JANE’S STORY
When people ask me how many children I have, I don’t always know how to answer: five or six? You’ve got to see what mood you’re in.
Charlotte was a beautiful little girl. Losing her when she was five months old was incredibly difficult. It was a long time ago and when it happened I didn’t have counselling – but I did have a bit of a breakdown. Initially, I couldn’t even talk about her. If my husband mentioned her name I would start crying. And the thing with cot death is doctors don’t really know why it happens, even now. So you can’t help but think: what did
I do wrong?
A few years later I had therapy. I was reluctant to go at first but it really helped to talk about what had happened. It was brilliant. Eventually, I got pregnant again with Charles and Henry – and then I had Henrietta when I was 35. She was the icing on the cake. Sometimes I think if I hadn’t lost Charlotte, then maybe I wouldn’t have had the other children.
Raising five children is absolutely mad.
But I’m lucky I had four boys – boys are not as complicated, whereas girls like to do their own thing. I could never make Henrietta wear anything I chose. I remember all the boys had dungarees, and I got her a gorgeous little pair of leggings. She threw a huge tantrum: she hated them. After that I thought, ‘I can’t be bothered. I’ve got too many children. I haven’t got time!’ So from then on she always wore what she wanted.
Growing up, Henrietta was very thoughtful. I was so proud when she won a little cup at school for her good manners. And she’s always been honest with me – she’s good that way. She didn’t rebel as a teenager – or if she did, I didn’t know about it! She was the last of my children to leave home. Some mothers get empty-nest syndrome, but you’ve got to let them fly into the big wide world and flourish. You can’t interfere too much. I read something lovely that said your children go out to sea but then they come back in again.
Did I worry about Henrietta leaving home? Of course. But she’s savvy. I knew she would be able to look after herself because she’s got four brothers. And she has each and every one of them eating out of her hand, let me tell you.
The two of us have always shared a love of fashion. I probably inherited it from my own mum. She always looked glamorous and would have her hair done like Princess Anne, whereas I used to crayon my bell-bottoms and mess about with my clothes. I still do.
The other day I bought a Mickey Mouse
T-shirt in a charity shop and chopped the arms off; it looks dead cool.
I’ve collected lots of vintage pieces – original Biba, classic Chanel. Whenever Henrietta is visiting, I can hear her upstairs in my wardrobe going click, click, click through the hangers, seeing what she’s going to help herself to.
I already have eight grandchildren and I adore being a grandparent. It’s a lot of fun. I would love it if Henrietta had children one day but I’m so proud of what she has achieved with Rixo.
I wear the designs myself; the patterns are fabulous and they complement any age – I have a cousin who is 70 and she adores them.
Fashion is a tough industry. I’ve seen all the hard work Henrietta and Orlagh have put in, so I always smile like a Cheshire cat when
I see someone out wearing a Rixo dress.
Rixo has launched a ‘Stay at Home’ T-shirt (€60) in white, with 50 per cent of profits from each sale donated to charity. For details, visit rixo.co.uk
Princess Anne in her trusty waxed
cover-up