The Australian Women's Weekly August 2024

I can’t go more than a few hours without a cup of tea, so how does Princess Anne last all day, on her feet and greeting dozens of people as part of her tireless work schedule, without a single cuppa? That was one of many impressive things that struck me about the indefatigable Princess Royal – along with her stamina and legendary no fuss, no frills work ethic – when I first read our cover story (page 36) which captured a typical working week in the life of the 73-year-old earlier this year. We’ve long been admirers of Princess Anne at The Weekly, particularly this year as she stepped up as a working royal as other key members of her family dealt with serious health issues. At the time of…

Letter of the month When I was growing up, Mum only ever cooked the one recipe: The Basic Butter Cake which was in The Australian Women’s Weekly 100 Favourite Cakes from 1972. I remember marking up the cakes I wished Mum would try. Mum gave me this cookbook before she passed away, and I’ve decided to cook all 100 of them. I’ve cooked the butter cakes, and am now in the tea cakes and coffee cakes section. The cakes are truly beautiful. The only problem is that my husband and I have to eat them! via email. Back on the box It is fantastic to see Tracy Grimshaw back on TV (The beauty of taking a gap year, AWW, July). I put her in the same realm as TV pioneer…

Majestic RETURN Kate the trooper Catherine, Princess of Wales, stepped into the sun for a moment of celebration with her family at the Trooping the Colour parade. She had shared a little of her health battle with cancer, but as she stood on the palace balcony with her children and husband, Prince William, her pleasure at being back was clear. “On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” she said. Women we love Bright star A Sydney actress with grandparents from Samoa has been cast as Moana in the new live-action film. Catherine Laga’aia, 17, will play the titular…

The US: A photographer snapped this foreboding image as a storm gathered over Omaha, Nebraska. When the heavens opened, hailstones the size of golf balls pelted the city. THE UK Healing horses Two cavalry horses injured when they bolted through London are recovering in this sunny meadow after surgery. The Ministry of Defence says the steeds, Quaker (left) and Vida (right), are expected to return to duty soon. ICELAND Fiery start to new era Iceland experienced intense earthquake activity before volcanic plumes erupted near the Reykjanes Peninsula. Experts say that, before 2021, the area had not experienced an eruption for 800 years. They believe a new era of seismic activity has begun. Hong Kong Snakes on a train A peak hour morning commute was thrown into chaos when someone spotted…

The teenage years are tough for anybody. “But one of the things that helps you through those times is finding your people – your fit,” says youth support worker Rebecca Plant (pictured above, left). “That becomes more difficult in some of the rural communities where there’s less availability to find that fit.” Rebecca is part of the team that delivers The Benevolent Society’s RYMH service – that’s Rural Youth Mental Health Service –across rural and remote communities in western NSW. They provide early intervention services for young people aged 12 to 25 with or at risk of a mental illness. Because connection, studies prove, is everything. And young people in rural areas face more challenges than their city peers. “If you’re into the sporting groups it’s very good but if…

Amidst the inevitable muddle of books and puzzles you’ll find in any home that a toddler inhabits, an artwork on an easel portrays six beaming, beautiful faces. It’s a large-scale painting of all of the grandchildren that Katrina Gorry’s mum, Linda, has so far. Australian soccer star Katrina’s daughter, Harper –now almost as iconic a Matilda as her mum – is instantly recognisable in the bottom left. The work has been enchantingly rendered by Katrina’s fiancée, former Swedish soccer player Clara Markstedt, from photos. As perfect as it looks, “it’s a work in progress,” says Katrina, smiling towards her fiancée’s baby bump. (Clara’s seven months pregnant when we meet, but the couple has since welcomed son Koby into the world.) “It will need updating when our son arrives.” The couple…