Hello! Canada February 24, 2025

Growing up in England, I always looked forward to February because of Shrove Tuesday (a.k.a. Pancake Day), which usually fell in that month. As I got older, my sights turned to Valentine’s Day. But for the past two years, the highlight – for the Hello! team, at least – has been Harry and Meghan’s visits to Canada. In February 2024, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a triumphant return to what was briefly their homeland for the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. This month, Meghan again accompanied her husband as the seventh instalment of Harry’s Paralympic-style competition for wounded war veterans got underway. Naturally, the dynamic duo charmed everyone in their path (including Canada’s Nelly Furtado, who described the couple as “beautiful” people).…

‘WE THROW THE KIND OF PARTIES NOBLES DID IN THE OLD DAYS’ When Andrea Perra first set eyes on his magnificent palazzo near Mount Etna, it was – like the volcano itself – “sleeping, waiting to be awakened.” That was two decades ago, and thanks to his passion for interiors, the baroque beauty in Catania has burst back to life. Restoring it was no small project, as the architect admits. “Maybe it’s because I was born near Etna that I’m enthusiastic and overflowing with energy,” he says, laughing, as he guides us through exquisite salons filled with frescoes and shimmering candelabras. ‘I FELT THAT WHAT I OWED TO SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL WAS TO RESTORE ITS LOST LIGHT’ Although Andrea lives between Sicily and Paris, his heart never leaves this Mediterranean…

It was only a matter of time before Paris Hilton’s little darlings made their red-carpet debut – and their aunt was there to reassure them on the big day, too! Paris, 44, teamed up with her son, Phoenix, 2, 15-month-old daughter London and sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild, 41, at the Young Hearts Friends Fest, a benefit for the charity God’s Love We Deliver. Held at New York City’s Museum of Ice Cream, the event was a playful and heartfelt gathering, with Paris sharing that philanthropy is “something that our family instilled in us from a very young age. I think that’s so important to show your children how blessed you are and also give back.” Her words were especially resonant in light of the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Paris not…

The Princess of Wales is a woman on a mission. As she unveils a powerful new tool to help children grow into happy and healthy adults, she urges, “Let us build a more loving, empathetic and compassionate society together.” In a foreword to the new Shaping Us Framework, she says, “To create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore and rebalance. We must invest in humankind.” Her plea comes days after she enjoyed making handprints with youngsters on a visit to Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice in Sully, near the Welsh capital of Cardiff, having become the organization’s royal patron, following in the footsteps of Diana, Princess of Wales, and King Charles. BACK IN ACTION Kate’s busier-than-expected start to the year is, aides stress, still part of…

Joining young children aboard a bus, Kate was in her element as she played chaperone to four and five-year-olds. The princess travelled with a group of kindergarten-age students from All Souls CE Primary School to launch a new project at London’s National Portrait Gallery based on work by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. Along the way, Kate helped keep the kids entertained by playing “I Spy” on the coach, commissioned by Kensington Palace. Once there, she joined students and teachers as they were guided through the new Bobeam Tree Trail – a series of interactive experiences for under-fives – in which they were led to a “magical” multicoloured tree and encouraged to use art to express their feelings and emotions. ‘ONE OF THE MUMS’ Liz Smith, the gallery’s…

The Prince and Princess of Wales reiterated their commitment to Holocaust education during a solemn service marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camps. “George is getting to the age where he’s starting to understand things, so it’s getting interesting to talk to him about what happened,” Prince William said of his 11-year-old son as he and Kate met with elderly survivors, young people (top) and faith leaders at London’s Guildhall on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In a speech, the future King commended those like Rachel Levy, 95 (below centre), for “their bravery in sharing with us the most harrowing moments of their lives.” Doing so, he said, is “extremely powerful and ensures that we never forget.” Kate, meanwhile, was thrilled to reunite with survivor…