Helen is a national treasure whom, usually, no one ever critiques
Ageing gracefully is simply not possible these days. London is full of yummy grandmummies and these head turners are usually over 70. Gone are the wrinkles and the white hair. Now it’s all botoxed and artificially plumped faces, with bodies tanned and sleek just as when they were in their 30s. All those who want to be noticed must look at least half their age. But apparently, there are still a few celebrities who can achieve eternal youth without serious chemical or surgical intervention.
And leading those age-defying superstars is the 69-year old Helen Mirren. Her regal screen presence has made many believe that she, in fact, is the real Queen of England, because our dear Elizabeth looks quite frumpy in comparison. Helen is a national treasure whom, usually, no one ever critiques. In fact, at the very worst, she has only attracted envious looks like when she was photographed a few years back, smoothly curvaceous in a swimsuit, not a wrinkle out of place.
Last week, however, there was a slight glitch in the adoration charts, when she became the face of an anti-ageing skin cream. Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority received complaints from the public saying that she couldn’t possibly look as good as she did, and that the advertisement must have been severely airbrushed.
Surely the almost 70 Mirren must have some deeper furrows around her lips and elsewhere! After a thorough investigation, during which the cream manufacturing company showed photographs and film to prove that Helen was for real, it was finally concluded that she needs no airbrushing because she looks exactly the way she is shown in the advertisement. A few wrinkles aesthetically placed, but otherwise close to flawless! Yet another jewel in her crown! And of course this was great publicity for the cream, as well, which made someone ask: was this an age defying publicity stunt? Tut tut! Not a word should be uttered against her Majesty.
This was also a week to celebrate the very young, apart from the not-so-young. Princess Charlotte was bundled out in her magnificent christening robe and formally named. She was in the arms of a glowing (how-does-she-do-it?) Duchess of Cambridge, while her brother George was held fondly by his father Prince William. The photographs released thereafter had a sense of déjà vu, as barring Prince Harry, everyone who had been at George’s christening was present. It was a spot-the-difference moment.
The press spent a lot of time analysing the clothes and the setting, as is their wont. And so we were informed that the proud grand mother wore pink — aha! — for a girl as she wore a blue overcoat when George was christened. Some also observed that Kate attaches lot of symbolism to the clothes worn at these ceremonial occasions. And she repeats a designer or a style, if it worked before. Her coat dress this time round was, once again, an Alexander McQueen just as it was the last time. And yes, McQueen was a favourite of Princess Diana as well. And so, as the Royal babies grow we will continue to be fed such delightful minutae.
But the more enjoyable moment with the Royals was when Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was presented a sweat-soaked wrist band belonging to none other than tennis champ Andy Murray at Wimbledon. Murray had, at the end of his game when he had beaten Roger Haase last week, flung his wristband into the crowds as a souvenir. But it was actually caught by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club chairman Philip Brook. And then he handed it over to Camilla who initially seemed to turn up her nose but then gamely tucked the sweaty wristband away into her handbag. It is now going to be auctioned on eBay to raise money for the Royal Veterinary College Animal Care Trust. So remember to bid next week!
The fortnight has also seen the sombre observation of the 10th anniversary of 7/7 when four separate bombing attacks were carried out on the underground tubes and a bus, killing over 50 people. Many survived but with grievous injuries. London remembered them and their families, as well as the many heroic instances of spontaneous help people gave to each other. Sad though the occasion was, it also showed the humanity of Londoners.
The anniversary of the old tragedy came only a few days after the attack on British tourists in Tunisia, when 30 people were killed by an ISIS- inspired terrorist. It’s being debated whether British tourists should continue to go to Tunisia for holidays. The government would prefer that they do not and has issued an advisory accordingly, while foreign secretary Philip Hammond has said that there might even be another attack, soon. In fact, travel agents are also urging holidaymakers to return as soon as possible. The UK government feels that the area is not secure, nor have enough measures been taken by the Tunisian government to safeguard the holidaymakers.
But, despite these warnings, not only have determined tourists landed up in Tunisia, they are also pointing out that people still continue to visit countries affected by terrorism, so why single out any one nation? But UK’s government as usual does not listen. Nearly 30,000 tourists have been whisked out of Tunisia, many against their will.
As terrorists target us and kill us and try to make us change our lifestyles, could this resistance be one way of stalling their impact on us? With tourists continuing to flock to Tunisia, is this courage or foolhardiness? The jury is still out on that.
Kishwar Desai is an award-winning author
