Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 18-24 December

Here's what Letizia wore from 18-24 December:

1. Audiences at Zarzuela Palace, 20 December.
2. Attending a Cirque du Soleil performance, 23 December. Purple all around! Banner week by default.

Photos: Zimbio/Hola

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 11-17 December

Here's what Letizia wore from 11-17 December:

1. Attending a lunch at the palace, 13 December.
2. At a ceremony for the Prince of Girona Foundation, 14 December. Again with the strangely matched shoes. Why?

We also got a glimpse of the family's Christmas card this week, prepare your awwws:

 

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 13-19 November

Here's what Mary wore from 13-19 November:

1. Opening a new campaign for The Mary Foundation, 14 November. Gah! I love this jacket! And the Day Birger et Mikkelsen blouse underneath is a really interesting but lovely pairing.
2. Opening a youth conference, 16 November. We've seen this Prada number before - from last year's Parliament opening, when she was pregnant with the twins! It's an unusual color combination, but I love it, and the blue shoes are a perfect touch.
3. Arriving in Australia for a combo private and official visit, 19 November. Speaking of the twins, Princess Josephine here doesn't look too impressed with her first glimpse of Australia, but I'm sure she'll warm to it. The Australian trip is where we will pick up next week.

Photos: Purepeople/Abaca

Royal Fashion Awards: National Day in Monaco

Well friends, the day of reckoning has arrived, in which we begin to sort out what kind of National Day Princess Charlene will lead. And the results...are a mixed bag. So, business as usual for the Monaco bunch, basically. To the awards!

Worst of the Mixed Bag

Princess Charlene

Straight out of the gate, Charlene was an early favorite for the best dressed lady of the day. Yes, it's beige, and it's nonhatted. But it borders on a fierce level of chic with the cape (yay!) and the long gloves (YAY!) and just the right amount of textural contrast to the skirt. Plus, the hair and makeup are perfection - Her Serene Highness was glowing. So how on earth did she end up with a "Worst" award? Because the night came...

...and THIS happened. CHAR. Sweetie. It's like a Juicy Couture sweatsuit on evening duty. But the thing is, I'd be prepared to take the fabric and the single sleeve shenanigans if we could get a proper color up in here (you could call this "mink", I suppose; I'll go with "barn mouse") and a makeup and hair combo that didn't wash her out all alien-like. And you know, you know, I'd forgive every single above sin if she would've gone the tiara route. But she didn't, and my hopes have been forever dashed.

Best and Also Worst Because I'm Sad

Princess Caroline

Put Charlene and Caroline together and I think you've got one of the least formal, least blinged-out National Day galas in quite some time. Le sigh. I give up. In other news, Caroline's looking notably lovely - my irrational disappointment aside, she really did look younger than she's looked in a while.

Most in Need of a Switcheroo

Princess Caroline and Charlotte Casiraghi

As a matter of fact, she looked so young I'm gonna throw something out there: I think she and her daughter got their outfits mixed up. Caroline's day outfit, with a hat so very reminiscent of the one Charlotte wore to Albert's coronation, could use a dose of Charlotte's youthful irreverence, while Charlotte looks like she's been caught playing dress up in her mom's business suits. I like them both, I'm just saying: maybe we've got a Freaky Friday situation on our hands.

Best Expression

Princess Alexandra

I like this kid, and her wee polka dot tights. I like to think that expression says, "I'm in on the joke, and you're not." And clearly she's right!

Best Streak

Princess Stephanie

I don't know, guys. She was pretty good at the big wedding, and now I'm really liking her demure take on National Day. Here's hoping she keeps up the streak, as entertaining as her foibles can be.

Most Dependable

Prince Albert, Andrea Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi

Whether you're disappointed in the ladies or not, you can always turn to the men for a solid sartorial appearance, right? Right.

What did you make of family's National Day appearances?

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife/PLS Pool/Zimbio

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 6-12 November

Here's what Máxima wore from 6-12 November:

1. Opening Money Week 2011, 7 November. A cape! Yay! I hope she swooped it around a bit, if so then I will forgive the matchy-matchy shoes.
2. At the opening conference of the European Office of the Sustainability Consortium, 8 November. A thoroughly typical outfit, topped with a new Natan coat.
3. Attending the Erasmus Prize award ceremony, 9 November. This is a little...lackluster, no?
4. Receiving the first coin made for Money Week, 10 November.
5. Welcoming Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) with her daughters, 12 November. My, my, I'm not sure when the last time was our colorful Máx was this monochrome for whole week (leave it to her to go with a reddish week instead of a grayish one, at least - bless!). We need some color variety, and for that we turn to the A-Team and their jaunty chapeaux:

Well done ladies, well done.

Photos: PPE/v.d. Werf/Dutch Photo Press/Nieboer

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 16-22 October

Here's what Mathilde wore from 16-22 October:

1. Day 1 of the couple's economic mission in China, 21 October. Saucy little jacket, no? Looks fab.
2. Day 2, first outfit, 22 October.
3. Day 2, second outfit with (a) and without (b) the cape, 22 October. I am currently obsessed with capes, just so you know. Anything fun and swoopy with maybe just a dash of Severus Snape works for me.

An excellent start to the China visit - more next week. Mathilde's looking fantastic, these are all super flattering outfits. And hey, you know who else was in China for an economic mission recently?

That would be Guillaume, also known as the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, also known as the only unmarried European heir of decent legal age left, ladies.

And in other Mathilde news, new pics were released to celebrate Princess Elisabeth's 10th birthday.

The family that coordinates together stays together. Go team purple!


Photos: Nieuwsblad/HLN/SIP/Charles Caratini/Cour gr ducale

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 18-24 September

Here's what Máxima wore from 18-24 September:

1. Attending the baptism of Princess Margarita's daughter Paola, 18 September (Margarita is Willem-Alexander's cousin).
2. a) Prinsjesdag, 20 September, with b) a close up on the beadwork.
3. Receiving a book of poetry and attending the premiere of a musical, 21 September.
4. Opening the World Music Contest, 22 September. A sparkly delight repeated from the Qatar state visit.
5. In Washington, D.C. attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings, 23 September. Well, I suppose if anyone can pull off the double animal print, it's Máx...

You really can't see what she wore for outfit 1 but it doesn't matter because Holland's next top models were in the house:

Werk!

Photos: Profimedia/Dutch Photo Press/PPE/Nieboer/Getty Images/Daylife

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 28 August - 3 September

Here's what Mathilde wore from 28 August - 3 September:

1. First day of school for the Belgian crew, 1 September. Cute little family, no?
2. Meeting with people from Casa Hogar at the Palace of Laeken, 2 September. Lovely shape for her, but I'm not going to lie: from far away, it looked like there might be some sort of spaceship print happening on there. Like perhaps she stole her son's sheets and had a dress made. It's leaves or something, really, but once you get a picture in your mind...game over.

Photos: Dutch Photo Press/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 21-27 August

Here's what Victoria wore from 21-27 August:

1. Attending a memorial service for the Norway attacks, 21 August.


2. Meeting with WaterAidSweden to accept their patronage with Daniel, 22 August.


3. Awarding the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, 23 August.


4. Celebrating Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit's 10th wedding anniversary, 25 August. I applaud her for not going the safe route with her accessories...but snakeskin and polka dots? Not so much.


5. At their anniversary dinner, 25 August. This looks fabulous. Do you think if I stomp my feet loud enough, someone will produce a full length picture? No? Well, I tried.

So, it seems we have Victoria's maternity style: get a sack dress from Greta or Mayla, add some random necklaces and bracelets, call it good. Personally, I'm hoping that this is just the product of an emergency shopping trip because that baby grew too much for her to fit in her regular clothes, but not enough to make proper maternity wear work, and not a permanent staple until March. I don't think my attention span can handle it if that's not the case.

Anyway, let's end on some cuteness, no?

Victoria, a.k.a. Europe's godmother, and shy little godchild Ingrid Alexandra. Aww. At the service, Victoria read the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, which I do believe is the same reading she gave at the wedding ten years ago.

Photos: PurePeople/Abaca/Kungahuset/Svenskdam

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 21-27 August

Here's what Mary wore from 21-27 August:

1. Boarding the royal yacht, Dannebrog, for a summer cruise of royal visits. Who's looking at the outfit? There's a twin involved!
2. Day 1 of the summer cruise, 22 August. Repeating one of my favorite purple dresses, topped with a repeated pink hat. I often find pink and purple too twee a combo, but this is working all over the place.
3. Day 2, 23 August. Lurve! I know a hefty chunk of you are about to tell me that she might as well be back in maternity wear, but so help me, I go weak for a good swing coat. Just so stinkin' elegant.
4. Last day, 25 August. More repeats, in a new pairing. Did not like the dress + coat combo at first, but I'm on board now.
5. Leaving for a trip to Africa, 25 August. Perfect princess travel wear.
6. Visiting a refugee camp in Kenya, 27 August.

I feel like this week just had a giant Mary's back! stamp right across it. This is precisely the elegance that makes me like her style in the first place, and we've been missing it for quite some time, what with the babies and all.

Also, this was a tremendously cute week. Husbands in uniform and babies with wee outfits and giant cheeks galore! Even an aquarium kiss, for the softies in the crowd.

Sometimes you just have to embrace the cheese. It's good for the soul.

What was your favorite outfit this week?

 Photos: Isopix/Peter Grosen/All Over Press Denmark/PurePeople/Abaca/Henrik Dam/Billed Bladet

Week in Review: Princess Letizia, 14-20 August

Here's what Letizia wore from 14-20 August:

1. Meeting Pope Benedict XVI at Zarzuela Palace in Felipe Varela, 19 August. "Everybody in your Sunday best, the Pope's in the house! And he's rocking some serious shoes..." Queen Sofia wins this appearance in her cheery yellow suit, no? (Apart from the kids, of course. That's not fair competition.)


2. Attending a prayer vigil during the Pope's visit for World Youth Day, 20 August. Finally, a perfect occasion for her business casual princess style! She looked a step up but not uncomfortably out of place amongst loads of kids in polo shirts. Love it.

Also: Queen Sofia may have won the day with the Pope, but wee Sofia won her fair share of bonus points for being 4 and not pretending like she particularly cares, basically.

Another awesome kid to add to the Isabella collection. Royal watching's going to be downright entertaining in a decade or two, isn't it?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Purepeople/Abaca

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 7-13 August

Here's what Mary wore from 7-13 August:

1. With Prince Christian as he received a gift from Greenland, 11 August, in a repeated dress. She sort of blends into the background, but hey - it's Christian's engagement, not hers.


2. Accompanying Christian on his first day of school, 12 August. A well put together little family, though I must admit that belts worn like that just don't float my boat.

Photos: Hola/Zimbio

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 31 July - 6 August

Here's what Mary wore from 31 July - 6 August:

1. a) Annual family photoshoot at Graasten Castle, 1 August, in b) Prada. Love this look! If you happen to have seen something similar and less expensive to this available anywhere, help a fellow reader out and leave a comment.


2. Riding around Graasten.


3. a) At a conference for the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, 6 August, in b) Prada. I love the shoes (c) enough to make up for the dress, which is just another Prada thing I don't care for (#1 being an exception).

Everybody showed up for the well-coordinated family photoshoot, of course: Frederik and Mary and their brood of four, Joachim and Marie and little Henrik plus Joachim's two sons from his first marriage, Benedikte along with Gustav and his permanent girlfriend Carina, and of course Margrethe and big Henrik to round it out.

And as per usual, Princess Isabella provided the day's entertainment.

Oh, she's a gem.

Photos: Niels Henrik Dam/Billed Bladet/Getty Images/Daylife/Svenskdam/PurePeople/Abaca

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 3 - 9 July

Here's what Mathilde wore from 3-9 July:

1. Visiting Villa Rose Red, 7 July. Fantastic silhouette for her, though once again I wish it wasn't so matchy-matchy.
2. Yearly family photo opportunity, 8 July. And speaking of matchy-matchy, here's the annual photo op! That Philippe is one good sport.

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 3 - 9 July

Here's what Máxima wore from 3 - 9 July:

1. Posing on holiday in Italy for the annual family photo opportunity, 4 July. I totally love this. Also, this is how you do family coordination without looking like von Trapps! So glad she didn't dress the A-team all alike again.

The Prince and Princess of Monaco's Wedding: The Groom, Bridal Party, and Bride's Family

Because you know we never miss a chance for a uniform, a cute kid, or a well-dressed non-royal...

Prince Albert finalized his marriage to Princess Charlene in the cream summer uniform of Monaco's Palace Guards, which includes gold leaf and crown embroidery on the sleeves and epaulettes. The buttons feature the Prince's monogram, and he wore medals of the Order of Saint Charles, the Order of Grimaldi, and the French Legion of Honor. Personally, I would have liked to see him in some color, and can't stop giggling at the white shoes. Not his choice, I'm sure, but it's all very Boca Raton shuffle board tournament.

For her attendants, Charlene chose two friends to be by her side: Isabell Kristensen and Donatella Knecht de Massy (who is married to one of Albert's cousins, and served as one of the witnesses for the marriage).

Left to Right: Isabell Kristensen, Donatella Knecht de Massy

She was also accompanied by seven young bridesmaids, all around the age of seven. Instead of sticking to the traditional bridal party composed of friends and family, Albert and Charlene chose local girls from around Monaco, and dressed them in costumes inspired by traditional Monegasque wear.

Interestingly, it was Princess Caroline that took the reins in the bridesmaid outfits, asking the Ballets de Monte-Carlo to create the costumes and working together with Jean-Christophe Maillot, director of the ballet, to design them.

The result included plenty of personal touches, such as silk stockings embroidered with the couple's monogram, and aprons that feature both the couple's monogram and the name of the area of Monaco that each girl is from. Each outfit took more than 120 hours to create. The girls are also wearing necklaces of black velvet ribbon with gold crosses given to them by Prince Albert.
This is the kind of detail that can risk coming off as kitschy, but when the sentiment starts by selecting girls from around the country, I think the end result is a touching tribute to the culture of Monaco. I'm sure it was well appreciated by the Monegasque people! 

Last but not least, we must save some praise for the bride's family. The Wittstocks were well turned out yesterday, and they once again showed up some of the other wedding guests today:

Mother of the bride Lynette Wittstock looked extremely elegant, and Charlene's brothers Gareth and Sean are certainly two very handsome men, if I may say so.

What did you think of the bride's accompanying party?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/PPE/Reuters
Source: Mariage Princier

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 19-25 June

Here's what Mette-Marit wore from 19-25 June:

1. At a dinner for the United Nations Foundation Board of Directors, 20 June, a) on Mette-Marit and b) from Valentino.
2. At an event related to the "Til topps" event, 24 June. "Til topps" is an event in which people climb to the top of Norway's highest mountain, and this is just right. Precisely what a von Trapp would have worn.
3. Participating in the "Til topps" event, 25 June. A little family walk to the top of Norway! Well, that's kind of adorable.

Look who else showed up for the UN dinner:

Absolutely love that white on Rania, but I think Sonja might win my prize for this mini-gathering of royals. Surprisingly chic, that simple dress and the scarf thrown just so, no?

Photo: AP/Style.com/side2

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mary, 12-18 June

Here's what Mary wore from 12-18 June:

1. a) Paying a family visit to the royal yacht, 13 June. I have only one thing to say about this: (b) ISABELLA!! I love this kid.
2. Princess Nathalie's wedding, 18 June. Yeah, I'm just not a big enough fan of ruching for this dress.  How about a gratuitous jewel shot instead?

Photos: Isopix/Daylife/Getty Images

Royal Fashion Awards: Garter Day 2011

You guys, I love Garter Day. Celebrating the oldest order of chivalry in the world? How much more royal can you get? Most of the gentlemen and selected ladies turn up in their Hogwarts finest (yes, I did make a Harry Potter reference last year, and I will make one every year that we do this thang), but we do get a few ladies that turn up in their English-hatted best for our entertainment too. So let's get to business and throw some awards out on the table.

Best Future Repeat

The Duchess of Cambridge

I saw two opinions on this Katherine Hooker coat and Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat today: OMGAMAZINGOMGSOPRETTY, or ...why is she dressing like a 60-year-old? I could agree with you either way, actually. This is very similar to what the Countess of Wessex has been wearing lately, and the Countess is 46 years old. It's very similar to the silhouette that Camilla wore today, and Camilla is 63 years old. But there's a reason why this style crosses generations: it's universally flattering. It's like the International Princess Uniform. And you know we'll be seeing this for as many years to come as Kate's figure/tailor will allow.

Best in Benjamin Button

The Countess of Wessex

Speaking of the 46-year-old Countess...damn. Sophie looks younger than she did when she married Edward, no? Loving her with her hair up. Thus, I hereby confer a second Benjamin Button title (the first belongs to dear Marie-Chantal, of course) on our Sophie. Well played, Countess.

Best in Froof

The Duchess of Cornwall

This lady has a tremendous ability to pull off a wackadoodle hat. Personally, I love it when she whips that talent out and lets it shine, and this harried Cousin It chapeau is just the thing. Add in a new coat, flattering as can be, and I'm sold.

Best in Bling

Queen Elizabeth

This is one of the times when she brings out the serious daytime bling - every year, the Queen's earrings are killer. Now, these are some sapphire and diamond earrings: Kate, take note. (Yet another reason why I love Garter Day: excuses for diamonds in the daylight are always welcome!)

Best Knight

Princess Alexandra

Garter Knights, left to right: the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent, the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge

I heart Princess Alexandra, plain and simple. There's no one more elegant, especially in velvet and feathers. As I threw out on Twitter earlier today, we need to get a petition started for Alexandra to take Kate under her wing and teach her the Princess way. Who's with me?

Best Enthusiasm

Lady Louise Windsor

And you thought smiley Kate and her blushing husband were the tops of the cute tree. Good thing Louise, watching from the side with her school chums, is here to show you what's up. More Louise, please!

Best Theme

Lady Sarah Chatto

You know how I don't like neutrals. You know how I don't like it when people wear the same thing over and over again. Well, I'm breaking all my rules. Here's Lady Sarah (attending because one of her sons was pageboy for the Queen this year), looking a whole lot like she did yesterday, and a whole lot like she did at the wedding, and I don't care. This lady is on a one-woman crusade to bring back 1950s glam, and I am behind her all the way. You go, Lady Sarah! Show 'em how it's done!

Worst in Mysterious

The Duchess of Gloucester

Here's Birgitte, only seen because she's sitting next to Anne. You can also see her hiding between Kate and the gentleman on the right in the first picture in this post. Barely visible because once again she's not worn anything of note. How sad! She's so utterly lovely (and a total candidate for another Benjamin Button award, I'm telling you). I'm not saying she should start borrowing from the millinery closet of Princess Beatrice, but we could do a little better than navy/black, right?

Who topped your best-dressed list at the Garter Ceremony?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Reuters/Isopix/Newspix/Belga