Prince William Middle East Tour, Amman, Jordan

This tour looks like it was extremely interesting, and ergo we're going to be hanging out a lot with our friend Informative Caption. To wit, this is the Jerash Archaeological site in Amman, which Wills visited with Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan to hang out with little kids learning photography. (I believe this was also the day that Wills got to stand by a rock that Kate once stood next to as a child, when the Middletons lived in Jordan. I can only imagine the texts: "How's my rock look?" "Great! Rock-y!") Also, Jerash looks fascinating. I love ancient sites. I am DYING to go to Petra.

Prince William Middle East Tour, Amman, Jordan

Here, Wills "visits the Princess Taghrid Institute, where support and training is offered in arts and crafts to local women, young people and orphans." I assume they're discussing a mutual fondness for carbs here.

Prince William Middle East Tour, Amman, Jordan - 25 Jun 2018

"Truly, I DO love carbs.'

Prince William Middle East Tour, Israel

Informative Caption notes that Wills is "at the beach in Tel Aviv to talk to environmentalists." OR, and just go with me, they're scouting locations for a Baywatch sequel.

Prince William in Israel, Tel Aviv

Keep an eye on each other's elbows and you'll never miss a high five, guys. (Also, this is a good shirt on Wills. He looked sharp on this trip. So many forearms!)

Prince William in Israel, Jaffa

And here Wills "meets with Jewish and Arab children at the Neve Golan Stadium," for a spot of soccerfootball (of course!). How cute these kids are, and how nice it is to see their smiling faces.

Prince William in Israel, Jerusalem

Obvs, this trip also involved a LOT of blue suits.

Prince William in Israel

Here, Wills is dining with "Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu & his wife Sara Ben-Artzi at their Jerusalem residence." I assume they're talking about blue and what a great color it is, both for ties and dresses. (Yes, I did pick up my laptop and hold it up to my face to see if I could tell what they're eating.)

Prince William in Israel

This is the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, which is also known as the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, and I strongly urge you to read their piece about this visit. It made me cry. I belive this is the museum's Hall of Remembrance, and I truly, truly do not know how he got through this visit without weeping. It is so good and important that he went to this; we must never forget this history.

Prince William's Middle East Tour

There was also, naturally, speechifying (here at the residence of the British Consul General in Jerusalem).

Prince William's Middle East Tour

Here, Wills is "meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the Office of the President, Ramallah." This is all actually very historic -- it's the first time a British royal has paid an official visit to Israel. I feel like Kate et al must feel very proud of how well he's done.

Prince William's Middle East Tour

It's not a royal trip without kicking some balls around. Here, Wills "meets with young elite and grassroots football players at the Friends School in Ramallah."

Prince William's Middle East Tour

She's like, "nice try, but let me show you how it's actually done."

I saw a headline that used this pic and noted that Wills met with the Israeli PM. Which he did, but she is not the Prime Minister. Netta Barzilai is instead Israel's Eurovision winner. (I am going to assume they're having a VERY SERIOUS Eurovision convo.)

Prince William's Middle East Tour

"And I was like, YES, that IS how you fix Eurovision, AND ALSO I have a LOT of other ideas about that!" (This is "a meeting with young Israeli professionals on the rooftop at the Beit Ha'air Museum in Tel Aviv.") (I also always like this blazer on him.)

Prince William's Middle East Tour

Here, Wills "visits with Palestinian students inside a school operated by UNRWA inside Al-Jalzoun refugee camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah." 

Prince William's Middle East Tour

This is a "viewing point at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem," and Wills almost looks photoshopped in here -- he was not! He was there! -- and he also looks like he's telling some really crazy story.  (The Wikipedia entry for the Mount of Olives is very interesting. There are obviously drawbacks to being born into the royal family but my god, you really do get to see the world.)

Prince William's Middle East Tour

Relieved that Wills is still getting stuck in plants every time he leaves the country.

Prince William's Middle East Tour

And this, of course, is the tomb of William's great-grandmother Princess Alice (at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem, which is on the Mount of Olives, I beliebe). She was Prince Philip's mother, and she was a truly fascinating and brave person.

Prince William's Middle East Tour

William also paid the traditional visit to the Western (or Wailing) Wall, which has a truly fascinating and educational Wikipedia page if you're unfamiliar with its history beyond the basics.  Wills did place a note inside the wall.

The Queen and Prince Philip at the Royal Windsor Cup

Meanwhile, back in the UK, these two are out and about and looking pretty dang spry, considering.

The Final Day of Royal Ascot

"Can't we keep this?"

The Final Day of Royal Ascot

I just loved this shot of the crowd greeting the Queen's carriage.

Autumn and Peter Phillips

Not to mention this shot of Autumn and Peter Phillips greeting them.

The Final Day of Royal Ascot

No one loves the horse races like the Queen does.

Helen Mirren

Whoops, wrong Queen!

Private audiences at Buckingham Palace

And then it's back to apologizing to people for this rug! In this case, it's "the High Commissioner for Tonga, Titilupe Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano, with her husband Siaosi Kiu Kaho."

Sophie Wessex

Ding dong, Sophie!

Royal Society Of Literature '40 Under 40' Fellows Induction

This is a good reminder that Camilla loves a book. Per Informative Caption, she is "patron of a number of literacy organisations including the National Literacy Trust, Book Trust, Beanstalk and First Story." READ OUR NOVEL, CAMILLA! YOU ARE NOT IN IT! 

The Prince's Foundation School Of Traditional Arts Degree Show,

As she loves books, so does Chaz like art. This is "the Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts degree show in Shoreditch...PSFTA specialises in teaching, researching and promoting the practice and theory of the arts and crafts of the world's great traditions. Founded by The Prince of Wales in 2004, the school offers practising artists the opportunity to undertake research at the highest level with post-graduate degrees validated by the University of Wales and University of Wales Trinity St David." That's all good stuff! (And I LOVE the piece Chaz is standing in front of.)

National Day celebrations in Luxembourg

Meanwhile, in Luxembourg, we've got PASTELS GONE WILD. ALL of these women with the possible exception of Princess Claire (in the long-sleeved white gown) need a shoe intervention.

National Day celebrations in Luxembourg

Princess Claire -- far left, in the white -- wins this one, too. Maybe it's for the rest that Stephanie and Guilluame are decamping to London for some reason, in terms of Fashionable Princess Developments. Claire is VERY chic.

Belgian Royals Receive Sir Peter And Lady Cosgrove

Mathile looks SWELL here, I have to say.

Max and Wax

I love how much W-A seems to really, really, really love Maxima. She's had a terrible month, and he seems so SOLID. All squeezy by a boat!

Max and Wax

"Honey! We're on a boat!"

Queen Maxima

That's my girl. And her hat.

Queen Maxima

And her jumpsuit?

Queen Letizia

"Wait! Don't take this picture! I'm about to get all frizzy!"

Queen Letizia

Much sunnier.

Royals Round-Up, June 29th, 2018

Lots of ground to cover!