IN THIS ISSUE

There’s a bit of a theme running through this issue of YOU – families and all the different guises they can take.

There’s the gorgeous Kate Wright on page 34, who has fallen in love with not only her partner, footballer Rio Ferdinand, but also his children with his late wife Rebecca. She’s taken on surely one of the hardest roles there is – that of a loving parent who never wants to feel like they’re trying to ‘replace’ anyone’s mother. It’s a line she treads with so much love and grace, it’s impossible not to be moved by her experience.

My heart swelled reading the stories of the wartime matriarchs of East End London, who were mothers, fathers, soldiers and, well, everything, to their poverty-stricken, shell-shocked broods. And often to dozens of children who weren’t theirs, but needed their mothering, tough love and all. It’s so inspiring to read their tales of courage in the face of such hardship.

Even our stunning cover star, Longleat’s Emma Thynn, employed the less-than-conventional method of surrogacy. It’s an incredible age we live in when there are so many more ways of gaining a longed-for family. Read about her charmed life on page 22.

But I think one of my favourite stories in this issue has to be the somewhat unconventional living arrangements jeweller Dinny Hall has with her partner and her best friend. Yes, we’ve cheekily declared it a threesome on our cover and it is in a sense! I think they’re on to something. It already has me wondering if I should move someone into my home who wants to discuss rap music and blockbuster action films with my husband for hours at a time.

All in all, it’s a cheering thought, isn’t it, to remember that a family – a supportive, loving network – can be as conventional or otherwise as you like, evolve in any number of ways and still be something powerful and right for you.

Enjoy the issue.

IT’S A CHEERING THOUGHT THAT A FAMILY CAN BE AS CONVENTIONAL OR OTHERWISE AS YOU LIKE ”