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Eugenie and Jack

WORLDS APAR OR CLOSER THAN EVER?

Body language expert Judi James takes a look at the pressures on the young couple

Challenges

Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have been married for les than two years yet their relationship ha faced more ch than many experience in a lifetime. While some couples are still in the honeymoon stage at this point, Judi James fears these two could be crumbling under pressure as the scandal surrounding her father’s friendship with Jeff rey Epstein –despite the fact he denies any wrongdoing – reaches boiling point…

Low-key

Judi explains, ‘Eugenie and Jack’s non-verbal signals of happiness and joy do seem to have wilted very quickly. While still looking like a couple in love, their displays suggest a more low-key approach.’

Lack of jo

Given the intense scru Andrew –and therefo Eugenie and her siste have been under sinc his friendship with Jeff emerged, it’s no surpr struggling to feel an happiness. Judi say looks pale here and she is almost unrecognisable as she clutches Jack’s hand. Both Jack and Eugenie are using subdued body language here, wearing the kind of closed-lip, upturned social “smiles” that are normally used as a polite form of greeting to strangers rather than suggesting any genuine joy.’

Princess Beatrice and Prince

Andrew at war Princess Beatrice is due to marry Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi later this year, but Prince Andrew stepping down from royal duties has meant the couple have reined in their pla Royal comment Carole Malone says it’s hard not to believe the father and daughter are clashing. ‘Didn’t he stop to think how his shady life would aff ect Beatrice and Eugenie? How it would be for them to hear their dad defending his relationship with a paedophile,’ Carole says. ‘And no matter how many “insiders” insist Bea and Eugenie support Andrew, imagine their shame. And THAT is Andrew’s shame. Because what he’s done will adversely aff ect his daughters.’ Did he think about his daughters?

DON’T TELL ME I CAN’T…

...become

a beekeeper

After resisting her

husband’s new hobby,

Natasha Geary

As I felt the vibration coming from the swarm of bees buzzing loudly around the hive, I couldn't help but fl inch. ‘They won’t hurt you, Mum,’ my eldest son, William, nine, reassured me as we crept closer. ‘I know,’ I reasoned, not wanting to look like a wimp in front of the kids. After months of my husband, Ian, then 47, pestering me, I’d fi nally let him put a hive in our back garden, and now I was doing the unthinkable –donning a huge protective suit to take on beekeeping duties myself. Ian and I met 20 years ago, married in October 2005, before having William in 2006 and Ted in 2011. He was always encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone –moving to the country, writing a book. But when he fi rst mentioned keeping bees, in December 2016, I thought it was a mid-life crisis. ‘Imagine the honey,’ he smiled, licking his lips. Of course, I said no –what mum wants a nest of stinging insects buzzing around the back garden? Yet, Ian joined a local beekeeping club and did a short course, and a local beekeeper sent him a starter pack –a polystyrene box with a queen inside. The worker bees are then drawn to the queen and get the hive up and running. I kept my distance at fi rst, but as Ian explained how the colony worked, with each bee having its own place and purpose, I was intrigued, and it wasn't long before I found myself in a special outfi t, letting Ian, William and Ted lead joined the hive…

me over to the buzzing hive. ‘We must look like astronauts,’ I chuckled, trying to disguise the fact I was shuddering with fear as we gathered around the hive. ‘What will the neighbours think?!’ Only, as I watched the busy bees, I was in awe, unable to believe this civilisation was living, growing and surviving at the bottom of our garden. It was incredible it’d all started with just a queen in a box. ‘They’re amazing little creatures,’ I gasped. They weren’t bothered by our presence, either, so my fear of being stung disappeared. After that, we all kept a close eye on our little bees every week, making sure they had enough space, that the queen hadn’t fl own off, and there were plenty of weeds around for them to gather nectar. It wasn’t a full-time job, especially during the winter, but it was a family hobby, and the boys learnt so much. I started to love the sound of the bees humming away and watching them zip across the garden. By August 2017, it was time to check for honey, so we gathered around the hive as Ian pulled up the heavy wooden frame to reveal sticky, golden honeycomb. We each popped a fi nger in the gooey liquid and tasted it. ‘It’s delicious!’ grinned William. ‘They’re so clever,’ I agreed, helping Ian scoop the honey into 60 jars to start the fi ltering process. We’d add a scoop to our porridge, drizzle over vegetables, and bake with it, and appreciated it more because we knew what hard work had gone into making it. We made lots of new friends through the beekeeping club and got two more hives –one for me and also one for the boys. Now I can’t imagine not having bees, and we have thousands of them in the three hives, buzzing around providing enough honey for us and our family and friends. They’re friendly creatures, and none of us have ever been stung. The hives don’t need much space, and some people keep them on roof terraces. I thought it was Ian’s mid-life crisis, but now I’m writing a book about beekeeping and plan on doing it well into my retirement. ✱ To fi nd out more, visit natashageary.com Natasha and her family embraced the hive of bees ‘THEY’RE AMAZING CREATURES’ Yes, you can BUT REMEMBER… ✱ Join a local beekeeping group to get help, advice and support from others. ✱ Don't be afraid. The bees won’t hurt you unless you hurt them, but do wear protective gear. ✱ You don’t need your own hive to help bees. Grow herbs, such as thyme, which also help bees thrive.