Prince Harry, Michele Obama at the Opening of the Invictus Games
This photo is so cute. It's like the beginning of a PSA about teamwork or something.
Robin Roberts, Prince Harry, and Michelle Obama
I like to think that Robin decided to wear her cutest patterned day dress, to please Michelle. Heather was bemoaning that a) Michelle did not ALSO wear a cute patterned day dress, because she thinks the pants remind her of what they (used to?) make flight attendants wear; and b) that the top is not that flattering. Maybe Barry was like, "Michelle, that young Henry fellow is way hot for you. TURN IT DOWN."
Michelle Obama, Prince Harry,
Michelle and Harry clearly ADORE each other, and I am quite sure that she is percolating on a proper girlfriend for him, like, RIGHT NOW. I keep imagining her putting on her night cream with a far-off look on her face, running through suitable potentials in her head, and occasionally asking Barack what he thinks of one of them. I feel supremely confident that Michelle is going to introduce Harry to his wife. I just FEEL it.
Prince Harry and Laura and George W Bush
Speaking of, the Bushes are TOTALLY like, "hello, one of our daughters is single, would you like to come to dinner??"
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
SO. You may have seen, as I did, Harry and this lovely athlete -- her name is Elizabeth Marks -- interviewed on ESPN on Tuesday. Harry has been photographed with her at this event more than any other athlete, as far as I can tell, and WHO CAN BLAME EITHER ONE OF THEM? Apparently, she is married, which is really getting in the way of the fiction I was spinning about how they're falling in love, but...just give me a little time. I can workshop this.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
She did talk him into trying on her USA jacket. Harry will sincerely do anything to make a charismatic, pretty brunette laugh.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
I feel like her husband has to be like, "you are touching Prince Harry, like, a lot," to which she surely responds, "honey, you and I HAD A DEAL."
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Here, she is asking him to take her gold medal back to the UK and give it to the hospital there that saved her life -- she fell very, very ill just prior to the previous Games, and nearly died. That is extremely touching and a really generous and lovely gesture.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
There were a great deal of shenanigans this week. Who could resist pointing at this man's outstanding facial hair?
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
This is David Wiseman, Captain of the UK Armed Forces Team, and it is NOT an Olympics-like event without appealing shirtlessness.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
And I am not a woman who will ever fail to bring said shirtlessness to you. ABS!
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Are you ready for the "Oh my god, I can't handle how cute this is!" portion of this slideshow? Prepare yourselves. How cute is this?
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
I enjoy what a serious conversation this appears to be.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Look at this ADORABLE and COMPLETELY BORED baby!
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
I OFFICIALLY CANNOT STAND HOW CUTE THIS IS. Is this what it feels like to have the vapors?
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
This is Katie Kuiper, of Team USA, who is a track and field and cycling superstar and also survived a gunshot to the head. What a bad-ass. (I'd also like to high-five my fellow American for finagling this smooch. Your countrywomen salute you for ALL the reasons.) Honestly, reading articles where all these servicemen and women talk about how sports have helped them to move past potentially emotionally debilitating and life-changing injuries is really, really moving. Obviously, Harry -- having been in combat himself -- can relate to veterans on a real level. Their shared experiences must at some point transcend some of the rest of it -- and you have to give him credit for realizing he could use his privilege to create something that was useful and meaningful for a lot of other people. I am sure that doing this also gives HIM a purpose in a life where, by circumstance of birth, he cannot just go out and get a random interesting job after leaving the army. (And, indeed, a life that forced him to leave the army in the first place, which he probably wouldn't have done if he were born to a normal family.) His family must be very proud of him. Also, this good behavior is going to be a huge selling point for Michelle when she's setting him up with someone.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Whatever is happening here, this blonde is clearly a hoot!
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
This is a wonderful photo (it is, of course, by Chris Jackson, who is the best). Doesn't it feel like one of those pictures you find in someone's shoe box, and he tells you, "oh, yes, that was my battalion during the war," and then looks all sensitive and tortured and handsome, and also you're in a movie? Per Informative Caption, "Prince Harry meets members of the British Military at the powerlifting during the Invictus Games...the only International sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. Started in 2014 by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games uses the power of sport to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation."
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Bless the Netherlands for brilliant bringing Harry giant orange clogs.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
When you're the host, they let you shoot the starting pistol.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Even if you screw it up.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
"YAY RUNNING!!!!"
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Yay, hugging!
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
He just really seems in his element here.
Prince Harry and Joe Biden
I feel like Uncle Joe is totally giving Harry lady advice. I LOVE how delighted Harry looks, and how FULL OF FEELING Joe looks.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
This is the "Salute Cam," which I imagine to be like the Kiss Cam except with, you know, saluting. This gives me...feelings.
You KNOW we Americans, we love our high-fives.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
We also love tender kisses on the heads of tough and victorious bald dudes.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
HARRY. YOU'RE SLOWLY MURDERING ME HERE.
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games
Man, he is FULL-SERVICE. He's even drying off someone's service dog here. And why not? LOOK AT THE PUPPY.
Prince Harry at the Closing Ceremony
You did a very good job, dude. Now, go take a nap. You have to look alert for all the stuff you're doing this weekend for the Continued Shenanigans of Your Grandmother's Birthday.
QE2
Meanwhile, this is what QE2 looked like whilst talking to David Cameron on Tuesday. This seems like an illustration for the phrase, "We are not amused."
Queen Elizabeth II Hosts Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
The Queen looks lovely, yes, but I REALLY want to know more and see more from the woman she's speaking to, in the floral dress, because I suspect she looks amazing.
Royal Windsor Horse Show
Per Informative Caption: "Queen Elizabeth ll receives a Tesco Gift Card for winning the Thoroughbred Ridden Show Series Championship at the Royal Windsor Horse Show." WELL! One can always use a gift card, can't one?
The Duke of Cambridge Attends Launch Of Emergency Services & Transport Industry Coalition Male Suicide Prevention
Meanwhile, Wills spent much of this week working with his mental health charities devoted to preventing male suicide, which is a cause near and dear to him. He looks...like himself. (So, you know, handsome and in a blue suit.)
The Duke of Cambridge Attends Launch Of Emergency Services & Transport Industry Coalition Male Suicide Prevention
Informative Caption says, "Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, meets staff as he attends the launch of an Emergency Services & Transport Industry Coalition on Male Suicide Prevention at the Tower RNLI Lifeboat Station," and feel like that woman is just thinking, "BE SERIOUS, SARAH. Do NOT ask about Kate. DON'T DO IT."
Prince William
Informative Caption tells me, "Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visits the Passage Charity in London, England on May 13, 2016. The future King was smartly dressed in a dark blue suit, along with a white shirt and a blue tie." I AGREE, INFORMATIVE CAPTION.
Chaz and Cams
I always like Camz in dotz.
Camilla
My other favorite thing about Camilla -- well, in addition to her fondness for wearing giant wreaths on her head -- is how much she LOVES chatting up old dudes. She is great with them -- I suspect because she treats them just like young dudes -- and kindness toward older people is one of my things. Not that I think this man is THAT much older than she is, but it just reminded me how great she is at chatting up like 90 year old vets, who are often overlooked because I guess old ladies are cuter. Be nice to old people, is what I am saying, because eventually, god willing, we'll all be old.
Garden Party At Buckingham Palace To Celebrate 150 Years of Barnados Childrens Charity
What did I say about head-wreaths?
Zara and Princess Anne
"I dunno. He doesn't look that suspicious to me, Mum."
The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration - Opening Night
Per Informative Caption, Anne here "attends the opening night of The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration at Windsor Castle... The show runs over four nights to celebrate the Queen turning 90. The show features 1,500 performers, 900 horses and tells the story of the life of the Queen. Members of the Royal Family will attend the show each night and the Queen will attend on the last evening. " I know that Wills and Kate and Harry will be there on Sunday, so come back Sunday for our coverage!
Princess Beatrice and Ally Hilfiger
Yes, Bea is holding up a book called Bite Me, which Ally Hilfiger wrote about her lyme disease.
Sophie Wessex
Sophie wore a GIANT hat that the first Royal Garden Party of the year, and while I don't have a snap of the full dress, I recognize it. It's this look, which is STILL not a full shot, but is....more.
Sophie Wessex
Here, Informative Caption tells me, "The Countess of Wessex trains with representatives from her regiments at Sandhurst before undertaking a cycling challenge on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh Award to mark their 60th anniversary. The Duchess will cycle from Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace on Sunday. " That seems like A LONG BIKE RIDE! It just took US four hours on a train!
Felipe and Letizia
Over in Spain, Letizia has a great trench coat...
Queen Letizia
...and wears the shirt she always wears to the Red Cross to, you guessed it, the Red Cross.
Queen Letizia Attends 'Famelab Espana 2016' Scientific Monologues
Letizia, tell me more about that clutch!
Queen Maxima
I love you, Maxima, but this whole thing kind of looks like you just rolled out from behind your desk for a meeting you forgot you had.
Princess Charlene
And! Apparently, Charlene was here this week, and by "here," I don't mean the United States. I mean at the Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica, which is like half an hour from my house. No one invited me!
Princess Charlene of Monaco
She looks pretty, but I'm REALLY interested in that dude's amazing suit! (She's launching her foundation here in the US; it's about teaching kids swimming and water safety, which seems like a good fit for her.)
Princess Charlene
Whilst here in LA, Char also got this from the Music Center, for...reasons? I don't know. It's not like Charlene spends a lot of time in Los Angeles? Maybe we just appreciate her red lip.
Carl Philip, Sofia, and Alexander
These three released official family photos celebrating the new baby, and they're very cute. More importantly, I need to know more about this room's wall-hangings.
Carl Philip, Sofia, and Alexander
I am a wee bit perplexed by Sofia's top here, but, you know, she's a new mom. She is in a haze and many ruffles seem like a great plan!
Carl Philip, Sofia, and Alexander
These are very nice photos; well done, Sweden!
Carl Philip, Sofia, and Alexander
Aw, what a snuggly little muffin. The baby is cute, too.