I hate when we only get arrival photos for royal events…
This better not be the last time we see this pink dress, Catherine.
And you, Meghan. We don’t even know what you were wearing…
This will drive me nuts.
Bow Down to Kate
So Kate repeated one of my favourite gowns ever tonight at the Tusk Awards:
And it got me thinking about other items from Kate’s closet I’d love to see again. Here are some of gowns I’m dying for Kate to repeat.
This is one of Kate’s divisive Erdem gowns, but I love the contrasting colours and the florals on it.The deep jewel colours look great on her.
The Elsa gown, as I like to call it.
This beautiful dress from her tour of Germany a few years ago. The colour is amazing on her.
Her “Bond Girl” gown.
Another Elsa gown.
This beautiful BAFTA gown.
I’d love to see this in person – she’s worn it to the Diplomatic Reception but we haven’t actually seen it aside from a quick peek in a documentary.
How about whipping out this sparkly Jenny Packham that you wore to the first Tusk Awards, Kate?
Now that Kate’s repeated the teal gown at the Tusk Awards tonight and this Jenny Packham dress in 2016, this would complete the 2011-12 trifecta.
And this sleek dress.
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I own none of these photos
What would you like to see Kate repeat?
Kate at tonight’s State Banquet for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands AND SHE FINALLY HAS THE ROYAL FAMILY ORDER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II.
And she’s wearing the Lover’s Knot tiara, a necklace that hasn’t been worn since the Queen Mother last wore it, and is just dripping in elegance!
Duchess Down Under: Kate in Australia and New Zealand
It’s finally time for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand! I’m looking forward to the next 16 days of fashion, events, and wall-to-wall royal coverage.
I can’t wait to see what Meghan wears throughout the tour, especially which designers she’ll spotlight and what her evening wear, day wear, sporty wear, all of it looks like.
Today I’m taking a look back at Kate’s wardrobe during her first tour of Australia and New Zealand, as an appetizer of things to come!
Upon arriving in Wellington, New Zealand, Kate sported this classic Catherine Walker coat dress and pillbox hat. Very Jackie O.
George was so squirmy on this tour. It was always a treat when we got to see him on engagements. This is from a party at Government House in New Zealand.
The first Alexander McQueen of the tour was this icy blue coat dress worn to the Blenheim War Memorial.
At the Whenuapai Air Base.
This simple black Jenny Packham dress was one of my favourite looks in New Zealand, especially with that bejewelled fern on the shoulder.
Kate always looks stunning in green. Here she is in Erdem during a visit to the Rainbow Place Children’s Hospice.
Emilia Wickstead for Kate, who is a New Zealander. She’s also wearing the fern brooch, but it’s covered by her hair here.
Casual dress for Regal Rippa Rugby Day. Kate hasn’t met a cream sweater she doesn’t hate.
Visiting the Amisfield Winery in Queenstown.
Another red dress for Kate as she visits Christchurch in a Luisa Spagnoli creation.
For her last event in New Zealand, she wore a Rebecca Taylor outfit.
I’m a big fan of yellow dresses, and I loved this Roksanda Ilincic dress she wore for her arrival in Australia. There’s the added bonus accessory of Prince George, which is never a bad thing.
This patterned Diane von Furstenberg dress is visually stunning.
How appropriately beachy!
The second Alexander McQueen dress was an icy blue coatdress.
Ah, the visit to the zoo. Wasn’t Prince George a doll meeting that bilby?
Another squirmy Prince George upon their arrival in Canberra. This is a pretty solid Stella McCartney dress.
I’ll admit, this might be the only dress I didn’t like.
Another Roksanda Ilincic dress. I love the silhouette.
And an earthy patterned dress to visit Ayers Rock.
This pale pink Alexander McQueen dress is hands-down my favourite look this tour. The soft colour, the peplum, the v-neck… it’s perfection.
Another bold green coatdress, this time by Catherine Walker.
Interesting shoulders on this Lela Rose dress.
And this blue outfit worn to the Australian War Memorial to wrap up the Australian leg of the tour.
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Meghan and Harry have landed in Sydney and officially begin the tour on the 16th (tomorrow, my time!). What are you hoping she wears? I’m excited for everything!
I own none of these photos
In Princess Eugenie’s Closet (Revised)
I’m bringing back an old feature on Jess in a Yellow Dress, In Her Closet, to start the festivities for Princess Eugenie’s royal wedding tomorrow (which I’ll wake up at 3:00 am to cover for Royal Central…).
I’ve featured Princess Eugenie before, back in 2016, when it was rumoured that she was about to get engaged. But I’m expanding it and including newer fashion.
I can’t say I’m always 100% a fan of Princess Eugenie’s style, but she’s really come into her own since 2011. I definitely appreciate the bold patterns, the jewel tones, and the hats. Oh, the hats.
Here’s what I’d steal from Princess Eugenie’s Closet:
I love the contrast of blue and pink belt.
This floral pattern dress.
This paint-splattered skirt.
This hat.
This interesting lace dress.
This insane hat.
This is a really interesting pattern, and I love the play of colours.
Another whimsical pattern.
This wide-brimmed hat and that beautiful green dress.
Another wide hat and whimsical dress.
The heels!
This Jackie O-style coat.
This fascinating patterned dress, which she wore to the Patron Lunch in 2016 and was probably my favourite look from any royal woman that day.
Of course, her engagement dress.
This stunning red dress.
And this stunning red coat.
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I own none of these photos.
What would you steal from Princess Eugenie’s closet?
Kate’s finally back from maternity leave and can I just say how much I missed her?
I’ve loved all of her looks so far and can’t wait to see what she’ll wear to the wedding on Friday.
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I don’t own those photos
Together: with the Duchess of Sussex
What a long summer it’s been, eh? I pretty much took the summer off due to work obligations but also because… it’s so quiet during the summer for the royals, what is there to talk about?
I’ve of course been keeping up with the royals on Twitter and through my work at Royal Central, but I’ve been looking forward to the calendars filling up again.
When Kensington Palace announced last week that Meghan had been working with the women at the Hubb Community Kitchen to launch a cookbook, I was stoked. Meghan is an amazing woman, and I’ve been looking forward to seeing her spread her wings.
What an amazing first project. This combines a lot of Meghan’s strong suits: food, women empowerment, and helping communities re-build. If this is an indication of what Meghan’s royal work will be, I can’t wait to see what she has planned next.
I think for all of us who’ve watched her throughout her engagement as she was being introduced to the communities in the UK, and through the summer as she accompanied Harry, to see her so at ease, so confident and so passionate about this cookbook and the women of Hubb who put it together was a real treat.
I’m looking forward to my copy of Together: Our Community Cookbook arriving next week and can’t wait to make any one of the delicious recipes I saw at the launch today!
If you’re in Canada and want to pre-order your copy (release date: September 25), you can click here to pre-order on Chapters.
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I don’t own these photos
I do own a pre-ordered copy of Together: Our Community Cookbook
When Did Princess Elisabeth Grow Up?
Seriously…
Belgium’s National Day – July 21
New photos to mark King Philippe’s fifth anniversary on the throne – July 18
Visiting Villers Abbey – July 1
At the Queen Elisabeth Contest Finals – May 12
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I don’t own any of these photos
Crown Princess Victoria’s Fashion
Can we take a minute to applaud Crown Princess Victoria? She is killing it fashion-wise these days!
Here she is at the Representative’s Dinner on May 31st.
A closer look at the sparkle.
Another tiara appearance – and soft florals for when she and Prince Daniel attended the 50th birthday celebrations for Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in late May.
Here she is – pretty in pink – at Lussan Gottlieb’s wedding last Saturday.
Looking perfectly summery in blue at a meeting of the Crown Princess Margreta’s Veteran Reserve Foundation.
Rocking the pink florals at the annual meeting of the Friends of the National Museum.
A bold teal patterned dress at a meeting of the World Wildlife Foundation.
Stunning in red at the unveiling of a bust of Folke Bernadotte (alongside her mother, Queen Silvia, in patterned black and white).
Red again last week to visit the National Defense Radio Establishment with her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf.
Keep slaying!
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I own none of these photos
Royal Wedding Run-Down
It feels like we’d never get here but at the same time it feels like they – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex(!) – just announced their engagement yesterday. I’m running on fumes right about now, so let’s break this down.
Here are my thoughts on the royal wedding.
Best in Bridal Surprises
I personally would’ve put my money on Erdem, but in the end it was Givenchy. As an Audrey Hepburn aficionado and fan of Givenchy, I’m thrilled with the choice. It’s definitely more understated than I would’ve predicted but now that I see it I wonder why I thought it would’ve been this huge affair – it’s perfectly Meghan.
That veil is pure fire and the nod to the Commonwealth was a sweet touch given the focus the Commonwealth will be for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Best in Uniform
There’s just something about Prince William in a uniform that makes him 10,000% more handsome (and he’s already a Disney prince, so…). Harry’s okay too, I guess.
Best (and Only) Moment that Made Me Tear Up
Seeing Prince Philip up and about, without any visible pains or support, truly did me in. He’s in many ways the backbone of the Royal Family, and I feel for him the way I feel about my own grandfather: nothing but love and respect. You knew there was nothing that was going to stop him from this moment and he pulled it off.
Best Prince George Moment
This stinker was totally over it by the time it was time to leave the Chapel.
Best Princess Charlotte Moment
Princess Charlotte was quite the opposite and totally in her element the entire time. She enthusiastically waved off her aunt and uncle from the steps.
Best in ‘I’m Behaving This Time’
Princess Beatrice kept it tame this time! That’s a perfect colour for her, but I’m hoping she’s just lulling us into a false sense of security and that she’s working with a milliner for a truly outrageous hat for her sister’s wedding in October.
Best in Anne
Info on what Princess Anne is wearing here wasn’t included in the general press release about what the members of the Royal Family are wearing, but it wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if this turns out to be about 35 years old and snatched out of the back of her closet at the last minute.
Snark aside, Anne looked great!
Best Pregnant Person
Bless Zara Tindall for even coming, first of all. According to her husband Mike, she’s 8.5 months pregnant, and there were flashes of her throughout the ceremony where she looked so uncomfortable it was sad. She looks great in this teal blue, and Mike also looks dashing (he had his nose fixed recently and it really changed the look of his face in my opinion).
Best Comeback
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, at a royal wedding. Who’d have ever thought this would be possible unless it was Beatrice’s or Eugenie’s wedding? She even walked to the Chapel alone – as in, the crowds were gone. You have to wonder what flashed through her head.
Sartorially speaking, she looks fabulous. Is this what we should expect for her mother of the bride fashion in October?
Best in Jewels
Meghan ended up wearing Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara (I was predicting the Sapphire Bandeau, and for a hot minute I thought I was right – and was very smug about it) and it looks very elegant on her. If this becomes her go-to tiara, I’m all for it!
Best Modern Moment
Walking down the aisle part way on her own helped Meghan put her own stamp on the day and showed everyone just the type of royal she plans to be: she’ll follow the traditions but she’ll make sure she’s true to herself.
Best in Touching Moments
Having Prince Charles accompany her up the aisle part way was a wonderful gesture to show that she’s been truly embraced by the Royal Family – and can silence her vulture Markle relations.
Although it has to be said that for all the hardcore Harry and Meghan stans (the creepy ones on Twitter) who championed this as proof that Charles likes Harry and Meghan more than Will and Kate, note that Charles only stepped in at the last moment because her father couldn’t come and she had no other male relations at the wedding…
Favourite Photo
I mean, how do you top this?
Best in Yellow (keeping on brand)
Amal Clooney in a Yellow Dress! I wonder who the invite came from, Harry or Meghan? Anyways, that shade is gorgeous on Amal and she’s leaps and bounds ahead of the few who decided on yellow (sorry Kate).
Best in Suits
Donna, those sleeves!
Best in Jessicas
Jessica Pearson, as played by Gina Torres (from Suits). It’s a bold, beautiful colour on Gina and the hat is a great touch.
Best Scene Stealer
Lady Kitter Spencer, Diana’s niece. She looks like a model from the ‘50s and I’m here for it.
Best Middleton
Pippa kept it spring-ish and toned down in colours that really work for her. The rumours are that she’s pregnant and due in the fall, but time will tell – they haven’t confirmed it.
Moment that Made Me Gasp // Best Hat
Seeing Oprah! Oprah! And she looked amazing. That hat is my favourite. Oprah did not come to play around.
Best Tom
Hey boo.
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What were your favourite moments?
Royal Wedding Week: Tiara Prediction
I think, dress aside, seeing Meghan in a tiara is what I’m most looking forward to on Saturday morning. Although there are many gorgeous tiaras in the Queen’s vaults, there’s one tiara in particular that I’m hoping graces Meghan’s head:
Queen Mary’s Sapphire Bandeau.
It was worn by Princess Margaret back in the ‘50s and ‘60s but it hasn’t been seen since, and although I’d love to see it on Kate’s head, given her connection to sapphires, I think it would be a great starter tiara for Meghan.
More info on the tiara here, from The Court Jeweller, and here, from The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor.
What tiara do you hope Meghan wears?
Royal Wedding Week: Royal Biographies
Of course writers rushed to get their biographies of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle published before May 19th. I read two, American Princess by Leslie Carroll and Harry: Life, Loss and Love by Katie Nicholl.
I enjoyed American Princess because it focused on the couple equally, and there was a lot of information on Meghan. There were some paragraphs that made me pause (like an overly long one about how Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie looked down their noses at Meghan because she’s a commoner, which I’d have a hard time believing), but overall it was a quick read and traced their lives and romance.
Harry: LIfe, Loss and Love focused more on Harry (imagine that) but skimmed over his familiar tragic backstory and quickly shifted to his teen/adult years, which I appreciated. There’s less about Meghan in here, and it’s mostly through the lens of her relationship with Harry (for example, we don’t really get her backstory, it’s mostly from July 2016 onward).
There were quite a few Harry and Meghan books out this spring, including Andrew Morton’s, which I refused to read because I’d read the Fug Girls’s review and it was good enough for me.
Royal Wedding Week: Meghan Markle’s Pre-Wedding Fashion
I’ve really enjoyed watching Meghan’s fashion sense progress throughout her engagement, and I’m looking forward to seeing her style evolve further once she’s a real royal (not going to lie, I’m stoked to see what she’ll wear to Prince Charles’s Garden Party next week. A hat? A summery dress?)
Let’s revisit every Meghan has worn since her engagement was announced.
Her engagement photo call in late November. The green is a gorgeous shade, and the coat is very stylish. I got more Queen Letizia vibes from Meghan here than Duchess of Cambridge in terms of style. It works for Meghan.
This Ralph and Russo dress was fire. Pure fire. If they design her dress, I’m hoping for something equally regal and dramatic.
Again in colour.
The look of love.
Her first royal visit came the Friday after her engagement, when she joined Harry for a series of events to mark World AIDS Day in Nottingham.
She’s more business professional here than business casual, but it set a distinction against what we normally expect from a working royal.
We didn’t get to see Meghan in the full dress here, on her way to Buckingham Palace for the pre-Christmas luncheon, but I love how edgy it was.
A very subdued outfit for Christmas morning at Sandringham, but…that hat looks like the poop emoji, right? I’m just excited that she embraced hats. I think she’s going to have fun with that style element in the years to come.
I loved these pants.
A look at the coat.
This is a gorgeous top (worn in Wales). It’s simple in the design and the pattern, and the neckline looks very feminine on Meghan.
I remember everyone gushing about the “lady tux” and how she was wearing Alexander McQueen on the same night Kate wore this beautiful McQueen gown. It’s a simple look to wear to an event where the focus should rightly be on the honourees.
Tartan in Edinburgh? Someone was dressing for the occasion. I think if the pant hem was shorter and the coat looked less like a housecoat, this look could’ve been truly spectacular. As it is, she kinda seems like she just grabbed random sizes off the rack.
With the Royal Foundation Forum in February you really get the sense that Meghan’s style is turning…not around. More regally-minded? This looks stunning on Meghan, and it was the first time I really thought to myself that her style is moving more towards Kate, Mary, and Victoria and less Hollywood.
I love the coat.
Meghan’s first big event with the Royal Family came on Commonwealth Day. I thought this look was top to bottom perfect. The way all the women played with the same colour scheme was beautifully executed as they all got to emphasize their own styles yet come across as a united family.
In Northern Ireland. Meghan got some social media heat for wearing the colours of the Irish flag, but it’s a very polished look and all the elements come together to make a beautiful outfit. There’s not one piece out of place.
Someone on Tumblr said Meghan looks like an undercover cop at a sporting event trying to crack the case, and I’m sorry but that’s all I can think of when I see it. It’s not the sportiest look to wear to a sports engagement, but it suits Meghan.
This dress – worn at the Youth Forum Reception during CHOGM – is a big swing and a miss for me. I like the shoes. End of list.
At the CHOGM Women’s Reception, Meghan went Jackie O. She went Audrey. This will go down as one of her best looks.
Throughout it all, Meghan still retains a bit of an edgy style. Green is definitely one of her colours.
Gorgeous at the Queen’s 92nd Birthday Concert. It’s a cape dress!
This caused such a scandal at the time because her shoulders were exposed in a church and gasp protocol was broken! I sincerely doubt if it was an issue that they’d let her leave without a blazer, but you can’t convince some people.
It’s a beautifully appropriate dress for the event.
The Dawn Service for ANZAC Day. It’s very respectful and not ostentatious in the slightest.
In a case of dressing with symbolism, Meghan’s wearing a dress designed by New Zealander Emilia Wickstead at her second ANZAC Day event on April 25th. This is her last engagement ahead of her wedding.
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What do you think of Meghan’s fashion sense?
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I own none of these photos
Royal Wedding Week: Everything Wrong with Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance
I mean. You guys. I purposely did not watch the Lifetime movie for Will and Kate way back in the day because I knew it’d piss me off, but I had no idea how pissy I’d be watching this. Why don’t I feel pissy when I’m watching The Crown?
Oh, I know! Because it’s not cheesy and schlocky and poorly-written. (Except for that episode where they’re like Prince Philip is to blame for his sister’s death and also all of Charles’s childhood misery)
So I watched last night. And I hate tweeted the entire thing to the point where I almost went viral. You can read the whole thing on my Twitter account (here). I have a lot of notes, so here’s my list of EVERYTHING WRONG WITH HARRY & MEGHAN: A ROYAL ROMANCE:
1. It exists
Somebody greenlit this thing! And they’re passing off the fact that the writers only had two weeks to submit a draft as if it’s something to applaud. Great job, you totally made up entire plot points that would never happen in real life. You want a medal?
2. It makes Kate out to be a racist
If you thought it would be literally anybody in the Royal Family to point out that Meghan’s – gasp! – biracial before it was Kate, you’d be wrong. Kate’s the one who seizes upon it as a way to talk Harry out of dating her. Because apparently Kate’s the only one who cares about the optics in that family. Oh, and also she’s an opinionated harpy shrew and William is at one point asked point blank if he’s happy being married and he pauses for the longest time THEN DOESN’T ANSWER THE QUESTION.
This movie also has the gall to not have a Princess Michael. Instead, the racist blackamoor brooch is worn by some made-up old aristocrat at Pippa’s wedding (an event that Meghan wasn’t invited to, which causes the couple to sulk about – Harry at the reception itself, in plain view of everyone. How dare Pippa not want to be upstaged at her own wedding!) and Harry’s the one to call her out.
So you’re telling me that the writers couldn’t turn that aristo into Princess Michael? We spare her personal feelings and turn another character into that villain but have no problem making Kate the racist shrew? Okay…
3. It has no idea what love is, or what a couple in love behaves like
You can play a game called “Are they even in love at this point?” and always score a point. They break up – by my count – three times in the movie, and there are at least three more occasions where they could be about to break up but don’t.
They beak up because it should’ve just been a fling. Because what happened in Botswana must stay in Botswana. Because – and Lord help me here, cause this one made no god damn sense – Harry had the audacity to put out that statement telling the press to back off and Meghan is not a damsel in distress who needs saving, and how dare he make a statement like that without consulting her. To get them back together, Doria makes Meghan watch Diana’s funeral (instead of just saying what she needed to say she made her watch the funeral). Then Meghan makes this very public Ross/Rachel get-off-the-plane demonstration and wins him back.
It’s whiplash-inducing and for all the smoldering chemistry when they’re kissing and hugging and having love scenes, it never really seems like they’re in love. It’s more like they just happened to fall into this scenario and don’t know how to get out of it.
4. It has no concept of time
Do they get engaged in Africa or over a roast chicken? Who knows? Certainly not the writers.
Is Kate pregnant at Pippa’s wedding or over the summer? Who knows? Definitely not the writers, unless they have no clue about human gestation cycles!
Did Meghan meet the Queen before they were engaged or after? Who knows? Not the writers. They conflate the pre-Christmas luncheon with Meghan’s real first meeting with the Queen (and toss in the corgis, who fell in love with Meghan at first sight, for good measure)!
Point is, I think they just put all the big milestones on index cards, then pinned those index cards to a wall, then threw darts at them to determine the timeline.
5. It does a disservice to Harry and Meghan
Meghan comes across as a warm, nurturing, independent, intelligent woman. Movie Meghan does not come across that way. Especially in her need to remind us every other line that she’s independent and doesn’t need a man.
Harry is the most popular member of the Royal Family (aside from the Queen, perhaps), has a strong passion for humanitarian efforts and charity work. Movie Harry is a giant sulk who spends the movie yelling at his father, brother and sister-in-law about “TO HELL WITH TRADITION!” and “SHE MAKES ME HAPPY!” and just generally lambastes the monarchy at every chance. Poor, pitiful Harry, which he is not.
I thoroughly did not enjoy this movie. My only regret is that I didn’t get drunk and live tweet it. I may have to do that with the inevitable George movie…
Royal Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth & Diana Edition
Another two-fer for the last Royal Wedding Wednesday featuring two of the most iconic women in the Windsor Family: Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Queen Elizabeth’s is perfectly regal, and I love the embroidery on the skirt and the veil.
Diana’s is possibly the definition of opulent wedding dress. It featured the longest train on a royal wedding dress, and is often the image most people conjure when they think of a princess dress.
Here’s Queen Elizabeth’s wedding.
And here’s Diana’s dress.
What did you think of their wedding dresses?
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I own none of these photos.
