Table of contents for February 24, 2025 in Hello! Canada

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).…

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…

‘WE ARE ALL ALREADY COMPLETELY BESOTTED WITH HER’Proud dad Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi Welcome to the world, Athena Elizabeth Rose! Princess Beatrice, 36, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 41, greeted their second daughter on Jan. 22 at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and her family – including big sister Sienna, 3, and stepbrother Wolfie, 8 – couldn’t be more excited. “She is tiny and absolutely perfect,” Edo shared on Instagram, along with a sweet snap of their bundle of joy. “We are all already completely besotted with her. Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.” Proud aunt Princess Eugenie also posted the photo of her newborn niece – a cousin to her sons, August, 4, and 20-month-old Ernest – with the caption “Welcome, baby girl!” And Buckingham Palace…

SOAK IT UP There’s nothing quite like the simple joy of turning on some music, pouring a cup of tea (or a glass of wine) and sinking into a sudsy bathtub. A soak is not only calming and comforting but also beneficial to your overall well-being. It can loosen your muscles (especially with the addition of Epsom salts), lift your mood or set you up for a peaceful sleep. In addition, warm water (around 38º C) helps lower your blood pressure. One study even suggests that a hot bath can burn up as many calories as a 30-minute walk! If you need a little more persuading on the virtues of a long soak versus a rushed shower, look no further than Hollywood’s ultimate bath enthusiasts. Oscar winner and Goop founder…

‘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…

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…

Demi Moore continued her “wild ride” in Hollywood after being named Best Actress at the 30th Critics Choice Awards for her role in The Substance. “For anybody out there who is still struggling to find their way because it hasn’t happened…dreams do come true!” declared the star, 62, dazzling in a Schiaparelli Haute Couture navy blue satin bustier dress (left). Equally inspiring was Saint Laurent-clad Zoe Saldaña (top middle), 46, who won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. “I hope we can all be curious and open-hearted toward each other because you never know when you’ll have the opportunity to be a hero in someone else’s story,” she said. Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, 38 (below left, in Dior), teared up when her husband, Nobody Wants This leading man Adam Brody,…

BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE Stripped of Order of Canada Governor General Mary Simon has “terminated” Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Order of Canada. The news comes more than a year after The Fifth Estate dug into the singer’s claim of Indigenous ancestry and found she was born to white parents in the U.S. The Oscar winner, 83, had disputed the investigation, telling the Canadian Press, “Being an ‘Indian’” has little to do with record keeping but “who you love, who loves you and who’s your family.” PRINCE CARL PHILIP AND SOFIA Welcome their first daughter Sweden is celebrating the arrival of a baby girl for Prince Carl Philip, 45, and wife Sofia, 40. The Royal Court shared news of the birth on Feb. 7 and later posted a photo of the newborn, taken by her…

AQUARIUS JAN. 21 - FEB. 19 Everyone wants to work on a strategy that will lead to success yet have a backup plan just in case things don’t pan out as hoped. That’s why we spend so much time thinking about things before taking action. But sometimes when we think too hard and try to identify all the potential problems, we confound ourselves. You’re good at seeing all sides of a story. This week, if you use your innovative skills and are prepared to adapt, you’ll make exciting, sustainable progress. PISCES FEB. 20 - MARCH 20 The cosmos is blessing you with not only the creativity and insight you’ve been waiting for but also the energy to take positive action. Even though you’re in the midst of a challenging situation,…

Leading the pack with a whopping 11 nominations, Beyoncé was always destined to stand out at the Grammy Awards. But even the beloved chart-topper – who was already a Grammy record holder before the night began, with 32 trophies to her name – couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with the turn of events as she took home the coveted Album of the Year prize, her first-ever win in that category. “I just feel very full and very honoured,” said the emotional mom of three as her 13-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, stood by her side and husband Jay-Z looked on. “It’s been many, many years,” she added gratefully. The star, 43, had been nominated in the category an impressive four times before the fifth nod (for Cowboy Carter) proved to be…

SLEEP SOUNDLY Do you have trouble sleeping? Eva Mendes did until she added one simple thing to her bedtime routine: a white noise machine. “They are lifesavers in our house,” she told Yahoo. BRUSH UP Tracee Ellis Ross has enthusiastically touted the benefits of dry body brushing. The practice involves running a bristled brush over dry skin, which exfoliates while opening pathways to support lymphatic drainage and boost immunity. SPOIL YOUR SKIN We can always count on Mindy Kaling for her big-sisterly advice on everything from motherhood to work – and beauty finds, too! The star’s go-to moisturizer? This handcrafted, ultra-nourishing skin-care salve. CURATE COZY Here’s a hack to help ward off the winter blues: add an energy boost to your space with a scented candle. One of Annie Murphy’s…

It’s been 10 years since Mississauga, Ont., native Alessia Cara burst onto the music scene. Now, back with her fourth studio album, Love & Hyperbole, the soulful singer-songwriter says she’s producing her best work ever – and that’s no exaggeration! “Even if I didn’t make it myself, I think it’d be music that I would gravitate toward,” says the 28-year-old pop star. “It’s very nice and fulfilling to enjoy the music you make.” Sitting down with Hello! Canada, the Grammy winner shares the journey behind her new record (“I’m very eager to put it out in the world”), as well as her personal journey – from self-professed cynic to someone who is no longer afraid to embrace love. Valentine’s Day seems like the perfect opportunity to release Love & Hyperbole.…

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…

1. The Prince of Wales 2. Prince George of Wales 3. Princess Charlotte of Wales 4. Prince Louis of Wales 5. The Duke of Sussex 6. Prince Archie of Sussex 7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex 8. The Duke of York 9. Princess Beatrice 10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi 11. Athena Mapelli Mozzi 12. Princess Eugenie 13. August Brooksbank 14. Ernest Brooksbank 15. The Duke of Edinburgh 16. Earl of Wessex 17. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor 18. The Princess Royal 19. Peter Phillips 20. Savannah Phillips 21. Isla Phillips 22. Zara Tindall 23. Mia Tindall 24. Lena Tindall 25. Lucas Tindall…

BEST ACTRESS FERNANDA TORRES Age 59 Film I’m Still Here Role Eunice Paiva About her character She takes on the role of a Brazilian wife-turned-activist trying to uncover the truth about her husband’s disappearance. Years in the biz Born in Rio de Janeiro, Fernanda began her acting career at age 13 on Brazilian television. This year, she took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama, possibly foreshadowing an Oscar win. Fun fact Her mom and costar, Fernanda Montenegro, 95, was nominated in the same Oscar category in 1999 for the film Central Station. “It’s a delicate, profound movie and has me and my mother together” ‘STILL IN SHOCK BUT FULL OF SO MUCH JOY, LOVE AND GRATITUDE FOR THIS HONOUR AND RECOGNITION’Demi DEMI MOORE Age 62 Film The Substance Role…

CROSSWORD BY TOM PEPPER & ZHOUQIN BURNIKEL ACROSS 1 Taj Mahal locale 5 The Bee Gees brothers 10 10 per cent church offering 15 Proper partner 19 Prepare, as water for tea 20 Zhou of China 21 Ventricles’ counterparts 22 40th anniversary gem 23 Destroying personal chicken pens? 26 Polish language? 27 Classical theatre 28 Storybook baddie 29 Mechanic’s job 30 Get-together, casually 31 Import tax 33 Reduced to mush 35 Inning sextet 37 Terrible fate 39 Spilling a drink or double-dipping chips? 41 Raven’s cry 44 Impudence 47 Snake in the grass 49 Like some stories 50 Island farewell 52 Mayfair Witches network 53 Like a pug’s tail 56 Assent, in Paris 57 Hawkish 58 Exuberant support for Polo? 61 Copa del Rey cheer 63 Soccer icon Wambach 64…

Margaret Qualley GET THE LOOK She may have missed out on an Oscar nod, but her beauty looks are always winning! At the Golden Globes, the 30-year-old star of The Substance teamed up with celebrity hairstylist Anna Cofone to pull off an exquisite Audrey Hepburn-inspired bouffant. Cinched at the crown and adorned with an 18-carat diamond headband, her espresso-brown tresses cascaded down her back in elegant waves. Makeup artist Tyron Machhausen brought the vision to life using Chanel’s Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick to enhance Margaret’s naturally radiant complexion. Shimmering lids and cheeks, perfectly groomed brows and Popsicle-stained lips finished the look. The result? A glowing goddess moment.…

From Audrey Hepburn’s jaw-dropping red Givenchy moment in Funny Face to Julia Roberts’s iconic off-the-shoulder gown in Pretty Woman, red screams maincharacter energy. Timeless and unapologetically bold, the colour has always commanded attention – but this year, it’s taking a new turn. While crimson continues to shine, a deeper, moodier variant that’s closer to burgundy is the hue du jour. Think black cherry and merlot – a sultry, dramatic twist seen on stars like Heidi Klum and Anya Taylor-Joy. Dubbed Cherry Coded, the shade is “a playful yet tart vibe that celebrates the lively nature of cherry red,” according to Pinterest’s global trends and insights lead, Sydney Stanback. Embrace the tone now with statement-making red pieces and accessories that ensure all eyes are on you!…

Lisa LaFlamme is in high spirits as she chats with us from her Toronto home, with her chocolate Lab, Millie, by her side. Ready for a new adventure, the former anchor of CTV National News is stepping back into the spotlight, this time with a podcast. Carry the Fire – an eight-episode health series backed by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation – is a very personal project for the awardwinning journalist. Her late father, David LaFlamme (below, with Lisa in a throwback photo), received care for cancer in 2008 at the Toronto hospital, which is widely considered one of the world’s top treatment and research centres. Famous patients include Canada’s fashion guru Jeanne Beker (below right), who is among the guests on Lisa’s show. “Every person touched by cancer carries…