DIEU ET MON DROIT

Bond put aside any of his personal opinions regarding the personalities of the Royal family and thought only of their motto : Dieu Et Mon Droit when it came to his oath to protect them from enemies, both domestic and foreign.

"I see only the big picture when it comes to history," he assured M who worried that too many people inside MI6 these days had conflicted feelings toward the Royals.

"There's just been so much muddying of the waters, Bond. People forget their loyalties. As you know, we've had this heavy weather of late with the estranged."

Bond smiled, amused by what he considered a surprising display of naivety from M.

"Forget who's wearing the costumes and consider only the symbols instead. At the end of the day, it's optics, just long term ones. After all, don't you suppose the England cricket team will still remain regardless of who is wearing the whites. Even aliens."

M looked uncertain about Bond's sporting comparison to the battered reputation of the Royals so continued with explaining his strategic plans for the King's Coronation on the 6th May, 2023.

"Since 'Agent Clockwork Orange' went rogue on his family and country we've had to assess the potential threats his tantrums are inciting, especially new Taliban insurgents. What I would appreciate, Bond, is your presence on the ground the day of the coronation. We'll provide you with a budget for whatever resources you need for the day but don't go so crazy that the death of a royal is worth less than the money you've blown on attempting to protect them."

Bond smirked at M's clumsy attempt to be droll.

"I always work under budget when I'm left to my own devices."

"Good. I trust you'll keep a low profile in the meantime. We don't want the press getting onto your deployment for the royal occasion. It would just increase the hysteria and paranoia."

"I'll be as anonymous as the hidden theme in Elgar's Enigma Variations."

M raised his eyebrow at Bond's second attempt at analogies this morning.

"Are you feeling alright, Bond?"

But Bond was already out the door, flirting with Miss Moneypenny, as per usual.

After having lunch at 'Simpson's in the Strand', Bond decided to do an approximate recce of the coronation route based on his knowledge of her late majesty's return journey from Westminster Abbey in June, 1953.

Starting at Whitehall, onto Pall Mall through St James's Street, Piccadilly, to Marble Arch along Oxford Street, Bond then made his way to Regent Street, passing Shaftesury Memorial Fountain, along Haymarket through Admiralty Arch and then arriving at Buckingham Palace.

Standing outside the gates of the Palace, Bond felt as if he had become as much a part of the city as all of its architecture and street signs. The transience of a human life pitted against the chaos of history was something he often mused on. Things seemed less serious when you considered how ephemeral everything was. These roads and buildings would surely outlast him and each member of the royal family long after they'd all been buried six feet deep beneath the ground.

There was something reassuring about that. In fact, it almost gave you a sense of perspective, he thought, an invincibility that protected you from the threats that MI6 spent all their days worrying about.

Perhaps this was why Bond felt invincible. He knew it could all be taken away from him at any minute. This was what made him the best person to protect those who still felt invested in the belief that everybody would somehow live forever.

He knew they wouldn't.

But Bond wasn't a complete nihilist. There was one thing he believed would live forever.

That was England, his mother country.

As the skies cleared above the palace to reveal a pink and red February sky he vowed to himself that he would always protect the country at all costs and all the passing honourable representatives of it in his lifetime.