I'm so tired of HARRY & MEGHAN!'

OUR MAG QUEEN REMAINS A STAUNCH ROYALIST

- Jenny Brown

Describing Nene King’s life as headline-making might be apt, given her former career, but it’s almost something of an understatement.

The queen of Aussie publishing has sold millions of magazines, made and lost a fortune, mourned a beloved husband who vanished, received dozens of death threats, survived a nervous breakdown and beaten drug addiction. Needless to say, ringing in her 80th birthday is “a miracle”, says Nene – but not necessarily one she’s celebrating.

“Darling, there is no upside to old age,” New Idea’s former Agony Aunt chuckles when we pop by her home in Victoria’s Ballarat ahead of the milestone. “I was smart when I was younger and I’ve kept my marbles, although I promise I won’t be wearing a bikini any time soon.

“Truthfully, I can’t believe I’m still around when so many of my beautiful friends have left the building.

“But they say the good die young so I’ll probably be here forever!”

Birthday dealt with, Nene turns to one of her favourite topics: the royal family.

Heartbroken by the Queen’s death last year, Nene says, “I just don’t feel the same any more now she’s gone, with everyone fighting everyone else.