The Lady Magazine

1 April 2016

Dear Readers What do the fashion idol Iris Apfel, political hand-bagger Baroness Trumpington, actress Olivia de Havilland and the effervescent Dame Vera Lynn all have in common? Incredibly, they all have birth certificates that say they are over 90 and yet retain a beauty and sense of style that refuses to dim. To equal things out a little, we also have the peerless Nicholas Parsons, who, at a mere 92 years old, has the fastest mind on Radio 4 and whose late father delivered Margaret Thatcher. At only 70, our cover star, Francesca Annis, is a stripling by comparison yet still manages to outshine women half her age. None of these fantastic trailblazers has any intention of formally giving up any time soon, although our feature on the world’s most beautiful places to retire might tempt them to at least consider it. Personally, I am planning to absorb the exclusive advice given to us this week by royal florist Shane Connolly as Highgrove prepares for its first garden festival. After all, if his advice was good enough for the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day, it is certainly going to be good enough for me to revisit the droopy little blooms on my hall table. Until next time, best wishes, Sam Taylor Editor