Acelebration of our royal family’s wonderful female figures through the yearsSOUVENIR EDITION 2024 COME ROYAL WOMEN Cre WELCOME Cel are delighted to weleome you to the brand- new Royals souvenir issue ~ and this frst porred edition of 2024 is a celebration ofthe female members of the British royal family. The term ‘working royals'is one we have become quite familiar with since the accession of King Seed ‘Charles III ~as this is his pared-down group of IL senior members ‘of the family carrying out official engagements on behalf ofthe Crown, Of the aes six are women, bringing an equitable balance to the modern face ofthe British monarchy ‘with the Princess Royal topping the list of the most eee ‘engagements last year with more than 450 in total. Tn this issue, we have included those royal women, Who are gone, but not forgotten ~ such as our beloved {Queen Elizabeth I1 and Princess Diana as well as those of today; with Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, the Princess of Wales, and young Princess Charlotte amongst others in this unique line-up. Through beautifully written features and a wealth of stunning rent imagery, we celebrate their ives and the roles they play within this extraordinary dynasty — appreciating how much the changing role of Cog women in society has allowed the modern royal woman to flourish within che confines of such an historic tradition, Find out more about the sporting passions of so many of these talented women, and recites ‘of course, we just had to take a look at their savvy fashion sense and iconic looks through the years 1 do hope you'llenjoy reading this very special souvenir Royal Women edition - happy reading! CS | ike to see more ofthe rayal women in this issue, The King’s ition called Royal Portraits: Detober ch A Century of Photography from 17th May t0 6th evo royal portrait photography fi re than 150 photo rarting the m the 1920 to the present 2ofs and documents on shov id out more here: wwwereta/ t/the-kings-gallery-buckingham-pa2024 EDITION ROYAL WOMEN 2024) EDITION WHAT'S INSIDE YOUR AT-A-GLANCE GUIDE Highlights from the lives of our royals RIGHT ROYAL WOMEN 10 The ch royal family has opened doorways for women gy) OUR FUTURE QUEEN A thoroughly modern woman, Princess Kate continues to dazzle the hearts ofthe nation A MAJESTIC LIFE 22 ‘We look back on the 70 glorious years of Queen Elizabeth I's reign as British monarch BOY AROVAL MATCH {Queen Camilla finds new popularity moving into her regal role inthe royal familyBAI COSTUME DRAMA A sneak peek inside the wardrobes of the British royal family’s most fashion-savvy ‘women ~ who always dress to impress PIONEERING PRINCESS 2) ardworking Princess Anne has carved couther place in the royal family asa trailblazer shaping the modern monarchy BB) nah princess to nteratona amassaoy teat reife of Daa ROYAL WOMEN| CONTENTS Bl) THE OTHER ROYALS We take a look at some ofthe royal women who aren’t part of the slimmed-down Firm but are achieving in their own right THE RELUCTANT QUEEN 60 When Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married the younger brother ofthe future king, she could iB) A ROYAL Gem Delve into the life of Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh including her packed royal schedule and personal passions A COLOURFUL LIFE te A royal style icon, Princess Margaret lived her lift the fl despite love dealing SPORTING HEROES ue From Olympic medals to champion LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Accomplished sportswoman and mother of three, Zara Tindal is an inspiring and tenacious member ofthe royal family By THE LITTLE pRINEss ‘Now third in line to the throne.as Princess Charlotte's royal role unfolds the support of her parents is always evident EPILOGUE 98) ox: will the next generation of royal women continue to blaze a feminist trail?2024 EDITION Timeline Highlights from the lives of our royal women = Words by Amanda Robinson —— August ch Angels Mergurta August ‘Anne Elzabeth Alice Louise sth August segs November Princess Elizabeth marries August ria Matar Glamis Case Scohend Philip on 20th November at April s Princess Etabath Aland Mary February is born on 2ist April at Bruton Street October King George VI passes away at the racho broadcast aged just 14 ~ tisa mes he children oftheROYAL WOMEN | TIMELINE the 9th The Queen and Prince Phila visit2024 EDITION Princess Els horse Estimate pat the Royal she had faled s through isin Angola. She t minef ting for her visit the Ottawa Mine Ban Her May Treat to win prior to 2013, sioned Zara Tindal the! Heabeth DianaROYAL WOMEN | TIMELINE tends Harry and Meghan’ 1k after the bith of Louis (Queen Elizabeth I dies after the in British history 12 QueerPeyra Prony SoCs ERE RR TNCecs Ca ted time — a time during which por Ko om Ebeo hme tR Ono brokers and decision makersPe Ta eC AO IRIO la eee The changing face of society, and of the royal family, has opened Clee e NAS OAKES aN CC RON MaN ce Cele CSTE e nem Comical Lada rKet ranma Tou cael rel pone eee As the second lon monarch in Britain unique for her tm which men war brokers and de eRe rey Crt ee eee es for the roles of women but was also Sere est at ea CO Sc a year of her coronation, that the United ene ae ered See ne ace ee heey shall be entitled to vote in all elections on equal terms with men, without any discrimination.” Yet it was still to be another 27 years before Brit Sore Cee eee ee ee eee eee eae et gathered pace from the 1960s onwards. Blizabeth is well remembered for her devotion to therole of monarch, yet even she couldn't fail to have been impacted by the changes taking place in the world around her. Significantly, See enor ee eer oes ret ee see ee ee st reigning jomonstrated her j much of ty and progr the power charitable organisation social change: her din 5 the Industrial Re Sony ‘Anne, had a full education: she was, in fact, the first British female royal to attend school, enrolling at Benenden School for Girls in Kent Sane SUCCESSION ee eee ee eet had a brother, she wouldn't have become Queen when her father died. Perhaps this is, in part, what inspired her to give royal assent to the Succession SO ne ee2024 EDITION aoe aD Anne is more than 4 Anne aliT ROYAL WOMEN | TODAY'S MONARCHY Women - even royal women - are increasingly able to determine the course of their own lives, relationships and happiness Anne took things one step further by remarrying and then by skirting the Church of Engla law at the time forbidding subsequent marriages by wedding her second husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, in Scotland, Since then, divorce has been increasingly accepted in the royal family, The former Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced in 1996 - the same year as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Charles went on to marty hs long-term love, the divorced Camilla, now Queen Camills; meanwhile, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, who's been married in the past ‘Naturally, this is all fodder for gossip magazines, but there's far more to it than that: it's indicative of the fact that women ~ even royal women ~ are increasingly able to determine the course oftheir ‘wn lives, relationships and happiness. It's telling that Elizabeth is said to have refused to meet Camilla for many years and is known to have not attended her 2005 wedding to Charles - bu that she, before her 2022 death, expressed her ‘sincere ‘wish’ for her son's wife to be known and accepted as Queen Consort, ds2024 EDITION It’s not only inthe area of romantic and marital relationships that royal female roles have evolved lover the years - i’ also in the sphere of family ‘While Queen Elizabeth IT was a trailblazer in sgivingher daughter a wide education, Kate, the new Princess of Wales (our future queen), has redefined how royalty and motherhood intersect Even while carryingouther royal duties with she shows herself to be a warm, loving, engaged and fan mum, whose children are mischievous, cheeky and lovable. {Asa princess, Charlotte ~ Kate and William's second-born child ~ could handly be having a more modern childhood. While a princess would once have been expected to be demure and retiring, Charlotte has demonstrated her ability with sports from archery to football, and was recently revealed tobe playing netball with her mother. She also showed her support for the Lionesses ina video message with her father last summer Her wardrobe is farther proof of how her parents are bringing her up with a modern sensibility - she is more often seen in denim and Buia Rer Tarun aT \yy Recta vaeeuc tan gid engaged and fun mumtrainers than in dainty frock-coats or stiff kitts For her fifth birthday in 2020, she wore adress from high street brand Zara, The message is not only one that tells the public that she is, despite her title, a normal and relatable child, but one that, tells her that she is free to be adventurous, playful and comfortable, in her skin as well asin her clothes. Her cute facial expressions and ease of interaction with her parents is also afar ery from the formalities of previous royal generations RIGHT ROYAL WOMEN | TODAY'S MONARCHY Princess Charlotte like her brothers George and Louis, attends school, where her uniform makes her no different from any of the other students It’s also thought that she’s known, not as Princess Charlotte, but as Lottie Wales ~ Lottie being her mother's nickname for her: keto charlotte’ great-aunt, Sophie, the Countess andLousstarea of Wessex, is another working royal who =e demonstrates how far women have come in the vata earth fy years. When she married Prince past sev Edward in 1999, not only was she the first working ‘woman from a middle class background to ever join the Royal Family, bue she has since gone on Kate, the future Queen, has redefined how royalty and motherhood intersect to become president of more than 70 charities and to represent the family at hundreds of public engagements, both at home and abroad, While she has given up her career in PR, her public work isin addition to being hands-on mother to two teenagers - both of whom, she has said, are “highly unlikely” to use their HRH titles when they are adults and will instead have to “work for a living” Perhaps there was a time when Royal women were more window dressing than strong. individuals respected for thei intelligence, drive, ability and vision, but this is by no means the case today - and the monarchy is all the better fori.avon belccettes stow Siro- asc aaa aeS LagOUR FUTURE QUEEN | PRINCESS KA tylish, elegant, Kate is every inch a princess when she appears in public Blessed with a sense of fun and love of the outdoors she is also highly relatable = and impressive in her commitment tothe crown and her family in equal measure, But where did itall begin? Let's take a look back atthe early years Prince William and Catherine (Kate) Middleton metas young students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland in 2001, where news of ‘William's attendance caused a significant increase in applications! Their friendship deepened and they eventually started dating, although they broke up briefly in 2007 and reconciling the following a ‘hough, and William proposed to Kate in 2010 with yeat. They took their time before gett Princess Diana's sapphire engagement ring Their wedding in 2011 was a highly anticipated event, with thousands of street parties held across the UK to.celebrate, The ceremony took place on April 29th, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in front of a congregation of nearly 1,900 guests. Kate wore a stunning bespoke Alexander MeQueen gown and a Cartier halo tiara lent by Queen Elizabeth IL After the ceremony, the happy pair appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony, sharing not one, but two kisses with the massed cheering crowd below, and their life as a royal couple had begun. Impressive in her commitment to the Crown and her family in equal measure2024 EDITION benefited rr the work CARING PRINCESS GHT tho With an innate compassion and much dedication, Kate and William have been actively involved in raising awareness and working with mental health Supt chatties, spearheaded by the Heads Together initiative they launched in 2017. Through their joint and separate initiatives they have transformed the narrative around mental health in the UK, Rittocleertssum, ploughing considerable energy, funding, and care Nowerber2025 "into The Royal Foundation ofthe Prince and offellaunch of Eary (Chloerts Host Princess of Wales, giving a platform to others toshare their mental health stories and helping grassroots onganisations provide essential help t0 those in need. Both Kate and William have used their platform to advocate for mental health and encourage open conversations about mental illness taking part in various initiatives, such as the Mental Health Minute broadcast, where they delivered an important mental health message: aeross every radio station in the UK, and the Heads Up campaign, whieh aims to break the silence around men's mental health by using football as a platform for conversation, Following in the footsteps of his mother Princess Diana, who was also patron of the organisation, William has been a devoted patron ‘of Centrepoint, a youth homelessness charity, since 2008, For her part, Kate also has a strong commitment to supporting the well-being and ‘mental health of children and their families, as well as addressing issues such as addiction and crime. ‘This includes support for maternal mental health through her patronage of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, a UK charity supporting young. families. This charity aims to make a difference to parents and their youngsters by raising awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health struggles during the early years of parenthood. Determined to use her position to bring about positive social transformation, Kate commissioned. ‘The Royal Foundation’s Five Big Questions on theah “These are the preventative years that fundamentally shape the rest of our lives” Princess Kate OUR FUTURE QU PRINCESS KA\ Under-Fives' survey in 2020 to gather views from the UK public on early childhood. More than half a million people participated in the survey, making. it the largest response the company responsible for collecting the results had ever seen, The survey findings, combined with national research anda Covid lockdown survey, formed the UK's biggest ‘ever Early Years study, The results were shared by Kate in November 2020 and highlighted the importance of supporting parents’ well-being, adalressing parental judgment and loneliness, and raising awareness about the unique importance of a child's first five formative years In June ofthe following year, Kate launched The Centre for Early Childhood through the auspices of The Royal Foundation with a mission tochange the way society thinks and acts on the Early Years, The centre's campaign, ‘Shaping Us sims to raise awareness about the crucial role of carly development in achild’s physical, emotional, and mental well being “These are the preventative years that fundamentally shape the rest of our lives. she explains. Kate also launched the Business Taskforce for Early Childhood in March 2023, with the goal of encouraging the business ‘community to prioritise and support children and their ecosystems in their earliest years. With a clear grasp of the influence her position as the future Queen holds, her belief that “healthy, happy chikiren shape a healthy, happy future” underpins allher initiatives in this crucial area of need,»OUR FUTURE QUEEN | PRINCESS KA MODERN MOTHER Now together fe ave a family of fi more than 20 years, the couple After their wedding, they lived ‘on Anglesey in Wales, where William served as aan RAF pilot and Kate worked for her parents’ company: They later moved to Kensington Palace, where they welcomed the births of their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family spent their lockdown time at Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate In 2022, they moved to Adelaide Cottage in ‘Windsor with sources close to the royals suggesting this was a desire to give the children as normal and grounded upbringing as possible, while still being close enouigh to London to fulfil their royal responsibilities, They chose nearby Lambrook School for their children, a leading prep school witha hands-on approach to education, With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on sth the family experienced deep personal sadness. This also brought new titles (Prince and Princess of Wales) and status (with ‘William now firstin line to the throne), and it has to be said that while stepping into a new chapter of history, Kate and Williams equally pressing priority ‘was to navigate their children through this difficult September 20 time and settle them into their new school - and this they did, to their enormous credit. Although taking.a backseat for health reasons, at the moment, Kate is naturally active and encourages her young children to enjoy all sorts of sports as well as the outdoor life. Her keen photographer's eye allows us glimpses into their family life, but making the children a priority and ‘out of the wider media spotlight ensures they have as balanced a childhood as thei situation allows. As we go to press, the Princess of Wales is, froma medical procedure, and we swish her a speedy recovery, An extended break from royal duties is convalesc arly essential at this time as she needs to conserve her energy to get back to health, as wel as being there forher young family. There is no doubt that the publie stage is missing her sparkling smile and infectious enthusiasm - and for the two decades that she has been inthe spotlight, she has never failed to impress with her dedication, commitment and creativity“A Majestic Life Queen Elizabeth II was the matriarch and monarch of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth - we celebrate her 70 glorious years Words by Amanda Robinson here are few extraordinary occasions in our lives that we can ‘genuinely pinpoint exactly where we were when something dramatic happened - the assassination of John Kennedy, the shooting of John Lennon, England’s winning goal in 1966, Princess Diana's untimely demise, for example... But more recently, many ‘of us-can also add to that list the moment the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I was announced on 8th September 2022. A life marked by duty and dedication to her role as monarch, we had noted her frailty during the celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee with a sense of inevitability, and yet it was the news none of us wanted to hear. Queen Elizabeth II was the unexpected heir to the throne, dedicating seventy years of her life to become the longest-serving, most respected and beloved figurehead of the British monarchy. There is no doubt her arly training in royal duty and her peerless ability o remain composed in public served her well throughout her reign, right up to the end, EARLY LIFE Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on 2ist April 1926, in Mayfair, London ~ the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Despite being third in ine to the throne after her father and his brother, the Prince of Wales, royal tradition dictated that asa female descendant, she was not expected to rule, With the country still recovering from the First World War and now facing the imminent General Strike, Elizabeth was growing up in a time of great upheaval, but her family provided a peaceful and loving environment for her. “We have long wanted a child to make ‘our happiness complete,” wrote the Duke. In 1930, Elizabeth's sister Margaret Rose was born, and while Blizabeth was the ‘sensible’ one, dutiful and conscientious, Margaret was known for her strong character and sense of fun, The girls had a governess, Marion Crawford (Crawtie), ‘ho joined the family when she was just 24. “Both the Duke and Duchess were anxious that the litle girls should have someone with them young enough to enjoy playing games and running about with them,” she recollected in her memoir later. ‘The princesses were home-tutored with a fairly narrow syllabus in reading, French, art, singing, dancing, and riding, It was atypically sheltered aristocratic upbringing parents absent when duty called, bue above all, a stable, happy home. > “We have long wanted a child to make our happiness complete” King George VI2024 EDITIONANEW DAWN ‘The family’s world was about to change however, asin 1936 when Elizabeth was 1 her grandfather, King George V, died, and her uncle, King Edward VIII, ascended the throne, Justa few months later however, he abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. Elizabeth's father, the Duke ‘of York, was crowned King George VI in 1937, and the family moved to Buckingham Palace. Already preparing forthe life of duty ahead as nextin line to the throne, in 1947 Elizabeth said these words in a radio broadeast on her 21st birthday: I deelare before you al that my whole life, whether it be long ‘or short, shall be devoted to your service.” But she would’ be alone: when she was just 13, Elizabeth met Prince Philip of Greece, a dashing ‘young cadet atthe Royal Naval College Dartmouth, who became her lifelong companion. They beyan a correspondence during the war, and in 1947, they announced their engagement, They were married four months later and their frst child, Charles, arrived in 1948 when Elizabeth was just 22, followed by Anne in 1950. During this period, she made sure to spend time with her children, ‘often away from the public e Sandringham, when royal duties permitted. e at Balmoral and POU WCAC aE aras King George VI was algo seriously unwell with lung cancer, and Elizabeth had to take on more royal responsibilities on his behalf, including a tour of the Commonwealth. Sadly, on 6th February 1952, the King passed away while Elizabeth was in Kenya and she returned from tour as Queen Elizabeth I THE NEW ELIZABETHAN ERA ‘The coronation of Queen Elizabeth IT on 2nd June 1953 was a momentous event that brought hope and excitement to a tired country recovering from the aftermath of war and natural disasters Seen asa chance for a fresh start and symbolising a new era for Britain, this was the beginning of a reign that would span decades. The public associated this historic event with the beginning of anew Elizabethan age that would restore the country’s prominence in the world, The atmosphere in London was filled with exeitement and anticipation, with countless street parties held ‘throughout the country. More than half ofthe adult population watched the coronation on television, hile others listened on the radio or witnessed the event in person on the streets of London. [After eight years of dedication to their royal responsibilities, the Queen and Prince Philip >2024 EDITION\weleomed two more sons to their family, Andrew in 1960 and Edward in 1964. Despite the demands of her public life, the Queen would always endeavour to find a balance that would allow her to spend {quality time with her children and later on, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On their golden wedding anniversary, the Queen paid tribute to Prince Philip as her “strength and stay” throughout their marriage ~ a testament to their commitment and partnership over the years Prince Philip passed away in April 2021 atthe age ‘of 99, in the midst of lockdown, making him the longest-serving British consort, Tn 2022, the Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking the 70 years of her reign, Amongst the long weekend of nationwide celebrations was Trooping of the Colour, where Prince Charles took, the royal salute on behalf of the Queen for the first time due to her ill-health. The celebrations continued in London with a flypast of military helicopters and a display of aircraft, including the RAF Red Arrows, as well as street parties and other local events around the country. Iwas a fitting tribute tothe Queen's achievements and fierce DESIRABLE DECORUM A 70-year reign was ample time for Queen Elizabeth to develop her own sense of style. She is best remembered for her outfits after she became Queen. These were always carefully chosen for the occasion, It would be considered where and with whom she would bbe photographed, and, occasionally, fr the onlooker there would be a message behind the clothing. In her earlier years as a young queen, ‘we can see some of her prettiest and more amorous fit and flare dresses, even with .ed, Elizabeth Windsor dressed traditionally and in keeping arms on show! As the years pa With a serious working monarch. Ie said that she learnt a lot from her mother about appropriate dressing, but one wonders, was she the originator ofthe contemporary trend for colour blocking or as Trinny Woodall fashion uru cals it, “dressing like a erayon’ A regal fashion hack if ever there was one. On a regular basis we would see Queen Elizabeth showing up bold in blue, fbsslous in fuchsia and outstandin ‘was she more memorable chan in bold col practical handbag with a sparkli ‘Queen Blizabeth looked to Angel and design, Perhaps their long-standing relationship explains why she developed such a signature style, not following trends but worki especially as she grew older, with the real glitz reserved for state oceasions. Kelly for fashion advice swith colour in twinsets or coat and dress combos VINTAGE VA-VA-VOOM The Queen's sister Princess Margaret deserves a special mention, Vivacious and elegant, with a trim figure - while she may not have been born to be Queen she certainly was ‘queen of society's high fashion scene, On her 2ist birthday she was photographed by the fashion photographer Cecil Beaton ina Christian Dior gown. Frothy and delightful, this was a mere springboard forthe fashions she would showease. Princess Margaret was one of the most adventurous royals when it came to high fashion, Such was her attention to detail and accessories (think eats-eye sunglasses, straw hats in the Caribbean, dainty gloves and pearls), that her style was referred to as “The Margaret Look’. Not one to stick with a single style, her fashion changed with the times: minis and A-lines in the 60s, print and a hint of Bohemian in the 70s, and all-out 80s glamour. When you look at old photographs of her, she looks as at home in haute-couture as she does in pretty cotton print dresses off-duty on holiday COUNTRY FILE Lets take a breath from the glamour for a moment and dip ‘our more sensible shoes into the fashions of the country set. Here we might think of Princess Anne and Queen Camilla who both know a thing oF two about off duty practicality, With an outstanding equestrian career2024 EDITION i < retreats in fe ‘Sane A Princess Anne would often be seen in practical gear. But of course, royal women are hardly ever off-duty and even if th Princess Anne’ fashion highlights often have quirky statement details, She always looks like she's having fun with what she ‘wears. In the 60s she was a bg fan of the mini, apparently to the Queen Mother's dismay. And shoel-hortor - she ereated a seandal in 1973 when she more at home in casuals, they also shine at dressing up. wore a trouser suit to the opera. Refreshingly, she wasn't affraid to wear outfits that mixed masculine and feminine styles Camilla, too, while often seen in classic and relatable casuals (cords, jeans and a jacket, linen skirt and vest tops) especially when at home in the countryside has come into her own recently. For Camilla, now of senior years, it’s all about elegance and the cut of the cloth, She seems to love to play with texture fur, tartan, suede, a touch velvet, foragazon 200 tnei9a4 of sparkle and well-chosen accessories, Her winter outfits always look so cosy ieee ae res LATE 20TH CENTURY STYLE ICON ‘Through the 80s and 90s, ll eyes were on Dianna when she appeared in public. Her wedding gown designed by The Emmanuels was iconic and every bit the symbol of a fairytale princess. Her style did transform, While her early years were ‘dominated by more demure, her later fashion years we elegance and glamour, Pre-engagement to dressed much like any other ‘Sloane Ranger ofthe time. Her wardrobe was then principally made up ofa timeless upscale harles, she was preppy look, But as occasion demanded it, her wardrobe became dominated by trusted designers such as Catherine Walker and Bruce Oldfield, With her height at ft 10in (178m) and a slim build, Diana wasa walking clothes horse and could carry off anything. Fashion magazines and papers alike ‘couldn't wait to see what she would be wearing next.PRELOVED, RELOVED st like us ordinaries, the royal women know a thing or two about the latest trend of shopping in your own wardrobe, {As we all hear more about the impact fof high turnover fast fashion, i's always ‘a memorable moment when one of the royals steps out ina preloved garment. There may be nothing more satisfying than finding an old favourite (and/it stil fits} in the back of the wardrobe and being able to woar it again with @ contemporary twist ‘The press love to flag this environmentally sustainable approach to dressing. n early February this year, fashionistas were quick to spot Princess ‘Anne wearing a deep purple collarless coat with shadow check from her late ‘mother's treasured wardrobe, This was an ideal nostalgic choice for her role as, president of the UK Fashion and Textiles ‘organisation. While not many of us are lucky enough to inherit such an iconic collection of pieces, the choice of coat was accestorised with tonal scar tucked into the neckline and a purple dress in contrast to the Gueen’s original way of wearing it with her a trademark bright silk scarf tied beneath her chin, Anne is also famous for wrapping up warm ina pale blue, fur tembelished coat which she has worn across five decades, Inherited pieces also extend to extravagant dresses. Famously, Princess Beatrice's wedding dross was reworked from a beautiful white gown worn by Queen Elizabeth in 1962 Kate, the Princess of Weles, is no stranger to getting wear out of favourite Items, Whether i's one of her fave designers or High Street finds If she likes it, she's making sure it gets more than a second outing ~ atleast! Stand-outs must be her red tailored Zara jacket (an actual steal for its cut and range of colours), a Stella McCartney cobalt blue shift dress she has worn on repeat and a Jenny Packham shimmering pink organza gown. ‘She knows how to switch up the look with a change of heel (often sky-high courts), hair swept up or down and the outfit takes fon the mood of the moment. Diana, too, could be seen as the master of the makeover. Take a tip from her and wear a headband as a choker - a good way to bring new life into old accessories! ‘A red houndstooth checked jacket with ‘8 woven scar trim was transformed by swapping a stripe scarf fora solid colour. ‘An 80s ballgown with giant puff sleeves was given a classic and altogether more chic look when turned into a strapless and figure-hugging evening dress. Inspiring, although you do need to be handy with @ sewing machine! COSTUME DRAMA |ROYAL FASHION Tate Queers gov2024 EDITION CONTEMPORARY KATE, Today thas similar status to Diana in her ability to pull off everyday smart-casual to perfection, Like Diana, blessed with beauty and a fashion: friendly sithouette, Kate looks equally at home in High Street and high couture. When Kate showcases a new look, people are keen to find Replikates’ as they're known on the What Kate Wore website If you're looking for inspiration, some ofthe High Street brands Kate has been seen in include Zara, Boden, Mango, LK Bennett, Jigsaw; Hobbs, Reis, jewellery at Monica Vinader (Gt'snotall heirlooms) and wait for it. even M&S. ‘One of Kate's favourite designers for state occasions is Alexander McQueen who designed her gorgeous wedding gown, and also a classic white coat dress worn to Queen Elizabeth I's Platinum Jubilee celebrations (a brave choice considering she had young children in tow). De Packham has the ability to design anything er Jenny fom high glamour for red carpet appearances at movie premieres, to the sweet and demure polka dot shift Kate wore after the birth of Prince George. Kate also loves to wear Catherine Walker (a favourite Like Diana, blessed with beauty and a fashion-friendly silhouette, Kate looks at home in High Street and high couture sevens ‘of Princess Diana) and if you're wondering about some of the sleek and ulera-elegant maxi length coats and chie coat dresses, she heads to London label Eponine If you love clothes, then the royal women will always be ‘ones to watch. As forthe future, we're excited, The British royals certainly hold their own on the royal sage. Whether they're representing the country or Commonwealth on state ‘occasions at home or overseas, on walkabouts talking to the public, working for their favourite charities, or just at home With the family, these ladies know how to dial their style up or down. But one thing’s for sure, they never can slip under the radar, such is our dedicated following oftheir fashionCOSTUME DRAMA | ROYAL FASHION Sole Sisters ‘Bette Midler once said, “I firmly believe with the right footwear one can rule the world.” Well, these lacs may not rule the world but the right shoos may certainly have helped some of them to rule the country. Shoes, of ‘course, change the way you walk and hold yourself so they can add confidence or ‘comfort depending on the occasion. From formal to super-casual, heels to flats practical to decorative, can you guess which shoes belong to which royal? (Answers below)PIONEERING PRINCESS | ANNE Fionecring PriINCeSss Despite a life of royal duty mapped out from the moment she was born, Princess Anne has carved out her place in the royal family as atrailblazer shaping the modern monarchy Words by Elisabeth Mackenzie artying out an impressive total 57 royal engagements daring. 2023, Princess Anne proved during her brother's coronation year that not only does she deserve the oft referred to ttle of the hardest working royal but that at the age of 73, her profound se dedication to public service is not waning, ¢ of duty to the crown and Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise was bora ‘on 15th August 1950, almost 2 years prior tothe trajectory of her parents’ lives chan With an independence when the then Princess Elizabeth's father, King of spirit, at her request George VI died at 56 catapultingher mother into toher mother, Anne the role of Queen at the young age of 25 became the first princess to be educated ‘outside palace walls by attending Benenden icone School in Kent from the age of 1, Unlike herolder brother: Charles, she did not fore attend university but instead chose to launch in and begin her fll time royal duties from the tender age of 18 The only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, may not frequent the front pages of today’s newspapers, yet this isno reflection of her unwavering dedication to lic service driven by a profound sense of t's not just about Can I get a tick inthe box for doing this? No, i's about serving. it ‘comes from both my parents way of working and where they saw their role being.” ROYAL WOMEN |A MODERN HISTORY 432024 EDITION SUPPORTING ACT Now a retired Royal Navy Admiral, Sit Timothy isa ‘constant presence and strong November 1273 support during Princess Anne's royal duties and has been throughout their thirty year marriage. Although not considered a working royal during Queen Elizabeth's reign, protocol ‘was broken for the 2022 Trooping the Colour celebrations seeing him wweleomed onto the palace baleony for the RAP flypast ~a tradition normally reserved for working royals, yet special exceptions made only by a demonstrating the deep regard she held for her former ‘equerry and her daughter's second husband. Following the late Queen's death in 2022, ir Timothy played a prominent role in supporting his wife as she escorted the Queen on her final journey from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace, as well as walking alongside her coffin in the funeral procession, [A marked change in Sir Tim’s position inthe family was observed during King Charles and Queen Camila’s coronation with official photographs shared by the palace WEDDING FEVER Alongside royal duties | comes love and Princess Sir Timothy is a constant j Ammen lath November presence and strong support nuptials to Bi Army during Princess Anne's royal captain Mark Phillips duties and has been throughout Jooked to be a promising union, An estimated 500 4 million viewers tuned their thirty year marriage into the major colour television event, alongwith well-wishers [nner nes lining the streets of London to eateh a glimpse ofthe royal Te family, groom and bride, She exuded elegance in her h necked, Tudor-style, rumpet-sleeved gown complete with ‘seven foot train and a veil affixed with the Queen Mary Fringe tiara. A treasured heirloom of royal jewellery worn fon the wedding days of both Anne's beloved mother in iy ind ater by her niece Princess Beatrice in 2020. Alas, this marriage was not to last after 16 years together and two children ~ Peter and Zara Phillips born in 1977 and 1981 respectively - the royal couple parted ways with a divorce following in 1992. In December of the same year, Princess Anne martied Vice Admiral Sir ‘Timothy Laurence. At the time, the Church of England disbarred divorcees from remarrying forcing the Princess and Sir Timothy over the border to Scotland to say ‘I do" in front of 30 guests at Crathie Kirk church, In later years he reflected on his wife’ choice of husbands: "Its quite amusing that she married first an army officer and then a naval officer. So, there must be something about the military that attracts her”PIONEERING PRINCESS | ANNE in 1993, Vice Admiral in 2009 and Admiral in 2012 despite ved a promotion to never serving in the military. She re General in the British Army’ and Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force to mark her 70th birthday, CHARITY DUTIES Dedicating themselves to a plethora of charit worldwide is commonplace for any working royal and ginvolved with over Princess Anne is no exception be 300 charities, organisations and military regiments. Not ‘only has she been involved in the ereation of her own charities which include The Princess Royals Trust for Carers (now Carers Trust), Transaid and Riders for Health but she has dedicated a great deal of her working life to Save the Children, becoming their president in 1970. The President of Zambia nominated Princess Anne for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 citing the effective and life-changing work of the charity When asked during an interview if working with children was something she wanted to do, her reply not only gave an insight into the vital work of the charity but also an honest reflection on her feelings towards working: with children: “No, and I don’t regard children in that light avall, was more the idea of what you could do for them, not actually working with them which interested me, There was no way T could have worked asa [.] Field Worker I don’t think I could have coped with [.] actually ‘working with children, But itwas the concept of hhow to help children and the very simple, rather and surrounded by senior royals. Sir Tim standing proudly straightforward approach of Their Majesties resplendent inthe coronation rega next to his wife in Buckingham Palace's State Rooms, of health and hygiene: listed asa working royal ine TRADITIONAL TITLES Lauren Oicially the seventh Princess Royal, Anne has held this significant tile since June 1987 as a reward for her royal career and tireless work with Save the Children An honour datingrback to 1642 and traditionally carried by the monarch’s oldest daughter, cis title is not given automatically or inherited but only bestowed by the reigning sovereign ~ in Anne's case, Queen Elizabeth I Although Princess Anne's mother, Queen Elizabeth, was eligible to hold the ttle during her father, Kin n, a caveat stood in her way until death, Despite outliving both her father and brother, Princess Mary, the auntof the then Princess Elizabeth retained the ttle for over 30 years until her death in 1968, by which time Elizabeth had been Queen for 13 years, and thus leaving the ttle vacant for 22 years And what ofthe title's future as King Charles ha daughters of his own? Ie’ anticipated Prince William's, laughter, Princess Charlotte, will be the next Princess Royal when her father is king. Save the Children ‘0 another royal tradition Princess Anne was Adhering awarded military honours, including Rear Admiral2024 EDITION TARGET: PRINCESS The kidnap and £2 million ransom ofa royal princess i a stonfine worthy ofa Hollywood movie, not the rel ife Se rere errereet ord ee eaters Dee eerie 23-year-old Princess Anno, er fist husband Captain Mark Philps and lody-fr-wating, Rowena Bressey were returing te Buckingham Palace fellowing an event forthe charity. A white Ford Escort, crven by un wielding lan Bal brazenly ee eee ees rors Fan eee eee — Beaton the Princess personal poe ofa recelved a shot : oy tothe shoulder the injury end a jommed gun scupperng his retaliation. Returning to the care proceded to shield the Princess as Bal shot through the ear window ee Pare ietee ate nee inthe process of [Ball] geting the [car] door back open the beck of my dress spit ftom tho top and the shoulders went cut oft. And that was his most dangerous moment st my rag at that stage” As the Kidnapper demanded Anne get out See ee Fe a a eet re a shot tothe chest. Journal rian McConnell nd Police Constable Michal ils recelved gun wounds to a they ted to darm the attacker Passerby and former boxer, Ronnie teeta Sal tere eer eee ee el ae Eee Seen eet ae De Constabio Peter Edmonds gave chase to Ball and arested him, “Thankful, despite being hospitalised by thar ures, al four wounded men surdved, Recognising thei exceptional acts of bravery and hetoam all the men volved recaived Seca ee erare ae Etec et Ser ee Annes mother! : = HOME IS WHERE. Eventing, Taking over from his parents, Peter Phillips now s THE HEART IS onganises the event which attracts world-class equestrians, Paralleltoher royalduties thousands of spectators and BBC coverage. Princess Anne, defying royal Events took a turn forthe worst in 2023 during the convention, established 4oth anniversary celebrations ofthe festival with the 1 | acarcer as. successful onganisers being forced to cancel the final day of events || equestrian sportswoman, due tothe inclement British summer weather making most notably by winning the ground unsafe for competitors. The shopping village | goldin the 1971 European of 100 exhibitors had tobe evacuated withthe help of { Championshipsearning tractors transporting traders and their inventory to safety herthe BBC Sports Personality ofthe Year that same year and selection for the British ‘Olympic team at the 1976 Monereal Despite no longer competing in the equestrian circuits, Princess Anne’s love of eventing and horses remains as she opens the grouinds of her Gloucestershire home, Gatcombe Park, every August to host the Festival of British 46 ROVAL WOMEN] MODERN HISTORYA MONARCH'S SUPPORT Although 85 years of royal service is the epitome of Jong-term commitment tothe crown, no devotion spoke louder than Princess Anne escorting her mother's coffin, following her death in September 2022. Travelling from, Balmoral to Edinburg St Giles’ cathedral - where she mad history as the only royal woman to take partin the Vigil of the Princes, standing guard at her mother's coffin alongside her siblings = then on to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and her final resting place in Princess Royal said: “I was fortunate to share the last 24 sorge’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Ina statement, the hours of my dearest Mothers life. Ithas been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.” “She can be relied on for complete discretion and unconditional love. Anne is wise, intelligent, incredibly plugged into the modern United Kingdom.” PIONEERING PRINCESS | ANNE Just eight months later, serving as Gold-Stic Waiting, a role reserved for the most responsible and trusted of advisors to the monarch she travelled directly behind the King and Queen’s carriage on Coronation Day as she led 6,000 members of the armed forces from Westminster Abbey; down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, Journalist and royal commentator Wesley Kerr OBE. reflected on The Princess Royal's relationship with her brother, King Charles, “She can be relied on for complete discretion and unconditional love. Anne is wise intelligent, incredibly plug modern United Kingdom, «into the She understands completely who and what has shaped him and is eager for him tosucceed: for the sake of their beloved mum and dad and for the country and ‘Commonwealth Princess Anne, The Princess Royal — a daughter toa queen, asisterto aking, the loyal bridge between two monarchs,From shy princess to dazzling international ambassador, the all-too-brief life of Diana, Princess of Wales continues to fascinate us = Words by Jeanna Adams ———Comfortatiein ton of ‘recon, October 6) *hen the fairytale’ wedding took place at Westminster Abbey in July 1981, i¢ was the day the British public had been waiting for ~ even before Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Prince Charles tothe blushing young girl in the blue silk sit, Maybe the fairytale didn't come true in the tend, but the impact that Diana, Princess of Wales hhad within the royal family and beyond continues toe felt. I's hard to believe that she would now bo in her sixties had she not eft us so soon, but her light still shines bright. THE SHY PRINCESS Known as Shy Di’ by the British press, Diana ‘took on numerous royal responsibilities and titles after marrying Prince Charles in 1981. At just 20 EOPLE’S PRINCESS | DIANA > years old she was catapulted on to a global stage, ‘san ambassador forthe British royal family i representative ofthe Queen at functions ‘overseas. Despite receiving a rapturous weleome wherever she went (sometimes to the The impact that Diana had within the royal family and beyond continues to be felt cof Prince Charles), her lack of confidence was often apparent, espectally when it came to public speaking. To overcome her nerves, she was given voice couchingby Sir Richard Attenborough, >2024 EDITION ‘who encouraged her to abandon her script and speak directly from the heart, varying the pitch of her voice and even including stage directions to her pre-speech preparations, Despite her lack of confidence, Diana’s compassion and open manner endeared her to the public ~ there was a genuine ‘empathy and kindness in her interactions, and she was known for her ability to bring comfort to the bereaved or afflicted, Thrown in a the deep end of royal responsibility a typical ‘working’ week might include engagements from opening children’s hospital swimming pool, co attending a state banquet, or visiting a day care centre for children with learning disabilities, On overseas tours, Diana's workload would increase, and she could be on duty for up to 12 hours a day with public appearances at walkabouts and evening functions. In March 1983 though, she made the ‘unconventional decision to bring nine-month-old William on the official our of Australia and New Zealand. This, of course, marked a distinct change in royal parenting style, as previous generations ‘would leave children behind ina nanny's care Diana's decision was criticised by some but also appreciated by others as. testament to her maternal devotion, LEFT Sharing 3 moment of fun at SeptemberMOTHER LOVE From the moment her fist pregnancy wa announced, Diana seemed to gain a renewed sense ‘of purpose and despite experiencing morning sickness, she appeared to glow with excitement, After the birth of her sons, Prince William and iana’s focus shifted to being a braced her role as a mother first and princess second, prioritising their wellbeing and happiness above everything. She worked hard to arrange her schedule to match her sons’ needs and kept her official calendar updated with ever detail of ther lives, frequently taking them to and from school and attending their school events. The princess also organised family holidays and other fan activities, such as outings to theme parks and in Austria, as she wanted her sons to have a sense of normality and enjoy experiences that other children took for granted, ana’s marriage to Prince Charles began crumble, she agreed to a separation but stayed married for as long as she coud to protect her sons from the heartache she had experienced as the child of divorced parents, When the divorce finally same through on 29th August 1996, Diana agreed to joint custody, recognising the importance of Charles’ role in their live After the birth of her sons, Diana’s focus shifted to being a mother2024 EDITION Ormond Strest TOP RIGHT Sharna QUEEN OF HEARTS Known for her extensive charity work, Diana announced the first charities she would adopt back in 1982, focusing on children’s charities and organisations in Wales. She became patron of the British Deaf Association in 1983 and learned sign language to better connect with the deaf ‘community. Great Ormond Street Hospital also benefited greatly from Diana's involvement, where her visits made a huge contribution to the morale and funds ofthe hospital. Her involvement with the arts was also significant ~ an acccomplished dancer, she was a patron of the English National Balle, recognising the emotional wellbeing that ballet could provide. In addition to hands-on involvement with her chosen charities, Diana also used her influence to raise much-needed funds. In 1997, she auctioned off 79 of her dresses in New York, raising '$825 million for cancer and AIDS charities. yen after separating from Prince Charles and. resigning from her royal duties in 1993, Diane's popularity remained strong around the globe. She continued to use her status to benefit the causes she believed in, making solo visits to countries such as Brazil, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Nepal as part of her humanitarian work, highlighting the devastating effeets of landmines and the impact of HIV and AIDS on mothers and children, Her compassionate, engaging manner which seemed so effortless, was evident when she met with people from any walk of if, and contributed to her enduring popularity. LASTING LEGACY Diana's untimely death in 1997 led to acollective outpouring of grief, not just here in the UK, but around the world. The Diana, Princess of Wales ‘Memorial Fund was established shortly after her death and distributed over £112m in grants {to various organisations before it closed in 2012, People remember her openness, compassion, and dedication to making a difference — challenging social attitudes, particularly regarding HIV and AIDS, and using her platform to bring about positive change. The genssine empathy and compassion of ‘the people's princess’ endeared her to the public, and her commitment to charitable causes leaves usa lating leguey. ©eo e ate) A1tPrincess Anne encourages anew generation of young equestrians in January, 20242024 EDITION FORCE FREEDOM The Cther Royals We take a look at some of the royal women who aren’t in the slimmed down ‘Firm’ ‘Words by Sarah Rodrigues ‘ot every woman who is partof the royal family hhas a working role. but that’s not to say that they're not working. While these female relatives dont play apart in King Charles contemporary cour, their ives have taken many different paths as they continue to give back to the world away from the royal spotlight. FERGIE AND HER DAUGHTERS ison, who married Prince Andrew in 1986, spent sin the shadow of Princess Diana ~ but has overcome rumours and criticism to be a well-loved member of the royal family. Despite divorcing in 1996, the pair remain good friends andl en continue to cohabit - indeed, they arrived together at the memorial service of King Constantine of the Hellenes in February this year. Now 64, Fe announced earlier this year that she'd been diagnosed with a malignant form of skin cancer - less than a year after having treatment and surgery for breast eancer, She's been widely praised as she is affectionately known, for her eandour about her diagnosis, and for encouraging other ‘women to be vigilant about their breast health. 2% Their lives have taken many different paths as they continue to give back to the world away from the royal spotlight Fergie and Andrew had two daughters together - Beatrice and mnie, now aged 35 and 33 years respectively. Beatrice married property developer Edoanto Mapelli Moz (Edo) in 2000 and they share a daughter, Sienna, plus a son, Christopher, from a previous relationship of Edo’. As well as working as a technology strategist, Beatrice isa keen philanthropist, with dyslexia close to her heart. She was diagnosed ‘with the condition aged seven and says, “My earliest memory is trying co read Beatrix Potter, and the words were literally»‘THE OTHER ROYALS) DIFFERENT PATHS2024 EDITION jumping off the page’ She became a supporter of Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity in 2013 ~ che same charity that once assisted her and is now their royal patron, Her sister Eugenie is married to Jack Brooksbank and has two sons, August and Ernest, She works as an Associate Areirectorat a London art gallery. *I knew I wouldn't bea paincer, but. [love being able to share my passion for art with people,” she says, Having suffered with scoliosis (curvature of the spine), which was surgically corrected when she was 12, Eugenie is not only a patron of the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital where she was operated on, but also chose a backless ‘wedding dress, showing her scar. “You can show people your scars? she said. “Its really special to stand up for that MEGHAN AND LILIBET Aer stepping down from royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Prince Fiarry, were given a ‘substantial sum’ by KingeChatles to smooth their path to financial independence. Meghan still uses her public profile to raise awareness of various causes, The couple set up the Archewell Foundation which believes in “the power of community asa transformative solution for our collective wellbeing” and supports small charities. [thas for ‘example, created a project to support Afghani women, Once their income was no longer derived from the royal family, the ‘couple signed commercial agreements with private entities for example, Netflix and Spotify. At the beginning of 2024, the Duchess of Sussex also announced a new deal with Lemonada Media, “We have so many exciting things on the slatey” the Duchess stated, recently. “I can’t wait until we can announce them, We're just really proue of what we're creating As well as their son, Archie, the couple also share a daughter ~ Princess Lilibet of Sussex. Bora in June 2021, she was named after @ nickname given to her great- ‘grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her middle name, Diana, honours her late grandmother, The Princess of Wales,DIFFERENT PATHS WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY AncHeweLt FOUNDATION FOUNDATION rounbation Despite rumours of rifts between the Sussexes and the rest ofthe royal family, t's likely that Lilbet will enjoy a happy relationship with her British relatives. would love nothing more than for our children to have relationships ‘with members of my family, and they do with some, which brings me great joy” said Harry, in 2023, ‘Although Lili as she is known, gained the ttle ‘princess’ when her great-geandmother passed away in 2022, this title is ikely only to be used in formal settings ~ and, as well as having a royal background, the young princess also has ‘one foot firmly in Hollywood - her godfather is actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry! “I had totake a minute to take that in,” Perry recalls about the Sussexes’ request, “And I thought. 1'd absolutely be honored: LADY SARAH CHATTO ‘The only daughter of Princess Margaret and only niece of | Queen Elizabeth 11, Lady Sarah will be 60 this year and is godmother o Prince Harry. Her father, Lord Snowdon, helped to foster her interest in the arts and it was while on a shoot ‘with him in India that she met her husband, artist and actor Daniel Chatto. The couple have two sons and she still works as an artist, represented by London's Redfern Gallery and ‘winning awards, including 1990's Creswick Landscape Prize, ‘While maintaining alow profile in the royal family, Lady Sarah is frequently present at key events, including her cousin Charles’ Coronation in 2023 and the recent, thanksgiving service for the former King of Greece. With 63 heirs in line tothe British royal throne (male and female), these women (as well as others in the extended royal dynasty we don't have room to mention here), form a significant partof a rich royal tapestry. They might live under the populist radar but they will be there at major family ‘occasions ~ where we can catch a rare glimpse of these other royal women ~ all making a difference in their own way. ®Pera P on} The Reluctant a PON oo manta) Elizabeth Bowes- Lyon married the younger brother of the future king, she could never have imagined Tartan cette Cn one NKorea Sree avonN MOTHER| ELIZABETH BO) ‘was, of course, never supposed to have happened, even though there was no «question that all her life belonged in the very highest echelons of society.. Born ‘on 4 August 1900, Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the ninth (and penultimate) child of Lord Glamis, ater 1th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. The family was descended from Robert the Bruce and, indeed, lamis Caste, the family seat was the home some 100 years earlier of Macbeth. Her time there would engender a deep love of the outdoor lif passion she passed on to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth, and her grandchildren, She was, though, no academic slouch. Mostly educated at home by a governess (she did spend short time at school in London), she was fluent in French by the time she was 10 and passed her (Oxford Local Examination with distinetion when she was 13, On her fourteenth birthday, however, life changed forever. Britain declared war on Germany: four of her brothers served in the army. ‘one tragically killed in 1915, another a POW from 1917 until the end of the war. Glamis was turned into convalescent home for wounded soldiers which she helped to ran and in 1916, when fire broke out in the eastle, the teenage Lady Elizabeth took charge ofthe fire fighting, It was an early sign of the redoubtable woman she would become, A MATCH FOR MARRIAGE They had already met as children bu Elizabeth encountered the grown-up Prince Albert again ata ball in 1920, It was pethaps no surprise that Bertie fell for this lively, pretty girl, When he first proposed, however, in 1921, he was turned down ~ Elizabeth worried about the constraints of a royal life, even one that was comparatively far from the spotlight. Bertie, though, persisted and they eventually married on 26 April, 1923 and Lady Elizabeth became HRH the Duchess of York.2024 EDITION In 1927, they embarked on an extensive tour (Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Fiji) but the couple's early married life was focused largely on domestic matters. Their two children were born in 1926 and 1930 and life was mostly ived away from the public gaze, a situation that suited both Bertie and Elizabeth perfectly. Sadly, this was not to last and in 1936 George V died and Bertie’ older brother became King Edward VIL ‘The scandal and upheaval that were to follow and this may sound very strange in today’s world of 24 hours news coverage - did not appear on the front pages of the British press. The British public knew little ofthe king's affair with the twice- divorced American Wallis Simpson but, within just afew months of becoming king, Edward had told the government that he proposed to marry her. To the politicians and the Church of England, Wallis was unacceptable so by the end ofthe year Edward had renounced the throne and Bertie became King George VI A QUEEN IS CROWNED Elizabeth was crowned alongside him in 198 Westminster Abbey’- on the date originally Edward's coronation - weari with 2800 diamonds including the controversial Koh-i-noot. That was not the only controversy = the royal family needed a steadying hand after the abdication scandal, Elizabeth has been given uch of the credit for restoring the monarchy’s popularity, as well as resolving her husband's stammer with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue sa he could speak to the nation, ‘That speech was, of course, the King’s first wartime radio broadcast after the outbreak of war with Germany in 1939 and it was the royal familys The royal family needed a steadying hand after the abdication. Elizabeth has been given much of the credit for restoring the monarchy’s popularityTHE QUI it HH | (Pe king) Charles ara bith EEN MOTHER | ELIZABETH BOWES-LYON, determination to remain at Buckingham Palace luring the Blitz that would cement their popularity Elizabeth visited troops, hospitals, factories and the docks and brought to the monarchy a new sense of informality. When the palace was bombed, Elizabeth declared she was glad as now she “could Took the Bast End in the face” There can be litele doube that, catapulted into role she could never have expected, she made of ita resounding success, Would she have preferred a quieter life? Certainly, there are rumours that she blamed the early death of her husband on having kingship thrust upon him. And, some say (though her close friends denied it) that she never fongave Wallis Simpson for changing thei lives forever Nowy, we ean never know “Her greatest gift is to enhance life for others through her effervescent enthusiasm” Kir harles IIT THE QUEEN MOTHER YEARS Elizabeth’s years as a wife were long overshadowed by those she spent as a widow. When Bertie died in 1952, Elizabeth was 51 years old, She would spend a further 50 as Queen Mother and, ater mourning. her husband's death for a year, ook up her new role with characteristic determination, She became great support for her daughter who had become queen atthe tender age of 25 and, when Queen Elizabeth II went on her long Commonwealth tour in 1953, the Queen Mother was there for her young grandchildren, Charles and Anne. She was close to them both and especially devoted to Charles whose sensitivity and isolation perhaps reminded her of her own husband's retiring nature, Charles was equally fond of his grandmother and, ina speech for one of her many birthdays, declared, “Her greatest gift is to enhance life for others through hereffervescent enthusiast.” ‘And her enthusiasms were many. Her royal duties took her on 40 overseas tours, she fll in love with the Castle of Mey in the remotest corner ‘of Scotland and restored it, She was a dedicated gardener and, as is very well known, she adored her horses ~ a passion shared not just by her daughter but by Princess Anne, an Olympic eventer Elizabeth would become one of the most popular royals. Known for her wit, her sense of both duty and fun (not to mention her preference fora gin and Dubonnet) and her extraordinary longevity - she died at 101 - she took up residence in the countey’s heart, The title Queen Mother ‘was invented for her to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II but she was regarded not just as the Queen's mother, but the nation’s As the tabloids had long affectionately dubbed her, she was the beloved Queen Mum,2024 EDITION They met in 1987 but it wasn’t until 1993 that the pair began a romantic relationshipeportedly known as “favourite” of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Edinburgh isa key member within the royal family, but you may not know too much about her. And that's probably because she likes to keep sverything low-key and understated. While ‘uietly working away over the years, she's been seamlessly cementing herself as a solid asset ofthe firm, ‘As patron of 70 different charities and organisations, she's certainly a busy woman with a packed schedule, having taken ‘on an increasing number of engagements during the time of King Charles Is slimmed down monarchy PASSION PROJECTS ‘When members of the publie brush shoulders with royalty there are often tales about what they are really like, and words ‘of praise follow Sophie wherever she goes, When the official royal family Instagram account shares pictures ofthe Duchess? engagements, comments like, “Such an asset tothe royal family” and *Such a lovely woman who represents the royal family with compassion and professionalism” are posted. Her dedicated nature and unwavering work ethie may have derived from her pre-royal life when she co-owned her own, public relations agency. In 2002, she made the decision to step away from PR and become a working royal. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Sophie admitted there was an adjustment period when setting into royal duties. “It took mea litle while to find my feet,’ she said. “But I've met some incredible people luring the time I've been doing royal duties. 've learned a Jhuge amount aboue an awful lot” Gender equality isa topic close to Sophie's heart, as is child welfare, and these personal passions are reflected in ‘many of her patronages and roles, including her committed presence in the organisations of 100 Women in Finance, NSPCC and Childline, amongst others, ROYAL ROMANCE ‘The Duchess (then Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones) first met Prince award in 1987, but it wasn’t until several years ater in 1993 that the pair began a romantic relationship. Fast forward to December 1998 and Edward popped the question while they were holidaying in the sunny Bahamas. “I managed to take her completely by surprise. She had no idea that it was ‘coming, which is what [really wanted to do.” Edward told the Associated Press when the news broke in Janwary of the ‘THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH | SOPHIE & LOUISE tventin June 2028 following year, Sophie admitted she was “slightly stunned” ‘when Edward gave her a gorgeous Garrard engagement ring. In June 1998, the couple tied the knot in front of adoring crowds at Windsor Castle (the same location that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle went on to say “I do” in 2018). Sophie was, ‘blushing bride and she stunned in a long-sleeved wedding gown designed by Samantha Shaw, adorned with 325,000 crystals and pearls, and she completed her chie wedding day look with ‘something borrowed! from Queen Elizabeth = none other than the Anthemion tara from Her Majesty's private jewellery collection, ‘The happy couple declined photographers’ requests to kiss forthe cameras, and this level of privacy around their relationship is something they continue to uphold today. ‘She was raised at Homestead Farmhouse by her parents, Christopher and Mary, along with her brother David. It ‘was only once Sophie was married that she moved out of| her family home in Kent, aged 34. While the property was a beautiful Grade H-listed home, her royal residence of Bagshot Park in Surrey was an impressive upgrade! The gargantuan 120-room mansion was a wedding gift from Edward's mother. les situated on the Windsor Great Park estate and has a staggering 51 acres of land around it. ‘The stately home's impressive qualities continue inside with aa decadent wood-clad billiard room, home offices and the addition of a modern conservatory >