Gold Star: Queens with Diplomatic Flair

Dressing diplomatically is an art form, if you ask me. The outfits on a royal foreign trip are not the point of the thing - even someone as frivolous as I can admit that - but when they're done just right, they can help the whole operation along. A detail here or there can be just the thing, a little exclamation point, to emphasize thoughtfulness, consideration, and respect for the other country. Today we're handing out gold stars to two queens for just such exclamation points.

Many of you have asked to be kept updated on the lovely new Queen of Bhutan, so here you go: it seems the photogenic King and Queen haven't stopped moving since the wedding. They've paid state visits to India and Japan, and have touched down in Singapore and Thailand. This past week has seen them visit the United Kingdom. Talk about your trial by fire, and for a 21-year-old queen at that: Jetsun Pema laughs in the face of royal brides taking the slow route into their new lives!

Naturally, she's brought with her a whole array of colorful national dress options, some of which are shown above. It's nice not to have to spend time coming up with synonyms for beige for a change, isn't it?

We also got a few tastes of her Western style, just for a little variety.

Well, there's that beige problem again, but the only thing we can conclude here is that Her Majesty has a taste for expensive handbags: I spy Chanel and an elusive Hermès Birkin bag.

This is not what she gets her gold star for, though. Diplomatic dressing, that's our point here.

Her white outfit, worn while debuting the King's photography book in New Delhi, is both gorgeous and the perfect nod to Indian style; but the real winner is the kimono in Japan. Their visit seemed to be a great success, and gamely sporting another culture's national dress is the perfect sartorial expression to sum it up. Well played.

From a 21-year-old queen just getting her feet wet to one that's the definition of a pro, our second gold star goes out to Queen Elizabeth.

This week saw the Queen host a state visit to Britain from Turkey, including some married people cuteness and a little forward-facing side-eye directed at the First Lady's intriguing taste in footwear. (Suddenly I'm dying if she noticed Sheikha Mozah's icicle boots.)

It's the state banquet, though, that gets our star. And not just because she seems to have decided to go with "giant diamonds" as her accessory theme for the night, either (though that's certainly grounds on its own). She chose this night as her first public outing of Queen Victoria's magnificent waterfall brooch, and it was no mistake: the brooch includes diamonds given to Victoria by the Sultan of Turkey. Sneaky little diplomatic gesture, isn't it?

She wore the brooch with the coronation necklace (also from Queen Victoria) and a pair of earrings once worn by her mother which were another fabulous part of the Greville inheritance. The brooch is supposed to be a part of the summer exhibit at Buckingham Palace next year, "Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration". Start shopping for plane tickets now if you need them, kids.

Another notable brooch popped out to say farewell to the Turkish guests: an emerald carved with a rose on the front and surrounded by diamonds, a gift from the Ladies of India to Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911.

Since we're talking jewels, you know, as we do, this trip also gave us good shots of two royal ladies we don't usually get to see in their state visit finery: Princess Anne sat in Camilla's spot for the banquet (Camilla was out sick) wearing the Festoon Tiara, and Princess Michael played the lead royal lady role at the Guildhall banquet (that's usually the Duchess of Gloucester's spot these days). She wore one of my favorite Kent tiaras, an oh-so-pretty diamond and pearl number, and paired it with a rather costume-ish bodice decoration. I suspect that it's fake (look at the size of those pearls!) and that it might even be a part of the gown, which is...odd. She did manage to cover up appropriately for the devout Muslim guest of honor, so I suppose points have to be awarded for that.

Do you have a favorite moment from these trips?

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife/Hello/Royal Collection

Style Speculation: Chanel Spring 2012 RTW

Chanel is one of those lines that you know will always include some princess-appropriate options - it's just in the blood - and Karl Lagerfeld's icy dream of a collection doesn't disappoint. Though we are most guaranteed to see the line on firm Lagerfeld favorites Caroline and Charlotte, loads of royal ladies have at least a little bit of Chanel in their closet. And that makes our little speculating game all the more fun...

Chanel Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Potential royal models:

Charlotte Casiraghi, Princess Caroline

The above styles I think are candidates for Princess Astrid of Belgium and Infanta Elena, and maybe even Princess Charlene; after choosing Mr. Lagerfeld for her civil wedding ensemble, I'm hoping we'll get a little Chanel in with her Armani/Akris mix. They'd also be great on Queen Sofia or Queen Paola, and if we could get any of our Natan princesses to switch camps for this stuff instead I'd do so many jumpy claps I'd probably hurt myself.

This set of looks I'd love to see on the younger royals that have a little more fun with their style. Charlotte Casiraghi to be sure, but also Princess Beatrice or Princess Madeleine. Maybe even Charlene, if she really means what she says about turning Monaco into a fashion capital.

See the whole collection here.

Who would you like to see wearing these looks?

Photos: Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com/Style.com

Royal Trend Watch: Paris Fashion Week

The fashionistas have been out in full force for quite some time now at fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and finally this past week in Paris. It was Paris and the Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear collections that brought a few select royals and their front row styles out to play. Princess style at a fashion show is a curious phenomenon: to stick to your regular royal uniform, or go fully fashion-forward decked out in your designer of choice?

Left to Right: Princess Charlene at Akris, Princess Beatrice at Elie Saab, the Princess of Venice and Piedmont (Clotilde Courau) at Balmain

Charlene and Beatrice both stuck to outfits that they would wear any day of the week; though Clotilde looks like she dressed special for the show, she's really doing the same. Beatrice wins this group for sure. Her simple Elie Saab sheath (quite similar to what we've just seen Kate in, by the way) is a master class in the power of color.

But Bea doesn't win the week. No, for that we have to go with a princess that really did put a royal spin on the fashion week trends: Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand (she's the daughter of the Crown Prince of Thailand).

L to R: At Balmain, Christian Dior, Lanvin, and Hèrmes

Princess S. (one time typing the full name is enough for me) is quite the fashion girl, you see. She's a designer and a student of fashion, and has even showed in Paris herself. Also, she's an international badminton player. Everybody loves a princess of all trades! (Well...maybe not everybody. There was a bit of a kerfluffle when she tried to introduce herself to Princess Beatrice at the Elie Saab show and was rebuffed by Bea's bodyguard. Awkward.)

L to R: At Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Elie Saab

I'll admit it was a bit jarring at first to see her go full-on Morticia when we last saw her in demure national dress in Monaco, but I'm ending the week a big fan. There are loads of princesses working the sensible trends; we have plenty of room for one that loves fashion and isn't afraid to let you know it. I say: work it!

Which one's your favorite royal outfit from Paris Fashion Week?

Photos: lehtikuva/Getty Images/Daily Mail/Daylife

Flashback Friday: Princess Caroline at the Red Cross Ball

Princess Caroline's multicolored appearance at this year's Red Cross Ball caused quite the range of reactions, didn't it? Some gave her credit for being able to pull off such an ensemble in the first place; some dished out praise for supporting an African designer (Duro Olowu) over her usual well-known couturiers; and some were just horrified. (Me: little bit of all of the above.) But it wasn't the first time she made a splash, and it certainly won't be the last...

Caroline made her debut appearance at the Red Cross Ball in 1973, if you can believe that.

Her 1970s appearances were full of Dior and floral hair arrangements, like a Hawaiian luau rather than a formal ball. Sign of the times, I guess. (Click here to see all of Caroline's Red Cross Ball outfits from the 1970s.)

That effortless chic must have worked in her favor in the 1980s, as she remained mostly free of some of the fashion horrors that decade impaled us with.

Well, mostly. But just one dress mullet in a decade is actually a pretty good record. (Click here to see all the dresses from the 1980s.)

As it turns out, this is my favorite decade for Caroline at the Red Cross Ball. Why? Jewels, of course.

Amazing necklaces (including the one we just saw worn as a tiara for her brother's wedding), brooches from the Bains de Mer Tiara, and the diamond floral hair ornaments she loaned Charlene for her wedding (on the far right above), to name a few of the pieces she trotted out.

She really hasn't been so bejewelled since. Certainly not in the 1990s, where the most notable dress was this somewhat transparent number from 1993:

Click here to see all her dresses from that low key decade.

Finally, in our most recent decade, we find her last jaw-dropping outfit, from 2006:

A Chanel Couture stuffed swan. Or possibly a plush polar bear? It's even more interesting when you compare it to her understated appearance the year before, which will make you question the relative dress code of this event. (Click here to see that and all the rest of her outfits from the 2000s.)

One only wonders what she'll bring us next year. If it can't be sparkly, I hope it's another stuffed animal, or at least a leftover fabric quilt like this year. It's just more entertaining that way.

Which dress and/or decade is your favorite?

Photos: Life/Corbis/Fotobank/The Royal Forums

Week in Review: Princess Charlene, 26 June - 2 July

Here's what Charlene wore from 26 June - 2 July:

1. Visiting Port Hercule in advance of the Jean-Michel Jarre concert, 28 June. The necklace is ridiculous. Naturally, I love it.
2. At The Eagles concert for their wedding, 30 June. The shoes are ridiculous. Naturally, I love them.
3. a) The civil wedding ceremony and b) the evening concert, 1 July. Yes, the palazzo pants would also fall under my category of ridiculousness. And naturally, I do not love them. Thankfully, they're so large you can barely detect what's really going on.
4. The religious wedding, 2 July. Now, this is bliss. Not a smacking of ridiculous to be had.
5. The evening ball, 2 July. Just okay for me, this one. Not bad at all, but not destined to hold a place in my memory.

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/PurePeople

Royal Fashion Awards: The Prince & Princess of Monaco's Religious Wedding

Another Monaco event, another curious dress code! What, oh what, to wear to an outdoor wedding (in the blazing hot sun, yet still a religious, Catholic affair), at 5 p.m. (normally a tiara or cocktail time of day, but with an invitation that said hats for ladies)? Let's see what everybody came up with, shall we?

As always, click the pictures to enlarge...

Best in Monaco

Princess Caroline

 Left to Right: Pauline Ducruet, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Camille Gottlieb, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Princess Caroline of Hanover (and Monaco), Charlotte Casiraghi, Beatrice Borromeo, Tatiana Santo Domingo

I'm starting to think Stephanie is allergic to headgear. No tiaras, no hats, and a trait she's clearly passing on to her daughters. Seems more concerned with showing off her tattoos. (Why yes, I am clutching my pearls. Nothing against tattoos, but if I were going to a royal wedding, I'd cover 'em up. That's all.) Charlotte wore Chanel's version of that thing Chelsy Davy wore to The Other Wedding without any more success, mostly because she put THIS on her head. Is it a funeral flower arrangement? Is it a washed-up piece of fisherman's net from the sea? The guessing fun never ends. Also sporting remnants from the sea: Beatrice, in her sparkly fishnets, and Tatiana in her deflated khaki beach ball hat. Thus, I give my prize to Princess Caroline: well coordinated with her youngest child, a little bit sparkly, and an understated big ass hat (which is the way to do big ass hats if it's a big ass hat you must do).

Best in Un-Throned Royals

Crown Princess Margarita

 L to R: Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran, the Duchess of Braganza, the Duchess of Anjou, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, the Princess of Venice and Piedmont, the Hereditary Princess of Baden

I love the events where they're not picky about who gets an invitation (ahem, Brits). Just because you don't technically have a throne to sit on anymore doesn't mean you can't bring something fun for us to chat about. Case in point: all these lovely ladies. We've got Crown Princess Katherine, happy as ever (if you thought she wanted to gossip about the London wedding, just think what she'd have to say about this one!); Farah Pahlavi, elegant as ever; the Duchess of Braganza, understated but classy; and the Duchess of Anjou, a little bit sparkly and out to show those Brits the hat they missed when they didn't invite her to their wedding. My best goes to Crown Princess Margarita - how cute is she in her little yellow ensemble? Sublimely ladylike. I was also surprisingly impressed by Clotilde Courau (Princess of Venice and Piedmont) for leaving behind her usual attention-grabbing starlet style for the moment. I loved the Hereditary Princess of Baden as well, though I wish she would have investigated a little more support for the affair.

Worst in Un-Throned Royals

Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna

 L to R: Princess Ursula of Bavaria, the Countess of Paris, Princess Virginia Ira von Fürstenberg, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, the Duchess of Castro, the Princess of Naples, Princess Sophie of Isenburg

Another reason you should invite the un-royals: look what else they bring to chat about! Oh, ladies. Princess Ursula looks hot - literally. How did she not pass out in that suit and that wackadoodle hat? Just look at what the heat is doing to the Countess of Paris' chapeau. (Oh, that's the way it's supposed to be? Well, then.) Speaking of strange hats...a von Fürstenberg was there. The prize, though, clearly belongs to our Russian friend, Maria. You see, she's taken the muumuu and claimed it for Russia by adding a kokoshnik on top, though I think the muumuu was up for nationality grabs to start with. She had steep competition from Plastic Princess Barbie herself, Camilla from Castro, who wore THIS on her head. A giant foam-esque heart. Like something you might wear to a sporting event to cheer on your favorite team by supporting the mascot, except this is a wedding and she's backing the mascot of love. (Blech.) We also have Marina from Naples in an outfit she shares with Tina Turner, and Sophie of Isenburg wearing snowflakes and a skunk hat. (You should get acquainted with Sophie and her snowflake-in-July style, by the way: she's having a royal wedding of her own in August.)

Best in Blues, Pinks, and Such

Queen Silvia

 L to R: Princess Sara al Faisal of Jordan, the Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein, Queen Silvia of Sweden, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Michael of Kent

Now, back to some more familiar faces and ruling monarchies. Pure elegance from Sara and Sophie, and I especially like the added satellite flair from Liechtenstein. Mathilde brought her bling again with that wonderful brooch, but a little more of the try-hard (and a hat out of Sophie Wessex's closet), and Princess Michael must have parachuted in on her sleeves, so I'll go with Queen Silvia. Good old Silvia, she always classes the joint up.

Best in Pale

Princess Madeleine

 L to R: Princess Astrid of Belgium, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Princess Marie of Denmark, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

Another royal that must have died in the heat: Princess Astrid. But she looks elegant, as do the rest of these ladies; fine, nothing spectacular I must say, though I obviously love Maria Teresa's sparkly number there. The best for me turns out to be Madeleine, who I think is even repeating her dress. And why not? She looks good, and she's added a jaunty touch with her upright feather. A daring touch too: that thing defies gravity. One doesn't want to risk a flaccid feather situation, though I'm sure it happens to everyone...

Worst in Sparkly

Crown Princess Victoria

L to R: Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco, Princess Lalla Soukaina of Morocco, Queen Paola of the Belgians, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand

With a 5 p.m. wedding time, it's understandable to drift towards something sparkly. I'm prone to it no matter what the clock says. But there are right ways and wrong ways to do that, you see. Right way: stick to your national dress, like the ladies of Morocco and Thailand. (I want a caftan. They make it look so good! Is it wrong to want a sparkly caftan just for wearing around the house?) Wrongish way: to do it with an ill fit, like Paola, who is not at all flattered by that skirt length. Totally wrong way: Victoria. She's wearing a tinsel dress and a tinsel Amish bonnet. (I don't think the Amish would approve.) And baby blue shoes. V, you were my best at April's wedding! What happened?! Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Best of the Best

Crown Princess Mary

 L to R: the Countess of Wessex, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Princess Claire of Belgium

I had a hard time picking a favorite, I'm telling you. I loved the Countess of Wessex: so elegant, and weather-appropriate to boot! I loved Máxima in the mustard too, she made a colorful picture with Willem-Alexander and she always brings her A+ wedding game. Princess Claire was a surprising front runner in her fifties glam Natan outfit (she's like the Sarah Chatto of Monaco!), but in the end Mary won it for me. I don't care for the Sophie Wessex hat (seriously, Sophie, lock your hat box), but the dress - the dress! I want need it. In this Mediterranean turquoise, and also the purple that Princess Haya has it in. But it's Prada, so I'll be taking up a collection. Start digging for spare change, kids.

Who made your best- and worst-dressed at the religious wedding?

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife/Bekia/PPE

Royal Fashion Awards: The Concert and Reception in Monaco

After Prince Albert and his new Princess were civilly married, they headed for a party, and they took their motley crew with them. Also joining in the festivities were a handful of the foreign royals in town for the religious wedding, and thank heavens for that: clearly we needed a little dress code assistance, and you know our crown princesses always bring it. The royals were split between a reception held at a hotel and a concert by Jean-Michel Jarre, and here's what they wore:

Best of Caroline's Crew

Charlotte Casiraghi

 Left to Right: Princess Caroline of Hanover and Monaco, Princess Alexandra, Charlotte Casiraghi

The beachiest of the lot at the civil ceremony, Caroline and her girls decided not to bother with a change of clothes for the evening festivities. So I have to give Charlotte the award here, for at least putting in the effort to throw on a sparkly bolero and some sparkly shoes. As you know, adding a little disco ball to the affair will always win points in this realm.

Best of Stephanie's Crew

Pauline Ducruet

L to R: Louis Ducruet, Pauline Ducruet, Camille Gottlieb, Princess Stephanie of Monaco

Apparently Stephanie's moment of glory from earlier today was fleeting indeed, as she seems to have regressed to her regular fare. (Cue a gasp of shock from absolutely no one.) So we'll give this prize to Pauline, for pure seated potential.

Best of the Neutrals

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

L to R: Princess Marie of Denmark, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands

Marie has such a 1995 aesthetic, you just have to nod and smile. (And ponder if she has something to share with us, especially after her most recent appearance. I mean, I detest the baby bump game, but...the hamster wheel inside my head, it turns.) Máxima brought her game - I think she knew the Grimaldis would need a little help - but at the end of the day, I think Mette-Marit's looking the best here. Tremendously normal for her, but I like it. (Though I am now officially overly excited to see what Máxima wears tomorrow!)

Best in Color

The Duchess of Anjou

 L to R: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the Duchess of Anjou, Princess Mathilde of Belgium

Mary's dress gets a pass, but I like her statement earrings best of all. Mathilde also went the statement earring route, but sadly she also went the statement dress, statement shoes, and statement bracelet route at the same time. Looks like a Christmas tree, poor dear. I'm giving this ribbon to a brand-spankin' new royal on the blog: Margarita, the Duchess of Anjou! The sleeves keep it royal, while the skirt length and the sassy shoes keep it concert-ish. Well played, Duchess. Welcome to the Order.

Best Second Attempt

Princess Charlene

 

Okay, let's try this again: here's the Chanel gown/jumper/romper/thing, this time without your grandmother's suit jacket. If she stands really still, so I can try and erase that part of my memory that knows that this is trousers and not a skirt, I could fall in love. It's feminine, and all the detail on the bodice helps to get rid of the lingerie feel. She also took a page from Charlotte's book and added in a little disco ball glam in the form of a new necklace (gold, diamonds, giant pearls?). Alas, I have a mind like steel trap (no comments from the peanut gallery, please), and I can't forget. I also truly can't understand why she didn't change. You're the bride! You can have as many outfit changes as you want, girl! You just made it work when you didn't have to, and there's no excuse for that.

Do you like Charlene's second attempt? Who's your favorite for the evening festivities?

Photos: Albert Nieboer/dpa/picture alliance/PPE/Hola/Getty Images/Daylife/Gerard Julien/AFP

Royal Fashion Awards: The Prince & Princess of Monaco's Civil Wedding

Oh, those Grimaldis. They always seem to look like they just couldn't quite get the whole picture pulled together. Case in point: the absurdly curious dress code at today's civil wedding ceremony for Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock. Let's all hold hands and figure it out together:

Best in Balcony

Princess Alexandra

 Left to Right: Pauline Ducruet, Princess Alexandra, Camille Gottlieb

The dress code confusion, you see, starts young. Stephanie's daughter Pauline and Caroline's daughter Alexandra look appropriate for a summer wedding, while Stephanie's other daughter Camille has come dressed for a costume cocktail party. We'll give this one to Alexandra, on account of the fact that I like her fancy little hairdo.

Best Beach Outfit

Charlotte Casiraghi

What a perfect outfit for a beach stroll, picnic basket in hand, maybe a dog or two tagging along. Well, maybe a beach wedding, if you want to get picky about your tulle usage. But a royal wedding in a palace? Not so much! (Also, memo to Charlotte: we know you like to do your pouty thing so we're sure to know that you're too cool for your surroundings, but you might want to pack it away for a wedding at which everybody already thinks the bride's about to bolt. People talk, you know.)

Worst Combination

Princess Caroline

Chanel dress: love it. Chanel dress a few inches too short with those shoes and a straw hat the size of Monaco: oh, no. Another recipient of the beach party dress code invitation, apparently.

Best of the Day

Princess Stephanie

Mark this down. Write it on your calendars: Princess Stephanie's got the best outfit of the day. It's hard to get past, you know, the tan, but this is completely classy. Clearly she received the covered up cocktail hour dress code.

Best Dress Code

The Gentlemen

 L to R: Andrea Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, Louis Ducruet

Men have it so easy sometimes. Suit, tie, go. Le sigh. (No, I don't know what Andrea is smelling there.)

Most Questionable Bridal Dress Code

Princess Charlene

Kudos to Charlene for forging new territory in the land of civil wedding dresses, I guess - that territory being the land of half-formal, half-nightie pant suits, apparently! Charlene went to Chanel for her civil wedding look, and it's a head scratcher for sure. A strapless gown/jumper/romper underneath the traditional Chanel jacket in a most curious length and with one button undone, adding to my confusion. (She took the jacket off for the evening concert, see it here.) It's curiously matronly.

But since she is the bride, we can't deny her some praise: the brand-new Princess of Monaco was rocking some seriously fantastic hair and makeup. Also, this color is amazing on her. Mediterranean blue!

And she did look radiant. Perhaps a wee bit awkward with Albert (I'm not going to post the pics of them kissing, you're welcome), but absolutely glowing. My eyebrows are half raised and ready to see what new religious wedding gown territory she feels like blazing!

Who was your best- and worst-dressed for the civil wedding? And what's your take on the wedding trousers?

Still to come: concert fun, and tomorrow's religious wedding! Stay tuned!

Photos: Reuters/AP Photo/Daylife/Getty Images/Shaun Botterill/PP

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 19-25 June

Here's what Mary wore from 19-25 June:

1. Shopping in Copenhagen, with a Prada bag and Chanel shades. I feel like this is what you wear shopping when you're just popping to the shops to grab a few necessities on your way home from the office, and you've forgotten to take off the cardi you keep on the back of your chair for days when the office air conditioning is overzealous. Cute dress, though.

Photo: msn.dk

Wedding Wednesday: Princess Caroline's Dresses

In advance of what we can only hope will be Prince Albert's only wedding, how about a look back at his stylish sister and her three ceremony outfits?

In 1978, 21-year-old Princess Caroline married 38-year-old playboy Philippe Junot. They were civilly married on June 28th with a religious ceremony on the following day. For her wedding gown, Caroline turned to Marc Bohan at Christian Dior.

The end result was not precisely the original design intent: Bohan had to make last minute changes after details of the bride's look leaked. It's hard to concentrate on the fairly plain dress with the Princess Leia hair, isn't it? One wonders if keeping the original design despite the spoilers might not have been the way to go.

Caroline and Philippe were divorced in 1980 amid accusations of infidelity (from both sides, apparently). Their marriage was annulled by the Catholic Church in 1992.

Next, Caroline married Stefano Casiraghi in a civil ceremony on December 29, 1983.

Once again, Christian Dior provided the dress: this time, a draped silk charmeuse affair with matching bow in her hair. A far more sophisticated look than the first wedding, no?

Caroline and Stefano had three children together: Andrea, Charlotte, and Pierre. (Andrea was born about 5 months after the wedding.) Stefano died in a speed boat accident in 1990 at the age of 30, leaving Caroline a widow and single mother.

Caroline is currently married to Prince Ernst August of Hanover, making her title HRH The Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco. Caroline and Ernst were married civilly on January 23, 1999 after Ernst received permission from Queen Elizabeth II in accordance with the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. (He still lost his position in the line of succession to the British throne, though, as Caroline is a Catholic.) The bride wore a light blue Chanel suit for her small and secretive third wedding.

Once again, the marriage was not without scandal. Ernst's first wife was a close friend of Caroline's, which has raised a few eyebrows. At the time of the wedding, Caroline was 3 months pregnant with Princess Alexandra, the couple's only child. And the scandals haven't stopped in the years since the wedding: Ernst is an interesting character, to say the least. He's been photographed kissing another woman. They are still married, but haven't been seen in public together for a long time. Needless to say, many will be on the lookout for Ernst's presence or absence at the upcoming royal wedding.

Do you have a favorite of these three? I've always loved number two, myself. That dress would still be stylish today, and that's quite the feat when you consider its 1983 origins.