On her 30th birthday, Michael Sheather looks back on the royal transformation of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
It’s been a remarkable transformation but Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has handled everything life has thrown at her with grace, style and more than a little élan since becoming romantically involved with her handsome prince.
From unknown student commoner to Royal fiancée and now wife of the future King, the former Kate Middleton, daughter of an airline hostess and a businessman, has successfully navigated more than 10 years of momentous personal change to emerge as a strong and increasingly vibrant figure on the world stage.
As she turns 30 on January 9, she faces a new decade in which her life will transform yet again, in which she will undoubtedly become a mother and in which there is even a possibility that her husband might assume the throne.
The extensive refurbishments of the couple’s new apartments in Kensington Palace are nearing completion and they will move in later this year.
It will present the duchess with an opportunity to show the world even more of her personal sense of style, as well as an opportunity to decorate a nursery.
That’s just one of the enormous changes coming for Catherine, so it’s safe to say that her 30th birthday marks a new beginning for both herself and Prince William as they embark on their married life together.
Change has been Catherine’s constant companion ever since she became involved with the handsome prince as a student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland back in 2002.
Then, she was a reserved and mostly shy teenager — good at sport and undeniably beautiful but demure and content to keep in the background.
Those attributes explained some of the reasons why Prince William found her so attractive; she shunned the limelight as avidly as he did, right from the start.
Throughout the early years of their relationship she remained unfailingly discreet — even during their temporary separation in 2007 when William suffered his now infamous “wobble” — and in fact projected an image of strength and independence as she toured London’s nightclubs with her friends.
That self-assurance eventually brought William back to her.
She wasn’t always so confident. As a teenager, and distinctly more curvy than she is today, she was unremarkable, with a rounder, girlish face and dressing in shabby jeans and t-shirts.
It was on her gap year studying art in Florence that both her beauty and her self-confidence blossomed.
That transformation continued through her first year at university and by the time William fell in love with her — during a student fashion parade in which she wore a see-through dress — she had completely changed her personal sense of style, morphing into an elegant and contemporary young woman, albeit with a Prada/Sloane Ranger emphasis.
And she may well need that self-assurance. For many, turning 30 is a time for reflection, often about where life is taking you, what the future will be like and perhaps even whether you are heading in the right direction.
Many of the questions that Catherine will ask herself are the same questions that the rest of the world is already asking: How will her first child affect her life? What will parenthood be like? What will it be like to bring up a child as part of the Royal family? And will she be as happy as the wife of the heir to the throne as she thought she would?
As 2012 is the Queen’s Jubilee year, more eyes than ever will be on the royals, and it will be up to Catherine to make the role of Duchess of Cambridge her own.
She’s already proved her individuality by popping out to the supermarket for groceries — only time will tell what her legacy will be.
Read more of this story in the January issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Your say: Do you think Kate is better-prepared for life as a princess than Diana was?
The bizarre truth behind the showbiz couple’s sudden split after just 14 months.
When Katy Perry wed Russell Brand in 2010, everyone wondered how a sweet young pop star could tame one of the showbiz world’s most notorious bad boys. But according to those closest to the couple, the problem that led to their shock divorce announcement late last month was quite the opposite – Katy, 27, wanted a life of wild partying, while Russell, 36, was the one who wanted to settle down and start a family.
“Katy needs to realise she brought this on herself,” reveals a fellow chart-topping singer who counts Katy as a close friend. “She’s been partying nonstop ever since she married Russell and she needs to calm down.”
Speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day on condition of anonymity, the pop star explains, “Katy is so paranoid that she is going to fall out of the limelight and is obsessed with being ‘the next Madonna’. Her life is a 24/7 whirlwind of social climbing and fame chasing. She’s partying with other celebrities until four in the morning every day of the week, whereas Russell would prefer a quiet dinner party or a date night for just the two of them. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
When Katy married the flamboyant comedian, who has confessed to heroin and sex addictions, she thought she had found her “partner in crime” – someone to fuel her wild, rebellious side. But to her horror, a now-sober Russell has spent the past 12 months trying to convince Katy to tame her behaviour. Last November, he even told Ellen DeGeneres, “I am very much looking forward to being a dad – soon I hope.”
Read more about the issues that have sparked furious rows between the couple and who will come out on top in the divorce settlement in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale January 9, 2012.
As the Duchess of Cambridge celebrates her birthday, biographer Katie Nicholl, author of The Making Of A Royal Romance, talks Kate, presents and the big 3-0!
Reaching 30 is a big deal for anyone, but for Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, it’s a particularly significant birthday – her first as a fully fledged member of the royal family.
From her humble beginnings as the daughter of two former flight attendants, “commoner Kate”, and later “Waity Katie”, has become easily the most enchanting and talked-about member of The Firm since the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
While many had predicted Kate’s 30th birthday celebrations would coincide with a baby announcement, it seems the only declaration we can expect are which charities she’ll be taking on.
Starting a family is apparently on the backburner until later this year because of Prince William and his wife’s commitments during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and their role as ambassadors at the London Olympic Games.
Those who know the duchess well say Kate is happier than she has ever been – after all, she has her prince and is deeply in love. However, this week’s milestone may be tinged with disappointment, because Kate had always wanted a baby by this age.
“At school, Catherine was never one of those girls planning a career,” a friend reveals, speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day. “What she wanted was a family, and she always said she wanted a baby by the age of 30. It was something her mother, Carole, also believed was very important. But Kate has accepted things don’t always go to plan and she has too much on her plate for a baby at the moment.”
Read more about Kate Middleton’s 30th birthday celebrations and her plans for the coming months in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale January 9, 2012.
Music mega-star Beyonce Knowles has welcomed her first child, a baby girl with husband Jay-Z.
But there was some confusion though about the child’s name.
Initially, reports from US media said Jay-Z revealed the child’s name to be Ivy Blue Carter, however later the couple’s close friend Gwyneth Paltrow tweeted that her name was actually Blue Ivy Carter.
Beyonce has since released a statement on her Facebook page confirming her name is Blue Ivy Carter.
“Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven,” the statement said.
“She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives.
“We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.”
The superstar new mum gave birth at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan.
The pair reportedly hired out the entire fourth floor for the birth — paying $1.3 million, the New York Daily News reported.
Beyonce checked into the hospital on Friday night under the name ‘Ingrid Jackson’ while security guards were spotted outside the building.
Celebrity friends of the couple have begun sending their tweets of congratulations, with Rihanna tweeting ‘Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih.’
He inspired people all over the world with his moving YouTube clip, but Kristian Anderson was foremost a loving father, reports Michael Gadd.
Cancer sufferer Kristian Anderson became a household name when the heartfelt video he made as a tribute to his wife Rachel went viral.
The YouTube hit – which featured Rachel’s favourite actor, Hugh Jackman – inspired and moved millions, and even captured the attention of Oprah Winfrey.
Now the tributes are flowing in for Kristian himself. The brave father of two finally lost his two-year battle with bowel cancer, dying in his sleep at a Sydney hospital last week, at 36.
“His breaths got lighter and quieter, and then they just stopped and he was gone,” says Rachel, who was by his side to the end. “His passing was truly peaceful.”
Kristian’s legacy remains on YouTube, where more than 500,000 people have viewed his 2010 birthday message to Rachel, starring their young sons Cody, 5, and Jakob, 3, along with Hugh and NZ Prime Minister John Key.
To read about what Hugh Jackman and Oprah Winfrey have said about Kristian and how Rachel is helping her sons cope with their father’s death, get in this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale January 2, 2012.
Watch Kristian’s beautiful YouTube message to his wife Rachel at the top of this page. Kristian’s blog is at howthelightgetsin.net.
With the 69th Golden Globe Awards upon us, make-up maestro Riku Campo, whose clients include Anne Hathaway and Felicity Huffman, reveals how to get red-carpet ready!
The Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles is the secret hideaway where the Hollywood glam get ready before the annual Golden Globe Awards. It’s here that Woman’s Day beauty editor Mary Zavaglia met with Riku.
Armed with his favourite make-up brand, Australian’s very own Designer Brands, he performed his magic on rising star Helena Mattsson, 27, from Iron Man 2.
Follow the steps yourself here and in our video. Plus, see more of his amazing work in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale January 9, 2012.
Helena Mattsson before the make-over.
Trace around lips with a sharp lipliner, fill in.
Create a soft, smoky eye, apply a combination of plum browns and ivory eyeshadows.
Apply liquid eyeliner very close to the lashline.
Sweep on mascara, or use false lashes using either individual or full lashes.
Use a blush brush to sweep pale pink blush lightly over the cheeks and towards the temples.
And voilà! You get this fabulous red carpet make-up look!
Want to know how to lose five kilos in two weeks? Elle Macpherson’s trainer James Duigan shows you how!
When it comes to losing weight, just like everything in life we need to a little bit of inspiration to achieve our goals. Elle Macpherson’s trainer James Duigan has come on board for the Woman’s Day diet in 2012 and shares with us all of his top tips. “I am thrilled to contribute to The Woman’s Day Diet 2012,” he said.
“You’ll find all your favourite WD diet recipes – kJ-crunched, cooked and tested in the WD test kitchen – plus a few of my own recipes, diet tips and the workouts that get my celebrity clients in tip-top shape.”
Top tip: Please note foods in bold are free kj and you can eat as much as you like.
You should lose 1-2kgs a week (up to 5kgs for heavier women), depending on your starting weight. The total daily kJ count is 5500-7000kJ. This compares to the average of 8000-9000kJ for a 70kg Australian woman;
Eat lots of green vegetables or a fibre supplement. Fibre helps reduce “bat wings” and “bingo arms” by eliminating toxins;
Limit alcohol to four standard drinks a week. A 400kJ glass of wine replaces one snack.
Your body converts wheat to sugar faster than any other grain. So try and avoid bread and pasta, if you can.
All breakfasts on the diet can be swapped with other breakfasts, lunches with lunches and dinners with dinners.
One coffee per day is allowed. After that, drink green tea.
All beakfasts on the four week diet are interchangeable with other breakfasts, lunches with lunches and dinners with dinners;
Studies show that low-fat yoghurts, for instance, are loaded with sugar and sodium to make up for the blandness of having no fat. So, eat real butter, yoghurt and milk and cheese. Keep the doses small, though, says James.Snack ListEach day choose from any two of the following:1 apple and 1 matchbox-sized serve full-fat cheese (700kJ);
Vegetable sticks and ¼ cup hummus (600kJ);
1 piece of fruit and a handful of nuts (400kJ);
100g natural yoghurt with berries, cinnamon and almonds (400kJ)
1 small latte (400kJ)
2 Corn Thins with 1 teaspoon no added sugar peanut butter (400kJ)
Make a yoghurt paddle pop (with fruit and nuts) (450kJ)
Frozen grapes and bananas (480kj)
Fruit smoothie with added fibre or bran (400kJ)
4 squares dark chocolate (400kJ)
Green smoothie (blend up celery, cucumber, lime, ginger, mint) (negligible).
1 apple and 1 matchbox-sized serve full-fat cheese (700kJ);
Vegetable sticks and ¼ cup hummus (600kJ);
1 piece of fruit and a handful of nuts (400kJ);
100g natural yoghurt with berries, cinnamon and almonds (400kJ)
1 small latte (400kJ)
2 Corn Thins with 1 teaspoon no added sugar peanut butter (400kJ)
Make a yoghurt paddle pop (with fruit and nuts) (450kJ)
Frozen grapes and bananas (480kj)
Fruit smoothie with added fibre or bran (400kJ)
4 squares dark chocolate (400kJ)
Green smoothie (blend up celery, cucumber, lime, ginger, mint) (negligible).
1 serve of rice or pasta = a fist
1 piece of meat, fish or chicken = the size and width of a deck of cards
1 serve of cheese = one slice, or 4 small cubes that could fit in a matchbox
1 serve of butter = your fingertip
For more great diet and work out tips, plus the full diet plan, see Woman’s Day on sale January 9, 2012.
DISCLAIMER: Please do not embark on a vigorous exercise program without speaking to your doctor first. This advice is general only and does not replace the advice of your doctor or exercise physiologist.
It seems third times a charm for Drew Barrymore who accepted her art consultant boyfriend’s proposal over the holidays.
The pair first started dating in 2010 but broke up and reunited in February 2011.
Steve Tyler and Erin Brady
Steve Tyler popped the question to his long-time girlfriend over the holiday period.
Erin Brady, 38, and Tyler, 63, were spotted at Maui on Christmas Day where she was seen showing off a massive new diamond.
Aretha Franklin and William ‘Willie’ Wilkerson
Singer Aretha Franklin has announced that she is engaged to her long-time companion William ‘Willie’ Wilkerson.
The pair, who decided to get married over the holidays, are planning a summer wedding, perhaps in Miami Beach, Florida.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
This on-again, off-again couple have finally decided to tie the knot!
So who broke the happy news? Justin’s nanna, Sadie Bomar! She confirmed that her grandson called her on Christmas Day about the news and asked her to keep it quiet “until after the holidays.”
Britney Spears and Jason Trawick
The pair got engaged just before the holidays, but they were well and truly celebrating into the new year.
Celebrating at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for Jason birthday, Britney showed off her three-carat diamond.
Rosie O’Donnell and Michelle Rounds
Rosie O’Donnell popped the question to girlfriend Michelle Rounds just before the holidays.
The pair stepped out together for the first time in September 2011.
Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto
Michael Jordan and his long-time girlfriend, model Yvette Prieto announced their engagement on December 30, 2011.
The notoriously private pair, who have been dating since 2008, are yet to set a wedding date.
Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman
Although this couple got together just before the holiday period, we’re sure they still spent plenty of time celebrating!
After three years together, actor Adam Shulman popped the question to Anne Hathaway.
.png?resize=380%2C285)
.jpg?resize=380%2C285)
.png?resize=380%2C285)
