Chapter 5
Another Death in the Royal Family Sends Stelland into Mourning
Princess Araminta Ashwell, sister-in-law of the late King Fabian and wife of his younger brother, Prince Clement, died Friday morning at age seventy-three.
Her passing was announced in a brief statement by Ashwell Palace Press Corps, noting that the princess died peacefully in her home after a brief illness, and that flags across government buildings will be flown at half-staff this week in remembrance.
Born Lady Araminta Loxley, eldest daughter of the Duke of Halifax, she married into the Ashwell family at a defining moment in Stelland’s modern history.
Throughout the decades that followed, she became a notable figure within the royal household, known for her formality, discipline, and observance of protocol and tradition.
Her marriage to Prince Clement was characterized by a shared devotion to public service and philanthropy, together supporting a number of charitable, cultural, and civic organizations.
Later, Princess Araminta’s role within the monarchy would take on greater significance following a series of deep and profound losses.
Within the span of a few decades, the Ashwell royal family endured the deaths of her husband, her brother-in-law King Fabian, and, most recently, the tragic passing of her nephew, King Arthur, along with his family.
In the aftermath of these events, Princess Araminta was widely regarded as a stabilizing presence, one whose unwavering commitment to duty helped maintain a sense of order during periods of uncertainty and transition.
A formal funeral service will be held next week at Saint Clement Cathedral, the cathedral named in honor of her late husband’s namesake, followed by a private memorial wake at her longtime home, Willow Bend House.
Members of Parliament, senior officials, and representatives from allied nations are expected to be in attendance, alongside the royal family.