IN THIS ISSUE

My husband and I have been together for nearly 25 years and I think I can confidently say we are good at our relationship: we know when we need to make an effort with each other, when we need our space and which arguments can and can’t wait until morning. But we are terrible at conducting our relationship on the phone. When one of us is out of town, we have an unspoken pact of not feeling pressure to call because it’s rarely a productive conversation. I’d rather spare us the inconvenient moments when one of us is too busy with the office, childcare, dog. If there’s a time-zone clash, forget it: one of us is grunting with exhaustion instead of saying anything. So I admire couples who manage to make a long-distance relationship work. Our cover star Michelle Keegan and her husband, the TV presenter Mark Wright, are not only handling being an ocean apart, they’re also negotiating the extra baggage that comes with being celebrities whose every move is gossip-column catnip. They’re secure enough in their marriage to encourage each other to go forth and excel in their careers. She gives a great insight into the ground rules that keep them strong. Of course, being two glamorous stars means that, unlike my husband and me, they actually have some exciting things to tell each other in a phone call. True romance is one thing and What Meghan Can Learn From the Dollar Duchesses is another. Long before Ms Markle charmed a certain red-headed prince, many American society women had a more calculated approach to landing a blue-blood husband. Whatever your view, it’s a fascinating read. I’m just grateful that my marriage isn’t nearly as much hard work. I hope you enjoy the issue.

PS For a taste of how the other half lives, join us for an exclusive trip to Highgrove. Find all the details of this fabulous royal day out on page 39.

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