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Last week, best was fortunate enough to attend a Christmas Party at St James’s Palace for our chosen charity, The Not Forgotten. Set up just over 100 years ago for our veterans to know they are ‘Not Forgotten’ after being injured (physically or mentally) fighting for their country. Their patron was the then Princess Royal. Today, it is our own Princess Royal, Princess Anne (seen above with their Chief Executive, Colonel Richard Walker, who served in Afghanistan and commanded the Queen’s Gurka Engineers Regiment). So, at Christmas, a time when we all think of giving – if you can afford to – please think of donating to thenotforgotten.org or buying a Christmas present from their shop (I’ve donated and I’m getting one of their fab T-shirts) and help us to…

The Princess of Wales stepped out last week with the King, the Queen and Prince William for the first time since the controversial book Endgame (questioning the need for and even the survival of the monarchy) hit the shelves. Kate looked stunning in gold and the Queen was magnificent, while King Charles and Prince William’s smiles were regal – and a new ‘Fab Four’ was born at the lavish Buckingham Palace event. Despite the book’s best efforts, an end to the monarchy seemed very far from reality in modern Britian. Yet despite the smiles, the Royal Family cannot be feeling happy about this latest tome. While the Royals choose to ‘never complain or explain’, the Princess of Wales’ uncle, Gary Goldsmith, has been left so angry by the contents written…

Ever since her days co-presenting Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast, Gaby Roslin has been known for her sunny disposition – and she’s happier than ever. Having been through some challenging times, she’s embracing every day to the max – and it’s even added a new dimension to her career. Her hit podcast, That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful, has featured star guests such as Dame Judi Dench, Robbie Williams and Kate Winslet. Gaby’s brand of spreading joy has now spawned a new self-help book, Spread The Joy, in which she guides readers on how to live a more fulfilled life. Gaby, who lives in North London with her publisher husband, David Osman, and daughters, Libbi-Jack, 22, and Amelie, 16, tells us about her own journey to happiness. Gaby,…

Girls Aloud fans rejoiced recently, when the remaining band members announced they’d be going on a ‘magic’ reunion tour in 2024. But of course, the joy of seeing the iconic pop group perform together again, will be tinged with sadness, because there will be one notable absence in their tight-knit girl gang – Sarah Harding. Tragically, Sarah died of breast cancer in September 2021 aged just 39, having spent her last few months raising awareness for cancer, raising money for charity and spending precious time with her loved ones, including her bandmates. Reunion plans were put on ice following her diagnosis – but now, say the girls, the time finally feels right to celebrate Sarah, and honour her legacy. Their tour will be dedicated to the late singer – yet…

TOP TIP! Place a piece of folded tissue under eyes with one hand while applying eyeshadow (especially glittery shades) with the other hand to avoid particles falling on cheeks and spoiling foundation.…

SOFIA: One spritz and my hair already felt softer and smoother. As someone with very thick and damaged hair, I’d recommend this. MUM: It’s really easy to apply and you don’t need much for this to work, so it will last ages. SOFIA: I’m so excited about this present and it tastes just like the one in the shop! I’ve had so much fun making it at home. MUM: I liked the size of the machine and its fun appearance. It’s really quick to clean too, which is always a win for a busy parent. SOFIA: A great choice of sweets, really colourful and perfect for my sweet tooth! MUM: I love that it’s so different to typical sweet treats –I’ve not seen anything like it before. This is a…

Ellie swung her car into the drive rather too quickly and vowed never to go on another blind date. She’d wasted two hours meeting yet another boring man. It was one thing for her friends to suggest internet dating, but it was quite another to find anyone remotely suitable. She was done with it. She was perfectly happy by herself. She was making a restorative cuppa when there was a knock on the kitchen window. Ellie smiled with pleasure at the sight of her next-door neighbour, bearing two slices of Christmas cake. ‘This year’s effort,’ Hugh said. ‘I want your verdict. And, judging by the look on your face, you could use a bit of a treat. Have you got time for a natter?’ ‘Definitely.’ Ellie poured another mug of…

’T is the season – so we’ve found you some fabulously festive, home decor inspo from interior designer Heather Strommen’s @sweetshadylane Instagram account… WONDERFUL WREATH What a way to kick off the home festivities! This gorgeous, traditional wreath instantly adds class to a home… before you’ve even walked through the door! We’ve spotted a very similar one at werchristmas.co.uk for £34.99! SWAN LAKE Who doesn’t love a brass swan/goose candle holder?! Esty.com are selling their Vintage Two Geese Holder at £34.35. JINGLE BELL ROCK Want some Christmas cheer without going OTT? Check out charlies.co.uk’s Canadian Pine Christmas garland for just £4.39 to add a touch of green to your home, just like Heather’s stunning staircase garland… and because it’s so cheap, adding baubles, jingle bells and ribbons to your decs…

1 PAWS FOR THOUGHT? Hey, cutie! This gorgeous snap of a snowshoe hare, by Deena Sveinsson, has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award, produced by the Natural History Museum in London. This little fella was spotted just taking a moment in the Rocky Mountain National Park, USA. The stunning exhibition runs until June 2024 – see nhm.ac.uk/wpy for more. 2 Who wowed the crowd? Golden girls ruled on the Red Carpet at The 2023 Academy Museum Gala with actor Demi Moore, 61, taking centre stage in a sequin stunner by Tamara Ralph. Actor Eva Longoria, 48, dazzled in a glittering gown by Dolce & Gabbana, and actor Rachel Zegler, 22, looked gorgeous in gold with a Vivienne Westwood gown. Demi, Eva and…

Jane McDonald is a survivor. She’s had a tough few years, losing her partner of 13 years, musician Eddie Rothe, to lung cancer in March 2021, and her mum Jean in 2018. But the down-to-earth Wakefield native, 60, as she tells us, is a ‘glass half full kinda gal’ - and says ‘You have to make a different life...and move forward with them in your heart’ and threw herself into work. These days, the singer, TV presenter and world traveller lives a rather different life. Her friend, Sue Ravey, moved in with Jane and the pair went down a storm on Gogglebox. Now, the star is preparing for a huge tour and the hankies will be out… Tell us about the new tour, With All My Love… I just thought…

STANDOUT MOMENTS It’s the final already, darlings – can you believe it?! Standout moments this series for me have been Angela Rippon’s astonishing high-kick, the humour and personality Krishnan brought to his performances – especially that salsa! – plus Angela Scanlon’s Black Swan routine and Layton’s paso doble. It’s really been a bumper year! PANTO AND PUDS Christmas will look a little different for me this year. One day off on the day itself, which I’ll spend with my fiancé Jonathan and a couple of friends in a restaurant, near where I’m doing panto in Wimbledon. But we’ll still have turkey, all the trimmings and all the fancy desserts we can eat. Never fear, darlings – it’s me, so it will be very chic! FUN ON THE PANEL I’ve had…

1 LIPSTICK THAT LASTS Lips start to lose plumpness and definition over time, so a couple of extra tools can help your colour stay put for longer. ‘Try using a lip brush as it helps blend the lipstick smoothly and give lips more shape, especially when using brighter colours,’ explains Sharan Dhillon of Omorfia make-up. You’re more likely to get a precise finish than with a chunky bullet, and you can apply in layers so it lasts longer. Use Boots Lip Brush, £3, alongside KIKO Milano Sparkling Lipstick, £14.99. 2 SMOKEY EYE IN MOMENTS Don’t be intimidated about applying this classic look. A budge-proof finish requires layering the products, but Simone Otis, head artist for beauty brand 19/99 stresses that less is more. ‘Start with a sheer wash of cream…

I’m not someone who barges through life, pushing to the front of queues and refusing to give up my seat on the bus. But, for a while now, I’ve thought I could do more to help others. Last year, my husband, Jimmy, 65, and I became empty nesters and I miss being able to make someone’s day that little bit better. ‘You could do stuff for me,’ Jimmy teases. ‘You’ll get too used to it,’ I reply – only half joking. Because kindness is expected within a marriage, and I’m talking about extending it outwards – to the community and even strangers. So, I aim to fill the next four weeks with as many good deeds as I can. WEEK ONE Our neighbourhood Facebook page consists mainly of angry rants…

TOP TIP! Keep treats for Santa or anyone you love under a dome to help keep them fresher for longer!…

For most people, Christmas is a magical time spent with family and friends, celebrating the importance of companionship and the joy of sharing. But sadly for others, the season of goodwill is the loneliest time of the year. Shocking new statistics from Age UK show that 2.3 million older people wish they had someone to spend yuletide with. And 1.6 million said they find Christmas Day the hardest of the year. Last Christmas, The Samaritans responded to a call for help every 10 seconds, claiming loneliness was the third most common reason for people ringing the helpline. There are also around 1.8 million single parents in the UK, many of whom struggle with isolation during the festive period. Single mum Victoria Benson, 53, knows only too well the heartbreak of…

There is a commonly held belief that a man’s life can be defined as one of the four stages of Santa Claus. Stage one – we believe in Santa Claus. Who would want to deny the existence of a jolly old feller whose sole purpose in life was to race around the entire Earth in one night, dropping off all kinds of festive goodies and toys? Sadly, the inexorable march towards puberty eventually takes its toll, and the second stage kicks in.. we stop believing in Santa Claus. It doesn’t prevent the toys and games arriving , they simply become more expensive and considerably more complex. Usually with a power cable attached. The ultimate providers of these items are of course parents and grandparents – those in the third stage,…

I’M MISSING MY LATE SISTER My beloved sister has been gone three years now, and the pain sometimes feels as fresh as yesterday. We are twins, so arguably we were closer than most. It feels like I’m missing a limb. I was told that time heals all… But I feel like I’m not healing, Vanessa. Perhaps it’s this time of year, or the weather, or maybe I’m just ultra-down. But my goodness, I’m missing my best friend. What can I do? Kara, Liverpool You are quite simply engulfed in grief. You are suffering a profound and life-changing loss of your beloved soul-mate. This is far too serious and painful to navigate alone. Please ask your GP to recommend a bereavement counsellor. Professional help to find a path through this overwhelming…

Actress, writer and comedienne, Dame Maureen Lipman DBE, is most famous in recent years to a new legion of fans, playing hilarious Coronation Street battleaxe, Evelyn Plummer. Here, the grandmother-of-two, 77 (who sadly, lost her husband Jack Rosenthal, in 2004 and then her partner of 13 years, Guido Castro, in 2021) talks about her latest storyline – which involves Evelyn speaking out against a dog abuser, alongside her ex-drug addict daughter Cassie (Claire Sweeney), Maureen’s love of dogs and why family ties are everything... Hello Maureen, tell us how Evelyn found herself caught up in a dramatic situation with a dog owner? She is at the precinct, and she sees this dodgy looking chap with a van and he’s shouting at the dog – clearly the dog is frightened. She…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross5023 ACROSS 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 21 22 23 24 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 16 18 19 What is the name of Cambodia’s capital? The answer will appear in the shaded squares. Phone and online entries open 12 December 2023 until midnight on 29 December 2023. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke (0333 202 3390). *For full T&Cs…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT What could be more festive than a trip to the magical winter wonderland that is Kraków. One of Poland’s oldest cities, its rich in culture and beautiful architecture – and come Christmas time, the already beautiful Old Town is sprinkled with a sparkle of fairy dust. Illuminated trees shine in the city’s squares, the beautiful historic buildings are lit up, and Christmas music plays. Stroll the cobbled streets beneath the Gothic spire of the stunning St Mary’s Basilica and soak up the atmosphere. INSIDER’S GUIDE A special draw is the world-famous Christmas Market, held in the city’s main square. Visitors come from far and wide to shop for gifts and souvenirs. From woolly hats and scarves, to scented candles, jewellery crafted from amber sourced from the Baltic region…

As she hits us with her best one-liners, heavy eyeliner and kooky style on Strictly Come Dancing – which reaches its exciting conclusion with the grand finale this weekend, Claudia Winkleman looks like she’s got it all going for her. She’s got a mega-successful TV career (her other telly juggernaut, The Traitors, is back soon for a second season), a happy family life (she has children Matilda, 17, and Jake, 20, with hubby Kris Thykier) and a TV bestie in Tess Daly. Yet behind-the-scenes, as she recently revealed, life hasn’t exactly been plain sailing. Speaking to author-turned-podcaster Elizabeth Day, she revealed – rather shockingly – that she’s ‘never’ been able to see her own face properly, due to her bad eyesight. The presenter, 51, confessed to being born with ‘terrible…

TOP TIP Cream satin teamed with black looks classy and the perfect combo for Christmas Day dressing!…

Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. As a kid, I remember the excitement of mum and dad driving me and my two brothers around in the car, admiring the houses in the neighbourhood that were draped in joyful lights and decorations. It was magical, and the start of the festive season for our family. When I married Ian, I wanted to recreate some of that yuletide joy in our own home for our own children. We started 16 years ago with a single string of fairy lights in the garden for our son Ollie’s first Christmas. By the time his brother Stanley was born, two years later, we’d also acquired a ‘Santa Stop Here’ sign and a set of pop-up snowmen on the front lawn. But as…

Perfect Roast Pork Belly & Apple Sauce This timeless classic is mouthwateringly good! Hands-on time 15min, plus drying and resting. Cooking time about 3½hr.Serves 6 • 1.5kg piece pork belly FOR THE APPLE SAUCE 3 Bramley apples (about 350g, peeled, cored and roughly chopped 1½tsp cider vinegar 1 sprig of thyme, leaves stripped 1½tbsp caster sugar 1 Using a small sharp knife, score lines into the skin of the pork (cutting into the fat) about 1cm apart, but not so deep that you cut into the meat. Pat the pork completely dry, then leave uncovered at room temperature to air-dry for 45min. 2 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan)/mark 7. Rub lots of salt over the pork skin. Rest a wire rack above a deep roasting tin and put the…

Christmas is approaching, like a massive, twinkling juggernaut – and I feel slightly caught on the hop. I mean, what happened to November? It just dissolved like sugar in a mug of tea, and I find myself behind with everything. This is a very ‘list’-driven time of year. Women’s lists tend to be longer than men’s, but that’s because we add ‘his Aunty Maureen’ to the list of presents we must source (bath set, no arguments), whilst men will have one thing on their list, which is usually something like ‘firelighters’. Not that it’s not fair, as the season has never been fair. The point with Christmas is to enjoy yourself, even if everything and everybody is getting on your t*ts. The trick to pulling this off is to show…

SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December It’s an expensive time of year for all of us, but retrograde Mercury makes it extra hard for you to balance your account. Payments may be late arriving, and there could be mistakes that keep you dangling on the phone or online. It’s a first-world problem – no big deal. Keep active, keep positive and wish upon a star! CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January Take time out from life’s demands to chill and ‘meet yourself’. Mercury retrograde in your sign makes you feel like you’re running with the brakes on, so why not stop, rest and re-evaluate. Your intuition will speak to you in the Winter stillness, so listen. The tide is about to turn for you and greater fulfilment lies ahead. AQUARIUS…

ARE ‘MUMMY MAKEOVERS’ SAFE? My daughter, who’s 39, has four-year-old twin boys and hates how her body looks post-kids, even though I tell her she still looks great and has two fabulous boys to show for it! She’s actually looking at booking a ‘mummy makeover’ in Turkey in the New Year, which would involve a tummy tuck, breast lift or augmentation, and liposuction. I am absolutely terrified – I’ve heard such horror stories. Is it safe in your opinion, doctor? Julie, Aberdeen DR HILARY SAYS: Your daughter can feel justifiably proud having brought up two wonderful little twin boys and I know from personal experience how tough this can be. Now they are of an age to start school, it’s natural she would want to regain some of her previous…

CATS ★Avoid fancy dress – it may seem entertaining to us, but it causes stress by restricting movement and inhibiting their normal behaviour, like grooming or stretching. ★Choose a pet sitter if you’re going away... so that cats can remain in the environment they’re happiest in; their own home. Ideally the sitter will visit twice a day to ensure they’re safe and well-fed. ★Create a calm environment – if you’re hosting a party or expecting more guests than usual, provide felines with a quiet place to retreat along with access to a litter tray. A pheromone diffuser may also help. ★Beware of toxic decorations – even just brushing against a lily can be dangerous, and hollies and mistletoe are also poisonous. Contact your vet if you think your pet has…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Is there wizardry in the world? Well, it certainly lives in the imagination of JK Rowling, so when the Great Northern Hotel in King’s Cross (home to the famous platform 9 3/4), opened its doors for a ‘Harry Potter experience’, we couldn’t resist… Arriving in London by train, the first place we spotted was the Harry Potter Shop – an excellent place to buy wizarding supplies from wands to capes, and budding wizards can get their favourite foods including chocolate frogs, butterbeer and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans in the most peculiar flavours, including grass and earwax! INSIDER’S GUIDE Just yards away from the Harry Potter Shop (and, at present, the station’s giant Christmas tree) is the Great Northern Hotel with its fittingly named RAILS restaurant, bar and…