Whenever there's a heatwave a lot of people's main complaint is finding it difficult to sleep and the late Queen Elizabeth had a strict rule that helped keep her royal bedroom cool. She used to enjoy an annual summer break at Balmoral Castle and according to former royal butler Paul Burrell, she "never" closed her bedroom windows when she was there.

Paul previously claimed that the Queen "loved the fact that her bedroom windows were open every night and she would get the fresh air from the highlands". He added that "From August until early October, she never closed" them and when the autumn got "very, very cold" she used a lot of "sheets and blankets and covers and eiderdowns".

Although most people wouldn't want to keep the windows open on a freezing October day, right now Queen Elizabeth's approach sounds perfect.

She also managed to avoid a common cooling mistake, as opening your windows during the day can actually make your home warmer.

Letting in some air sounds like a great idea but Angus Struthers, Managing Director at heating & cooling specialists BOXT, has explained to woman&home that "If the air outside is warmer than the air inside, you're just letting more heat into the house."

It's better to throw them open in the evening when the outside air is cool and Angus advises keeping windows shut "throughout the hottest part of the day". While it's been so hot in the UK I've been following this recommendation and can confirm it's definitely worked for me.

The Queen's love of "fresh air from the highlands" probably meant her Balmoral bedroom was a comfortable temperature at night, even when Scotland's weather was warm. Keeping the windows open was just one part of her evening routine.

She apparently used to aim to go to bed around 11pm and woke up at 7:30am, giving her a solid eight and a half hours of restful slumber. In 2017 an ex-guardsman alleged to The Times that when Queen Elizabeth found it a struggle to get to sleep, she would sometimes walk around the palace grounds late at night.

The guardsman recalled one incident when he spotted a figure in the dark at 3am and called out, "Who's that?" When he realised it was her, he said, "B***** hell, Your Majesty, I nearly shot you."

The Queen gave a typically witty response, saying, "That's quite all right. Next time I'll ring through beforehand so you don't have to shoot me."

In the morning she also had a routine and it began, not with an alarm clock, but with a performance by the Piper to the Sovereign. A bagpipe performance is a pretty unique wake-up call and the piper plays outside the monarch's window every morning for 15 minutes, split into two sessions.

The position is currently held by Pipe Major Paul Burns who was appointed by Queen Elizabeth and kept on by King Charles. His role is prestigious and the Piper is the only person outside the Royal Family who's permitted to wear Balmoral tartan.

It's approaching the time of year that many parents will be saying goodbye to their children as they head off to university in September.

For some, this will mean having to make a huge adjustment as they come to terms with having an empty house after so many years of their time being dedicated to their offspring.

Presenter Fern Britton has shared her "brutal" experience of her children leaving home, and the lessons she's learned from going through it so many times as a mother-of-four.

Fern shares twin sons Jack and Harry, 31, and daughter Grace, 28, with first husband Clive Jones. She also has daughter Winnie, 23, with second husband Phil Vickery.

Speaking to Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast, Fern says of the time her twins left home, "It was definitely brutal, [they were] suddenly gone."

She explains that not only did she have two of her children leaving at once, "they didn't want me to deliver them or anything, so that was very hard."

However, she has "learned some things" from the experience that she wanted to share. She says "there are going to be tensions on the morning" a child leaves, "because there are emotions involved."

She also suggests that young people suddenly become very independent, and will want to carry their own bags and do much of the moving themselves.

Offering her best advice, Fern says, "On the day they actually leave, make sure you've got things to do when you get home." She suggests getting your nails done or having lunch with a friend - find any distraction possible.

The presenter also suggests that parents will agonise over whether to text their children immediately, and how often to message them without looking "controlling."

She also says they will arrive home at Christmas "exhausted, thin, and looking like they've lived on beans on toast," but will come back with an increased appreciated for what their parents have done for them in the years before they left.

Fern also says wisely that if anyone thinks they might get a dog to feed their nurturing instincts and fill the void left by their absent child, to hold off on this for a few months. There's always the chance parents will get used to the quiet house and enjoy it.

The presenter herself says she isn't a dog person, much preferring the company of cats.

"I wouldn't be good with a dog, because I don't want unconditional love," she reveals, adding, "I've never wanted that, it makes me feel uncomfortable."

She continues, "So to come home to a cat, be a slave to cats, I prefer that. Dogs are too much."

As well as focusing on the key spring/summer fashion trends for 2026, at woman&home it's our job to keep an eye on emerging micro trends that appear mid-season, and there’s one look that seems to be gaining plenty of momentum right now - and that’s the sarong skirt.

Once reserved for beach outfit ideas, the wrapped separate has migrated from the seashore to the city and beyond, and it’s a surprisingly chic way to upgrade your summer capsule wardrobe. The relaxed asymmetric hemlines, flippy fabrics, and knotted waist create a lovely holiday vibe that can be worn in the same way as your usual A-line or maxi skirt, but will feel a little more contemporary. If you're wondering what to wear in the heat at home or abroad, this cool silhouette is one to consider.

Don’t panic, though - we are not suggesting you head out to the shops in a traditional semi-sheer square that you’d normally tie over your bikini post-swim. This fresh take on the wrap skirt is much more wearable from AM to PM and often sits just below the knee to provide plenty of coverage for your everyday, but manages to hold on to that warm-weather aesthetic

Sarong skirts were spotted on several SS26 designer runways, including Ralph Lauren and Dries Van Noten, so we are not surprised that this aesthetic has quickly filtered down to the high street. It's such an easy trend to integrate with your current wardrobe, and the flattering wrap waist will work for body types.

When it comes to styling, you have plenty of options with sarong skirts too, as they will work with pretty much any top in your closet - but slightly smarter basics will give the relaxed wrap shape a little more polish. We would suggest wearing yours with an oversized white shirt tucked in for the office, with a fine knit for date night, or team it with a silky top for a fancy do.

The skirts will sit well for low-key weekends as well, though - team your wrap design with a fitted vest and your most comfortable sandals, and you'll be kitted out for a sunny day. However you wear yours, the sarong skirt looks set to stay and will bring some vacation vibes to your outfits right through until autumn.

In 1996, five girls quite literally high-kicked onto the scene and changed the world with Girl Power.

Despite all the accolades and antics the five women got up to, Mel B - aka Scary Spice - fondly lists spending the day making sandwiches for the "charming and gorgeous" Prince William and Harry as one of the highlights.

Speaking with The Telegraph, Mel was asked her favourite Spice Girls moment. Sharing that it was a toss up between meeting Nelson Mandela, playing Wembley or "spending a day with Harry and William", the pop icon expanded on just what they got up to at Kensington Palace.

She shared, "They were young princes and we made them peanut butter and jam sandwiches in Kensington Palace. They were such cute kids - I can’t remember whether it was William or Harry who had a crush on Emma, but they were so polite and charming and gorgeous."

The Spice Girls and the royals - two iconic British institutions in their own right - have often crossed paths, with King Charles famously getting a cheeky pat on the bum by Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell Horner) back in the 1990s.

As each of the Spice Girls have continued to find success in other avenues - whether it’s Victoria Beckham and her fashion and philanthropy or Mel B and her advocacy and charity work - royal honours have followed, including reunions with the princes.

Mel explained, "The last time I saw Prince William it was when he was pinning my MBE to my chest in a dress Victoria had made for me, which was just a little bit revealing in exactly the place he pinned the medal to.

"Victoria knew exactly what she was doing when she designed it for me."

As well as fondly recalling the highs of the Spice Girls days, Mel touched on the lows - including the worst moment when Geri quit the band on her birthday.

"Finding out Geri had left us on May 29, 1998. It was on my birthday. We’ve all talked about it since, and I understand why, but at the time it was devastating because I just didn’t know why."

Celebrating 30 years since the release of their debut single, Wannabe, it’s no surprise that Mel B is looking back - but she’s also in a place where she’s never been happier to live fully in the moment, embracing her 50s and a new pace of life.

Describing her perfect days now she’s older, Mel said "I consider great days to be me at home with my dogs and animals on my farm. Walking around my forest or feeding my goats, chickens and ducks is perfection for me. I love the simplicity and peace of it."

Still proving she’s got that rebellious, Girl Power spirit, she also rallied against the idea that hitting your 50s is a negative thing. "I’m bloody proud to be 51”, she declared.

"It’s just the beginning of a different chapter. I’m a firm believer that life gets better. With age comes experience and wisdom, and you care a lot less about what other people think."

It doesn’t matter what season or year it is; stripes always feel playful in warmer weather, and they're big news when it comes to the spring/summer fashion trends for 2026. Stripey pieces can lift your mid-summer outfits, and if you’re looking for shorts recommendations in the coming weeks, take a peek at Fearne Cotton's bold, striped design.

Not one to shy away from print or colour, Fearne's wardrobe is an eclectic mix of fun prints and bohemian silhouettes, and attending the Happy Place Festival last week, the star, who hosts the event, stayed true to her signature style with a pair of cheery red and beige striped shorts by Never Fully Dressed.

Paired with a t-shirt and shiny shoes, the whole look was ideal for sunny weather, and it's an easy one to recreate for a low-key weekend or if you're after a standout beach outfit idea. The star’s shorts are still available (although there are only a couple of sizes left), and you can find them along with some other similar buys below.

Stand out stripes really will inject some joy to your outfits, but as they are quite bold, it's often best to keep the rest of your look simple and understated. Take note from Fearne and wear your bottoms with a slouchy t-shirt and your most comfortable sandals for an effortless cool-girl vibe that will let your shorts have their moment without any risk of clashing.

If you've been wondering how to wear shorts, there really is a pair to suit every body type and style, so it's worth shopping around and finding a pair that works for you. Longer line designs as well as looser, A-line fits will always be a little easier to wear, as they offer more coverage, and a more flattering, balanced fit.

Stripes are a great option too. The line going down your silhouette will naturally make you appear taller and leaner. We still have many weeks of summer ahead, so now is a great time to invest.

If you entered the ballot for the two-day London Marathon next year, you'll know by now if you’ll be pounding the streets of the capital. While the event is still a while off, it's essential to build a good foundation before you start training.

Susie Chan is a four-time Marathon des Sables finisher and the first European female to finish all three Badwater races - some of the most challenging races in the world. She also made headlines when she set the world record for the longest distance run on a treadmill in 12 hours. Today, she leads Tread classes at Peloton, taking thousands of new runners through their treadmill workouts.

It's fair to say she knows a thing or two about running a marathon as a beginner. We asked her for five tips for getting yourself race-ready, from the workouts to follow to the must-have kit.

1. Invest in a good pair of running shoes

You're going to be racking up the miles during your training, and the wrong shoes are a fast track to discomfort - or even injury. Susie recommends going for a gait test. This is a simple test to see how you run and determine the type of running shoe that would be best for you.

Remember to consider comfort and durability first, over colour or brand, when choosing the best running shoes for you.

Good socks are also essential for training, she says, as they'll protect your feet from the rain (when it arrives!), provide extra cushioning, and help prevent rubbing.

2. Find a training plan

The earlier you can start training, the better. Susie says it’s important to have a comprehensive programme so you can “build those miles gradually” and avoiding heading out too soon for a distance you're not ready for.

She recommends Peloton’s Pace Your Race programme, but there are other running apps, such as Strava or Runna, which can also create a fitness plan for you.

3. Prioritise strength training

By now, you probably know how important strength training is for women. It helps build bone and muscle mass, which is essential for staying healthy throughout life, but it also makes a real difference in marathon training.

Susie says doing even a simple weights workout twice a week can help prevent injury. That could be a dumbbell workout at home or a dedicated lifting session in the gym.

Pilates and yoga can also be beneficial for people training for marathons, she says, as they help strengthen your core and upper body, and improve mobility.

4. Treat your long runs as marathon practice

When your miles begin to stack up, treat it like a practice run for your event. You’ll start to learn what your body needs before, during and after a run, and the foods you can tolerate on the move.

“You’ve got lots of time in those longer runs to test things out for race day. Test out some nutrition and maybe the kit you’re going to wear on the day," she says.

There's no need to spend a fortune on running kit. A good hydration vest, a sports bra, and running shoes are essentials, though. If you like listening to music, a pair of exercise headphones can help you through the more challenging moments in your training.

When you give yourself enough time, you have the chance to experiment with all these things and work out what feels best for you.

5. Think about recovery

Rest and recovery are just as important as the miles when training for a marathon. “Sleep is a really great way to help you keep your body nice and fresh,” says Susie.

It's worth learning how to improve your sleep so you can get good-quality rest, even if you can't manage eight hours a night.

Nutrition is also very important, she says. Eat a balanced, high-protein diet to help you recover from your training, limit alcohol intake, and develop a good stretching routine to help release lactic acid. This can cause muscle pain.

It's a common thought that adding plants to your garden can only be a good thing, but some secretly do more harm than good. Some species are so damaging to your space that they can reduce the value of your home.

Whilst you might be well aware of the common invasive plants that can ruin your garden, some other popular species under the radar can be just as damaging. And whilst they won't particularly take over your garden like knotweed would, these plants can be such an issue that they decrease your home's value.

If you want to upgrade your garden to boost your home's value, then you'll want to stay well clear of these particular plants.

3 plant species that can devalue your home

When it comes to blocking your neighbour's view on a budget, there's nothing quite as effective as planting a row of hedges in your garden.

However many evergreen varieties, like the ones listed below, can become a major issue for your home and its surrounding land. To avoid devaluing your home, here are the top three species to keep well clear of.

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1. Cherry Laurel

As one of the best plants for privacy, cherry laurel is a very popular choice for homeowners. It's incredibly fast-growing and dense, making it an ideal choice to surround your garden with.

“Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a vigorous, large, spreading evergreen bush, with glossy leaves up to 15cm in length," says Karl McArdle, co-founder of The Property Buying Company.

"If not pruned, it can form dense walls of foliage, and if trimmed poorly, it can suffer from powdery mildew, which can be unsightly and put buyers off. If left to grow large, it can dry out the ground, causing subsidence. A history of subsidence can reduce your home’s value by up to 25%," he adds.

2. Arrow Bamboo

Whilst you might've been debating growing bamboo in your garden for privacy, most types of bamboo are considered extremely invasive.

“Arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica) is a tough, spreading evergreen bamboo, reaching up to 6 metres in height. In warm, moist conditions, this can cause the creeping rootstock to produce new shoots away from the original plant, causing it to spread further than desired," explains Karl.

"Arrow bamboo spreading near neighbours’ fencing or near drains could reduce your property value by 5 to 15%," he continues.

Trying to get rid of bamboo roots can be a real nightmare, too, so it's definitely something to properly think about before you plant.

3. Leyland cypress

Another fast-growing shrub, the Leyland cypress, is popular for its height; however, this is the same reason it can be a real issue for your home and its future inhabitants.

“Leyland cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii) is a large, very fast-growing evergreen tree. If unchecked, they can reach heights of up to 30 metres tall, which means they have the potential to become a nuisance and will therefore require regular trimming to keep under control," states Karl.

"If Leyland cypress smothers and outcompetes other plants in your garden, this could reduce your property value by up to 15%," he warns.

If you've already taken measures to add a little privacy to your home, with a pergola, for example, then adding plants perfect for pergolas can give you that extra layer to keep nosy neighbours away.

Claudia Winkleman has revealed she "hates summer," and a huge amount of people agree with her.

With her darkly gothic looks, and love of a chunky knit and knee-high boots on The Traitors, it's not a huge surprise that the presenter isn't a fan of summer, but it's her reasons for "hating" the season that has left us in stitches.

During a throwback clip, re-shared to coincide with the current heatwave, Claudia tells wellness broadcaster Sarah Powell, "I hate summer, I find it so annoying."

Signalling to a glass of water during an episode of the Wobble podcast, Claudia adds, "I don't like water, I'm offended that that's there."

Listing everything else she loathes about the warmer months, Claudia continues, "I don't like the arrogance, I don't like the summer clothes."

Clearly, she also doesn't like foods associated with summer, and is particularly offended by salad. "I'm never going to be, 'Oh, a salad! - I found this wonderful recipe for beetroot and feta - p*** off," she says directly.

Not holding back, Claudia reveals another of her pet summer-related hates is people "skipping through summer with their toes out."

She continues, "Disgusting with their toes out, eating couscous!" The star even reveals that she "doesn't even have any summer clothes" and once "wore a sweater on the beach."

Claudia has equally very strong ideas about what she prefers in place of the sandals, floaty dresses and light foods of summer.

"I like a stew, a knee-high boot and a heavy coat," she says with yearning for cold, dark nights.

The presenter continues, "I like a pub - I don't like a pub garden. I want indoors, crisps, some dingy corner." She's painted the picture quite vividly.

Although you might expect a backlash to these comments in a country that feels perpetually cold and wet for most of the year, there were actually huge amounts of people agreeing with Claudia.

When the clip was shared to Instagram, it gathered many comments and shares. One person commented, "THIS IS ME! I'm delighted that we've had the longest day and we're heading back towards autumn."

A few suggested they were "counting down the weeks" until autumn, and another wrote, "I get seasonal depression in summer. My body cannot handle the heat, I hate being a sweaty mess all the time and summer clothes are not as comfortable."

With equally fierce opinions as Claudia, another person added, "Louder for those at the back please! The arrogance that everyone’s supposed to love summer has annoyed me since childhood. I can only just tolerate it on the holiday I have to take the children on where there’s swimming pools, endless cocktails & lollipops on hand…".

Lorraine Kelly has shared a touching family update after what has been a challenging year for the presenter.

As well as dealing with ITV budget cuts that saw her long-running daytime TV show have its hours reduced, the presenter's father also tragically passed away.

John Kelly is believed to have slipped on an icy path just before his death in January this year, and the 84-year-old was found injured by some people passing by, but was later pronounced dead at the scene.

While Lorraine has been left devastated by her loss, her father's passing has also opened up a "new beginning," as she shares how her wider family dynamic has now changed in the aftermath of aftermath of their grief.

In conversation with Saga magazine, Lorraine says that when her father was ill in the run up to his death, and since he's passed away, she has become closer with her relatives - particularly her brother, Graham.

Her brother has lived in the Far East for some times, but is now spending more time in Scotland.

“When Dad wasn’t well, it brought us closer, supporting each other," Lorraine shares, adding, "It’s been a tough time, but the conversations you have with your relatives you wouldn’t have had otherwise are amazing."

She continues, "You talk about the past," referring to this time as "a new beginning."

The presenter also has another new beginning on the horizon, with the upcoming wedding of her daughter, Rosie. The 32-year-old is getting married this month in Scotland to her fiancé Steve White.

Lorraine shares that her daughter "has planned it all," herself, and when she's asked if she'd like any help, she's so far been met with, "Don’t worry."

Rosie's 22-month-year-old granddaughter Billie is going to be a bridesmaid, and speaking of watching her daughter walk down the aisle, Lorraine says, "The moment I see her, I’ll be crying."

With her father now gone, Lorraine has also been focussed on looking out for her mother's wellbeing.

Being part of the 'sandwich generation,' Lorraine finds herself in the time of life where she's balancing work with grandparent duties and making sure her daughter is cared for as a new mum, and also making sure her mother is safe.

For many others in a similar situation, this time often raises discussions about whether elderly relatives should stay at home with carers visiting, move into a care home or move in with family members.

Lorraine's mum is very firm about what she wants and has made her feelings clear. Giving her take on this very emotive subject, Lorraine says that ideally she'd like her mother to live with her, because she "isn't in good health."

However, her mum is fiercely independent "like all those war babies are," and wants to remain "self-sufficient" and live by herself.

"I always keep an eye on her but don’t let her know I’m keeping an eye on her," Lorraine explains. She adds that she's already prepared a room for her mother at her own home, and keeps the door firmly open for the time that might come when she changes her mind about living with her daughter.

"I’ve said, "You can stay with us any time for as long as you like," Lorraine shares, continuing, "Her bedroom’s ready, downstairs with an en-suite, but she says, 'No, no, no.'

Nevertheless, Lorraine understands "there might come the day" that changes, because caring for older relatives can be very uncertain, and "you just never know."

I'm off on what will hopefully be a sunny staycation, but holidaying in the UK can often mean packing for all weathers and eventualities. Whether you need to know what to wear in the heat, or find that the weather has turned breezier, I've got some seriously good holiday style, whether you've got a few days by the coast or a busy weekend in the city.

Treat your suitcase like a mini summer capsule wardrobe. You want maximum versatility and minimum effort, so sticking to a colour palette can help ensure you can create plenty of outfits with the fewest pieces. Because it's a UK break, layering is key, as unless we're hit by another heatwave, the weather can be unpredictable and evenings can be particularly cool.

You'll also want to check your itinerary and whether you need to lean heavily on beach outfit ideas, or if you'll be doing lots of sightseeing and dining out, or high-energy activities; all of these things need to be considered in your packing. I've pulled together my wishlist below.

On top of complementary colours and opting for pieces that can be layered up when needed, consider the materials of each item in your suitcase too. Natural woven fabrics like linen, muslin and cotton will all feel much more breathable than anything synthetic, and will keep you cool while out in the sun.

On top of the above, adding just a couple of chic accessories can help switch up the feel of your ensembles - a great pair of gold hoop earrings, a classic T-bar necklace or some neutral bangles will all work with every look in your case, and you could always stash a silky scarf in your bag to wear round your neck, hair or knotted on your bag to pep up your outfits too.

Of course, the rules aren't set in stone, and you can absolutely pack an extra postcard print t-shirt or a playful pair of polka dot jeans, too - just keep the above in mind when choosing your staycation looks.

Katy Hill was a household name during the nineties and noughties, bursting onto the presenting scene with a breakout role hosting Blue Peter in 1995.

She went on to present Live & Kicking and Top Of The Pops before moving into radio. It was while she was hosting the Heart Radio Breakfast Show in 2017 that she decided to leave broadcasting for good.

After re-training and a lot of hard work, Katy now works as a certified success and confidence coach, recently sharing her knowledge as a keynote speaker at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place festival.

The former presenter has revealed some of the shocking toxic behaviour she experienced during her presenting career that had a lasting impact on her, and pushed her towards a job change.

Appearing on the Should I Delete That? podcast, Katy shares that just after she joined Blue Peter, somebody who worked on the show, who she didn't name, told her she was a "big girl."

The person said, "You're a bigger girl and you don't carry yourself well on camera." She was a size 12-14 at the time.

After having her children, Kaya, now 19, and Akira, now 18, Katy says she was given a trainer by a magazine to "get my baby weight off," and they ran a story using words she'd never said, with the headline, "I'm not going to be a lard arse mum."

Katy says, "It's amazing that I don't, and have never had an eating disorder of any kind," sharing that "most of" the women she worked with at the time suffered with eating difficulties because of the unrealistic beauty standards forced on them.

Now 55, the former presenter offered insight into the moment she realised broadcasting was no longer for her. She wrote on Instagram, "If you don’t define what happiness means to you, you’ll spend your life chasing someone else’s version."

She added, "The same goes for success. I HAD 'success', the job, the house, the family…
all the things. But life felt OFF. So I did something about it."

"I hit pause and trained to be a coach so I could help other people define their version of success and, crucially, LIVE IT!"

Taking to Instagram again after her appearance at the Happy Place wellness festival that took place in London over July 11-12, Katy said, "We laughed, we cried, we hugged, we 'glowed' in the heatwave."

"Everything about the weekend was pure JOY - thanks to the beautiful Fearne Cotton for another unforgettable reminder of the goodness of humans and the power of genuine, authentic connection."

Listing everyone who shared space with her at the festival, Katy signed off with, "I’ll share more when I come up for air but wow! And THANKYOU Fearne for all that you are."

"And thanks to everyone for the hugs and chats and kindness walking around the festival… what beautiful souls it attracts!"

The Princess of Wales loves wearing bright colours, especially in the summer, but one of my favourite seasonal outfits she's worn is actually monochrome. July is when the Royal Charity Polo Cup is usually played and Kate's black and white dress from the event in 2022 proved how keeping your style simple can be very striking.

This piece was by one of her go-to British clothing brands, Emilia Wickstead, and it was sleeveless and midi-length. The black piping accentuated the subtle fit-and-flare silhouette in such a flattering way and although you can't get this exact dress anymore, I couldn't believe my luck when I came across a similar style at ME+EM.

Recreate Kate's Polo Outfit

The Princess loves them for classic staples and this year they're selling a monochrome midi dress that is perfect if you want to recreate her polo style. Better yet, it's just gone into the ME+EM sale and is currently 30% off, down to £175 from £250.

The dress is made from a linen and viscose blend material which is designed to minimise creasing. This is a bonus in my book, as who really wants to be ironing in this weather? Linen is also great to wear in the heat as the natural fibres are so breathable.

The black tipping on the ME+EM frock has a slightly different shape compared to Kate's 2022 dress but this detailing still highlights your frame. It's sleeveless but not strappy or overly revealing and the high round neckline adds an elegant feel.

Because it's monochrome like the Princess's Emilia Wickstead dress, you can accessorise it so easily. To make it more casual, pair it with white trainers, sandals or ballet flats and for an elevated evening look you can go for heels or wedges instead.

Keeping to a minimal colour palette makes an ensemble extra cohesive and polished, though I think a pop of red would look fabulous with this dress. Kate took a different approach and styled hers with beige and black slingback flats from Camilla Elphick.

No matter the heel height, slingbacks are the future Queen's favourite summer shoe style and she's worn these ones a lot for different appearances. The black toe cap coordinated with the piping on the bodice and skirt whilst the beige tone brought some contrast.

Kate completed her outfit with her Sézane resin hoops and a pair of tortoiseshell brown sunglasses. She recently wore the same earrings with a black and white gingham Temperley London frock at this year's charity polo cup and mixing in warm-toned browns with monochrome hues can soften things beautifully.

Each of these dresses have only been seen publicly once, but the charity polo cup isn't an official engagement for the Princess of Wales. This means the event is a good opportunity for her to enjoy wearing more everyday pieces and I'd imagine Kate has reached for both of these a lot in her day-to-day life when it's hot.

Katherine Jenkins is known for her polished style, and her recent trip to Paris, which she documented on Instagram, proved that even in one of the world's most stylish cities, Katherine's poise and elegance still stood out.

But while the star is often seen in a roster of designer ensembles, she showed that just like the rest of us, she loves the high street, too. Snapped in a ruched denim mini dress by M&S and a pair of sandals by Dune London, Katherine accessorised her outfit with a sun-ready wide-brimmed hat and some oversized sunglasses.

The high street pieces worked beautifully together, and Katherine gave her summer staples a luxe upgrade by adding a tan Strathberry Mosaic Bag to complete her look. Easily one of the best affordable designer bags around, this particular design has been carried by several big names, including Kate Middleton, who opted for the off-white, nano iteration at a carol concert back in 2023.

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Denim and tan is such a timeless colour combination, and Katherine's outfit proves that this look still feels current. The star's choice of handbag really lifted her blue dress, and her leather accessory is one of those pieces that will work equally well with a shirt and jeans as it will with your best wedding guest dresses, so if you invest in one now, you will get an endless amount of wear from it over the coming years.

Katherine rarely gets it wrong with her sartorial choices, so whether you're struggling with what to wear in the heat and looking for a new everyday frock, or considering investing in a new accessory, the singer's holiday outfit really does tick all the boxes when it comes to shopping inspiration.

Whether it’s citing Shakespeare soliloquies spur of the moment or embodying some of the finest roles across stage and screen, Dame Judi Dench is one of Britain’s most celebrated acting legends.

However, she’s got a devious side to her, as she revealed on an appearance on the BBC’s This Natural Life podcast, where she confessed to posting a rat through a neighbour’s letterbox.

If it somewhat softens the blow, this was a prank from Dame Judi’s childhood, and not something that happened this week. And the Philomena star admitted that the childhood prank was a "terrible story".

Sharing her wild child anecdote, Judi explained that it all stemmed from her brothers playing outdoors - and losing their balls over the fence.

She said, "The boys used to play cricket in the garden, and they used to be always batting the balls over into the other gardens, and there was a lady called Miss Lazenby, and she never ever would throw the ball back, or give us the balls back.”

Many can relate to having that type of neighbour, sure, but most wouldn’t expect how they planned their payback. Dame Judi continued, "Once the boys found a dead rat in the barn, and they parcelled it up, and they said to me, ‘Judi, will you just go round and put this through Miss Lazenby’s door?’"

The children then wrote a note saying, ‘Please give us our balls back’ and attached it to the rat. Paper might have been better, but such is the benefit of hindsight.

As Judi shared, "So I did go and squeeze it through Miss Lazenby’s door”. As to whether their idea worked and they got their ball back? "Probably not… I don’t think we were allowed to play cricket again."

Not quite the story one would expect from Dame Judi. However, one might expect her to be full of tales of the stage and of defining moments of history, which is exactly what’s being teased with the recently announced second episode of her Sky series, Tea with Judi Dench.

Set to air on Sky Arts and NOW in August, Sir Ian McKellen will visit Judi’s stunning home and gardens where the pair share extraordinary tales from their unparalleled careers.

Per the press release from Sky, fans can expect the acting titans to discuss everything ‘From Shakespeare, stage fright and the insecurities of acting to the worldwide fame of the Lord of the Rings and James Bond movies’.

As well as reflecting on ‘success, failure and the importance of never taking either too seriously’ Sir Ian ‘speaks movingly about coming out, his defining role in the fight against Section 28, and one of his greatest regrets; never sharing the truth about himself with his parents.’

The first of this series featured Judi being visited by Sir Kenneth Branagh, and it allowed fans to get a sneak peek into her magnificent gardens.

Set in Surrey, Dame Judi's six-acre estate includes a private woodland and a stunning collection of trees planted in honour of friends and family members, with recent additions including a crab apple tree planted in the memory of Dame Maggie Smith.

Jo Whiley is known for her upbeat and positive attitude, be it on her Radio 2 show or chatting with pal Zoe Ball on their Dig It podcast.

But, speaking in the September issue of woman&home, Jo - who recently turned 61 - has admitted she has had some low points of late, having to deal with parental illness, meaning she had to put her usual routine and life to the side.

She said, “Things have been hard on a personal level lately, but they are better now than they were. My mum had a back operation over Christmas, and for a long time, all I was doing was going to the hospital and sitting with Mum and Dad.

“That became my whole world. Dad has Parkinson’s, and it was just about getting through each day and being there for them. Talking about the practical level of having a sibling with learning disabilities is really important too.

“My parents listened to my podcast when I talked about what a nightmare Christmas was, so I got a warning from them about sharing too much, and I have to respect that. I also got told off by my mum for swearing, and that was a learning curve!

“When life got busy, exercise and seeing my friends were the first things to go.”

And, after a period of not hitting her regular fitness goals, Jo - who has four children with husband Steve Morton, who she married in 1991 - undertook a half marathon, and it spurred her on to get back into self-care.

“Self-care is so important. Friends say that exercise keeps them sane, and I agree,” she said, adding, “For me, it isn’t about how you look, it’s about feeling like yourself again, those endorphins flowing, and having a little bit of time that’s just for you.

“I did a half-marathon recently, which was stupid when I hadn’t trained, but it made me realise how much I hate not exercising and what an unhappy person it makes me. Now I’m back doing weights and swimming, and it helps my head so much.”

However, it isn’t all hitting the gym, Jo still has plenty of time for fun - even though her ability to stay up as late has diminished over the years.

“I prefer hosting parties at home over going to them. We have a ‘club’ called Miniscule of Sound in a shed in the garden, which has a disco ball, dry ice and a DJ booth,” she said. “The last party was still banging at 5.20am. I’d had a pillow over my head since 3.30am, and eventually I had to go down there in my pants and a sweatshirt, shut off the dry ice and ask them to stop. They were very good about it and went to another party!”

As well as her radio and podcast with Zoe, Jo also hosts one called Roots for the Royal Horticultural Society, which has meant she has got to meet and interview with likes of Monty Don and Dame Mary Berry. However, the person that really got to her - and forced her to change her mind on something - was Dame Judi Dench.

“Those are genuinely pinch-yourself moments because they’re people I’ve admired for years. The second Judi starts speaking, you listen.

“We sat in her garden drinking champagne and chatting, and I came away thinking that I should always have champagne on the go. I want to be as rock ‘n’ roll as Judi.

“Judi inspired me to stop decluttering. I’d been going through a phase of clearing things out at home.

"When I walked into Judi’s house, every room was filled with memories – family photos, drawings, little keepsakes – the whole place felt full of love. I came away thinking home isn’t about having everything neat and perfect, so I put all of my family photographs back up.”

Patios are a great addition to any garden; they're a low-maintenance space perfect for outdoor dining and for home to pots. However, when you're lacking space, they can quickly look rather busy and compact.

Whilst there are ways to make your small patio feel bigger with exterior lighting, if you enjoy using the space throughout the day, you may need other ways to open it up. It's all too easy for patios to become cluttered with patio container plants, and this can make a limited space look even smaller.

If this sounds familiar to you, then garden legend Alan Titchmarsh has a genius small garden tip to help make your patio appear and feel bigger than it actually is. All with one garden design change.

Whether you use your patio as an outdoor living room area or grow your favourite veggies in pots on it, sometimes it can look cramped.

Especially when you're already starting with a small space to work with, which is why Alan suggests trying this one trick before you've even laid your paving stones.

"The size of the pavers you choose should depend on the overall size of the patio or terrace. If it's very small, don't be tempted to use lots of small ones, which will make it look bitty," Alan starts.

"A common mistake is using lots of small pavers in a compact space, which creates a busy look and can make the area seem even smaller," he adds.

It's easy to avoid this common mistake that makes your garden feel smaller, but it does require choosing the right slabs before you build your patio. This might seem like a big job, but it'll make a world of difference in your garden.

"A few larger paving stones in a smaller area will give it the impression of more space than is actually there. It works the other way around, lots of little ones tend to make something look small," Alan explains.

"Several smaller number of larger ones tend to expand it. Matching the paver size to the space will help create a balanced, elegant design that feels both practical and visually spacious," he finishes.

Tricks like these that help make your small garden look bigger are so important to ensure you're making the most of the space you have and utilising every square inch of it.

If you want some more magic Alan guidance on patios, he also shared his tips for brightening up an otherwise dull, dingy patio.

Piers Morgan has never been backwards in coming forwards in terms of how he feels about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Having walked out of his six-year job on Good Morning Britain in 2021 following remarks he made about the former Meghan Markle - which gained a huge 41,000 complaints to television standards regulator Ofcom - he has not stood down on his forthright opinions about the controversial quasi-royal couple.

Now, he’s hit out at the pair again, accusing them of hypocrisy for discussing the importance of privacy online and then choosing to post pictures of their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, on their social media - albeit with their faces obscured.

He told Woman, 'My old friends the Duke and Duchess of Sussex keep preaching to us about privacy and about the need to be careful online, and how dangerous it is for kids – and then what did they do? They upload photographs of their five-year-old child on social media [for her birthday] to billions of people, immediately recognisable.

'And I’m like, “What are you doing? What is this about? Why would you preach about privacy? Why would you lecture the world to be very careful with children online and then put your own child out there to millions of people?” It makes no sense to me.

'Maybe it makes sense to their fans, I don’t know, but to me, that is a classic example of the kind of double standard that I think is ridiculous. If you are going to start preaching about stuff, at least try and live up to it. Don’t immediately do something which is the complete opposite of what you’ve been preaching about.'

Speaking again on 5’s The Royals Uncensored show, Piers discussed the fact that the pair would likely be coming to the UK with their children for the first time in years, as part of the Invictus Games countdown. As Woman went to press, Buckingham Palace had reportedly withdrawn an invitation for Harry to stay at the royal residence while in London.

Piers said, 'How do you trust these two? And they’re going to bring the kids [to the UK] that they keep preaching to the world about privacy, and how to protect kids online. Meantime, she’s out there, pumping week after week, more and more pictures of their kids... so there’s an absolute hypocrisy there which I find, honestly, frankly, quite sickening.'

It’s not the first time that Piers, 61, has hit out at Harry and Meghan and called them hypocrites. He did so in 2019 - prior to the couple leaving royal life in 2020 - when it was noted that they had been taking private jets while ‘preaching’ about environmental issues. ‘They are making themselves look like rank hypocrites and you can’t, as a royal, do that,’ he said at the time on GMB.

And despite Piers making a career out of giving his opinions - which he now does on YouTube channel Piers Morgan Uncensored, which has 4.4 million subscribers - he believes those in the public eye should stop moaning.

‘I think the celebrity public-figure side shouldn’t whine too much,’ he said. ‘Mick Jagger has it right - never complain, never explain - and the Queen Mother said the same. You rarely heard her speaking in public.

'Let what you do, do its own talking. I think it’s really good advice. People talk too much. I know that sounds pretty rich coming from me, but then I’m supposed to talk too much!’

Additionally, Piers hit out at his former show, GMB - which has found itself at the centre of budget cuts at ITV Daytime - claiming it cannot keep up with the kind of programming he is now doing.

‘Our audience [of the Piers Morgan Uncensored show] is growing exponentially around the world, at exactly the same rate as most mainstream TV shows. I don’t want to mention Good Morning Britain, because, obviously, they don’t have me any more, so understandable that the audience halved, so you get my point.

'Yes, dramatically. I think YouTube is how most young people watch anything. I know because I’ve got four kids, from the age of 32 right down to 14, and it’s all they watch. They don’t watch television unless it’s a major live event.

‘I’ll often do my show from a little cupboard somewhere. Literally, sometimes I will be in the Middle East somewhere, and I’ve got to do a show. I’ll get in the cupboard and put a camera on and get my laptop going. Nobody cares as long as the content is good, and I’m still doing my job.’

With Piers’ Uncensored show seeming to grow and grow, it looks unlikely he’ll be giving up his often controversial opinions any time soon!

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Diane Morgan has reached national treasure status. She's a woman who can write incredible comedy, act with the most impeccable comic timing, and loves dogs - of course she's adored around the world.

Adding to her list of iconic TV characters, Philomena Cunk, Mandy Carter and Motherland's Liz being among them, Diane now gifts the world Linda - an artificially intelligent humanoid robot in her latest series, Ann Droid.

Airing on BBC One and iPlayer from July 17, there's six episodes of Ann Droid, and we already know that's not going to be enough.

As Linda, a second hand AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot, Diane's character is tasked with caring for elderly grieving widow Sue (Sue Johnston,) when her son moves out and she needs some help around the house.

Except Linda's brand of care involves blasting inappropriate music at Sue, and interrupting her private moments as her cheaper model of robot fails to bring a deeper, more conscious understanding of human needs to her role.

While the show excellently satirises AI and what the future could look like, it also balances this with a tender look at loneliness in the older generations. Diane still can't believe the series was picked up by the BBC.

She also experienced some unexpected and painful side effects from playing Linda, and shares where she got the inspiration to write the show, which was co-written with Australian comedian Sarah Kendall.

"We pitched it to the BBC and I didn’t really think they’d go for it," Diane candidly tells The Independent. When the show was given the green light, some panic ensued for the actress.

"The penny dropped. I thought, 'Oh my God, I’m going to have to play a robot now. I don’t know how to play a robot.' It’s harder than you think," she shares.

With the help of a movement director, Diane perfected Linda's rigid, robotic movements. The actress also experienced some unwelcome side effects from creating Linda's persona.

"Early on, I thought it’d be really good if I didn’t blink, but it was a stupid decision," she says. Once that decision had been made, she was "locked into that."

She continues that as a result of not blinking, "I’d be outside sometimes, and the wind would be blowing in my eyes and there’d be tears rolling down my face."

The actress also wore special contact lenses to make her eyes look more artificial. "I had these really thick, blue contact lenses, and I thought, 'That’ll look really robotic,' but again, it was really painful," she reveals.

The idea for the series is quite timely, with news and social media filled with stories about the dangers and unique possibilities that comes with AI suddenly becoming the juggernaut it's turned into.

But where did the specific inspiration for the story of Linda and Sue come from? Diane reveals that after reading about robot carers being rolled out in Japan, she was hit with the idea.

"I was talking to my friend about this, and we were laughing because I don’t have kids, so obviously I’ll be looked after by a robot when I’m older," she reveals.

She is however, quite concerned about the impact of AI on our lives. "It’s everywhere now and I don’t know what’s going to happen," she says, adding, "There’ll be some good and there’ll be some bad. I don’t think they’ll kill us all, but you never know."

To incorporate this idea into Ann Droid and make it humorous, Diane says, "We insinuate that in the show, that Linda is one of an older brand of robots that were recalled because of some sort of atrocity that happened with them, and it’s never really gone into."

All episodes of Ann Droid are available on BBC iPlayer from July 17.

Styling shorts of any length can feel daunting if you're not used to getting your legs out, but mid-length shorts can be particularly divisive.

I've only ever found a couple of pairs of flattering shorts I really like, but right on cue for the hot weather, Jennifer Lawrence was pictured wearing just about the chicest pair I've ever seen.

They're the Cool Shorts by New York-based brand Still Here, which she paired with a printed white T-shirt, some Simon Miller cage sandals in red and The Row's Maud sunglasses.

It's an effortlessly stylish combination that was perfect for a day in New York, and would translate well to any summer plans you might have. The length of the shorts offers you plenty of confidence-boosting coverage and elongates the leg, plus in white, they'll work with absolutely everything in your summer capsule wardrobe.

Shop the look

As long as you get the length of your denim shorts right, learning how to style shorts is much the same as assembling an outfit around your favourite jeans. If you go for a relatively straight-leg shape like Jennifer's shorts, you can afford to go oversized on top, but if you do opt for a wider fit like the Topshop barrel leg, try balancing them out with a more fitted top.

Jennifer's shorts are a bestseller for the brand, and what's really interesting is that they have no waistband - instead, they have a single button and an adjustable toggle. They're available in four other colours, too, including pretty pink.

If there's one place to turn to for well-made yet affordable jeans, it's M&S, and Dannii Minogue reminds us how fabulous their petite denim range is. The British clothing brand's denim collection boasts a loyal following thanks to its flattering, stylish designs, and they are size-inclusive too!

Heading into an M&S store, Dannii highlights how great M&S's extensive petite range really is. So if you've ever struggled to find jeans that don't need hemming, or that work for a smaller frame, M&S is well worth having on your radar.

Not only does she praise their petite denim collection, but Danni's chic outfit features a beautiful pair of White Palazzo Jeans and a sky blue ruffle blouse – pieces that are worth adding to your summer capsule wardrobe for the season ahead.

Dannii finishes off her white jeans outfit with a pair of Buckle Strappy Wedge Sandals that feature a sturdy yet elevated design. This is a smart-casual outfit formula that feels polished enough for holidays, evenings out or special occasions, whilst remaining easy to wear.

One of the reasons M&S is so trusted for denim is its impressive range of lengths and fits. Many of their bestselling jeans are available in extra short, short and longer lengths. As Dannii highlights, look out for the "short" label if you're shopping in-store. She says, "That's for someone like me, 5'2". It's also worth checking out M&S's trouser size for more specific details on measurements.

As Dannii confirms, you can shop these styles straight off the rack or online without needing to factor in any alterations, making them a no-brainer if you're looking for petite jeans. From the best wide-leg jeans to skinnier styles, their range of lengths makes it a lot easier to find styles that fit and flatter your shape and height.

There are certain colours that always surge in popularity in summer and others that can feel too dark or too muted. However, I love wearing black all year round and all it takes is some careful consideration to incorporate this deep tone into seasonal outfits.

Queen Letizia of Spain nailed this with her outfit for a meeting of the Princess of Girona Foundation's youth advisory board on 15th July. She knows what to wear in the heat and reached for her white Hugo Boss midi dress and a pair of lace-up espadrilles.

This midi frock has been in her collection for a while and it has short floaty sleeves and an abstract black floral design that breaks up the solid white. The pattern almost looks like a drawing and although a lot of people will have bold florals in their summer capsule wardrobe, something subtler like this is a versatile alternative.

Recreate Queen Letizia's Look

Black and white feel minimal and chic - plus they're incredibly easy to style. You can accessorise a monochrome floral dress like Letizia's with any shades you like, though she stuck to the same colour palette.

Although it's been speculated that her Espadrilles Picón wedges are navy, I think they look more like black and that makes more sense as it would coordinate with everything else. The Queen wore the Letizia espadrilles and they had the classic neutral jute sole and black uppers and ribbons.

If you feel more secure with a strap, you could swap out lace-up wedges for Mary Jane ones and they'd still be stunning. Given that Her Majesty's frock was so pared-back, her lace-up espadrilles were a great choice and added some extra structure to her ensemble.

The combination of a midi-length summer dress and wedges isn't ground-breaking but it is timeless and simple to recreate. Sticking to monochrome tones also made Letizia's style more striking and sophisticated than a vibrant pairing might have been.

The contrast draws the eye and yet the overall look isn't over-complicated or busy. She finished her outfit off with a black woven leather handbag by Massimo Dutti and carried it by the top handle strap. Even her white floral earrings matched.

The Queen of Spain really stood out next to her husband King Felipe and their daughters Leonor and Sofia at the meeting, as they all wore a pop of bright colour. The night before at the Princess of Girona Awards 2026, Letizia wore all-black and earlier in July she also wore a head-to-toe black look for the ABC Journalism Awards.

Both of these outfits were beautiful too, though the mix of white and black in her other outfit helped to brighten things up and naturally felt more summery. Silhouettes and materials are key when you're styling dark colours for the season.

Queen Letizia's midi dress had a loose fit-and-flare shape and espadrilles are strongly associated with warmer months as they're impractical to wear in the rain and cold. The jute soles also add a beachy edge, making this pairing the perfect way to wear black and white right now.

Anyone who has spent time cooking on pizza ovens will know that making the dough is only half the challenge. The real skill comes once your pizza is in the oven, where a few seconds can be the difference between perfectly puffed-up crust and one that's burnt on one side and raw on the other.

Anyone who has bought a pizza oven for their garden will tell you that turning your pizza in the oven takes skill and practice. If you go too early, you'll tear a hole through the base. Leave it too late and one edge will blacken before the rest has cooked. Even an uneven turn can leave you with a pizza that's charred on one side and pale on the other. It's a technique that gets easier with practice, but it still catches plenty of home cooks out and not perfecting it is one of the most common mistakes people make with their pizza ovens.

The good news is that Ooni has the answer. The pizza oven specialist has unveiled a new rotating stone that automatically turns your pizza as it cooks, promising evenly baked crusts without the need to keep reaching into the oven with a peel.

Ooni Rotating Stone Launch

The idea behind Ooni's new accessory is super simple and straightforward. Place your rotating stone inside theoven, slide the pizza onto the stone, and the surface rotates automatically as it cooks. Because the stone is made from the same cordierite material used across Ooni's pizza ovens, it retains heat exceptionally well, helping to deliver an evenly cooked base without creating noticeable hot or cold spots.

What makes the rotating stone different from similar accessories is its design. Rather than relying on a central pivot, Ooni has moved the rotating mechanism to the perimeter of the stone. According to the brand, this "perimeter-balanced stability" eliminates the wobbling and stalling that can happen with centre-mounted turntables. This means that your pizza stone will stay just as stable roasting a whole chicken or with a heavy cast iron pan as it is will for cooking pizza.

"The rotating stone showcases our commitment to meaningful innovation," said Kristian Tapaninaho, Founder of Ooni. "Being a trailblazing company means more than improving a product; it means redefining the experience. We identified a market crowded with products that fall short on reliability and engineered a solution that is as elegant as it is durable. The Koda 2 Rotating Stone Range makes cooking simpler, more intuitive and more enjoyable."

One feature that caught my attention is the built-in LIDAR sensor. Rather than reaching inside the oven to press a button, you can start or stop the stone with a simple wave of your hand or pizza peel. It's a small touch, but one that should help keep floury hands away from controls while you're cooking.

You can also choose between continuous rotation for hands-free cooking or a 90-degree turn setting if you'd rather keep more control over how your pizza cooks.

Pizza Oven Accessories That Make Life Easier

It's not just a rotating stone that makes life easy, there are plenty of other accessories that I think are essentially to getting the perfect pizza:

Having tested a wide range of pizza ovens over the years, and coming from a family that runs a pizza business, I know that learning when to turn a pizza is one of the biggest hurdles for beginners.

While experienced pizza makers probably won't mind doing it by hand, this feels like an accessory that could flatten the learning curve. It's worth noting that these stones are only compatible with Ooni ovens, as they are made to fit, but they promise to make homemade pizza nights much more relaxed, especially for anyone buying their first outdoor oven.

Dressing for the hot weather is so much easier when you find a dress you love. And if you ask me, nobody does dresses better than British clothing brand Rixo.

Television presenter Amanda Lamb is Rixo's latest fan, and she took to Instagram to show off the beautiful black linen Clarice dress she wore for a date night this week.

The cut of this dress is simple but so flattering. With a V-neckline, cap sleeves for a bit of arm coverage and a modest midi length, it's refreshingly easy to wear. The lace trim and rose detailing are really pretty touches, and the linen fabric doesn't feel clingy or thin enough to show any lumps and bumps, but it's still light for the hot weather. Amanda styled it in the chicest way possible - with a subtle little necklace and a pair of retro sunglasses, and it's a 3-piece formula I'll be trying on my next evening out.

Shop Amanda's look

Rixo customers certainly seem to agree that the Clarice dress is a winner. One wrote: "The best 1990s throwback. Dress is gorgeous and super comfy— I wore it in the scorching heat in Cannes and survived to tell the tale."

Another said: "The fabric is natural, high quality and just right for the summer but not too light", whilst another pointed out how versatile it is: "Really lovely dress, I’ve worn to a wedding and dressed down for everyday. Beautiful in an understated way. Perfect fit and material. Would highly recommend!"

For one shopper, it's not the first Clarice dress they've purchased: "I have this in the white and lived in it last summer, so of course had to buy the black too. Best dress ever".

And my beady Rixo-spotting eye has also noticed this dress on some women who really do know their stuff. Both Jo Good and Nadine Baggott, who create fashion videos together, have worn this dress, too. They call their videos The Long and the Short of It due to their difference in height, proving this dress really does work for everyone.

If you've been searching for a shoe that's just as good as your most comfortable sandals but feels a little bit cooler, Kylie Minogue's taupe Birkenstock Bostonsoffer the perfect inspiration. And if you weren't sold on this style, her easy-to-recreate outfit will certainly change your mind.

Back in July last year, Kylie posted a picture on Instagram of her wearing this trending shoe style paired with relaxed, baggy jeans and a black graphic T-shirt. This daytime look is perfect if you're wondering how to style Birkenstock clogs.

The appeal of these slip-on mules isn't just about style; they are a practical footwear choice too, thanks to their supportive, lightweight cork footbed, and anyone who owns a pair of Birkenstock Arizonas can already confirm this.

Although we can't see the exact style of jeans Kylie is wearing, they appear to have a relaxed, loose silhouette, creating an easy, everyday look. These backless mules go with a range of trouser styles, from straight-leg to baggy. We'd recommend styling them with this white pair of socks from Uniqlo for bonus fashion points.

Birkenstock Boston Clogs have become a fashion favourite thanks to their balance of comfort, versatility and a timeless design. Their cork footbed moulds to your feet over time for exceptional comfort, whilst the slip-on design makes them easy to wear every day.

The Boston Clogs' enduring appeal also lies in how easy they are to style. Not only do people wear them with laid-back attire, but they've also become an unexpected addition to smart-casual outfits, including tailored trousers and even midi skirts. However, you can't beat styling them with your best wide-leg jeans and a graphic T-shirt.

When Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Sussex family had spent time at Highgrove House with the King on 10th July they included an important detail - Queen Camilla was there. Her relationship with her younger stepson hasn't always been smooth-sailing and some people might've been surprised that she was at the reunion.

According to royal author Catherine Mayer the Queen had to be there, because she's a "non-negotiable part of Charles' life". Opening up to People, she claimed if Harry wants to heal his relationship with his dad, Camilla is key as "there is no reconciliation with him without her."

We don't know if Queen Camilla was at any of the Duke of Sussex's face-to-face meetings with the King in the past few years. Statements released afterwards have only ever mentioned Charles and Harry, but it seems she's going to be included now.

This Highgrove meeting was particularly important as it was the first time Archie and Lilibet have been to the UK or seen their grandfather in person since 2022. Having Queen Camilla be part of this special family moment sends a powerful message, particularly to Harry.

In his memoir, Spare, he explained that he had "complex feelings" about gaining her as a stepparent in 2005, as he "thought [she] had recently sacrificed [him] on her personal PR altar." In an interview to promote the book he also went into this, describing the Queen as "dangerous" because of the "need for her to rehabilitate her image".

The Prince even claimed in his memoir that he and Prince William asked King Charles not to marry Camilla, writing, "'We support you,' we said, 'We endorse Camilla,' we said. 'Just please don't marry her, just be together, Pa.'"

"He didn't answer. But she answered. Straight away. Shortly after our private summits with her, she began to play the long game. A campaign aimed at marriage, and eventually the Crown, with Pa's blessing we presumed," Harry added.

Earlier this year King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary and Woman's Royal Editor Emily Andrews has revealed that the Queen was shocked by her stepson's Spare comments, as their relationship had been better.

"Harry and Camilla's relationship had always been slightly uneasy but by the time of his wedding to Meghan it had much improved," Emily wrote. "So she was staggered when Harry hurled so many hurtful barbs her way - which also angered the King."

A friend also claimed to Emily, "The Queen has always appreciated how hard it has been for William and Harry after the death of their mother. She never sought to take her place, and has always tried to remain sensitive."

They added that she "kept her counsel, despite the many slings and arrows of public acrimony" to protect the monarchy's reputation. Queen Camilla apparently found "Meghan and Harry's public rejection and criticism, which caused so much damage, unforgivable".

Despite this, she was there at Highgrove. Could this signal that a reconciliation really is a priority right now? Queen Camilla's presence would've meant a lot to King Charles and it's not just the monarch whose bond with Harry will need to be healed if they're going to move forwards.

Many of the royals have been very vocal about their feelings concerning social media and the Duchess of Edinburgh is the latest to share her thoughts. In a deeply personal essay, she's insisted that there are much better ways to find entertainment than "social media doom-scrolling", urging more people to visit some the UK's agricultural shows.

Sophie penned the piece for The Yorkshire Post as Patron of the Association of Show & Agricultural Organisations and started out by acknowledging a sad truth.

"In this age of technology where old and young have instant and endless entertainment at their fingertips, events such as agricultural shows may seem to face stiff competition," the Duchess declared.

"Yet the more than 600 shows that span our entire nation contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to our economy, provide more interactive, more visual and sensorial experience, more wholesome entertainment and more endorphin lifting moments than any social media doom-scrolling can ever offer," she added.

For her, the excitement of these local shows far outweighs the experience of scrolling endlessly through our social media feeds. Praising the shows for helping visitors "learn about our countryside, our food production and the vital role our farmers play in our everyday lives", Sophie described the shows as a "place where town can meet country".

True to form, Duchess Sophie also made a point of celebrating the hard work of the staff and volunteer stewards and expressed her belief that the UK's agricultural shows "should be described as ‘The Greatest Shows on Earth’".

Her essay highlights how much Duchess Sophie has in common with her brother-in-law, King Charles. From his days as the Prince of Wales and right up to present day, Charles has championed agriculture and farmers.

In 2016, he even declared rural Britain as "one of the greatest treasures of our nation" - something Sophie quite agrees with, it would seem. Another thing they appear to have in common is a disinterest in social media and mobile phones.

As the Duchess urges people to look for entertainment beyond their fingertips, it’s been reported many times that the King refuses to use a mobile phone, and staff members are reportedly required to turn their mobile phones off, unless they are in a job that requires them to use one.

While it’s not known if Sophie is quite as anti-phones as the monarch, she has previously shared that her children, Lady Louise Windsor and her brother James, Earl of Wessex aren’t that interested in social media.

Lady Louise just graduated from the University of St Andrews and is 22 but she quietly goes about her life, keeping out of the spotlight. Duchess Sophie said in 2021 that her "private" daughter "doesn't put anything out about herself" and doesn't have any public social media accounts out of choice.

"I wouldn't deny her going onto it. But she's not really that interested in it," the Duchess shared. "There's a few platforms that she talks to her friends on. But that's basically it."

Helen Skelton is taking a summer break from hosting BBC's Morning Live show, and she certainly went out on a high, style-wise.

She saved her best outfit for last, choosing this Jaeger Maxi Column Dress in an eye-catching tangerine colour. It features a mesh V-neck panel, a scoop back and a drop waist silhouette, leading to a flowy mesh maxi skirt. The colour is absolutely stunning on Helen, and I love how the padded shoulders help create an hourglass silhouette.

The dress is available from British clothing brand M&S, and shoppers seem to agree it's spot on for a big occasion. One wrote: "Fab dress, fits like a glove, beautiful colour and fabric. Very happy, looking forward to wearing it to a wedding."

Another reviewer added: 'Great dress. Unusual design. Perfect for sister’s wedding... Fits perfectly."

Shop the look

Helen and the Morning Live team made an Instagram reel of them leaving for the summer break, and it proves the Jaeger dress moves beautifully, and is perfect for throwing some shapes on the dance floor after the wedding ceremony.

If you're wondering whether orange is a colour that suits you, it's a mood-boosting hue that suits lots of people, but particularly complements anyone with a warm undertone.

Regardless of that, though, it's always worth stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing the latest colour trends - you could even try accessorising with shoes in a similarly bold colour like pink if you're really keen to stand out from the crowd.

Keeping your garden happy when record-high temperatures hit during summer can be a real challenge. And lawns in particular can be sensitive to extreme weather, so when they seemingly die on you, it's hard not to panic.

Even when you know all the essential lawn care tips for summer, a heatwave can easily come along and undo all your hard work. Knowing how often to water your lawn in summer can help to prevent it becoming a crispy wasteland; however, when hosepipe bans and heatwaves occur, that watering routine can go out the window.

If your lawn has completely dried out and turned brown, you might be thinking it's all over, but garden expert Ish, @gardening.with.ish on Instagram, says there's hope yet.

You can do everything to avoid lawn care mistakes this summer, but with hot, dry weather and a hosepipe ban in place, your lawn will inevitably suffer.

"If your lawn is looking a lot like mine, which can only be described as a post-apocalyptic desert scene, then you may be thinking, well, this brown carpet mess is now the end of my lawn for this year," starts Ish.

"But I'm here to tell you that's the complete opposite. What's actually going on here is quite cool. So, the grass has died completely on top; it's gone brown, it's gone crisp. That's no use to anyone, but underneath is where the action is happening, because the roots actually go dormant," he adds.

"They let this die over to create a nice kind of netting over the top to protect it from any more drought, and then it does nothing until it's got more moisture from the soil," Ish points out.

In the same way you protect plants from frost while they lay dormant in winter, the grass does this for itself during dry seasons.

Although there are ways to water your garden during a hosepipe ban, for your lawn, it's best to wait until the bans are lifted or the inevitable rain arrives.

"So, in the next few days, when I start to get heavy rains or the hose pipe bans lifted again, I can start to rehydrate my lawn and sure enough, some of this will brush away with the rake, and in its place, new grass will grow from those roots," Ish says.

"It just goes to show that actually it's not the end of the world. You can leave your lawn like this, and whilst it's slightly unsightly, actually, it's perfectly fine and perfectly healthy. And remember, when it does get to the point to be able to water it, do it in the mornings or evenings, when it's nice and cool," he recommends.

And that same advice goes for the best time to water your garden plants, too, during summer; that way you're not having to help them recover from sunburn.

Not only can you prepare your garden for a heatwave, but you can also mulch before the hot weather brings on a hosepipe ban. That way, your garden is less likely to suffer, and you'll have less fixing up to do when the sun leaves.

Diane Morgan can do no wrong. From bringing us hilarious but toe-curling moments as Philomena Cunk to being her deadpan best as the perpetual mouth chewing Mandy, she's an absolute comedy genius.

Let's not forget she was one of the best contestants ever to appear on Last One Laughing. Now, the comic legend has a new series out, and Ann Droid is going to be just as unmissable as everything else Diane has done.

Airing on BBC One and iPlayer from July 17, Diane stars as an artificially intelligent humanoid robot named Linda in the 6-part series. Set somewhere in the near future, Linda is assigned to care for elderly widow Sue (Sue Johnston.)

Second hand and slightly dysfunctional, Linda 'cares' for Sue with hilarious results. This is definitely one not to be missed - and you don't have to, as we share how to tune in from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Ann Droid in the UK

If you're in the UK, it's very simple to watch Ann Droid, as it's free to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Providing you have a TV licence, you can watch the episodes when they begin airing on July 17 at 9.30pm.

You can either watch the episodes weekly when they air, or all at once if you prefer - all six episodes will be made available to view at the same time on BBC iPlayer on demand from July 17.

BBC iPlayer is free to use, and all you need is an email address, UK postcode and TV licence to sign up for an iPlayer on demand account.

How to watch Ann Droid from anywhere in the world

If you’re going to be away from your usual TV set-up when Ann Droid starts airing, but don't want to wait a single moment to see Diane Morgan turn her hand to playing a hapless robot, there's no need to worry.

You can still enjoy all six episodes available, with the use of a Virtual Private Network - a VPN.

A VPN allows you to change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to the show, even if you're not there.

Our sister site, TechRadar, has tested all of the major VPN services and they rate Nord to be the absolute best.

They say, "It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Nord."

If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:

• Download and install the VPN following NordVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
• Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the UK.
• With your VPN installed and server location set to UK, you can now watch Ann Droid on BBC iPlayer.

Sally Phillips is well known for her perfect comic timing in the likes of the Bridget Jones films, Veep and Smack The Pony.

She's now bringing a fresh take on the crime mystery genre to our screens by starring as Lily in The Hairdresser Mysteries, a 70s-inspired show infused with nostalgia and the spirit of an era gone by.

The quirky series airs on BBC One and iPlayer from July 17, and across six episodes, the actress take the role of Lily Petal, a hairdresser who escapes busy city life to work in a quaint village with a slower pace.

It's not long before the cobbled streets reveal their darker side, and Lily and her sidekick, fellow hairdresser Clary Coombs (Charlotte Jordan,) use their intuition while chatting to customers to begin solving the mysteries of the village.

There's no need to miss out on this gem of a series, as we share how to tune in from anywhere in the world.

How to watch The Hairdresser Mysteries in the UK

If you're in the UK, it's very simple to watch The Hairdresser Mysteries, as it's free to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Providing you have a TV licence, you can watch the episodes when they begin airing on July 17 at 2.00pm.

You can either watch the episodes weekly when they air, or all at once if you prefer - all six episodes will be made available to view at the same time on BBC iPlayer on demand from July 17.

BBC iPlayer is free to use, and all you need is an email address, UK postcode and TV licence to sign up for an iPlayer on demand account.

How to watch The Hairdresser Mysteries from anywhere in the world

If you’re going to be away from your usual TV set-up when The Hairdresser Mysteries starts airing, but don't want to wait a single moment to see Sally Phillips bring this glorious role to life, there's no need to worry.

You can still enjoy all six episodes available, with the use of a Virtual Private Network - a VPN.

A VPN allows you to change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to the show, even if you're not there.

Our sister site, TechRadar, has tested all of the major VPN services and they rate Nord to be the absolute best.

They say, "It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Nord."

If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:

• Download and install the VPN following NordVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
• Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the UK.
• With your VPN installed and server location set to UK, you can now watch The Hairdresser Mysteries on BBC iPlayer.

At 75, former Bond Girl Jane Seymour is still hoping to inspire women everywhere - with both the roles she plays on-screen and the attitude she has off it.

During a panel discussion in Tennessee on July 11, the iconic actress talked about the “privilege” of having a role that celebrates an older woman, and how she hopes this will help cement her as an inspiration for women over 50 to realise that they’ve still got plenty of life in them.

Jane said, "Having [TV series] Harry Wild at this time of my life is just huge for me, to play a woman of a certain age who’s not decided to go live under a rock and then wait for the end of their life".

She continued, "I’m hoping that I’m the poster child for women over 50 to realise that post-menopause, the kids are gone, you may or not have a partner in your life anymore or want one or get one, but life is not over.

"You may have retired, but it doesn’t mean you can’t now use your skill set and your passion for life to do something else with the skills that you have."

In Harry Wild, the Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman star plays a retired professor who becomes an amateur sleuth after she’s mugged. Full of gumption and energy, Jane acknowledges how lucky she feels to have the empowered role in her 70s.

She said that she’s glad for a show that she "can actually be the lead in" at her age, and she’s "not just some random grandmother in the background."

Embracing her age while still wanting to be active and vital is important to her. As she explained, “I’m not trying to play younger than I am. I’m just trying to be authentically my kind of age span and tell those stories. And I’m privileged."

This idea of not trying to turn back the clock but change how others perceive women over a certain age is something she’s been vocal about in the past. Previously, speaking to People, Jane discussed how differently women are ageing now compared to the generations that came before.

She told the outlet, "I have to actually wake up in the morning and remind myself how old I am because inside of me, I would say I still feel like I'm maybe about 40 or 50"

"I don't know where all that time went, but I have the energy that I had when I was 40. I turn 75 next year and I'm very sexually active… I kind of have become, in some way, almost a poster child for there is life after 70.

"I look at my mother when she was alive and at 50, I would say she was middle-aged. I don't feel that way at all."

Cat Deeley never disappoints when it comes to smart-casual outfit ideas, and today she has shown us again the power of a pretty floral blouse whilst on This Morning. Paired with white jeans, her elegant blouse is perfect for warm-weather evenings out.

With a few more clouds in the sky than last week, you might be reaching for your jeans for the first time in a while. And if you're searching for ways to elevate your white jeans outfits, Cat has the perfect pretty top, and it's from one of the best British clothing brands, Boden.

She wears the Isabel Sleeveless Silk Top with ruffled shoulders and a blooming design. She tucks it into white straight-leg jeans from Madewell, creating a flattering silhouette. A tan belt from Sezane defines her waist, and she finishes the look with brown heeled sandals from Stuart Weitzman.

Cat's outfit is a great example of how a feminine blouse can make a pair of white jeans feel instantly elevated, especially when you choose one with a vibrant floral print and in an eye-catching colour. This styling formula works perfectly for smart-casual occasions, including summer lunch dates or evenings spent dining outside.

When shopping for a blouse or tops to wear with straight-leg jeans, consider balancing your proportions. Cat's sleeveless style is relaxed and easy to wear, yet fitted enough to tuck into her waistband, which creates an even silhouette. Opt for tops with subtle volume or ones with design details like ruffles.

We've been loyal to No7 for years - whether it's their makeup bag staples or the skincare that's built a genuine cult following, the brand has long felt like a trusted fixture in British beauty. Now, that same expertise is heading south of the neck: No7 Good Intent has officially launched into bodycare. The new range brings the brand's most-loved facial formulas down to the collarbone and beyond, delivering hydration, nourishment and smoothness to every body.

And while we all might have our best body lotions already, this new range brings the skincare actives that made the facial line so popular - niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and CICA - into eight bodycare formulations, each subtly scented with bergamot essential oil and designed to target a specific concern, from dullness and uneven texture to straightforward dehydration. The idea, essentially, is to stop treating bodycare as an afterthought and start treating it like an extension of your skincare routine, with the same active-ingredient rigour and the same sensorial, "nice to use" textures.

I've been trying a few of the hero products from the range, and here's what I made of them.

If you've been anywhere near the beauty aisles at Boots over the past year, you'll know No7's Good Intent range has become something of a phenomenon - that "glass skin" glow, delivered via a lineup of jellies, milks and whipped cleansers that feel more like the bestselling Korean skincare buys than British high street.

Good Intent has built its reputation on making skincare actives feel accessible and, frankly, fun to use, and that translates well into bodycare. Nothing here feels like a gimmick tacked onto a popular name - the textures are considered, the pricing is accessible (most of the range sits under £20), and the results, at least in my experience, back up the claims.

The full eight-piece range is available now at Boots. These are some of the other products you can find...

It seems now more than ever that people are getting into their gardens and growing their own produce, whether that's in a balcony garden or a veggie patch. And the celebs are getting stuck in too, with Minnie Driver being our latest spot.

If you've been wondering whether to start a vegetable garden this year, this is all the inspiration you need. Good Will Hunting star Minnie Driver has shared her bustling garden filled with a never-ending supply of tomatoes and a 'cucumber jungle', as she calls it.

The star has taken to her Instagram @driverminnie to give fans a tour around her generous countryside garden, filled with late-summer flowers and faithful feathered friends.

"Do you know how nice it is to shell peas in the morning with a cup of tea? I think I'm a trad wife! I just want to show you something, I mean, first of all, this, and these," says Minnie, showing off her vibrant red dahlias.

And she's not the first celeb we've seen take on gardening at this impressive level; just last year, Pamela Anderson welcomed us into her farmhouse garden, complete with outdoor kitchen and raised beds.

"But my favourite things are these. Obviously, we've eaten quite a lot of tomatoes this weekend, and maybe only second to how many cucumbers we've eaten. Look, it's a jungle of cucumbers, oh my god, I'm in heaven, they're banging on my head as I walk through the cucumber jungle," she continues.

It's rather impressive how Minnie has supported her plants as they've grown in her greenhouse, with the cucumbers towering high and hanging overhead. It's a great way to make the most of the space you have by utilising vertical growth.

Although it's clear Minnie has outdoor space to spare, what with the large walk-in greenhouse and rolling fields, most of the food she grows can be grown in containers.

And it's not just the produce she's growing; Minnie also has several chickens, including Henrietta, whom she seems rather fond of. As well as some staggeringly tall sunflowers, which make her a gardening professional in our eyes.

If you yourself are growing tomatoes but haven't had nearly as much luck with big harvests like Minnie this year, then you might have to take some extra steps to get more fruit out of your plants.

Comfortable sandals and flipflops are great for a heatwave but the Princess of Wales's go-to shoes right now are more elegant and work beautifully with summer dresses. Kate reaches for her slingbacks more anything else when it's sunny and she owns both flat and heeled versions.

Unlike court heels which can feel a bit formal for everyday wear, slingbacks are more understated and chic no matter the heel height. The Princess tends to wear hers during visits that are more smart-casual, like when she went to watch Prince William compete in the DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup 2026 on 10th July.

She styled a gingham midi dress with beige-pink Camilla Elphick slingbacks and added statement brown resin Sezane earrings for a modern touch. The frock made such a statement that neutral shoes were the perfect choice to balance things out.

Shop Slingback Flats

Shop Slingback Heels

These Lucia heels are pointed and have a patent toecap for a touch of contrast. The buckle means the Princess of Wales could secure them as tightly or loosely as she liked for the sweltering weather and the angled heel was mid-height.

Kate also has these exact shoes in black and had worn them to visit Evelina's Children's Hospital just a few days before. On that occasion her entire outfit was monochrome and the black heels tied everything together. Her slingback collection is primarily either black or beige and her favourite flats feature both tones in one design.

At the polo in 2022, Kate styled Camilla Elphick toe cap slingbacks with a white and black sleeveless dress and a month later re-wore them with a white tailored suit. White seems to be her preferred colour to go with these flats as she wore this tone with them again in Italy in May.

The Princess also owns Gianvito Rossi beige suede slingback heels which have been her choice for Wimbledon a lot. If you're looking to add some sleek new shoes to your summer capsule wardrobe it makes sense to copy the Princess and stick to colours that are easy to incorporate into a range of outfits.

As she's proved, slingbacks look especially stunning with dresses and they are great if you want a leg-elongating effect too. Strappy sandals and heels can cut off your frame at a tricky point but since slingbacks fasten at the back you've essentially got the openness of a mule with extra security.

All of the future Queen's slingbacks have a buckle on the strap, though you can get designs with elasticated straps instead if you find that comfier.

Slingback flats like Kate's beige and black shoes are always going to be more relaxed than heels and yet they're a step up from most flat sandals or even ballet flats. Pointed or chisel toes enhance their elegance and heeled slingbacks are sleeker compared to court shoes or wedges.

The Princess of Wales is getting to wear all her different slingbacks during the hot weather and the black heels are her latest purchase. The others have been in her wardrobe for a long time so you know that Kate finds them comfortable, versatile and timeless.

Claudia Winkeman has walked away from her prime-time BBC chat show after just one series.

The Claudia Winkleman Show launched in March and instantly attracted viewers, with the Beeb wanting it to return for a second outing. However, after taking some time to reflect, the former Strictly presenter decided to throw in the towel.

“Sometimes you have to try something to see how it fits, and I realised I was just too nervous to enjoy it,” she explained.

Claudia, 54, added, “I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for giving me the opportunity, to the guests who agreed to come and chat to me, and the production team who were simply excellent.”

While Ed Havard, BBC’s Director of Entertainment, said, “Claudia’s warmth and quick wit made The Claudia Winkleman Show an absolute joy. Whilst we loved the show, we fully respect her decision and would like to thank Claudia and the brilliant team at So Television for bringing the series to screen on the BBC.”

However, the star, whose popularity has soared in recent years thanks to the success of The Traitors, hasn’t ruled out hosting a similar style show in the future. “Maybe one day I will give it another try, but for now I already have the best jobs in the world and absolutely love the shows I’m doing.”

Claudia's seven-part chat show series ran on Friday nights from 13 March and was made by So Television, the company behind The Graham Norton Show.

Prior to its launch she admitted, “I’m just not sure I’ll be very good at this, that’s the truth,” adding that she expected it to be a “disaster.”

T-shirts have, and always will be, the backbone of a summer capsule wardrobe. Helping to add a cool and laid-back feel to everything from jeans to tailored trousers, and midi skirts to denim shorts, from white iterations to block colours, this humble building block never goes out of fashion.

But after spotting Coleen Nolan in a short-sleeved polo top, it’s clear that when it comes to elevated basics, there is a rival style worth considering, and it adds a cool, polished and preppy finish to every look.

Seen on Instagram in Next’s chocolate brown/blue striped knit look short-sleeve polo top, the collared button-up proved just as versatile as crew-neck tees, but the collar and stripey style added retro charm, delivering a trending athleisure finish to her look. A silhouette that has proved popular across the high street this season and is an easy way of adding extra pops of colour to your outfit too.

Coleen styled her Next top with a classic pair of dark-wash denim jeans to create an elevated casual outfit, and the combination felt put-together effortlessly. Blue and brown are one of the colour combinations loved by stylists for the current season, making this pairing particularly timely.

A knitted t-shirt is quite the hero piece for the weeks and months ahead, and adds a directional twist on classic cotton iterations. Coleen's preppy, collared design further revamps this wardrobe basic and leaning into trending colour combos will help to make this style feel more fashion than track and field.

If you want to add a smart casual finish to your athleisure-inspired look, try pairing your polo t-shirt with an A-line, midi skirt. This adds a feminine finish to what can become quite a boxy and androgynous look. Opt for a more cropped top, so that it can just be tucked into the waist without creating bulk. Alternatively, try bold colour iterations in more feminine fits, teamed with jeans to keep your look more sleek than sporty.

Wait, hear us out! We might be in the height of summer, but if you want to get your hands on some of the most sought after advent calendars (ahem, like the Harrods Beauty Advent Calendars), you'll want to start thinking about it now.

We know we're still 5 months out from Christmas, essentially only halfway through the year, but we're actually right around the corner from the best beauty advent calendar pre-orders opening up – and let us tell you, they sell out fast. More specifically, Harrods' advent calendars are among the first to hit the market every year and they're also the first to sell out every year.

Fortunately, we've been given a first look at the luxury department store's trio of beauty advent calendars returning for 2026. From their price tags, number of full-size products and when we can expect them to go on sale, we've got everything you need to know.

Take a first look at the Harrods Beauty Advent Calendars 2026

The Harrods advent calendars gain traction every year without fail, and rightfully so. These curated calendar edits are jam-packed with an assortment of top shelf, luxury beauty buys from a collection of high-end brands.

While they might boast investment-worthy price tags, they do include an impressive number of full-sized formulas, meaning you're getting more bang for your buck. From a general beauty offering to a hair and body option, and of course the sell-out fragrance buy, here's the rundown of each 2026 calendar...

When is the Harrods Advent Calendar pre-sale?

While we don't know a specific date yet, the store have announced that pre-orders will be available in early August. However, it's worth noting that pre-sale for last year's calendars opened on Tuesday 5th August – and they were incredibly quick to sell out.

When do the Harrods Advent Calendars go on general sale?

Even if you miss out on pre-sale, not all hope is lost as the calendars go on general sale thereafter. Again, while we're yet to find out the exact date, last year we saw the full launch happen in September. We'd recommend keeping your eyes peeled on the Harrods website and we'll also keep this page updated as soon as we gain intelligence on the date in question.

How to shop the Harrods Beauty Advent Calendars 2026

For those looking to shop any of the three beauty advent calendars, it will be available exclusively at Harrods, the six H Beauty stores around the UK and online via the Harrods website.

Charlotte Hawkins always looks perfectly put-together, whether she's talking all things fashion at Royal Ascot, or presenting Good Morning Britain.

Back in May, she wore a beautiful blue and white paisley print dress whilst hosting the show, and honestly, I'm still thinking about it. It's by British clothing brand Hobbs, and not only is the breathable cotton fabric ideal for hot weather, but the print is a refreshing alternative to florals or stripes. It's a very Dolce & Gabbana-esque print, and I can see it looking stunning on a trip to somewhere like Greece or Italy.

The button-down front, gentle V-neckline and puff sleeves are both flattering and incredibly easy to wear, plus it's got pockets! The lightweight fabric will be easy to pack in your holiday suitcase, and the best news is that it's now reduced in the Hobbs sale. It's a new addition to the sale, and for a limited time only, there's an extra 15% off. I can see this dress flying off the virtual shelves, so don't wait if you love it as much as I do.

Shop more options

I certainly wasn't the only fan of Charlotte's look, as her Instagram followers rushed to compliment her pretty dress, writing: "Where did you get that lovely dress I need one!" and "dress and heels are so exquisite".

Harriet Phillips' signature style has always been elegant but since her wedding to King Charles's nephew Peter in June, we've all been taking more notice of her looks. She looked polished in pastel blue at the polo and went vibrant at Wimbledon and yet I can't help feeling that one of her past outfits deserves another moment.

In 2024 Harriet and Peter went to the Burghley Horse Trials and she wore a pink maxi dress and trainers. Comfort and fashion go hand-in-hand more than you might think and the new Mrs Phillips proved it then. The dress was by the sustainable British clothing brand Dilli Grey and they still make the Fifi design in different colours now.

It's made from 100% cotton which makes it a lovely option to wear in the heat as it's breathable. The V-neckline and blouson sleeves are chic and there's a drawstring at the waist so you can adjust it to be as fitted as you want.

Recreate Harriet's Outfit

Details like this are often underrated but they are great for increasing the wearability of a dress. When it's hotter or you want a flowier silhouette, you can leave it looser and vice versa. Even if a frock doesn't come with a built-in belt or string, adding a belt of your own is a simple way to accentuate the waist and switch up the look.

Harriet Phillips tied the drawstring enough to give a bit more shaping and left it at that. Her trip to the Burghley Horse Trials with Peter was quite low-key so this dress was perfectly smart-casual. Maxi dresses naturally feel sophisticated and yet if you go for a fabric like cotton, linen or jersey they work so well for the daytime.

Materials like silk or satin or fit-and-flare styles risk falling into "gown" category so sticking to a more relaxed design works best if you want to pair your frock with flats.

She stepped out in the Princess of Wales's favourite Superga Cotu Classic trainers but whilst Kate has them in white, the NHS nurse's were beige. White trainers are the most versatile option as they'll go with everything, however cream or beige are still easy to incorporate into outfits.

These tones have more warmth to them too so it depends what you prefer. The one thing I do think is important when you're finding trainers to work with dresses is going for streamlined plimsoll designs.

Chunky sports shoes can be a bit too much of a contrast against a long, feminine dress and minimal canvas trainers like Harriet's blend in better.

She finished off her ensemble with a cream Anya Hindmarch bag and wore it crossbody. The Royal Family usually prefer top handle accessories for a formal edge. However, crossbody bags are far more practical as they leave you hands-free.

When the weather got a bit cooler, Harriet Phillips added a Boden borg gilet over the top and though we definitely don't need a layer like this right now, it gives us a bit of inspiration for how to wear maxi dresses and trainers into autumn.

If you're looking for fresh new outfit inspiration, you're in luck. Our woman&home team headed to Uniqlo's showroom with fashion and style expert Jo Elvin, where she revealed her favourite wardrobe pieces just in time for a summer capsule wardrobe refresh.

With a focus on delivering high-quality basics made from either natural or technical fabrics, their collections are full of wardrobe gems that make the foundation of the chicest outfits. Jo reveals, “If you told me that the only place I could shop for the rest of my life was Uniqlo, I’d be fine”.

From "the best trousers on earth" that Jo recommends to all of her friends, to the lightweight summer dresses made from Uniqlo's breathable fabric, these are the pieces worth adding to your current rotation. Take a look below for a round-up of her favourites.

Jo says, "I could walk into here with five of my friends and we could all style completely individual outfits".

Uniqlo's versatility is exactly what keeps people hooked on the brand, and their broad appeal is thanks to their timeless and minimalistic designs that can be dressed up or down with ease.

From their iconic crossbody bag to their reliable linen shirts and breathable dresses, their collections are designed to work for a range of personal styles and body types, making their collections so sought after.

Clodagh McKenna might be known for her love of bright colour, bold patterns and classic denim, but even Clodagh knows that when it comes to what to wear in the heat, nothing beats a white linen sundress. A timeless summer capsule wardrobe piece, this is a frock that can be worn year after year, and will always ensure you keep cool and stylish.

To announce the upcoming release of her 10th cookbook, Clodagh at Home, she took to Instagram wearing Reformation’s Balia linen dress. The vintage-inspired design featured romantic ruching at the neckline, a fitted bodice and a fully floaty skirt, oh, and it had pockets, too.

Crafted from 100% linen, this was one of the best summer dresses, especially as the past couple of weeks have been so hot, as the natural fibre ensures the dress is beautifully breathable.

Whatever the spring/summer fashion trends for 2026 are, the white midi dress defies the runways and is a piece that will always be in fashion. Timeless, elegant and easy to dress up or down, it's little wonder that Clodagh favoured such a classic silhouette for her big announcement.

With a penchant for vintage styling, a white linen dress is wearable for almost any occasion this summer (bar, of course, someone else's wedding), but it makes a great option for summer workwear and can easily be accessorised with any of the fashion colour trends for 2026, to give your frock a more timely feel and bolder finish.

Linen and cotton are both excellent choices when it comes to dresses, as the natural fabrics are highly breathable, keeping you cooler in rising climes, and over the last few weeks, we've needed all the help we can get keeping our outfits breezy.

Now is the time to pruning wisteria to cut back any unruly stems. A tactical summer chop ensures the plant's energy is redirected back into long, leafy growth and encourages it to produce flowers, while keeping the plant looking tidy too.

While browsing my social media feed, I stumbled across an ingenious sustainable gardening idea of repurposing the cut branches for homemade decorations.

Garden influencer Sophie Valentine, best known as @lookinsidemygarden on Instagram, explains: "I'm getting ready for Christmas with my wisteria. I save all the whips and make them into wreath bases. It's so easy to do, and it means that there is no waste in the garden."

Sophie shares helpful beginner tutorial videos with her 374k followers to encourage others to get more from their gardens. In her recent post, she shared her brilliant tip for reducing garden waste while tidying up your Wisteria and getting ahead for Christmas. But in the spirit of celebrating all the seasons, we will be making autumn wreaths first.

Advising fans on how to reuse the off-cuts, Sophie says: "Using a glove, pull off all the leaves from your shoots, so you have a perfect fresh stem to work with."

"Then curl your stem into a circle shape and start to create the shape of your wreath base. I add to it as I prune so you can build up how thick it gets."

"Wisteria looks dramatic, but pruning it is actually very straightforward once you know the trick," says Orpheus Alexander, w&h's resident garden expert.

"In summer, cut this year's long, whippy shoots back to about five or six leaves. It might feel like you're cutting a lot off, but don't be afraid to be firm. A well-pruned wisteria will reward you with far more flowers."

Homemade wreaths are easier to make than most people think, but it all starts with a good base. The beauty of making one with intertwined branches means a strong foundation to support the foliage as you build your wreath.

While this idea is dedicated to Christmas, you can make a wreath for all seasons; this tip can be used all year round depending on what you are cutting back when.

The plants you prune in March may provide stems for a spring wreath, and the plants you prune in September could be enough to fashion an autumn wreath.

As someone who makes a homemade wreath every year, I am especially excited about this tip because the base is always the part that I have to buy – the rest is freshly cut from the garden. But not now. I'm going to start collecting unwanted stems to make a twig base, so my seasonal wreath is entirely foraged from now on.

Sophie's followers were also quick to praise the idea. One wrote: "Great idea! I could make so many doing this! Thanks for the idea." While another says, "That’s genius! Thank you for yet another great tip."

So will you be giving your garden waste a new lease of life by making your own wreath base?

Finding a pair of flattering shorts you feel comfortable and confident in sounds easy but can often be a challenge. I personally love longer cotton denim styles which give you a bit more coverage and are breathable. Add a long sleeve shirt and you've got yourself an unexpectedly chic combination to wear in the heatwave.

This is what woman&home cover star Alex Jones did last summer when she gave her Instagram followers a house update wearing light-wash shorts. These were a lot like the classic Levi's 501 mid-thigh style and had frayed hems.

In general, the darker you go with denim shades, the smarter everything looks, but the longer length and neat cut of Alex's pale shorts balanced out the light colour. Pale blue denim is particularly summery and it complemented the stripes on her H&M blouse.

Recreate Alex's Outfit

This particular piece is out of stock but the beauty of a striped shirt is that they're timeless and never go out of style. That means there are always plenty of designs to choose from and Alex's blouse had a frill stand-up collar and long blouson sleeves.

She undid a few of the buttons at the top to open up the neckline and tucked the hem into her shorts, without worrying too much about making it seamless. Long sleeved blouses and shorts might not be the first combination that comes to mind when you're looking at your summer capsule wardrobe for inspiration but Alex Jones has shown that we shouldn't discount it.

A shirt keeps your shoulders and arms covered in the sun without being too heavy and the tailored style takes denim to another level of elegance.

It's also a bit less daunting to get your legs out in the summer if you've got a longer top to balance out the amount of skin on show. If this isn't something that particularly bothers you, then a tank remains a good alternative and you can always layer a linen shirt over it on a breezy day.

Even though the two blues in Alex's ensemble didn't match they looked great together and you can't go wrong with a striped blouse when you want to bring some added dimension. Plain white or broderie anglaise designs are pretty for the season too.

When it comes to shoes, I'd recommend white trainers or white or tan sandals with an outfit like this and the broadcaster went for comfy adidas Sambas. The black stripes matched her cat eye sunglasses and tied the whole style together.

Denim shorts like this look best with more low-key, flat shoes over heels but the elegance of the shirt means you could totally get away with wedges if you wanted. When autumn comes around, you can also put a twist on the pairing and swap the shorts for blue jeans.

Alex Jones brought back her Zara blouse in the colder weather earlier this year and tucked it into mid-blue straight-leg jeans. A pair of cream kitten heels completed the outfit in style.

If you're a perimenopausal or menopausal woman who needs a little excitement and wants to feel seen, tune in to Ride or Die.

Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer head up Prime Video's 8-part assassin comedy-adventure, where midlife women have all the guns, chaos and drama instead of being bystanders while men get all the action.

Their menopausal status isn't the punchline, and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham) and Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer) pave the way for women of any age to "write a new chapter" in their epic adventure where age simply doesn't matter.

The story begins with best friends of 35 years Judith and Debbie having startling revelations. Debbie finds out that Judith isn't the forensic accountant she tells everyone she is, and is actually an international assassin.

Debbie's revelation is more rooted in reality, and she realises that her husband has also been lying to her, in a best friend/husband telling fibs double whammy.

While on the brink of an empty nest she also finally works out that her life has been a constant battle to juggle absolutely everything because she's a woman, and now she's reached a "certain age" and is expected to fade into obscurity and hasn't really lived.

Realising she can create her own destiny (aka not be obscure and live any way she wants,) and choosing to continue her friendship with Judith despite the epic lie, Debbie finds herself in an unimaginable situation.

When a mysterious man from Judith's past turns up and a hit goes badly wrong, Judith finds herself in quite a predicament and ends up on the run with Debbie along for the ride.

Road tripping across Europe and dodging law enforcement, highly trained assassins and the most dangerous criminals, what follows is chaos that's "both physical and mental and spiritual."

Hannah Waddingham knows shows like Ride or Die have been done a "million" times before, but also knows how special this one is because of the age of the cast and the notable female-centric way it's been written.

Describing what audiences will love about the series, the actress says it's about "two women being funny with each other, or two women perimenopausal and menopausal - there’s things with guns, things with cars, clever espionage - all of that."

She also did all of her own stunts, and has something special planned for one of the scars she's been left with.

"I’ve never done stunts like this before," she explains, adding, "I’ve got scars and everything, that’s my badge of honour."

For one of her scars, she says, "I think I might have a little tattoo under it."

For Octavia Spencer, she's also completely in love with the way writers Tessa Coats and Matt Miller "subvert expectations" with the script.

She says the pair have "done a wonderful job making an exciting show about women of a certain age, starring women of a certain age," saying their work is "a love letter" to midlife women.

Octavia shares, "We are seeing two women in their prime. Debbie is a mother who is about to have an empty nest."

"For a lot of women who find themselves in that position, or close to retirement age, I think they think life is over, but it’s a new chapter being written. It is empowering in that way."

All episodes of Ride or Die are available to watch on Prime Video from July 15.

We wear our jeans every day for the rest of the year, so it makes sense that in the summer months, they're replaced by some trusty denim shorts.

Here at woman&home, we know that finding flattering shorts can be a tall order, but once you have, you'll wonder how you ever got through a heatwave without them.

Celebrities are a great place to find style inspiration, and at the top of our list this week is the one and only Julia Roberts. She was pictured last month in New York with her son Phinnaeus, and her outfit was spot on for the soaring temperatures. She teamed a pair of blue frayed hem denim shorts with a pair of adidas Stan Smith trainers, a simple black button-down shirt and a colour block crossbody bag that appears to be by Tods. It's the shorts outfit that will never date, and puts classic white trainers firmly back on the footwear agenda for summer.

Shop the look

The adidas Samba might have been dominating the trainer trends recently, but the Stan Smith style is a favourite of Amal Clooney's, too. A sleek tennis shoe, they'll work with every colour and trend in your wardrobe, and I think they feel a bit smarter thanks to the leather finish and slightly chunkier sole.

Not only do raw hem shorts feel a bit more relaxed, but they are also a practical choice, too, if you tend to find that more structured hems can dig into your legs. Of course, if you're feeling particularly brave, you can always take a pair of scissors to a favourite old pair of jeans...

Dame Helen Mirren’s Hollywood home has appeared on the market for approx. £8.9M ($12M), and it’s allowed us a sneak peek inside to admire her timeless taste.

When it comes to a clean, curated aesthetic, it can be surprisingly hard to strike the right balance between minimalist and character. Fortunately, Helen’s gorgeous compound offers a look at honouring the bones of a historic home with a timeless look without giving the feeling of an unloved, unlived show home.

Set across 6.5 private acres in the prestigious Hollywood Hills, one of the first things to note is how Dame Helen has kept the home feeling open and inviting, not closed off or secluded. It's a home 'filled with decades of history, character, and soul' that tells its own beautiful story.

A look inside Dame Helen Mirren's Hollywood home

The backdrop of neutral off-white walls and wooden surfaces is beautifully accented by a colour palette of rich greens, deep browns, and brooding black, which adds depth without overpowering the home's original Hollywood Hills character.

For that added touch of glamour, the house is styled with deep silk rugs that help to soften the expansive rooms, making them feel both luxurious yet suitably homely and lived in.

The goal in the mansion's expansive rooms was to keep a pared-back look with intentional design pieces, not a space filled to the brim.

There’s also plenty of delightful nooks and crannies, with all corners of the grand space being used intentionally, without feeling overcrowded. Warm, low lounge chairs are pushed near built-in shelves, offering areas of respite to curl up and relax.

While oak walls offer a touch of elegance and a luxe feel, the clever use of layered lighting keeps rooms inviting, rather than shadowy and off-putting.

It's easy to imagine how the combination of lamps, wall lighting and natural daylight from the windows can help adjust the atmosphere and ambience depending on the time of day and the occasion.

Enjoy an airy, light morning with daylight pouring in through the window, then sink into the plush chair and fur rug in the evening, with the warm, amber glow reflecting off the gold and copper trimmings of the bar.

Inspired by Helen's interiors

In staging the home, Vesta designer Ryan Worthington had a clear vision. Per their social media, "His vision was to embrace the home’s rich history while creating a sense of renewed elegance through a refined palette of deep greens, warm browns, and sophisticated blacks - tones that enhanced the architecture and timeless character already present.

When a home already carries so much character, the design is about listening to its story – and thoughtfully adding the next chapter."

The abundance of trees allows both privacy from prying eyes and the opportunity to keep the layout open, with huge windows, open terraces and open-plan rooms. The natural daylight pours in, meeting an uncluttered and airy selection of oversized furniture.

When designing the outdoor living area, the staging company introduced pieces from its iron outdoor furniture collection, creating a seamless transition between interior and exterior living areas.

This idea of bringing the outside in is a huge trend and is impeccably carried off with this sophisticated look.

The compound, now owned by acting royalty in the form of Dame Helen and her husband, Taylor Hackford, has always been connected to Hollywood’s glamorous history. It was first built in 1911 for silent film star Dustin Farnum.

Since that time, only a handful of people have been lucky enough to call it home, including film producer Mark Hellinger and actress-producer Gail Patrick. Helen purchased the property in the 1980s and spent decades carefully restoring it, preserving its roots while adapting it to be an entirely liveable and luxurious home.

The heatwave temperatures were no trouble for Sara Cox when she recently interviewed Matt Damon ahead of the much-anticipated release of his new film The Odyssey, as she donned Mint Velvet’s yellow lemon print dress.

With its shorter hemline, flutter sleeves and floaty tiered skirt, this feminine design was light and airy in the warm weather, and the playful lemon print is one that we see comeback into fashion time and time again.

Fruity prints are big news right now, and the playful pattern offers a fresh alternative to traditional florals in the summer months. In fact, the fruit and vegetable inspired print trend has been cropping on all over the high street since early spring, with everything from the zingy lemons to plump tomatoes on offer, adding fun to summer capsule wardrobes.

Shop More Foodie-Inspired Dresses

Foodie prints, particularly fruit and vegetables have become quite a constant summer style and remain at the forefront of the spring/summer fashion trends for 2026 on the high street. With a holiday-ready aesthetic, think 'La Dolce Vita', they can add a touch of Mediterranean magic to any look.

Fun, nostalgic and most importantly, perfect for warm weather, you'll find a strong mix of fruity prints on the high street and they're surprisingly easy to style. Sara Cox's dress, thanks to its white base will work with a host of footwear styles, from your best white trainers to your most comfortable sandals, but you could also accent the look with more yellow to really highlight the lemony print.

The Duke of Sussex's high-profile appearance on the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast has sparked a lot of conversation, but I was particularly surprised by something he said early on. Prince Harry introduced himself to listeners with his rather long full name - Henry Albert Charles David - and then listed his occupations, starting with "full-time dad".

He included "Prince of England" too, which has earned criticism from some people since he stepped back as a working royal in 2020. However, I was taken aback because this was a rather big mistake on Harry's part. After all, the Kingdom of England hasn't formally existed since 1707.

That was when the Acts of Union officially merged the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland together formally into Great Britain. Nowadays it's the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so whichever way you look at it, Harry was incorrect with his phrasing.

Although you can debate whether he should or shouldn't have said "Prince" is his occupation, the Duke of Sussex definitely can't be a Prince of an extinct Kingdom.

He *is* a Prince of the United Kingdom and we know this is what the senior royals give as their job title. The Princess of Wales's occupation is listed as Princess of the United Kingdom on her children's birth certificates and Prince William is Prince of the United Kingdom on the paperwork too. William has been open about being "rubbish" at royal history, though 12-year-old Prince George seems to have got a flair for the facts.

The Prince of Wales said on The Reluctant Traveler last year, "Actually, George, my son, is way better in history than I am. I have to check with him now on my dates. I think I probably need some history lessons... I could do with that."

After giving Prince of England as a job during his podcast interview, Prince Harry did go on to settle on his last option, Duke, "for today". Queen Elizabeth bestowed the Dukedom of Sussex on him in 2018 and now it's become his family name.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were given the surname "Mountbatten-Windsor" at birth, but it makes sense that they seem to go by Archie and Lilibet Sussex now. Their cousins are known as George, Charlotte and Louis Wales after William's senior title and this is traditional.

When they were at school, William and Harry used the surname Wales because King Charles was Prince of Wales at the time. It might make things simpler when your title and name match up. Archie and Lilibet took on Prince and Princess of Sussex titles when their grandfather ascended the throne and this is now how they're listed in the royal line of succession.

Expert and Woman's Royal Editor Emily Andrews expressed her belief earlier this year that, "To [her], it's obvious that King William will, at the very least, strip Archie and Lili of their prince/princess titles" one day. This would be a momentous decision for him to take, though King Charles has reminded us all that it is possible after stripping his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Princely title.

When it comes to the best summer dresses, floral prints and bold tones might be dominating the high street and celebrity fashion, but Penny Lancaster just proved that simple, neutral midis are a great answer to soaring climes.

Enjoying a quiet getaway on the sunny shores of Portugal, Penny was snapped in the sold-out Claudia dress by Wannabe By. The A-line silhouette drapes beautifully, delivering a floaty fit, making it a solid solution to what to wear in the heat. But, it’s also an effortlessly glamorous piece thanks to the vintage-inspired embroidery and light, neutral tone.

Leaning into an understated look, Penny styled the dress with a pair of Birkenstock’s Madrid big-buckle sandals in a light, pearly colourway. The sandals are a classic, thanks to the minimalist, elegant design, while the statement buckle adds an eye-catching finish.

In a heatwave, A-line or trapeze silhouettes are standout options for dresses, thanks to their loose-fitting, floaty shapes delivering airflow. Designs like this, that flare out over your lower torso, are great for summer capsule wardrobes, as they minimise the feeling of clammy fabric clinging to skin. Plus, not only will they be comfortable in hot weather, but they're also universally flattering.

Penny’s dress balances out its loose fit with an empire waistline to create a highly flattering silhouette. Its fitted bodice ends just under the bust before flowing into a loose, long skirt, and this allows for an airy finish. The high waistline helps to elongate the body and, by drawing the eye to your smallest part and then down the body, it’s one of the best dresses to hide a tummy, as it elegantly skims.

Despite its relaxed shape, this style of dress can be easily dressed up for evening attire with heels, smart flats or dressed down with your most comfortable sandals. Add some kitten heels and a clutch bag for an easy, elevated look that can work for alfresco dinners, garden parties or holidays.