One Royal Holiday
Review by Janelle Leonard
Plot
When Anna offers a stranded mother and son shelter in a blizzard, she learns that they are the royal family of Galwick. Anna shows the prince how they do Christmas in her hometown of Kentsbury.
Featuring
Laura Osnes (Anna Jordan) and Aaron Tveit (Crown Prince James Galant)
Meet-Cute
They meet in line at a bakery. The doughnuts are buy one, get one free. Anna offers her free one to James, who turns it down. He’s just there for the tea. Anna eats hers then gives him the free one anyway. When his mother (the queen) comes in the bakery, she eats the free doughnut and is introduced to Anna.
When Anna overhears that they are stranded can’t get to their plane or back into Boston, she tells them about her father’s inn. They (James, begrudgingly) take her up on the offer of rooms at the inn.
Reveal Moment
When they get to the inn, Anna goes inside and misses when the bodyguard announces to Anna’s father that his guests are a queen and crown prince. When Anna comes back outside, the bodyguard does the introduction again. Anna laughs for a bit then sobers when she realizes they really are royalty.
My Thoughts
This was a sweet story filled with finding the joy in Christmas. About treating people like royalty even if they don’t actually have an official title. A story about not having to prove yourself. A takeaway (that the prince learned) to be yourself with all your flaws, mistakes, and imperfections.
A Favorite Scene
I admit that I teared up a little when Prince James was reading through his father’s last Christmas speech and realized that in his last days, a nurse named AJ cared for him. AJ turns out to be Anna. It’s a sweet, heartfelt revelation. I was tearing and smiling again when James tells Anna about it and Anna responds with “Your father told me ‘If you met my son, he’d treat you like a princess.’” So sweet.
I watched One Royal Holiday on the Hallmark Channel (then ended up buying it). I was not required to write a review, and this does not influence my review, positive or otherwise. All opinions expressed are mine alone.