The palace announced a public meeting in Larkhaven for the following Friday. The government said the event would allow residents to ask questions about the project. The palace called it an open discussion. The people in town called it the first time anyone had asked them anything.
The meeting was held in the old maritime hall. I arrived with Adrian, Lady Vale, and a small staff. The hall was full before we entered. I saw Ruth near the front, my father at the back, and several shop owners standing along the walls.
There were no press cameras inside. The palace had agreed to keep the meeting local. Outside, photographers waited behind a barrier.
The minister opened with a statement about the project's benefits. He described the seawall, the road upgrades, and the new business district. He
