Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 20-26 February

Here's what Mary wore from 20-26 February:

1.  a) First official photos of the twins, released 25 February, and b) Mary's top from Zara. Aw. Little monkeys!

Photos: Kongehuset.dk/Zara.com

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 20-26 February

Here's what Letizia wore from 20-26 February:

1.  Lunch for the President of Israel, 22 February. Her hair looks great, it's a color, she's not under-dressed in the least, and yet...I don't like it. Somehow I feel like it ought to smell of mothballs (no, that doesn't make sense to me either). Man, I'm impossible to please.
2. Opening University General Hospital "Santa Lucia", 23 February. Not bad, not remarkable. A little Grandma-esque with the shoes.
3. Attending the XI Edition of Business Night, 26 February. This may be black, but I like a ruffled blouse under a blazer.

Best and Worst of the Week

I've decided to judge this week on shoes only. (If this surprises you, you must be new to the blog. Welcome!) On the left, we have the snakeskin shoes from outfit 3 as worn previously in 2004; on the right, the shoes from outfit 1. She must own these mauve shoes in every color available, plus a few custom colors. Enough already! What's with the need to match the shoes to the outfit? (I've complained about this before, and I reserve the right to complain about it in the future.) I much prefer the contrast of the stiletto snakeskins, with no platform in sight. And that's how the only black outfit of the week becomes my best, and the only colorful one becomes my worst.

Are you as bothered by the matching shoes as I am, or am I alone out here?

Photos: Terra/Noticies/opinionofmurcia/PPE

Things That Make You Go Hmm...: Crooked?

Thanks to avid speculation that Prince William and Kate Middleton would be attending the wedding of Lady Katie Percy (daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland) and Patrick Valentine this weekend, we've got loads of photos of an awfully grand country wedding to delight in and shake our heads at.

Kate and Wills may have been a no-show, but Pippa Middleton and Chelsy Davy turned up to give the photographers something to snap:

(Confession: I love Pippa's coat thing. Not the rest of the outfit, just that one part.)

Now, the point of my post: the bride. Normally, I wouldn't pick on a bride here unless they're actually royal. I mean, it just doesn't seem sporting. But...it has to be said:

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT TIARA? It's crooked! And it was crooked both going into the church and coming out, which leads me to think it might have been stuck on that way on purpose. (Surely her mum or her sister would have fixed her up if this was an accident?) The bride is a fairly nontraditional girl, I gather (she's a trained gunmaker, of all things), but...oh, I'm so confused.

Also: add this Bruce Oldfield gown to the reasons I hope he isn't the man for the job for Kate's big gown. It's not enough. She arrived in a carriage and the reception's at her family's castle which doubles as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. And this tiara is more grand than a lot of the royal wedding tiaras we see. Needs more!

Anyways, I'm done being mean to random people now. I just needed to let that out. Whew.

Photos: AFP/Getty Images/Daily Mail/Zimbio/Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe/Christopher Furlong

Royal Style Duel: Silvia vs. Marie

When Princess Marie turned up at the first gala event for Queen Margrethe's birthday celebrations last April, I was pleasantly refreshed.

Here was Marie, who usually ends up in something more suited to a Hollywood starlet, actually wearing something completely covered up and demure! And doing something different with her hair to boot! Plus, I love a crisp white dress.

And then Queen Silvia busted this repeated Yuki gown out this week:

Here's my question: when an 35-year-old woman and a 67-year-old woman sport the same style, who wins?

Week in Review: Catherine Middleton, 20-26 February

The week's not over  yet, but we have things to discuss. So without further ado, here's what Kate wore from 20-26 February (and I shall add on if necessary):

1.  a) Christening an RNLI lifeboat in Anglesey, 24 February, b) the fascinator, c) the SHOOTIES, and d) the coat from its 2006 appearance at Cheltenham (crafty with the re-cutting, I must say).
2. The trip back to St. Andrews University, 25 February. Update: The suit is from Luisa Spagnoli.
3. Signing the New Zealand earthquake condolence book, 25 February. A double outfit day already! This is Royal Prep 101: Advanced, I guess.

Best and Worst of the Week

All signs point to me hating outfit 1: I mean, it's all neutrals. And SHOOTIES. But...I kind of dig it. I can't believe I'm saying this about something including that footwear, but this is the best of the week for me. I think I've been swayed by the video from this appearance. I thought she was adorable, and I'm not a born Kate fan. Just chatty and happy to be there, none of that stiff trying-too-hard-to-be-regal thing. Also: HAIR UP! (Out of necessity, but still: victory!)

On the other hand, I should adore outfit 2, for it is RED and the belt/jacket flare is giving her pencil-thin physique some curve. Plus, she's working the timeless angle in a suit that she'll be able to recycle, Princess Anne-styles, for decades to come. But...I'm not feeling it. It's aging her too much? Turtlenecks worn like this terrify me because I can't tell if they're dickeys or not? Am I confusing you as much as I'm confusing myself?

And outfit 3, well, I don't know what she was going to wear to such an occasion (no, I do: I'd have preferred a smart navy suit) but this is alright. Except for the hair. Too much wind in one day = worst of the week.

Oh, friends, I don't know. This week is defying all my Laws of Sartorial Splendor. Do chime in and straighten me out.

Photos: Pacificcoastnews.com/Zimbio/AP/Telegraph/Getty/Daily Mail/Rex/Reuters/Daylife

Flashback Friday: Mary's Transformation

We have much to discuss regarding happenings in Wales and Scotland, and that Week in Review post will go up earlier than usual - later tonight or early tomorrow, maybe? Until then, let's chew on this:

During our discussion of Kate Middleton's disappointing fashion lunch with Camilla, smart and lovely commentors Miss Jelic and Alison brought up an excellent point: look at what happened to Mary.

They were referring, of course, to the Grand Transformation that occurred when Mary married her Crown Prince. Though the changes to her appearance were gradual enough in real time, the overall effect is really quite startling:

Some things were obviously going to change about Mary Donaldson of Australia when she became Crown Princess Mary of Denmark back in 2004. Learning Danish, for one. She was bound to grow in public poise, of course. But Mary took it a step further, and used the new resources available to her to execute a full-on makeover. Just plopping a tiara on top doesn't begin to cover the extent of this change.

New Mary is visibly slimmer than Old Mary. Personal trainers? Personal chefs? Whatever she did, it certainly was effective. If the Danish royal family ever gets a little skint in the funds department, Mary could market her own diet and exercise program.

The days of cheesy prom hair for formal occasions, unkempt hair for casual occasions, and heavy-handed makeup gave way to the whims of on-call hairdressers, professional skin care, and pro makeup artists. (A glimmer of hope, perhaps, for those of you that fret over Kate and her eyeliner addiction?)Personal appearance taken care of, next up is the fashion. The new Crown Princess took advantage of both the Danish fashion industry's desire to dress her to the nines and her new access to international designers (plus, you know, personal stylists and the like) to go from wearing ill-fitting and ill-coordinated off the rack fashions to pure couture.

It's worth noting, too, that this great change did not go into full effect until after her marriage. She had some good appearances during her engagement (notably the pre-wedding events which were no doubt styled for her and yielded that bottom left red dress that I love so much). That top left Goth-inspired appearance was during Princess Benedikte's birthday celebrations while Mary was engaged. The next two pictures are from Luxembourg's state visit to Denmark during the engagement: trousers at an event where Maria Teresa, at least, wore a tiara; and a rather severe and prom-esque green dress for a state banquet. Something to keep in mind when Kate or Charlene - ladies that have been on their Princes' arms for 867 years or whatever (read: with ample time to prepare for the onslaught of a royal engagement) - turn up in something a little disappointing.  

Not even casual wear was immune to the makeover, showing just how far a transformation really can extend.

Quite a difference, right?

I think these dueling appearances sum it up best:

At left: Mary and Frederick's engagement dinner. At right: Queen Margrethe's April 2010 birthday celebrations. Softer makeup, less J.Lo. hair, better jewel selection. Same dress, different girl.

It's not just Mary, either. Many royal ladies have undergone similar transformations. (Look for more on those in future flashbacks.) All signs point to the next few years bringing an Extreme Princess Makeover for Kate Middleton and Charlene Wittstock. Personally, I'm all for it. (Although, good grief, nobody better lose any weight. Middleton's about to disappear as it is.)

What do you make of Mary's transformation? And what are you hoping for in a Kate/Charlene makeover?

Photos: Polfoto/Allover Press/Zimbio

Week in Review: Princess Nikolaos, 13-19 February

Here's what Tatiana wore from 13-19 February:

1.  a, b and c) in Vanity Fair (Spain). What's up with the leafy bits around the neck in 1a, huh?
2. a and b) Attending Samantha Cameron's reception for London Fashion Week at 10 Downing Street, 18 February. As per usual, I care only about the shoes, which are hot enough I'm willing to overlook the red bra peeking out from under the dress in 2a. You know I love Tatiana, but it has to be said: tone down the posing, please! You're at 10 Downing Street, not on the runway.

Best and Worst of the Week

Well, ball gowns always win, so 1b gets the week from me. (What a gorgeous pic, right?) I usually expect photoshoots to be styled to the top, which is why I am extra confused by 1c. Long sleeved shirt under a not-vest not-shirt contraption. No thank you.

Update:

The floral gown is from Dior's Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection, and the beige gown is Alberta Ferretti Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear.

Photos: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images/Vanity Fair/Yannis Vlamos/Gorunway.com/Style.com

Royal Style Duel: Letizia vs. Aimée

 Last year, we saw this Mango dress modeled by our usual Mango model, Letizia:

And this year, it's déja vu my friends, on Dutch Princess Aimée earlier this month:

Suit up, it's time for a duel! Who wore it best?



Me, I'm actually rooting for Letizia. Dark tights with light shoes make me want to crawl in a hole and cry. Plus, I dig the chunky belt. Et toi?

Photos: PPE/Life

Tiara Thursday: The Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara

Welcome to our new feature, Tiara Thursdays! Created specifically for the indulgence of my inner magpie. (And yours, too!) Every Thursday until Kate and Will's Big Day, I'm highlighting some of the British royal family's tiaras that I'd like to see on Miss Catherine. Pure speculation and crossed fingers, of course. Won't you join in?

The only downside to being an ardent royal jewel fan: the secrecy. Those royal vaults are sealed so tightly, and no one wants to talk about these explicit markers of majesty - particularly not in these sorts of economic times. So we guess, and we hope that our favorite pieces have survived through the years.

This one, I'm afraid, might be pure hope.

On her wedding day, Queen Elizabeth received quite the sparkly avalanche of presents. Among the spoils were a diamond tiara and matching necklace from the Nizam of Hyderabad. Made by Cartier, the design is appropriately based on English roses.

Excuse me while I quietly sob in the corner and long for the days when wedding gifts could be as over-the-top as the sender wanted, without fear of media hoopla and public backlash. Sigh.

Okay, I'm back now, and I'm ready to discuss the fate of this diadem.

(Deep breath.) Queen Elizabeth may have dismantled this tiara. Potentially in favor of assembling this...gem:

Argh, the Burmese ruby tiara. Honestly, I just don't get her taste in jewels sometimes. Excuse me, I need to get my tissues again.

These are the facts, or "facts" more accurately, given the absence of official information:

• The Queen hasn't worn the tiara publicly since about the early 1950s. (The last public appearance including the Nizam tiara that I've seen was 1952.)
• Of the Burmese ruby tiara's creation, Leslie Field says in The Queen's Jewels: "The diamonds came from a tiara the Queen had been given as a wedding gift by the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar." (p.69, 1987 ed.) This statement is the main source of the dismantling rumors.
• However, in Tiaras: A History of Splendour, Geoffrey Munn does not include that detail in his description of the Burmese ruby tiara. He writes only briefly of the Nizam piece, saying: "There is also a tiara in bandeau form that was a wedding gift from the Nizam of Hyderabad," implying by use of the present tense that the piece still exists. (p. 1965, 2003 printing)
• The Royal Jewels by Suzy Menkes also neglects to mention the dismantling of the tiara, thus implying it still exists.
• In honor of the 60th wedding anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip, Buckingham Palace's 2007 summer exhibition included a selection of wedding gifts. On display: the necklace, but not the tiara.  Indeed, no mention of the tiara was made.

We do know the set hasn't gone away entirely. The Queen still wears the necklace:

Also, she wears pieces of the tiara: one larger rose brooch and two smaller brooches.

I say, if the tiara has been dismantled, let's put it back together. Though they may have removed the original diamonds, I'm going to make a leap of faith and assume the frame is still knocking about somewhere. It'd be rude to totally throw a wedding gift away, right? One doesn't want to be rude.

I think this would be a great choice for Kate. Based on her past tiara-giving behavior, the Queen opts to gift pieces that haven't been seen in a long time (or ever), rather than her favorites. It's got some heft without being overly large and ostentatious, and heaven knows Kate's got the hair to display it right. This one comes with options, which is perfect for a royal that probably won't have a large jewel collection to start out with: the three brooches within the tiara, and the necklace which has a detachable pendant. Also, it's nice and neutral. All diamond and floral, which is easily matched with lots of gowns.

Your thoughts, dear readers? The Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara for Kate: Yes or No?

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 13-19 February

Here's what Mette-Marit wore from 13-19 February:

1. Visiting Levanger, 17 February. Are there little poof balls on her boots? I think there are. Hmm.
2. Attending the ISFiT conference in Trondheim, 18 February. Interesting repeated dress. The shape is almost too cutesy for her, I think the fabric's bringing up the maturity level.
3. Other engagements in Trondheim, 18 February. Love, love this coat!

Best and Worst of the Week

On coats alone, I have to go with #3 as my best. But I can't figure out a worst: nothing's terrible, but nothing's really standing out either. Your thoughts?

Photos: Scanpix

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 13-19 February

Here's what Letizia wore from 13-19 February:

1. International day for children with cancer, 15 February, a) outside and b) inside. I genuinely don't get the gray + beige thing. Máxima seems to think it matches too. Hmm.
2. Opening the ARCO modern art fair, 17 February. In some pictures, this looks red, in some it looks hot pink, and in others it's almost orange-ish. So, take your pick. I'm partial to hot pink!

Number two gets my vote; you know how much I love it when we get some color up in here. And it's a good thing she did opt for some color, otherwise she would have downright disappeared standing next to this magnificent lady:

(The purple wonder is Juana de Aizpuru, gallery owner. I know nothing about her, but I already love her for all the obvious reasons.)

Anyways, last week I got all excited over a wee bit of color on Letizia and you guys were all: "Whoa, OoS, settle down." So you tell me: thumbs up or down this week? 

Photos: PPE/Thorton/Getty Images/Daylife

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 13-19 February

Here's what Máxima wore from 13-19 February:

1. Family ski vacation in Lech, 19 February. Kudos to Princess Pink and Purple there (also known as Princess Ariane) for busting out some personal style on the slopes. Amalia (in the middle) isn't doing so bad either, with her silver take on giraffe print. 

If I could get Ariane's coat in my size, that'd by my ski style. But if I couldn't find that, I might go with Mabel's style instead (and it's not very often that I say that!). Glam ski bunny all the way:

Photos: AP Photo/Daylife

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 13-19 February

Here's what Victoria wore from 13-19 February:

1.  Opening the Paralympic Winter World Cup and visiting a heath care home, 15 February, a) with coat and b) without. That's a pretty casual coat for an official engagement, but if it's really as cold out as it looks like it must have been, I'll give it a pass. It is a sporting event, after all. On the other hand, I do not give the double scarf a pass. Nor will I give the fact that outfit 1b could be worn by her mother a pass. Be young while you can!

Photos: Svenskdam/Solleftea.se

Week in Review: Princess Beatrice, 13-19 February

Here's what Beatrice wore from 13-19 February:

1. Out with Sarah and Eugenie, 15 February.
2. Out with Eugenie, Chelsy Davy and Pippa Middleton, 17 February. I think I might like this little vest thing she's working here. Hmm...

Photos: O'Rourke/Splashphotos.com/Daily Mail

Week in Review: Princess Eugenie, 13-19 February

Here's what Eugenie wore from 13-19 February:

1. Out with Sarah and Beatrice, 15 February.
2. Out with Beatrice, Chelsy Davy and Pippa Middleton, 17 February. Short skirts, all black, lather, rinse, repeat. Snooze.

Photos: Eroteme.co.uk/Splash News/Daily Mail

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 13-19 February

Here's what Mathilde wore from 13-19 February:

1. Attending the Eucharist Mass, 17 February. Still like it! Not the shoes, though. Never the shoes.

Week in Review: Charlene Wittstock, 13-19 February

Here's what Charlene wore from 13-19 February:

1.  In Bunte magazine while in South Africa. Oh, I like this.
2. At the Beverly Hills Hotel in South Africa, 16 February. Maybe if it had a knee-length skirt instead? It's a little bit matronly, long like that.

Photos: Newspix/Bunte

Fancy New Blog Stuff

Oh, friends, have I got some updates for you. Here's what's new around the blog:

New commenting system: I installed a new commenting system for the blog, Disqus, which I think is a little more user friendly than Blogger's and lets you do fancy things like put clickable links in your comments and reply directly to other user comments. You can also subscribe to keep up to date on conversations happening in the comments. Take it for a spin!

New pages: We've got two new pages for your viewing pleasure...

Meet the Royals

A handy-dandy who's who guide to everyone we've ever covered on the blog, for your quick reference.

Royal Wedding Headquarters

A one-stop shop for all wedding-related posts on the blog. It's time to gear up for royal wedding season - you don't want to be unprepared!

New blog feature: And speaking of royal wedding preparation...this week I'm rolling out a new feature:

Tiara Thursdays

Each Thursday we'll take a look at a new tiara! Because, who doesn't need more bling in their lives? 

From this Thursday until the first royal wedding of the year (that one in London, you remember) we'll be covering tiara suggestions for one Miss Catherine Middleton, since we all know that the diamonds make the wedding day.

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 6-12 February

Here's what Victoria wore from 6-12 February:

1. Visiting the Stockholm City Mission, 10 February. This is quite classy, but I can't help but feel we're seeing a whole lot of this kind of thing lately. Boring!

Photos: ANP

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 6-12 February

Here's what Mathilde wore from 6-12 February:

1. Visiting the 'Ecole des 4 vents' school, 11 February. We saw this in September, though she's opted for different stockings and shoes this time. This is one NATAN dress that I really like (for a change!).

Photos: Isopix

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 6-12 February

Here's what Mary wore from 6-12 February:

1. Out and about with the family, 12 February. Somebody's looking back to pre-twins form already!

Photo: Billed-Bladet

Flashback Friday: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa's Tiaras

Settle in with some chocolate ice cream and a cocktail, kids: it's time to indulge in some guilty jewel pleasures!

Last Friday, we commemorated the 30th wedding anniversary of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess by flashing back to Maria Teresa's wedding gown. This week, we shall continue by celebrating my favorite thing about my favorite Grand Duchess: her tiara collection. And it is a collection, let me tell you. Commence drooling...now:

(Note: these are the names I use for these tiaras. You won't find anything official here!) (And another note: these are just the pieces that I have pictures of Maria Teresa wearing...there is more to the family collection.)

1. Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara. The classic Luxembourg wedding tiara, given to M-T's late mother-in-law Joséphine-Charlotte (a Belgian princess) as a wedding present from the Congo (then a Belgian colony). This was the first of two tiaras she wore on her wedding day: yes, it seems J-C was my kind of girl. As far as I know, it's been a long time since this one's been worn in tiara form (as a necklace, yes - tiara, no); perhaps the next time we see it will be on Guillaume's future bride, or on Alexandra's wedding day?

2. Diamond Floral Tiara #1. This wee bit of floral bling is the only one that we've seen Princess Alexandra wear, and it was loaned out to niece Marie Christine on her wedding day. It almost sits flat back on the head sometimes, which is odd.

3. Diamond Floral Tiara #2. Mostly, I hear reference to only one diamond floral tiara in the Lux family (#1), but I do think this one is different. More of a vine structure than flowers, it looks to me, plus it appears larger and to have a different shape than #1. You know you're talking about a jewel collection of substance when it includes more than one diamond floral tiara!

4. Joséphine-Charlotte's Diamond Belgian Scroll Tiara. This sparkler was the second tiara Joséphine-Charlotte wore on her wedding day, for pictures, and it was another wedding gift. I love this tiara so hard, you guys. I can't believe they almost sold it: it was part of a proposed auction of some of J-C's jewels after her death. Public outcry was such that the Grand Duke ended up canceling the sale, thank heavens! I'm ever so glad it's found a secure place in the royal vault since that little mishap.



5. Luxembourg Empire Tiara. Too big, you say? Too much? No, I say, you are wrong. Because: BAM! This is a tiara, right? All hail the big guns! Maria Teresa didn't wear this bad boy until after Joséphine-Charlotte's death, but she's found a few choice occasions for it since. I will concede that this is a hard one to orchestrate the hair around, though.

6. Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara. There aren't that many good aquamarine tiaras out there - especially aquamarine tiaras that come with a parure to wear alongside - and I think this is one of them. 

7. Chaumet Emerald Tiara. It's Wonder Woman, I know. You've got to watch your tiara hair with this one, but I still love it. It's like you just plopped a duck egg of an emerald on your head. That's my kind of super hero. (Also: that choker was also on the proposed jewel sale. Outrage!)

8. Joséphine-Charlotte's Van Cleef and Arpels Emerald and Diamond Convertible Tiara. Longest tiara name ever? (I'm just trying to be servicey with the details.) This is...odd. I think I prefer it as a necklace. Maria Teresa just wore this for the first time during the state visit to Portugal last fall. She wore it to a black tie event at which she was the only one sporting a tiara, so the scale was probably right, but I much prefer this on a younger princess. Like Tessy, who wore this on her first-ever tiara outing for National Day 2008.

9. Topaz Tiara. (I'm guessing topaz here. Don't really know.) This one hasn't been seen since the early days of Maria Teresa's marriage. I think it's time for it to come out of retirement: it's unusual, in a good way. It'd be another good option for a younger princess, such as Alexandra or Tessy. (Also: holy earrings, Batman! My ear lobes ache just looking at them!)

10. Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide's Tiara. I haven't done the math or anything, but I think we could proclaim this one the most frequently worn tiara of the lot. Maria Teresa sure seems to like it, but I'm not so convinced. Sometimes it seems like it sits too high up on the head for my tastes. 

11. Amethyst Tiara. Needs more bling. Seriously, you can hardly see it up there! And visible framework sends shivers down my magpie spine. It's a shame, too: the world needs more fabulous amethyst tiaras.

12. Pearl and Diamond Choker Tiara. As the name states, the lattice portion of this can also be worn as a choker, and you have to admire any jewel that gives you more bang for your buck. That said, I don't like it. Looks like a diamond barbed wire fence atop the head to me. Which, I mean, if you're going to put a fence on your noggin, you might as well make it sparkly, but still: I'm not a fan.

13. Turquoise Tiara. Methinks this one might be a new addition by Maria Teresa in the past few years, which I'm always in favor of. It's definitely a tiara for the younger generation, though: it's far more suited to Tessy (who wore it for National Day 2010) than to M-T. She needs...more.

Without question, one of my favorite jewel collections. Lucky girl, that M-T!

And now it's time to pick and choose: which one's your favorite?

Programming Note: Sunday 20 February

The blog will be down on Sunday for a bit for some blogkeeping. Fret not the error messages!

Royal Fashion Awards: Belgium's Eucharist Mass

The Belgians all turned out today to remember deceased members of the royal family with the annual Eucharist mass at Notre Dame de Laeken church in Brussels. Curious mix of outfits here: from those that came kitted out for a full-on royal occasion (read: coordinated outfit + hat, etc.) and those that came dressed for just another royal day. Let's hand out some awards, shall we?

Coziest and Comfiest

Queen Paola

This is what I mean: she's wearing a hat, but a fairly informal one, and this is a pretty simple outfit. Still, she looks toasty warm and cozy. Makes me want a hot chocolate.

Most Welcome Sight

Queen Fabiola

I feel like I breathe a sigh of relief every time Fab turns up somewhere: I'm just glad she's doing well! She's wearing her regular white wardrobe, and per usual, she gets a pass.

Most Unrecognizable

Princess Claire

Where's the crazy outfit? Where's my snark fodder? All I'm left with is the fact that she's wearing headgear that should be left to the 12-year-old girls of the world. Alas! Maybe she made a conscious decision to blend into the background today and leave the crazy to her husband, who just got his driver's license suspended for the third time. (Insert eye roll: here.)

Best Twin

Princess Esmeralda

Esmeralda, or Marie-Esméralda if you prefer, is half-sister to the King as her parents were Leopold III and his second wife Lilian, and for today only, sartorial twin of Princess Claire. Of these two, who have unwittingly put themselves in fashion competition, I much prefer Esmeralda here. First of all, I love her name. (These things matter to me.) Second, she's working more of a fascinator and less of a headband, which helps with the 12-year-old girl situation. And third, she's not turned her legs completely black with some combo of leggings and stretchy boots. You've got to break up that line somewhere!

Classiest Act

Princess Marie-Astrid

No hat on display, but still: this is pure class. I don't know that much about Marie-Astrid, but I already like her.

Most Intriguing

Princess Léa

This is Léa in the bottom left corner of the left photo, displaying her curious fashion sense in all its glory. (Léa is the widow of Prince Alexander, who was the King's half-brother.) Trying to distract from her strangely unflattering coat by reviving hair fashions from the days of Dynasty, I imagine. Intriguing indeed!

Best Dressed

Princess Mathilde

My first thought: this is some kind of costume reject from the set of a Harry Potter film, from the overturned fur Tupperware hat on her head to the pump/SHOOTIE hybrid on her toes. But it grew on me. (Like a fungus?) Here's what I love: she turned up dressed for a proper royal occasion, matching hat and all. Also: it isn't black. (What, it's not like anyone was going to show up at the memorial mass in sunshine yellow. Gray gets points.)

I have a feeling, though, that she's probably making many of your worst-dressed lists instead, so have at it: who makes your best- and worst-dressed list for the day?

Photos: PPE/Nieboer/Belga/RPE/Reuters/Daylife/Isopix