Why I’m so excited about a new way to connect with royal fans
I’m looking forward to discussing royals in a more personal, in-depth fashion
Well hello there! I’m so excited to welcome you to The Hello! Royal Club – our new community for fans of all things royal!
We know our readers like to keep a close watch on whatever the Windsors are getting up to, so it’s great to be able to connect more directly with you. I’m thrilled to get started on Substack.
We cover more royal stories in Hello! magazine and on our website than anyone else. So many, in fact, that we wanted to find a place where we can cover them differently and really engage with the global community of royal watchers in a more personal, in-depth way.
Before I go into a few more details on my role in the club, a little bit of background on me…
On the road with the royals
I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (eek!) and have spent more than a decade of that time on the royal beat, covering the royal family at work in the United Kingdom and all over the world.
I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words on them in that time and watched them on engagements, overseas visits, and in public moments of joy and sorrow. I’ve been lucky enough to meet and even interview members of the royal family
I’ve also had a ringside seat for some of the biggest royal events of recent years: from the royal weddings of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, through to the arrival of royal babies and the momentous events surrounding the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles.
Being in Westminster Abbey for both of these historic events was an extraordinary privilege and an experience I will never forget.
But it’s not just about the public pomp and pageantry. I want to take readers behind the scenes of the job that I love so much and bring a focus on what the royals do best, and that’s why I enjoy being on the road with them.
I’ll be honest, the reality is often a lot less glamorous than it might sound!
Early starts, late nights and long journeys go into covering their work, but it’s a huge privilege to get to meet so many of the amazing individuals and organisations that the royals spend time with.
From schoolchildren in Soweto, South Africa, to conservationists in Fiji; from First Nations communities in Canada, to villagers living alongside elephants in Yunnan, China, I’ve been lucky enough to hear and help tell the stories of so many fascinating people.
So what can you expect if you join?
My new weekly newsletter will take you through the latest royal news in closer detail, and I’ll be sharing more of my personal thoughts with our subscribers.
I’ll also be sharing recommendations for top royal reads, TV shows, films, exhibitions and outings so you can stay on top of all the latest developments.
Along with Hello’s Royal Club team, we’ll also be finding new ways to keep you informed – through live audio and video posts and access to in-person and virtual events.
Let me know what you think and what you’d like to hear more of as I get to grips with a new platform.
We’re excited to get started and looking forward to seeing you here!