Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Woman & Home

In the face of adversity, it’s not always easy to see the positives or hang on to the good times. I admire and aspire to be like those that can – turning often unbearable moments into something constructive and beneficial for others. In this issue, we speak to three inordinately optimistic women, who despite very difficult circumstances, are proactively working to help causes that could affect any one of us. See page 30 to read their inspiring stories. Sara Cox is our rather fabulous cover star this month (page 18). Her successful Radio 2 show and triumphant foray into the publishing world (she’s already working on her second novel) prove that hard work and talent are the perfect ingredients for a long career. And make sure you see our Beauty…

CHOCOLATE BOX BEAUTY…

JULIA BRADBURY Television presenter Julia, 52, revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021, and proceeded to share her treatment journey in a documentary, Breast Cancer and Me, which included having two lymph nodes removed as well as undergoing a mastectomy. ‘I’m not talking about my cancer diagnosis on social media to elongate sympathy,’ Julia told woman&home. ‘It’s not about me, but to spread awareness and open up the conversation.’ KYLIE MINOGUE Pop princess Kylie, now 55, was just 36 when she was handed a breast cancer diagnosis back in May 2005. The singer underwent surgery just four days after being told the news, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, before she was given the all-clear a year later. ‘Cancer changed many things forever, and then some things…

Jetting into a global music festival by helicopter, looking down at the colourful crowds, is the dream. But even though I was dressed like all the other festivalgoers and my team and I blended in seamlessly, I was carrying a two-way radio and staying sober throughout. I was there in my job as a close protection officer – a bodyguard in layman’s terms – looking out for my wealthy client, who wanted to be just like any other attendee. ‘I’m ready to cope if the unexpected happens’ Blonde and six feet tall, I could pass as her athletic friend. And while those of us looking after her couldn’t let our hair down, we made sure she could. Protecting clients at places like Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley Royal Regatta or other events…

Having a relationship and sex with someone else when your soulmate has died is a huge hurdle. And finding myself single at 49 was not something I had ever imagined. I missed so many things about Andy – his cooking, curling up on the sofa together and the intimacy we shared. When I cast my mind back to our first date in 2002, I remember him telling me the songs he wanted at his funeral. It wasn’t morbid or weird – just a sign of how well we hit it off from the start. What I didn’t realise then was how soon I’d be playing them. Andy and I married 18 months after meeting, with our wedding in Jamaica, surrounded by family and friends. Our son Finn, now 17, was…

‘It took more than 10 years to achieve my dream’ Jen Morton, 46, launched her interior design business in 2018. She specialises in helping clients to be braver in choosing colour and room layouts, as well as window treatments, soft furnishings and reupholstery. She lives in Surbiton with her husband and three children. THE IDEA As a girl, I loved drawing, art, textiles – anything that involved creating and making. I regularly moved the furniture around in my bedroom to create new looks. But growing up in a small Yorkshire market town, interior design wasn’t really a thing, so I never considered it as a job. Instead, I ended up pursuing a career as a primary school teacher. During my pregnancy with my first child in 2007, I realised how…

Looking stylish has never been so easy fashion inspiration MASTER THE ART ✢ Channel your inner artist with this gorgeous dress. The clever ruching and panel cuts will create a flattering silhouette. ✢ These bold earrings sit high enough away from the dress’s neckline that they won’t distract. ✢ Choose accessories in colours that are found within the print. PLEATS PLEASE ✢ Effortlessly chic, add a pleated skirt to your winter wardrobe. ✢ Team with a silk blouse and boots for the office, or trainers and a fine knit for weekends. ✢ A bold, colourful print adds interest to this style staple. CLASSIC COOL ✢ A camel coat is synonymous with timeless style and is extremely versatile, working for every occasion. ✢ The warm undertones of this coat make it…

In the same way that a glass of orange juice aids your immune system, vitamin C in your skincare helps keep skin healthy. You can use it year-round but it comes into its own after a summer of sunshine, says consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall. ‘In autumn, as we start to assess sun damage and see unwanted pigmentation, introducing a vitamin C skincare product is one of my first recommended steps,’ she says. ‘It’s a potent antioxidant that protects the skin from external aggressors, including UV, free radicals and pollution. It also suppresses an enzyme that begins production of melanin, which leads to pigmentation.’ Essentially, vitamin C will shield your skin and treat any sun damage that’s occurred. According to skin expert Fiona Brackenbury, there’s another benefit. ‘It’s essential for…

THIS MONTH ✢ Post-holiday rash✢ Reaction to fish✢ Childhood trance Q The other day I had a tuna salad, then an hour later felt very warm and started to flush. Then I came out in a red rash. It wasn’t itchy, but I did also feel dizzy and sick. A friend gave me an antihistamine and in about 15 minutes I was back to normal. Am I allergic to tuna after all these years? A Rest assured, probably not! It sounds like food poisoning. Tuna and mackerel contain a chemical that, if stored in warm conditions, turns into scombrotoxin, the main component of which is histamine. As well as the symptoms you describe, it can cause nausea, tummy pain, headache, burning mouth, palpitations, diarrhoea and feeling as if you are…

As much as we wish they could, croissants for breakfast, and pre-dinner crisps and cocktails can’t stay on the menu forever. If you’ve overindulged over the summer and it’s starting to show, don’t worry – we have your transformation covered thanks to woman&home’s fitness expert Annie Deadman, creator of theblastplan.com, a 28-day nutrition and fat-loss programme. ‘A new season has started and that signals change,’ says Annie. ‘This makes it a great time to make new plans and set personal goals.’ How does a full-body workout sound? ‘These exercises use both upper and lower body muscle groups,’ says Annie. ‘So as well as valuable strength training, your heart has to pump blood in both directions, which will boost your cardiovascular fitness at the same time.’ It’s a win-win. HOW IT…

Apple and ginger tarte tatin This one-pan pud is a doddle to whip up at the end of a meal. Serves 8 • Prep 1 hr • Cook 30 mins 320g puff pastry, rolled slightly larger than your pan75g unsalted butter, cubed175g caster sugar2cm chunk ginger, grated7-8 Braeburn or Cox apples, peeled, cored and halvedCreme fraiche or ice cream, to serve You will need: 26cm heavy-based oven/hob-safe frying pan 1 Roll out the pastry on a floured worktop. Trim to a circle just larger than the pan, then chill until needed. 2 Scatter the butter over the base of the pan, add the sugar and ginger, then nestle in the apples, rounded side down. 3 Put the pan on a medium heat and cook for 50 mins, or until the…

As a former book editor, and with parents who worked in publishing, some might say Harriet Evans’ career was written in the stars. Now a bestselling author of 12 books, including last year’s The Beloved Girls, her latest novel, The Stargazers, is sure to be another success. Set in a crumbling family home, we are pulled into a world of family secrets that reveal how the past changes us in more ways than we realise. Harriet lives in Bath with her partner and two daughters. The Stargazers is really a book about how you get through difficult times. How you hold on to yourself and push on through. It was written after lockdown and after my dad died. The Stephen Hawking quote at the beginning is on my daughter’s wall.…

Meet bestselling author ANN CLEEVES OBE, creator of detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, on page 177. If you could be an animal, which would you choose to be? I’d be a roe deer, small and beautifully formed, with a grace I’ve never been able to achieve as a human. They roam freely in the forests and uplands of my beloved Northumberland. I’d love that sense of belonging to a wild landscape, completely at home in my environment. HARRIET EVANS, writer of 12 bestsellers, talks about her latest novel, The Stargazers, on page 179. If you could be an animal, which would you choose to be? An owl. While I was researching The Stargazers, I became obsessed with owls. They are so intelligent, they fly entirely silently, see…

SOAK IN STYLE Ticking stripe cushion in Airforce Blue, £65, ianmankin.co.uk; Rich Orange super-soft cotton bath towel, £6.50, george.com; Hammam towels, from £36 each, bohemiadesign.co.uk; similar Nkomi basket, £50, nkuku.com; vintage stool, try vinterior.co; similar Sockerärt jug, £12, ikea.com; Asiatic Fields Coral rug, £209, tm-interiors.co.uk…

Shhh! Don’t tell anyone but… men gossip just as much as women and, whisper it, are much more bitchy. The autumn means more work events, and what I’ve noticed is that it’s the fellas who want all the ‘hot goss’ over cold beer. Many of my most recent conversations with men have begun ‘So, just keep this between us, but…’ followed by a ruthless character assassination. Bitching is perceived to be a woman’s preferred weapon of choice and yet I have only one female friend who needs to go to the vets to get her claws done; and I’d say that to her face too – both of them! But the gossip about bitchy gossip is that it’s actually a male trait. Research by Ariel University in Israel, published in…

Any child of the 70s will remember the embarrassment of wearing hand-me-downs. It’s probably why many of us still hanker after the thrill of twirling in a brand-new outfit. Let’s face it – fashion is ultimately an expression of our identity. But with the climate crisis and the spiralling cost of living at the front of everyone’s minds, it’s time to embrace second-hand clothing too. ‘I COULDN’T NOT HAVE IT!’ Sarah Able, 56, a PR and marketing manager, and Helen Brooke, 52, a criminal defence solicitor, from West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, run pre-loved clothing agency Re.Dress. Helen: I still remember my first pre-loved purchase. I was 16 and it was the 80s era of the Nick Kamen Levi’s ad. I was desperate for a pair of 501s, but they were well…

Well bully for you,’ I mutter, munching Maltesers in front of Who Do You Think You Are?. I’ve nothing against Andrew Lloyd Webber, of course, but it doesn’t take long to shake a Tudor duchess from his family tree for the BBC, closely followed by a troupe of 18th-century theatricals. I’ve watched aristocrats appear on Frances de la Tour’s branches and Clare Balding’s harbour an earl or two. Barbara Windsor was a distant descendant of artist John Constable and Judi Dench descended from a famous astronomer. Greedy, I call it, when I’d settle for just one of those colourful kinfolk. Actually, I am fine with famous people having fascinating families, but it gets up my nose when my friends ferret about on ancestry websites, and find bigwigs, pioneers and suffragettes…

Attending the King’s coronation earlier this year, the former Secretary of State for International Development-turned-podcaster Rory Stewart was teased by the media over his ostentatious outfit. The Privy Councillor uniform – with its gold oak leaf embroidered dress coat and ostrich feather cocked hat – might have been a little OTT, but I loved the elegant side stripe trousers. Although someone on Twitter joked that ‘Rory Stewart turning up to the coronation in Kappa trackie bottoms is a disgrace,’ we are talking proper military-regulation kit, not posh joggers. As I cycle to a shared office space a couple of days a week, I often wear the latter. Business on the top, casual on the bottom. Sporty trousers with an elasticated waist are no longer the domain of baby boomers on…

From skincare giants Bliss Spa and Soap & Glory, to FitFlop, Marcia has been the brains behind many well-known brands. In 2016, she founded Beauty Pie, which delivers luxury beauty without the high-end price tag. After getting fed-up with the retail markup structure that made it impossible to sell high-performance beauty products at affordable prices, Marcia’s idea was to create a club that offers premium products, made by the world’s leading manufacturers but at warehouse-direct prices. TOP TRICK It’s important to take care of yourself. I exercise daily, even if it’s a 20-minute hike up a hill, or a few speed-walking laps around the block with my weighted vest. Then I mix up a collagen and super greens smoothie. ‘When you buy most products at retail, you’re probably paying at…

But let’s fast forward to right now. How will strengthening it benefit us? First, a recap. During the perimenopause, our oestrogen levels decline. The resulting symptoms of this include loss of muscle and reduced bone strength, which is one of the reasons why a regular routine of strength (resistance) training is vital to keep bones strong and preserve muscle mass. The pelvic floor is just another of our muscles, which will weaken if we don’t show it love. Like our core might, which if ignored may develop into lower back pain. Or our quads – all those squats, lunges and leg extensions massively help support our knees. The pelvic floor is a sling of muscle and connective tissue that runs from your pubic bone at the front to the coccyx…

Pulled pork tacos Mexican-restaurant inspired, you can’t beat the tasty pork packed into a taco with all the toppings. Serves 4-6 • Prep 15 mins, plus marinating • Cook 4 hrs 1kg pork shoulder, skin/fat cap removed (see tip)12 small soft tortillasGuacamole, soured cream, salsa, lime wedges and coriander sprigs, to serve For the marinade: 2tbsp chipotle paste1tbsp ground cumin1tbsp ground coriander1tsp dried oreganoJuice 1 orangeJuice 1 lime3tbsp red wine vinegar4 garlic cloves, crushed1tbsp tomato puree1tbsp salt 1 In a small bowl, mix the marinade ingredients together. Put the pork in a glass/ceramic bowl and coat with the marinade. Cover and put in the fridge for at least 4 hrs or overnight if possible. 2 When ready to cook, heat the oven to 140C Fan/Gas 3. Put the pork and…

Spotlight on British cheese Paxton & Whitfield has long flown the flag for artisanal British producers. Now the cheesemonger and online retailer has partnered with several other makers, aiming to support sustainable farming practices and reduce food waste. On a recent visit, the Food team sampled the goods, including two new cheeses: Callum, a hard ewe’s milk cheese; and Corinium, a washed rind cow’s milk cheese. Both are made by award-winning cheesemakers and aged in Paxton’s brand-new facility, utilising surplus milk that would otherwise go to waste. Head to paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk for more information, or to sample the Sustainable Cheese Hamper, £45 (pictured). COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH Spiced rum sour SERVES 1 50ml spiced rum (we used Bacardi) 20ml Cointreau 15ml sugar syrup 30ml lemon juice 1 medium free-range egg white…

1 MAKE YOUR BED WITH ORGANIC BED LINEN Look for OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified organic cotton, like the Petworth collection from Secret Linen Store. This certification means that every component – from the fabric to the production – is free from harmful chemicals, helping you sleep soundly. The cotton is grown organically, without the use of toxic chemicals, which helps to support healthy soil and increase biodiversity. It’s also crisp and smart, meaning you can still get a boutique hotel look. White Petworth 100% organic cotton 400 thread count bed linen, from £15 for a housewife pillowcase, secretlinenstore.com 2 RETURN TO BASE Check out Superfront, a Swedish brand that makes new fronts for Ikea basics. Choose from new doors for your Ikea Pax wardrobe, fronts for your Ikea Method or…

Panoramic lake views DE VERE COTSWOLD WATER PARK, GLOUCESTERSHIRE Surrounded by 152 lakes that spread across the Water Park, De Vere is perched waterside and has views of the tranquil water and wildlife from each room. The spacious apartments have direct access to the gardens, a kitchenette, a luxury bedroom and a lounge area. Rooms from £99 per night, including breakfast; £30 per dog, per stay; devere.co.uk/cotswold-water-park-hotel Cosy comfort MELDRUM HOUSE COUNTRY HOTEL & GOLF COURSE, ABERDEENSHIRE The main house has rooms with views out to the golf course and the countryside. Dogs are allowed in the 800-year-old Cave Bar, where you can sample an array of whisky and traditional Scottish fare. The hotel has created a ‘Ruff Guide’ to make the most of a stay with your pet, including…

EMOTIONAL READ Small: On Motherhoods by Claire Lynch I found this exquisite book when I was looking for parenting tips a few months after my baby was born. I hadn’t realised that what I actually needed was to delve into my emotional journey with IVF and ‘failed’ fertility. Claire’s story is so beautiful, so affecting. It’s full of love and the terror that can come along with it. It also allowed me to cry for myself and what I’d been through. ENGROSSING MEMOIR I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell I love all of O’Farrell’s fiction, she’s phenomenal. And reading these tales of her real-life experiences, I was so grateful she survived – and in disbelief that so much drama could happen to one…

horoscopes SCORPIO 23 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER This Friday 13th could be tricky. Beware an argument. You’re assertive, but the other person is stubborn. You can make big progress in the rest of October, however. Call 0905 789 4157* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates SAGITTARIUS 22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER If you enter October feeling run-down, self-care will set you up for a challenge on the 28th, when someone’s angry. Stay grounded – they will run out of steam. Call 0905 789 4158* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates CAPRICORN 22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY Is there anything you want to achieve, but you haven’t got there yet? Around the 22nd is a supreme moment for putting a dream or desire into action. See it flow. Call…

HAVING FUN I loved Have More Fun, It’s Good for You! [June]. Since reading this, my husband and I have been to Go Ape together, and when I take my children swimming, I join them and play dodgeball. Never stop having fun! Charlotte TIME TO UNWIND At the end of a long hard week, it was a joy to hear my letter box and the thud of my copy of woman&home on the doormat. I have just spent an enjoyable – and well-deserved – half-hour break flicking through, ready to devour it in full at the weekend. This was my little pocket of happiness for today! Keep them coming. Penny GOING GREEK I have been hooked on woman&home since 2006, and am a devoted subscriber from…

‘IT’S POSSIBLE TO TURN LOSS INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL’ Author, artist, educator and coach Katie Carr, 45, completed her brother Toby’s book Moderate Becoming Good Later, based on his adventures at sea before he died last year, aged 40. She lives in Barcelona with her partner and two young sons. ‘If you want to do something, the time is now’ Three months before his death, I interviewed my brother for a podcast. ‘If you want to do something, the time is now,’ he said, an attitude that sprang from a lifetime adapting to loss. In 1988, when I was 11, our brother Marcus, nine, and Toby, just six, we lost our mum, Bron, to a viral brain injury from which she never recovered. She woke up one morning confused and…

What are you like first thing? A cup of coffee gets me going. I wake up somewhere between 7am and 8am, and it’s a very leisurely start, but I do try to exercise three times a week, either with a trainer or by myself. What’s your worst habit? Impatience, not suffering fools gladly. My time is valuable so I don’t want to waste it. ‘There are lots of things that people don’t know’ If you were at home alone, what would you do? I’d read or watch TV. I’m reading Barbara Windsor’s autobiography, which she gave to me a long time ago and Blood Sugar, the debut novel by Sascha Rothchild. Right now I’m in France and I’ve got about 50 other books scattered around because I read by the…

Beware the couple who boasts about ‘never exchanging a cross word’ – because even the happiest relationships come under pressure from time to time. We all have our tender spots and different ways of reacting when that red rag flies. Do you believe in the power of a big old barney, or think avoiding confrontation is best? Two women talk about how they manage their marital meltdown moments – and what they’ve learnt along the way. BROOD ‘WE BOTH BOTTLED THINGS UP’ Lois Goodman, 43, from Stanmore, London When I first met my husband Daniel, we were amazed by how much we had in common. Our parents knew each other before we were born, and we’d even been to the same school, though he was two years older, and somehow,…

‘She taught me to love life’ Nothing evokes glorious good times with my friend Sara Coward like those feather boas around our necks, the bubbly in our hands and the huge grins on our faces. Sara died six years ago and this picture was taken for our show Wicked Women long before she was ill, a precious reminder of our joie de vivre. Sara played Caroline Sterling in BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers for 40 years, while I’ve played Lilian Bellamy for 23 years. And it was thanks to Sara that I landed the role of a lifetime. I’d been in love with acting since I was at school and saw Judi Dench in The Merchant of Venice. ‘That’s what I want to do,’ I thought, mesmerised. After drama…

How to look your best every day No one knows their hair better than you – the person who lives with it day in, day out. But if you’re finding your hair is constantly misbehaving and you’re just not feeling good when you look in the mirror, then maybe it’s time to rethink things. A few everyday tricks can make looking after your locks so much easier. Whether you have straight, curly, frizzy, coloured or textured hair, we’ve quizzed experts to find the best ways to look after it. Get ready to try something new and feel great! MASTER THE BASICS Do you always pick up whatever shampoo and conditioner are on offer while doing your weekly food shop? Well STOP! The foundation of any good hair day comes with…

We can help you live your best life While forgetting where you’ve put your keys or struggling to remember names can be a natural part of getting older, it can also be a sign of something serious. Whether it’s you or someone you love, dementia is affecting more and more of us. ‘We know that, on average, women live longer than men and, as age is a risk factor for dementia, this may be part of the reason we see more cases in women,’ says Caroline Scates from Dementia UK. ‘Other factors include having health conditions such as heart disease and depression, which are more common in women and are known to increase the risk.’ While there’s currently no cure, it’s possible to help delay – and even in some…

It’s unlikely to be your most enjoyable bathroom experience, but taking cold showers may increase energy, banish the blues and even help shift stubborn inches. For centuries, cold-water therapy has been used to take advantage of our body’s ability to adapt to harsher conditions, leaving us more resistant to stress and illness. But you don’t have to brave an ice bath – regularly turning the shower down for a minute or two can be as effective. Here’s what you need to know. 1 YOU MIGHT FIND IT UNCOMFORTABLE Even the most seasoned cold-water swimmer will tell you that it can be ‘painful’, but it’s usually the first 10 seconds that are the worst. ‘Our body’s immediate response to icy water is to switch into survival mode,’ says Dr Rachel Taylor*.…

With a new season on the horizon, many of us will be thinking about setting new targets or getting back on track with any weight-loss goals. With this seven-day eating plan from Slimming World, you have everything you need to help you get started. The freedom of Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan means you are in control, so you can still enjoy all your favourite foods, and lose weight and hit your goals. What’s more, you could lose up to 7lb in just two weeks*. HOW IT WORKS 1 You can start on any day you choose. Swap days around if there’s a meal you really fancy, or repeat days if there’s something you particularly enjoy! 2 Slimming World’s eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on scientific evidence and is…

Chicken, leek and mushroom pot pies A leaner take on comfort food, using poached chicken thighs and flaky filo. Serves 4 • Prep 15 mins • Cook 15 mins 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs2tbsp Flora or lighter spread/oil1 leek, sliced200g button mushrooms1 bay leaf1 sprig rosemary, plus extra to serve2tbsp flour200ml skimmed milk200ml chicken stock2tbsp wholegrain mustard ½ x 198g can sweetcorn2 sheets filo pastry (we used Jus Rol fresh filo sheets)Spray oil 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Poach the chicken gently in a pan of simmering water for 6-8 mins, or until tender. Set aside to rest, then shred. 2 Meanwhile, melt the spread/oil in a frying pan, add the leek, mushrooms, bay leaf and rosemary sprig, then fry gently for 5 mins. 3 Stir…

Design choices play a big part in how we feel at home. It’s important to think about what you’re drawn to. The ultimate goal is to customise your space to maximise your happiness. Here’s how to make cheerful changes in your home, with a little help from Hillarys. Go to the experts ‘At Hillarys, we’re here to help you transform your windows without any stress. With in-person advice, you can choose the right blind, curtain and shutter from the comfort of your sofa. We take care of all the measuring and fitting too – no fuss and no mess.’ Kevin Hickson, Hillarys advisor INTRODUCE FEEL-GOOD COLOUR Colour can really lift your mood, with happy colours usually thought to be bright, warm colours, or pastels. Start by looking in your…

Exciting ways to get away from it all LOFOTEN ISLANDS, NORWAY Distance and length: 69km, five days THE EXPERIENCE Nature unleashes its full force in the Lofoten Islands at 68 degrees north. Hitting all the intrepid notes, this five-day trek tosses you deep into the wilds of the High Arctic. Granite mountains whoosh above cream sand beaches that fizz away into a sea of frosty turquoise and sapphire blues. Given the epic backdrop, the coastal villages you’ll pass seem as tiny as toys, with their red rorbuer (fishermen’s cabins) propped up on stilts. Starting in Leknes and hopscotching between the islands of Moskenesøya, Flakstadøya and Vestvågøya, this hiking break turns up the drama and adventure. The elements are ever-present as you climb mountains as pointed as witches’ hats, gazing in…

A WILD RIDE You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace (£14.99, HB, Profile Books) This debut is horrifying and hilarious in equal measure. Strangely likeable killer Claire is grieving for her father when she receives a thoughtless, mistyped email that tips her into a killing spree, which quickly spirals out of control. But Claire’s grief means that she is somewhat distracted. And someone has been watching her. Someone who may just discover her murderous hobby. REGENCY ROMANCE A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin (£16.99, HB, HarperCollins) Eliza Balfour is finally free. Ten years ago, she married the austere wealthy Earl of Somerset, who was 20 years her senior. Now, a widower at just 28, she can live a life on her own terms. With a title…

‘To switch off at bedtime, I watch trashy telly’ A DAY IN THE LIFE OF Charlene White ITV News anchor and Loose Women presenter Charlene, 43, lives in west London with her partner, Andy, and their two children. WAKE UP I’m usually woken by my son any time between 5.30 and 6am. I’m still very much deep in the trenches where parenthood is concerned because my kids are still young, so I don’t get as much sleep as I’d like to. MORNING Once we’re all up, I get the kids ready – doing hair, brushing teeth, getting breakfast, packing bags and getting any last-minute homework done, before running upstairs to shower before we leave the house at 8.30am. After that, I’ll do work of some capacity – that could be…

Anew school term always brings renewed focus. It’s no different for the Royal Family. Their year is shaped around the school terms, to echo that of Parliament, which breaks for the lengthy summer recess to enable MPs to see more of their family and constituency. By and large, the royals take most of the summer off, and the autumn sees a burst of activity. This year, of course, marks the one-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death and, as I reflect on page 34, much has changed this past year, but has also stayed the same. In Buckingham Palace, change moves at a glacial pace. After all, continuity and stability mean keeping the status quo (on the surface, at least). Change has to happen slowly, so as not to throw the…