New Zealand Woman’s Weekly 1825

A gallant, handsome and mischievous man, Prince Philip can always be guaranteed to leave an impact wherever he goes thanks to his famous and often un-politically correct wit. But it’s his role as right-hand man to the Queen (92) that truly shows his dedication to the monarchy and his wife. As the Duke of Edinburgh reaches his late nineties, it’s fair to say he’s been knocked back a few times thanks to illness and old age, but he refuses to let it keep him down for long! Which makes his 97th birthday all the more remarkable. Prince Philip surprised royal watchers when, only weeks after hip surgery, he attended the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. What’s even more incredible was the fact he walked into the church…

Well, it’s started. It began as a light symphony at the Weekly office – a small cough here, a clear of the throat there – until we were besieged by the first onslaught of winter ails. Out came the vitamins, the honey, the tea tree oil – and in Alice’s case, some very cute bunny rabbit slippers, complete with pompom tails – until we were all back on deck. I’m sure that wherever you are in the country , you too have experienced winter’s harsh first bite. But it’s not all bad, with some gorgeous snow-cover ed landscapes to gaze upon, slow cookers to crank up, cosy knits to pull on and perhaps even some mulled wine to brew (guess which one I started with). Yes, I admit it, I…

Yes, she might bathe in milk, but Mariah Carey isn’t a diva, thank you very much – well, according to her anyway. In a remarkably candid interview in a British newspaper, the superstar singer took the opportunity not only to discuss her mental health, but her long-rumoured “diva antics” – and says that she’s not as demanding as people think. Slamming rumours that she insists on new toilet seats and gold taps in her hotel rooms, and that she once asked for 100 white doves and 20 white kittens in a tour rider – “I’m not a cat lady” – Mariah did admit to the slightly bizarre bathing ritual of using milk instead of water. “Sometimes I use it as a beauty treatment,” she says. “I don’t want to give…

It’s yet another remarkable milestone in the record-breaking reign of Her Majesty the Queen. Last week marked the 65th anniversary of her coronation in June 1953, but it passed without any major celebrations. The Queen, whose investiture as monarch was held 16 months after succeeding her father, King George VI on his death, is said to prefer to remember such events with some “quiet reflection” at home. But what the anniversary has done is raise speculation yet again that she may not be sovereign for much longer. There’s been so much talk about the Queen stepping down from her role that bookies in the UK have slashed the odds on her abdicating from 5-1 to 2-1. Harry Aitkenhead from betting agency Corals says, “This year has been, and will continue…

The Queen’s coronation was the first time people around the world were able to watch a new monarch being crowned thanks to the miracle of that modern invention, television. The ceremony was held 16 months after Princess Elizabeth became queen following her father’s death from cancer in February 1952, allowing the family time to grieve and palace aides to plan the iconic event. Earlier this year, the Queen spoke about the ceremony, recalling how uncomfortable it was travelling in the carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. “Horrible, it’s not meant for travelling in at all. I mean, it’s only sprung on leather.” Wearing the crown originally made for her father’s coronation in 1937 was tricky because it was so heavy, she revealed. “You can’t look down to read the…

On why the Queen wears bright colours – ‘I have to be seen to be believed’ “Therefore, I am sure that this, my coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendour that are gone, but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God’s grace and mercy, be given to reign and serve as your Queen.” “Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.” “When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.” “Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage rising up from within. Indeed, sadly, it seems that it is tragedy that…