Amira goes to South Africa with her parents, leaving Isla’s engagement ring to Lexi before her departure. Meanwhile, Lexi spends Christmas with the royal family in Scotland, where she warns Demelza about Richard’s cruelty and willingness to throw his own family members to the press for his own benefit. Though Demelza initially defends Richard, she seems intrigued when Lexi reminds her that she’s a princess, too, and has more power than just being a pretty face.

Lexi and Richard lead the walk from the estate to the church for the Christmas service. Richard threatens Lexi again and calls her “weak,” like her father; Lexi tells Richard to remember her place. After lunch, Eleanor delivers her public address, and Lexi feels the queen’s eyes upon her. When she finishes, she and Lexi take a walk with Chino.

Lexi wakes to £3 million in her bank account on her 30th birthday. She calls her financial advisor and finds that Frederick created a trust with Isla’s inheritance but also invested a significant amount of his own money, leaving her with over 12 million in total. Lexi decides to donate 1.5 million to the hospital in Nairobi and asks for a check for the other half. Lexi then calls James and asks if birthdays without her twin will get easier, but James says that she’ll simply have to “learn to live without the rest of [her]” (368). He tells her to forgive herself so that she can accept forgiveness from others.

Mary’s brother, Charlie, arrives at Cumberland with his carpet cleaning van to smuggle Lexi and Chino out. However, Stewart interrupts Lexi with documents for her to review. Lexi remembers when she used to sneak out to Stewart’s apartment to avoid her parents’ fighting. He was once the most reliable adult in her life, but after he drugged her with a sedative after Isla’s death, she stopped trusting him. She now reminds him of the betrayal, and he looks chastened before leaving. Afterward, Charlie helps Lexi and Chino into his van and then drives away.

Two weeks ago, Mary told Stewart that Lexi would not become heir, so Steward would need to remove the announcement of her role from the queen’s Christmas address. Stewart ensured that Lexi knew that she was giving up her titles, name, and privileges, and Lexi agreed to the terms. After the Christmas address, Eleanor and Lexi discussed her decision during a walk with Chino. Eleanor argued that the monarchy is not a mouthpiece for change but a steady presence, and though it saddened her, she understood that Lexi didn’t want it enough, while Richard did. Eleanor also revealed that she knew the truth about Isla’s death.

Now, Charlie brings Lexi and Chino to his and Mary’s house. Jenny and Emmanuel Mensah, a constitutional law scholar Jenny knows from law school, are there. Emmanuel represents Lexi as she relinquishes the throne. He drafted a document for Lexi to sign, and he assures her that the queen’s presence isn’t necessary to make it legal, as only Parliament can formally remove Lexi from the line of succession. Stewart and Eleanor wanted Lexi to sign a document stating that she was temporarily unfit for the crown, therefore passing it to Richard, but Lexi refuses to endorse her uncle. Lexi signs the document, and Jenny gives her a newly printed passport since Stewart still has her old one. Lexi asks Mary if they met at Astley, and Mary finally admits that they did; Lexi was lost in her grief at the time and therefore didn’t recognize her when they reconnected. Lexi thanks Mary for all her help and gives her the £1.5-million check since Mary won’t be able to work for the palace anymore. Mary will watch Chino until his flight to Australia. Lexi leaves for her flight, ready to become Lexi Villiers in earnest.

Lexi eats at the food court of the airport in Hong Kong, finally hungry again after months of no appetite. Mary calls her and says that Richard leaked Davide’s name to a journalist at The Post. Since Lexi can no longer expose her own secrets, Lexi and Mary agree to the backup plan, which includes talking to journalists to tell the truth not only about Lexi but also about Richard. One journalist flies to Scotland to talk to Annabelle, who plans to share how Richard blackmailed her and Frederick. Another flies to South Africa to speak to Amira, who insists on speaking in support of Lexi. Lexi chooses a New York newspaper to speak to, as they cannot face an injunction from the palace. Lexi meets with a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter named Dee in an airport hotel room to share her experiences with Richard.

Lexi lands in Hobart, and James picks her up at the airport. Mary calls to update Lexi on the story: Davide agreed to speak to Dee for free so that he could tell the truth. Lexi isn’t sure that the story will change the monarchy, but she and Mary know that they must try. She hopes to nudge the crown away from Richard and toward Demelza to create a new start for the broken system. Lexi starts work at the hospital in two weeks; she must complete her last year of residency even though her patients will all likely recognize her. James drives Lexi to Jack’s vineyard and reveals that Amira told Jack everything, including the truth about Isla’s death. He encourages Lexi to tell Jack how she feels.

Lexi finds Jack amongst the grapevines and runs to him. He tells her that he’s sorry about Isla and that he doesn’t see her differently having learned the truth. Lexi tells him that she’s loved him since the beginning, and he reciprocates. They kiss, and Lexi says that everything is about to go badly, as the palace will persecute Lexi for revealing the truth. Jack tells her that everything is about to go well since they’re together. On New Year’s Day, Lexi and Jack wake up together and watch the sun rise.