Chapter One
Claudie: The Future Modern Queen

"When I had my first child, Marie, she really changed the context of my life and my priorities, and I just thought about my life choices and purpose and legacy differently," Claudie says during her sitdown interview for the documentary about her life as it reflects on her life in the U.K., and her role as a princess, a mother, a public figure, and as a wife to the future king.

Claudie is asked why she thinks it is so important that she and her husband raise their children to be good humans.

"My children are more privileged than I was growing up, but I still work to instill the same values," Claudie answered. "It is important that they learn to be self-sufficient, learn what it means to contribute, and be part of a family unit. I also want to teach them to respect and appreciate what they have. By setting the table for dinner, cleaning up after meals, and keeping your room straight, you gain a sense of responsibility and pride you wouldn't otherwise have," Claudie continued.

Claudie continued to answer questions as she watched clips from her children who were each interviewed to share what they admire about their mother. Claudie nearly teared up at their responses.

Claudie spoke candidly about her engagement and the royal wedding, revealing for the first time how she learned to curtsy and met the late Queen. She described the moment her entire life changed, from being outed publicly as William's girlfriend, to their engagement and royal wedding.

"What brought us together were our conversations, he was very easy to talk to. He was charming and a great listener, so that was my first impression. And it went from there," Claudie said about meeting William for the first time at University.

Soon after Claudie's introduction to William's inner circle, the media began running stories about her, outing her as William's girlfriend.

The first time they allowed photographers to capture them as a couple was in 2003 at a friend's wedding.

Claudie spoke about the moment the media found out she was William's girlfriend and what the press did next.

"I was on my way to my uncle's home and then I suddenly got an inquiry – 'we know you're the Prince William's girlfriend' as cameras started flashing nearly blinding me. I put my head down and walked as fast as I could to my car. At that moment, my entire life changed," Claudie explained.

"And from that time on there was a huge focus from the media. I was followed. I was no longer just Claudie walking the streets. I suddenly had people following me everywhere. It was something of an upheaval," Claudie added.

Claudie said part of her preparation for becoming engaged to William involved moving to London first to see whether she could see herself living in the United Kingdom.

She recalled the moment she first met Queen Elizabeth II.

"I was nervous," Claudie says as she chuckled at the memory of when William suddenly told her she was meeting the Queen over tea.

"And he said, It will be fine. Then he called Catherine and she said the same thing and I was like you can't tell me it's fine, it's the Queen herself. What should I do, what should I say, what should I wear?" Claudie asked Catherine.

Catherine then said to Claudie, "You should give a curtsy to her'".

Claudie replied: "'Curtsy? Okay. Can you show me how?' So I learned how to curtsy from Catherine over the phone."

She then recalled the day of her engagement announcement. On November 6, 2006, Clarence House announced the engagement of William to Claudie. That day Claudie showed off her charm to members of the media.

Claudie said she will always remember that moment. "William and I stood in front of the television as the news reported on our engagement and it became so real like this is my new life, I'm marrying a prince and a nation,"

She was introduced to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth via a media conference inside the palace.

"It was such a surreal event but the warm and embracing way the country welcomed us, and received me, touched me deeply," Claudie said.

Claudie also talked about wearing a tiara for the first time on her wedding day. Claudie wore The Sapphire Tiara, which goes by several names, often the George VI Sapphire Tiara or some version of that, for the first time.

The tiara traces back to Princess Louise of Belgium (1858-1924), who was the daughter of King Leopold II and the wife of Prince Ferdinand Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

The tiara and a bracelet were added to the Queen's collection in 1963 to round out the assembled parure of sapphires. Together with the Burmese Ruby Tiara, it is one of the more significant jewels the Queen has added to her collection during her reign.

"The first time I was wearing a tiara, I felt it was a great honor but also a bit of pressure," Claudie says. "Pressure in the sense that it was often worn by the late Queen who was highly loved and admired," She added.

"So it came with some expectations I felt. Can I live up to those expectations? Will people think I am doing well? All these thoughts go through one's head. It was a special day in many ways," She said.

She then turned to the royal wedding and became teary when watching moments from the day. She felt a rush of emotions.

"I get emotional when I think about my wedding day. Everyone was happy. It was truly a celebration of love and the future. It was big. I was not just accepted for who I am but my background was also accepted, and where I come from. And they took it into their hearts. I felt so much love and confidence that day," She said.

"My wedding dress was made by Vivienne Westwood and her team. It was modest long sleeves and high neckline pair beautifully with the beaded lace appliques decorating the bodice and a six-meter train. It was a dream of satin and lace come true with this ball gown wedding dress," She described her wedding dress.

Claudie wanted her American heritage present at her wedding so her bridal bouquet included a flowing trail of orchid vanda, tulips, white roses, myrtle, lily of the valley, sweet William, ivy, and hyacinth.

Her father, Roberto, walked her down the aisle of Westminster Abbey to an emotional William who was holding back tears.

They rode the 1902 State Landau drawn by four white horses with postilions and attendant footmen and guarded by a mounted escort of the Life Guard through the streets of London with over 100,000 thousand people cheering them on. A similar open carriage carried the rest of the bridal party, escorted by the Blues and Royals. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family followed in coaches drawn by the Queen's Cleveland Bay horses and in state cars.

The formal portraits were taken by Hugo Burnand at Buckingham Palace following the ceremony. The newlyweds and the bridal party appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as their first appearance on the balcony as husband and wife.

"When I look at it, I think it was like a fairy tale," Claudie says, watching the moment when she and William shared a kiss twice on the balcony.

After the wedding, the Queen hosted a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace, starting after the arrival of the married couple's carriage. It was a private gathering for guests drawn from the congregation who represent the couple's official and private lives.

At 3.35 pm, William drove his new wife back up the Mall for the short distance to Clarence House, his then-official London residence. The car, a blue, two-seat Aston Martin DB6 Volante (MkII convertible) that had been given to Prince Charles by the Queen as a 21st birthday present, was decorated in the customary newlywed style by the best man and friends; the rear number plate read "JU5T WED".

In the evening, the Prince of Wales gave a private dinner, followed by dancing, at Buckingham Palace for the couple and their close friends and family.

Claudie watching that footage of her life over the last twenty-two years became visibly emotional and told the documentary's host it was the moment she felt that everything was worth it.

"I faced so many challenges, and seeing all of this has made me realize that I wouldn't have done anything differently. My life here and my role, everything...It's all worth it," Claudie said, smiling.