New Zealand Woman’s Weekly Issue 17, 2022

It’s been two long years since Sweden’s royal family put on their posh frocks and dusted off their tiaras for an annual gala honouring Swedes who’ve made a global impact. Covid-19 put a stop to the prestigious Representation Dinner in 2020 and 2021, but with restrictions eased, this year’s event went ahead once more, with the royals pulling out all the stops when it came to dressing up for the big night. King Carl Gustaf XVI and his wife Queen Silvia hosted the dinner, and were joined by two of their children and their spouses. Crown Princess Victoria, accompanied by her husband Prince Daniel, stunned in a figure-hugging red gown and a diamond tiara and necklace. Her sister-in-law Princess Sofia – who is married to Victoria’s brother Carl Philip – opted for…

If you are a regular reader of the Weekly, then you will know the journey our beloved columnist Kerre Woodham has been through over the years. And like many, she has had some ups and downs during the pandemic, including having her daughter Kate and her young family move back to New Zealand. And now, not one to shy away from a challenge, Kerre is putting on the glitz to compete in this year’s Dancing with the Stars. To create this gorgeous cover and story, we had a photoshoot where she tried on the stunning gowns the stylist had brought along and she posed up a storm alongside her dancing partner Jared. It was an afternoon filled with so much laughter and joy that you can almost feel it bursting…

There’s a big chance that if Covid hadn’t come along, we would not be fortunate enough to see popular broadcaster Kerre Woodham on this year’s season of Dancing with the Stars. Kerre loves a challenge, having run marathons and climbed mountains, but she’s always said a polite no to the DWTS producers when they’ve come calling in the past. “Just the thought of it terrified me,” says Kerre, who has watched every season of DWTS from the beginning. “I couldn’t help but think how brave the dancers were to go out there and expose themselves like that.” But then Covid came along and in Kerre’s words, it “sucked all the joy and life out of everything around me”. So, when she was asked if she would consider it this time, she said yes. “I…

Second time LUCKY! A newly engaged J.Lo and Ben vow this time they’ll make it to the altar Green is the word for Jennifer Lopez! The Love Don’t Cost a Thing singer, 52, excitedly shared the news of her engagement to Ben Affleck on April 8, just over a year after the star-crossed couple reignited their love affair. Argo star Ben, 49, proposed with a rare, natural green diamond ring – valued at more than $7.3 million – and J.Lo couldn’t wait to share her joy with fans. “I always say the colour green is my lucky colour,” gushed the Marry Me actress, who shares twins Emme and Max, 14, with ex-husband Marc Anthony. “Maybe you can remember a certain green dress,” she continued, referencing the iconic Versace gown she wore to the 2000 Grammys.…

Prince Harry can’t stand Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex didn’t give royalty a chance. And Prince Charles shouldn’t be passed over because he might make a good king. These are some of the insights royal author Tina Brown gleaned in the two years she spent researching and writing her book The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor – the Truth and the Turmoil. Tina, 68 – who won acclaim for editing magazines such as Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker before writing the 2007 bestseller The Diana Chronicles – carried out extensive research with impeccable sources for her book, to be published next month. She spoke to 120 people intimately involved with senior royals and their households, and has provided some glimpses into what life’s really like…

Harry’s memoir about his life, due to be published later this year, is expected to infuriate his family, says Tina, who reckons William in particular will be angry with his brother for airing his grievances in public. While she doubts Harry will be disparaging towards the Queen and might take it easy on Kate, who he likes, he may well “go after” Charles, Camilla and William. However, royal writer Omid Scobie, co-author of the book Finding Freedom about H Harry and Meghan, believes the memoir won’t be a case of Harry lashing out at the royals, as many people are anticipating. “I think as much as the press want this to be a burn book and an attack on the institution, this is more just about his story. For people expecting that…