
You're right.
So will you help me?
Of course.
But, I would've done it
without the bribe.
I need you to tell her
just how much my family
helped the shelter,
so she knows we're good people.
That's a brilliant plan.
But I have one question.
What?
How are you going
to bring her here?
I don't drive.
It's going to be a little odd
if Nick the handyman
has his own personal driver.
You don't suppose that she'd buy
that I'm so essential
that they assigned me a driver
to keep me on schedule?
Nobody's that good.
Can I use your car?
No. Not going to happen.
You said it yourself,
you don't drive.
I know how to drive.
Driving the golf cart around
the palace grounds does not count.
Then teach me. Quick.
You want to drive my car,
my hunk of junk, as you call it?
It's perfect.
It's exactly
what a normal handyman would drive.
And if I wreck it,
it's still a hunk of junk.
Get your keys. I'll tell Reginald
to go back to the palace.
That was fantastic.
Fantastic is not the terminology
I would use.
We were in an empty parking lot,
and you almost killed me twice.
You're exaggerating.
Plus I'm only going between here
and the castle.
I'll take the back roads.
This goes against all
of my better judgment.
But if you wreck my car,
I'll just tell your mother you stole it.
Probably wise.
Good morning, Jess.
Someone had
a busy night last night.
That's an understatement.
I'm sorry. I probably
should have asked.
I decided to test out the ovens
last night when I couldn't sleep.
I think I'm still getting used
to the time difference.
No need to apologize.
Your macarons are lovely.
They'll be perfect for the gala.
I'm glad you like them.
I also finished inventory.
I left a list of all the ingredients
I'll need for the desserts
on your clipboard.
Excellent. Enjoy your morning.
We have a busy afternoon
ahead of us.
I'll be back by noon, ready to work.
What do you have planned
this morning?
Uh, just going to explore Verdonia.
I was worried you weren't coming.
Sorry, I stopped by the kitchen
to see what Chef Angela thought
of the macarons.
And?
She loved 'em.
See for yourself.
Wow. Best I've ever had.
But you don't seem as happy about that
as I would imagine you would be.
Something seemed off with Rachel.
I hope I didn't upset her.
I wouldn't worry about it.
Rachel's a sweetheart.
I hope you're right.
So where are we going today?
Somewhere very special.
That reminds me,
I brought something special for you.
I don't expect you to wear them,
but hopefully just having them
will make you happy.
Your kind gesture
already made me happy.
Here we are, the waiting room.
Good morning, ladies.
Good morning.
And last but not least, my office.
- Nice.
- Thank you, thank you.
Please make yourself cozy.
Did you see?
That was Prince Nicholas.
Uh, excuse me.
I'm just gonna get a quick drink.
Should I go check on him?
No. He's fine.
And this gives us
a minute to talk.
So what do you think of the place?
Oh, it's amazing.
You're doing such good work here.
And everyone is so nice.
Thank you.
We've got quite a bit of help
from the royal family
and volunteers like Nick.
He really loves it.
I can tell he's proud
of the work he does here.
Nick is one of a kind.
However, hopefully
I'm not overstepping when I tell you
that Nick has been volunteering here
for quite many years
and has never brought
anyone here before.
Really? I'm flattered, I...
Sorry about that. Good as new.
Uh, we'd better go so that we can
get you back to the castle on time.
Oh my gosh, you're right.
This morning just flew by.
- Thank you so much, Leo.
- It was a pleasure.
Thank you for bringing me here today.
I can see why you love
this place so much.
Glad you like it.
There's somethin' else
that I wanted to talk to you about,
but I don't wanna rush it.
Maybe I could meet you
at the courtyard at 10, tonight?
I'd like that.
Hey, I haven't offended you,
have I?
You are certainly full of secrets.
Are you mad I made the macarons
last night without you?
I'm still counting on you
to help me make them for the gala.
The macarons are the least of it.
I'm sorry. I don't understand.
Why act like you're so nervous
about the gala?
With your connections,
you have nothing to worry about.
My connections?
I saw the two of you together
last night in the courtyard.
Me and Nick?
He's not your ex, is he?
I didn't know.
I am most certainly
not dating Prince Nicholas.
What? Prince who...
Prince Nicholas is off limits.
The rules are clearly stated
in the binder.
Don't you mean
Nick the handyman?
What?
Quick, tidy up. Queen Charlotte
is coming this way
with Prince Nicholas's special guest.
Of course, we look forward
to seeing you too. Thank you.
Thanks for the loan, no new scratches
on me or the car.
I'm relieved.
What did you think of Jess?
She's great.
Out of your league.
How'd she take the royal news?
I'm telling her tonight.
There wasn't enough time to explain
everything properly.
Or you're just a royal chicken.
That too.
But she genuinely likes me for me,
and I've never experienced that before.
Everybody always knows me
as a prince first.
You want to be the one to tell her.
Definitely.
So don't dilly-dally.
And finally, I'd like to introduce you
to our kitchen staff.
First we have our head chef, Angela,
our guest chef, Chef Jess,
and that's Chef Rachel.
Lily?
Do you two know each other?
No, I assure you we do not,
as I have never been called Lily.
Oh. Sorry, I must be mistaken.
It's fine. No harm.
Now that we have that settled,
I would like everyone to welcome
Lilith like she's part of the family.
She will be attending the gala
as Nicholas's special guest.
It's an honor.
We are all here to serve you.
If there's anything you need,
other than your imported glacier water,
your hand-churned butter
for your scones,
or your white truffle oil from Alba,
please let one of us know.
Oh, you are so sweet, but, I certainly
wouldn't want to be any trouble.
It's no trouble at all.
The cooking staff is here to serve you.
Now, let me show you to your room
so you can rest.
With the gala only two days away,
I've made a reservation for you
and Nicholas at the chateau
so our wonderful cooking staff
can stay focused.
Right this way.
I'll be right back,
I forgot something in my room.
Come in.
Are you okay? Chef Angela
wanted me to check on you.
I assume you're upset
because you didn't know
Prince Nicholas had invited
a special guest to the gala.
It's worse. I didn't even know
he was Prince Nicholas.
What?
He told me he was Nick,
the royal handyman.
What?
Prince Nicholas, a handyman?
You definitely didn't read the binder.
Yeah, that's what he told me.
Why would he lie?
I don't know.
But I guess
it doesn't really matter anymore.
He and Lilith will be riding off
into their fairytale sunset.
Have you really met Lilith before?
I'm certain of it.
You never forget
the person who bullied you
throughout primary school.
No, you don't.
And now I get to cater to her
every whim.
How did I get so fortunate?
I should get back to the kitchen.
We have a lot to do.
What do you want me
to tell Chef Angela?
Nothing. I'm coming with you.
We'll get through this gala together.
All right then. Let's do this.
Overnight delivery for Jess.
What is that?
You'll see.
Bells? I didn't think
you could get any more festive.
My mom always said it's hard
not to be happy when you jingle,
but I could take them off.
I don't wanna be a distraction.
By all means,
wear your bells and be happy.
The palace has much to celebrate
this holiday season.
Are you receiving packages here?
Yes. I hope that's okay.
I needed the special candy canes
for my mom's candy cane cocoa.
I'll be making it for the gala.
Special candy canes?
I didn't think there was such a thing.
My mother was from Germany,
and she swore
that her hometown
made the first and best candy canes.
I think it's exactly what we need.
Only the best for the gala.
I could prepare you a cup
for your approval.
I like your initiative.
Please, carry on.
I came to find you.
I want you to take Nicholas and Lilith
on a romantic drive after dinner.
Show her around Verdonia.
Of course, whatever you wish.
Good.
Oh, come in.
I'm excited to try this.
I love cocoa.
Hmm, delicious.
The peppermint is exquisite.
It's like Christmas in a cup.
That's what we'll call it,
if that's all right with you.
I know it's your mother's recipe.
Christmas in a cup.
She would've loved that.
It'll be the hit of the gala.
Thank you, Queen Charlotte.
Thank you, Jess.
I am stuffed.
How was your dinner?
Underwhelming.
It could have been better.
Sorry to hear that.
Oh, no, I'm, I'm often disappointed
by things that don't quite live up
to my standards.
Speaking of, I, uh, I had assumed
that there would be paparazzi
and, you know, that everyone
would recognize us while we were out.
This is the prince.
No, the staff here go
to great lengths
to allow my family
to dine privately, so.
Oh, I suppose that's okay.
Um, so tell me about the gala.
- Will I be introduced as your date?
- Oh, it's not...
Will there be a royal photographer?
Oh, formal photos would be so lovely,
especially one day
they'd be really good for...
Whoa, whoa, stop, hey.
Please don't finish that sentence.
What?
When your mother invited me,
she insinuated that I was one
of the few women
that she thought would be fit
to be your...
- No, really, stop.
- What?
I can assure you I am the only one
to make that decision.
I think this has all been
a huge misunderstanding,
and I, think it's best
if you don't attend the gala.
That's fine.
I'm sorry, sir.
Was it the food?
No, the food was perfect,
as always.
It was me.
I'm afraid I offended
my dinner companion.
I'm sorry to hear that, sir.
Don't be,
she's not who I should have been
sharing this lovely meal with anyway.
If I may offer some advice,
you should go to her.
Wait, I'm not finished.
Nicholas, are you jingling?
Indeed, I am. Someone special
gave these to me
and said it's impossible
to be unhappy when you jingle.
I've heard that recently myself.
Seems to be working so far.
How was your evening?
We weren't expecting you home
so early.
Yeah.
It was a disaster.
And Lilith will not
be attending the gala.
What?
Mother, you need to stop
trying to play matchmaker.
It's not the same as setting up
play dates when I was a child.
Don't be so dramatic, Nicholas.
Darling, he's right.
Nicholas needs
to find someone on his own terms.
Thank you, Father.
Goodnight.
Don't worry,
I'm sure
he'll find the perfect woman.
You know, the heart wants
what it wants,
or else it doesn't care.
Are you really using a quote
from Emily Dickinson against me?
Believe I just did.
So let me get this straight.
You are supposed to go meet
Prince Nicholas tonight in the courtyard,
and you're standing him up?
No, I'm standing up
Nick the handyman.
Prince Nicholas
is someone I've never met.
What time
are you supposed to meet?
10:00.
It's already 10:10.
Don't you think
you should go talk to him?
With his special guest in town,
I doubt he'll be
at the courtyard either.
I thought you didn't care.
I don't.
But if I did care,
it would be about someone
who's only focused on me.
Look, I've known
Prince Nicholas a long time.
And trust me,
by the way he's acting,
he is only focused on you.
Go talk to him.
It's nice to meet you,
Prince Nicholas.
Believe me, I was gonna tell you
today at the shelter.
We just ran out of time.
Remember I told you
there was something else
that I wanted
to talk to you about tonight?
Honestly, I'm more upset about Lilith,
your special guest.
Mother's special guest.
You didn't invite her?
Of course not.
I knew nothing about her.
I was told
it was for diplomatic relations.
That's an interesting way
of putting it.
As a matter of fact, tonight at dinner,
I told her that she should not
attend the gala.
You uninvited me to the gala for this,
this tiny little...
Really, stop.
Don't say anything that you'll regret.
That I'll regret?
I think I'll excuse myself
and let you handle this situation.
Wait. Are we good?
I think so.
Is everything okay?
I'm sorry, but I need your advice.
I don't know what to do.
I just learned that Nick the handyman
is Prince Nicholas.
Wait, what?
You're dating Prince Nicholas?
The handsome Prince Nicholas?
That's the one.
How did you not know?
Oh, yeah, that's right.
The binder, I know,
I didn't read the binder.
But what do I do?
I really like him.
What's so funny?
You guys are both
pretending to be someone else.
In a way, that means
the prince has fallen for me.
I better tell Eric
he has some competition.
Focus, please.
I'd start by telling him the truth
about who you are too.
Then let him worry
about his family's rules.
Good morning, Queen Charlotte.
I hope you enjoyed your breakfast.
May I get you anything else?
No, thank you.
I'm here to speak with Jess.
Oh, my apologies, ma'am.
She's not in yet.
We stagger our shifts.
I'm happy to send for her.
Not necessary.
Just have her come to the study
before she starts working.
Of course, ma'am.
Oh, Chef Angela asked me
to let you know
that Queen Charlotte wants to see you
in her study before you start your shift.
Oh no. Do you think she found out
about me and Nick?
That's what I was thinking.
You might wanna hurry.
There you are.
Please come in.
I'm actually surprised
how difficult this is for me.
But I'm afraid
I'm going to have to let you go.
This country and our castle
are run with honor,
and you have not lived up to it.
The rules are clearly spelled out
in the binder.
I'm so sorry, Queen Charlotte.
I didn't mean break the rules.
I didn't...
We've arranged for you to be
on the first flight back to America.
What about the gala,
and the desserts?
Your presence will only be
more difficult for my son.
Chef Angela and Chef Rachel
will have to handle it all.
It won't be as good,
but with Lilith leaving,
somehow it just doesn't seem
as important.
I don't know what else to say
except I'm deeply sorry.
I'm certainly glad this charade
didn't last any longer.
Nicholas's heart is already broken.
That will be all.
I regret having to tell you
that I am sending our guest chef home
before the gala.
There will be no more mention of her
in the castle.
I trust the two of you
will be able to handle everything.
Yes, ma'am, whatever you need.
Thank you. I'm grateful.
What are you working on?
Reginald is taking Lilith
to the airport shortly.
So I'm preparing a basket
of all her specially requested items
as a parting gift.
I've prepared some of your favorite
things for your travels home.
Oh, you really ought to watch
where you're walking,
especially in such,
uh, confined quarters.
Thank you so much
for the basket though.
It was really very thoughtful of you.
That doesn't look good.
I need to take you to go get an X-ray.
No, get someone else to take me.
Just get her out of here.
Shall we?
Lovely meeting you.
Hey, is everything okay?
No, nothing is okay.
They're gonna have to cancel the gala.
It's Chef Angela.
What happened?
Lily. Lily happened.
I'm not following.
Lily tripped Chef Angela
as she was leaving.
She may have broken her arm.
I told you she was a bully.
Reginald just took her to the hospital.
I've been prepping all day,
but I, I can't do it all myself.
Well, have you told Queen Charlotte?
No, Prince Nicholas heard
what happened
and asked us not to tell her.
He's afraid she'll be crushed.
Well, let me help you.
It's the least I can do,
and I'll stay out of sight,
and no one will know I'm still here.
I can't ask you to do that.
Plus, if Queen Charlotte finds out,
it'll be the end for me too.
The desserts won't be as fancy,
but I'll just figure something out.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Chef Angela, are you in here?
I'm sorry, don't be mad.
I just wanted to help.
Did Rachel ask you?
No, actually,
she asked me not to help.
But I kind of feel like
some of this is my fault.
More than some of it.
I know you're mad at me,
but don't let it ruin the gala.
And honestly, you kind of did
the same thing to me,
and I forgave you.
What? The same thing?
This is not the same thing.
I'm not married.
Married? What?
Oh, Jess is married.
Yes, Jess. Mother told me
you're married.
No, no, I'm not married.
I'm not even Jess.
She's my best friend,
and she is very married, and pregnant.
She found out right before
she was supposed to come here
and didn't wanna cancel last minute,
so I came in her place.
So you are not married?
No, I am most definitely not married.
My name is Emily.
Emily Parker.
And I'm sorry I wasn't truthful
about who I am,
but, I thought that's why
your mom fired me
and why you were mad.
Because I was pretending
to be someone I'm not.
I guess we both have that
in common.
Is it broken?
Yes, and it's too swollen for a cast,
so, I must wear this for now.
What are you two up to?
Um, making macarons for the gala.
I thought you were banned
from the palace.
Did Queen Charlotte
approve you being here?
No, I did,
and Mother must not find out
about any of this until after the gala.
Are you still able to oversee
everything tomorrow?
Of course.
I still have one good arm.
Then I will finish them tonight.
We will finish them.
Mother's coming.
How is everything going?
I was just coming to check on that.
Uh, Chef Angela, Chef Rachel
have everything under control.
Excellent.
Our guests will be here soon.
Oh, you decided to make
the macarons?
I didn't think there'd be enough time.
Chef Rachel stayed up late
to make them, right?
Mm-hmm, yes, that's right.
It appears you two
have handled everything.
Come, Nicholas,
we need to prepare for our guests.
I can't believe we pulled it off.
Thank you both for making it happen.
I think we should hug.
- Oh, my arm.
- Sorry, sorry.
Oh, but I'm full.
I'll take one, actually.
Very wise.
Oh, darling,
you've outdone yourself again.
You really have, Mother.
Everyone's having a great time.
Indeed, it's a wonderful party.
Nice.
Oh. Thank you, Reginald.
If you'll excuse me, there's something
urgent I must attend to.
Mother, I'm sure everything
is absolutely fine in the kitchen.
Where is she?
Lilith left.
I'm quite aware she left.
And I'm also aware of the disaster
she left behind.
Now, where's Jess?
I know she made the cocoa.
I'm sorry, Queen Charlotte.
I know you asked me to go,
but, I couldn't leave Rachel
to handle everything
after Chef Angela got hurt.
Well, that's quite admirable of you,
especially after the way
I treated you,
but I can't condone
what you've done.
Uh, Mother.
I'd like you to meet Emily,
Jess's very single best friend.
Don't worry,
I'll explain everything later,
but, for now,
you have a gala to attend to.
My darling,
our guests are calling for you.
Very well.
You should go back to the gala too.
I think we have everything
under control now.
Only if you promise to meet me
in the courtyard tonight at 10.
What is that?
Open it and see.
You remembered
that I love snow globes.
It's Verdonia.
It's beautiful.
Not as beautiful as you.
And if I have my way, one day,
the real Verdonia will be yours.
Hi, Queen Charlotte.
Hello, Lilith.
I'm so happy to see you.
I just wanted to say thank you so much
for not making me wear
those awful prison uniforms.
I mean, orange is really not my color.
You have yet to ask
how Chef Angela is doing.
Oh, I, I was just about to.
Uh, I feel just absolutely terrible
that she had that accident,
and she fell, and she tripped
and hurt herself.
I mean, this has all just been
a really big misunderstanding.
We've convinced Chef Angela
not to press charges.
And we, the royal family, are declined
to pursue any legal action against you.
Thank you.
Under one condition.
I marry your son?
No, you are banned from
the country of Verdonia forever.
A ROYAL CHRISTMAS SECREFAST TITLES MEDIA