Indholdsfortegnelse for 42-2025 i Best

Too much to do, too little time – who hasn’t said that? And as our cover story says, it seems even Prince William is finding himself a bit short-staffed. The monarchy has been streamlined by choice, then blindsided by circumstance. The dream was for fewer working Royals, but life has a way of derailing the best-laid plans. High-profile step-backs, necessary sidelining, and bouts of unexpected ill health have squeezed the (Royal) team. While many of the players left are experienced ‘safe hands’, some are ageing, which means fewer trips, fewer walkabouts, fewer ribbon-cuttings … Visibility matters to the Royals – patronages need champions and causes need cheerleaders. With his children years away from duty and popular cousins not officially ‘working’, there’s a people problem as much as a PR one.…

Sitting at my Auntie Jean’s hospice bedside, it was impossible to find the right words. It was May 2017, she’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – a huge shock to us all – and given just three weeks to live. We’d always been close. She’d been interested in my drawings and we loved visiting art galleries together. ‘Promise me one thing?’ Auntie Jean asked in her final days. ‘Would you help your Uncle Tony take care of the garden?’ My Auntie Jean loved gardening and sitting out and having her morning coffee at her favourite spot beside her pond. ‘Of course!’ I told her. It seemed the very least I could do. She died aged 73 that same month and later that Summer, I kept my promise and arrived at…

On paper, I had the most incredible life. Working in media and events, I spent my days (and nights) mingling with celebs, attending showbiz parties and galas and enjoying a glamorous, glitzy life in London that most people could only dream of. I’d find myself at award ceremonies seated next to bands like Westlife or Busted, enjoying free-flowing booze or at swanky lunches where I was wined and dined by big music label executives. For 25 years, I ran Chris Tarrant’s life! I remember him telling me about the pilot for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? I advised him not to do it because I didn’t think it would catch on. Luckily, he didn’t listen! I got an absolute buzz from my job and couldn’t believe how lucky I…

MAKE-UP MOOD BOOSTERS Autumn is all about looking glossy and polished – which means gleaming skin, sparkling nails and a plumped-up pout. There’s plenty of newness about to cheer up our make-up bags. Why not give the double-winged cat liner look a go? Even if it’s only for a party - once you’ve mastered the trend you’ll never settle for a feline flick again! We’re fast approaching the season of sparkle, so snap up the newest glitter polishes while there is still plenty of choice A glowing complexion never goes out of fashion, but as the weather turns colder, change your base for one that’s packed with moisturising ingredients to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. As always everything is under a tenner.... 1 A SPARKLY POLISH Glitter Effect Nail…

Fabulous chocolate and cherry cake This is an impressive cake (so good, in fact, that it’s on the cover of the book!), perfect for a celebration. It may seem a lot of water to add to the cake, but it is needed to make a paste with the cocoa powder. Serves 8–10 55g (2oz) cocoa powder, sifted 6 tbsp boiling water 4 large eggs 225g (8oz) baking spread, straight from the fridge, plus extra for greasing 225g (8oz) caster sugar 225g (8oz) self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder FOR THE FILLING 6 generous tbsp cherry jam 300ml (½ pint) pouring double cream, lightly whipped I Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/ Gas 4. Grease and base line 2 x 20cm (8in) loose-bottomed sandwich tins. 2 To make the ganache, measure…

HOW DO I THROW THE ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN PARTY? Vanessa, I’m sure you’ve been to many fab parties in your time! I need to know how to throw the ultimate spooky party. I split with my fiancé earlier this year and I want to go all out by celebrating my Halloween birthday with a bang. How do I make it glamorous? Shirley, Hertford Happy birthday! The key to throwing a glam Halloween bash is to keep it grown-up and avoid anything gimmicky. Avoid cobwebs, gravestones and corpses and go for elegance. Choose black tablecloths, glasses, plates and spray artificial roses black to match. Invent a fabulous Halloween birthday cocktail with your name in the title and use cassis and fresh blackberries to turn it a sinister purple shade. Black balloons look…

After the Hunt is a thriller that tells the tale of a college professor who finds herself caught in between a sexual accusation made by a star student against one of her colleagues. Julia Roberts, who plays Alma, discusses why she is proud to be part of such a controversial film – and why she has a thing for playing troubled women! With Julia also looking back on 35 years since playing Vivian alongside love interest Edward (Richard Gere) in Pretty Woman, the 57-year-old star, who’s been married to cinematographer Daniel Moder since 2002, didn’t hold back.... Andrew Garfield, your co-star in this movie, has called you a national treasure. How do you react to that? I really don’t know. He says things he knows will make me feel uncomfortable.…

The Tate and King family rivalry reaches a peak this week when it’s revealed that Nicola’s son Carl has shared an inappropriate photo of Dawn’s daughter Clemmie, prompting an important conversation about children’s online safety. Emmerdale star Nicola Wheeler reveals more about the storyline... Is Nicola worried that her son could face punishment? No, Nicola initially is in complete denial, because as far as she’s concerned, it’s a silly mistake and they needn’t take it any further. Then, the police get involved but I think she still believes that they’ll understand that Carl is sorry for what he did. How does her chat with Dawn go? Well, you’ve got Nicola being tiger mum, and her mouth running away with her. She initially goes around to plead Carl’s case but in…

MEET OUR TESTER THEO MICHAELS TV presenter and former MasterChef contestant Theo is passionate about good quality food! He’s also an author of eight brilliant cookery books, including Canned, which helps transform store-cupboard ingredients into delicious meals. Theo has joined best to put own-brand staples to the test to help you find the best Essentials without compromising on flavour. MEDIUM GRATED CHEDDAR £2.55, Tesco A great-quality mature grated cheddar, I couldn’t taste any of the caking agent, and the cheese had a nice slightly crumbly texture, with strong flavour – an all-round winner of the bunch! MEDIUM GRATED CHEESE £2.75, Morrisons A creamier cheese than our winner, but still had that nice cheddar sharpness that tasted great, this could have come first but the caking agent (potato starch) was a…

Best known for her roles in Harry Potter and The Crown, Helena Bonham Carter’s grandmother also made rather a name for herself back in the day – but for very different reasons! The star is the granddaughter of Helen Violet Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury, who was known as ‘Lady Violet’ after her father became an earl. Born on 15 April 1887, she was the daughter of Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, and Helen Kelsall Melland. Lady Violet was just four years old when her mother sadly passed away of typhoid, and by the time she was 29, World War I had broken out, killing brother Raymond Asquith in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. Unsurprisingly becoming passionate about war by this stage, Helen was…

World renowned past lives expert David Wells answers your questions. This week he’s chosen Julie Cunningham, 55, a semi-retired accountant who writes in her spare time. She lives with her husband in Litchfield and has one daughter and two grandchildren. Here she tells us what came through in their encounter… Have you always believed in the spirit world and past lives? Yes, I have and I think it’s largely because of an experience I had when I was a young child. When I was six weeks old, I had whooping cough and was really poorly in hospital and was actually pronounced dead because I stopped breathing. My parents were told that I had passed away, but then about 10 minutes later I miraculously started breathing again, so ever since, I’ve…

Mum plonks a Tupperware box in my hands. ‘Here,’ she says, lips pursed. ‘You go and talk some sense into him. I’ve given up trying.’ I slip the box into my tote bag. ‘Yes, but Mum-’ ‘I know, I know,’ she sighs, her face softening. ‘I’m on his side, if he did but know it. It’s just the way he goes about things…’ Dad is forthright. He leaps into action and takes no prisoners. That has its good points but can also rub people up the wrong way. Like the time he went to parents’ evening at school and complained that I’d been left out of the 4x4 relay team that term. ‘As I explained to Kelly at the time,’ my PE teacher Mrs Jenner had said, ‘it’s no reflection…

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The Duchess of Sussex has found herself at the centre of yet another Royal storm after sharing a video that many consider one of her most controversial missteps to date. The video, filmed as she drove near the infamous Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris – the site of Princess Diana’s fatal car crash in 1997 – has provoked a wave of criticism from Royal fans, commentators, and even voices who are normally sympathetic and supportive of her. The footage, which appeared online last week, shows the mum-of-two (without Prince Harry) seated in the back of a car with her feet up, as it travels through the French capital. Critics argue that by choosing to film and publish content from near to the location of the Princess’ death – let…

THE LOWDOWN ON FEMALE INTIMATE TREATMENTS QUEEN OF HARLEY STREET LESLEY REYNOLDS SAYS… When it comes to beauty, I’ve seen it all at the clinic. However, one topic that still makes women whisper is intimate surgery. Specifically, labiaplasty and clitoral hood reduction. Yes, that’s surgery down there. It might sound extreme, but it’s one of the fastest-growing requests in aesthetic medicine today. Let’s face it, we spend a lot of time talking about faces, tummies, and skin, but far less about the parts of our bodies that genuinely affect everyday comfort and confidence. Labiaplasty and clitoral hood reduction aren’t about vanity, they’re about choice. For women who are struggling, these procedures can ease discomfort, restore confidence, and even improve intimacy. As I always say, beauty is about feeling good in…

HOW IT WORKS Did you know more of us than ever are suffering from a lack of sleep? A major factor linked to piling on the pounds. In fact, just four nights of poor sleep can lead to weight gain according to the latest research from Pennsylvania State University. So how much sleep should we be getting? The NHS recommends 6-9 hours a night. However, a third of us now get just 5-6 hours kip according to the Sleep Council. So what can help? GET INTO GOOD SLEEP HABITS • Get up and go to bed at the same time every day. • Limit caffeine. • An hour before bed relax with a book or mindfulness app. FOODS THAT CAN HELP • Cherries: contain high levels of melatonin, which aids…

It’s been 15 years since Raoul Moat gunned down an innocent man, shot his ex-partner, seriously injured a police officer and was the cause of a week-long manhunt in the North East of England. The effects of it are still felt by many and now, a new Prime Video documentary Raoul Moat: Inside the Mind of a Killer speaks to friends and family of not only Moat, but the victims too, to delve deeper into a crime that shocked the nation. ''THE EFFECTS OF IT ARE STILL FELT BY MANY'' It was July 2010 when ex-doorman and tree surgeon Raoul Moat was released from Durham prison. He’d served an 18-week sentence for assaulting a nine-year-old child and during his incarceration, he’d been threatening his ex-partner, Samantha Stobbart. They’d met when…

Known for her love of all things Gothic chic, reality star Kourtney Kardashian is inspiring her millionaires of followers with Halloween home ideas!…

This is the perfect novel to curl up with and drink a pumpkin latte! Laurie Gilmore’s books (it’s a pen name inspired by the TV show Gilmore Girls) are popular around the world as she brings to life her quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. This one starts with prep for a wedding in Dream Harbor which can only mean one thing – everyone wants to get involved. Jeanie and Logan are set to tie the knot, and Kira is desperate to hire out her newly-renovated barn at the Christmas tree farm. Meanwhile, Annie’s agreed to bake a cake, and Mac is responsible for, well… just being Mac. And as the whole town celebrates the wedding of the year with the snow falling around them, can Annie and Mac…

Prince William is facing one of the most delicate balancing acts of his future reign: holding together a monarchy that appears increasingly understaffed and overstretched. In recent years, the Royal roster has dramatically slimmed down, reportedly leaving the Prince of Wales, 43, concerned about how many senior members are left to shoulder the weight of duty. With his father, King Charles III, continuing treatment for cancer and his wife, Catherine, stepping back while she undergoes preventative care, William has found himself thrust further into the spotlight as the monarchy’s most visible working Royal. But beyond the core trio, the Firm’s pool of trusted, high-profile family members is shrinking fast. As seen on page 10, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain estranged in California, Prince Andrew is sidelined after scandal,…

For 32 years, Natalie Cassidy has been a familiar face on our screens, growing up before our eyes as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders. But earlier this year, the actress made the brave decision to quit the BBC soap in order to spend more quality time with her family (fiancé Marc and daughters Eliza, 15, and nine-year-old Joanie), as well as explore other projects. And she’s certainly spread her wings. Her podcast, Life With Nat, pulled in over 100,000 listens in its first week in May 2024 and continues to go from strength to strength. Natalie’s made appearances in BBC series Boarders, ITV’s The Masked Singer (reaching the semi-final as the mystery contestant Bush) and presented Channel 4 consumer series What’s The Big Deal? In September, she also showed her…

WHAT’S YOUR SIZE? No, one size does not fit all! I take a size 15 dress and a two and three-quarter shoe but you won’t find those in the shops! As for jackets, I must choose between one which won’t do up across the bust or one with shoulder seams halfway to my elbow. I can remember when even hats and gloves were sized precisely but with both no longer de rigueur fashion, that has long passed. My political opponents may think I am big-headed but the opposite is true so that if I need a hat, I have to buy one that falls over my eyes and then prop it up with hat-sizers. Once socks came in precise sizes but now they are grouped in four to seven or…

1 GET THE COLOUR CORRECT Be realistic. ‘Anything with bleach should be left to the professionals,’ say the Josh Wood colour team. ‘Dramatic colour changes are quite difficult to nail at home,’ he adds. ‘The first number on the box is the “level” of the colours final result, one being black, 10 being blonde,’ explains Craig Purves, Clairol ambassador. ‘If you just want to cover greys, find your level and choose accordingly.’ Josh Wood Colour (joshwoodcolour.com) has a ‘build your own’ subscription that helps create a routine, from £15. 2 PRE-DYE PREP Less is more in your hair. ‘You don’ t have to wash your hair before, but try not to have any product in as this can alter the result of your colour,’ warns the Josh Wood team. ‘Have…

The moment that changed my life. The morning when I woke up and something was different. As well as the thumping head and stomach-churning nausea of my usual hangover, I found myself in a strange bed with a man I didn’t know. Panicking, my brain scrambled for clues. What had happened? Vague memories of being at a party, taking my top off, climbing into the skip outside and dancing. I staggered out of his apartment and vomited on the bus. I was at my lowest ebb. Blackouts like this were happening all too often. I was 26 and I’d spent the last ten years in a fug of alcohol and bad behaviour: The broken friendships, the gin and tonics until I passed out in a dodgy club at 3am, and…

TOP TIP! Save on carving! Fabric pumpkins look just as good and can be used year after year…

‘Lately I have started to hate my own face. That doesn’t mean I hate myself, no, I love myself because I am fabulous! But, when I look in the mirror, I don’t see myself anymore, I see a decrepit old woman and I think, who the bloody hell is that??? It’s partly my own fault I suppose for having a great life and living in the sun but also for not buying into the Botox or other ‘tweaks’ for all these years but silly me, I thought the expensive, full ‘cut and paste’ facelift I had in 2018 would last longer than it has. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those women who have the money, the time and the high pain threshold to endure endless needles or whatever else is…

STEVIE NICKS No one embodies ‘rock sorceress’ quite like Stevie Nicks. With her chiffon shawls, cascading curls and enigmatic stage presence, Stevie became the high priestess of Fleetwood Mac – and a solo star in her own right. Songs such as ‘Rhiannon’ and ‘Edge of Seventeen’ carry the aura of spells sung over candlelight. Four decades on, the now 77-year-old remains a mystical touchstone for generations of artists, her aura as intoxicating as the moonlit imagery she’s always wrapped herself in – and let’s not forget her passion for crystals! Few artists have blurred the line between music and magic as powerfully as Stevie Nicks. Rising to fame in the mid Seventies with Fleetwood Mac, Nicks transformed heartache and hedonism into otherworldly poetry, cloaking herself in shawls, lace and legend.…

Sitting on the sofa, with my Cockapoo, Stella, next to me, she placed her nose on the left-hand side of my chest. It was odd – she’d never done that before. ‘Come here, you,’ I said, fussing over her, thinking she wanted attention. It was April 2019, and we’d had her for two years. We affectionally called her Stelly Belly and she ruled our household. My husband, Paul, now 56, adored her and our grown-up sons, Zac and Charlie, made a fuss of her whenever they visited. Life was busy for us. I was the headteacher of a special needs school in Birmingham, running craft fairs, juggling family life and of course, looking after Stella. Over the following weeks, Stella kept doing the same thing – putting her nose or…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Thorpe Park, one of the UK’s biggest theme parks, is dedicated to thrill-seekers, especially the grown-up ones. This park definitely attracts a more adult crowd and during October and into November, the park is open for extended hours and offers its very own Halloween experience: Fright Nights. I dared to be scared along with my teenage sons Theo and Henry... THE MAIN ATTRACTION: THE RIDES There are over 25 rides – and six record-breaking roller coasters. I’m a total wimp, but my sons loved riding the roller coasters in the dark. Here they give their scare verdict: HYPERIA This 236ft attraction holds the record for the tallest, fastest and most ‘weightless moments’ roller coaster in the UK. It goes 81 miles per hour, has a 180-degree drop and…