Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
Wills and Kate went to North Wales on a day trip today, where they did all number of things, like meet with several groups devoted to mental health, and art, and scouting, but obviously I am going to start with the part where they put on helmets and flung themselves down the side of a rock. (What Kate Wore has a good run-down of all the charities they visited today, as ever.)
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
That tiny person in red down at the bottom is Wills, who went first -- Kate manned his rope (wow, that sounds like a euphemism). There is video of this, which you can see on the main page of this post. It's cute. (She wonders how much he loves her as she sends him down the side of the rock. He told her not to hold back. Hang on, do I need to be taking notes?)
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
These two are always at their best at events together, as we've discussed previously. I can't remember which one of you noted this -- possibly more than one of you! -- but he clearly makes her feel more secure, while she makes him loosen up. It's nice. Just as the palace ought always to send Harry out to play sports with children, so ought they always send Wills and Kate out to vaguely competitive sporting events. (A variety of royals reporters -- some of whom have been critical in the past -- were noting on Twitter today that Kate is really improving at public events, which I'm sure is a relief to her. I don't mean that sarcastically.)
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
I'm sure they're also enjoying being back in Wales, where they lived when Wills was still with the RAF, and where people -- by and large -- totally left them alone.
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
"We just flung ourselves down a giant rock!"
"It was fun! Let's do it again."
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
They were not in sporty gear the entire day, however. Kate's Reiss coat is a rewear, but one I like. I would also note that I suspect she pinned the fringe back because she knew she was going to wear a helmet later in the day, and bangs DO NOT do well under a helmet. But I also think it's possible that she is deeply regretting the bangs and might just do this for the next three months.
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
This photo makes me laugh. Wills is like, "I HAVE GOT TO TALK TO MONEY BAGS MERV IMMEDIATELY."
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
No trip, of course, is complete without an adorable child in a vest being adorable.
Wills and Kate Visit North Wales
PONYTAIL ACTION SHOT!
Princess Charlene and Gabriella
We shall return to the Brits in due time, but Thursday was National Day in Monaco, and we got to eyeball the twinsies and they are so cute, you guys. (Gabriella here is also generally unimpressed, which I always appreciate in a baby.)
Prince Albert and Jacques
Look at this little muffin's mischievous expression!
Monaco National Day 2015
I just noticed that Jacques is wearing a wee baby flannel suit, like a tiny Mad Man. It's amazing to me how much more relaxed everyone's body language has become since these babies have arrived. I feel like the pressure of having an heir/the desire for children must have really been weighing on them.
Princess Charlene
This dress is very chic, but the entire look is too monochromatic for me, personally. I've also gone back and forth on the hat. At first, I liked it -- very Phrynne Fisher! -- and now I'm not so sure. Let's discuss!
Princess Stephanie, Charlene, Albert, and Caroline
As ever, I think Caroline looks better than Stephanie, but they both look miserable to me. As in, like they FEEL miserable, or miserable things are happening to them, not that they are terrible humans. (Although that is, I suppose, ALSO possible.)
Beatrice Borromeo, Pierre Casiraghi and Charlotte Casiraghi
Beatrice and Pierre were very cozy at this event -- as they should be, of course, being newlyweds -- and she also looked just lovely.
Beatrice Borromeo, Pierre Casiraghi and Charlotte Casiraghi
VERY elegant, no? I wish Beatrice went to more events. I also do think it makes sense that Pierre is a man who cultivates a precise level of sexy scruff at all times. He just seems like the sort. I like the pink coat on Charlotte, but she looks a little...wan, or something, in these shots. Like she's getting over a cold.
Beatrice Borromeo, Pierre Casiraghi and Princess Stephanie
Aw, you two! JUST MAKE OUT.
Princess Charlene
To our next event in Monaco! This is the annual gift giving event at the Monaco Red Cross Headquarters, and Charlene looks VERY classy, I think, and quite elegant. I had my doubts about the shoe color choice, but it seems to match a detailing on the dress.
Princess Charlene
PUT THE SUNGLASSES ON, CHARLENE. PUT THEM ON. I WANT TO SEE THEM BETTER.
Charlene, Albert, Caroline, Alexandra
This was "a minute of silence for the victims of terrorist attacks in Paris," and this is hardly the point, but given that we were just on the subject, Caroline looks bad-ass in those sunglasses.
Prince Harry and Kacey Musgraves
Back in the UK! These photos from the Royal Variety Performance came in last Friday, after I'd fallen into a wisdom-tooth removal coma, so let's rewind a bit for some Harry. Here, the roguish ginger Spare meets and falls for a sassy American country star. He cannot give up his birthright, she doesn't want to give up her hard-won fame for him. Drama ensues! I WOULD READ IT. (The thing is, they would have to break up. There is no compromise that will work. It would be sad. They'd think back on each other fondly, though.)
Prince Harry
It seems I downloaded A LOT of pictures of Prince Harry in a tux. I am not even going to pretend to be sorry.
Prince Harry and Alesha Dixon
I feel like it's very easy to read Harry's expression here. It says, "Oh. Hello. You are VERY PRETTY. VERY VERY VERY PRETTY."
Prince Harry and Little Mix
And this photo just makes me laugh. They all look moderately gobsmacked. TAKE HIM HOME, ONE OF YOU.
Wills at the Royal Marsden Hospital
"Hello, hello! Yes, I'll be your doctor today. I hear you have a dodgy mole."
As realistic as that seems, per Informative Caption: "Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, wears a lab coat during a visit to the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust hospital ...the Duke visited the hospital's Centre for Molecular Pathology and West Wing Clinical Research Centre, then visited patients, then met patients on the wards." As far as I know, he did not TREAT any of them.
The Duke Of Cambridge Attends The Centrepoint Awards
This was an event for the anti-bullying charity for which Wills is patron, and everyone in this shot looks so cute. (I particularly LOVE how excited Leather Jacket looks, but everyone is charming. Even you, William.)
The Duchess Of Cambridge Attends The Fostering Excellence Awards
This was an outtake from Kate's event on Tuesday, which I just wanted to toss in here because it's cute. They look so GOSSIP-Y. I assume they're talking about Harry.
Princess Michael of Kent
Oh my god, you guys, this is the best. Ahem: "Princess Michael of Kent attends the launch of 'Quicksilver' by [HERSELF], the final volume of the Anjou trilogy." I of course looked this up on Amazon. Why am I not reading this woman's series of historical novels?? American Amazon readers seem to think they are not very well-written and perhaps not raunchy enough, but I cling to hope that one of you all have read them and can give me the scoop.
The Queen And The Duke Of Edinburgh Visit Birmingham
Also the best: This photo. Let's get some Information: "Queen Elizabeth II is given a tour of a tram on the Metroline Tramline Extension ... [she] was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh to officially open the refurbished New Street Station following its 750 GBP million-pound refurbishment."
The Prince Of Wales & Duchess Of Cornwall Visit Australia
Chaz and Cams also finished up their trip to Australia this week, where they seemingly did a lot of walking around in sunglasses standing in front of beautiful vistas. Every time a royal goes to Australia, I also want to go to Australia.
The Prince Of Wales & Duchess Of Cornwall Visit Australia
Chaz also celebrated his birthday with this very dramatic-looking cake, and -- of course -- booze. (This was the same event at which he spoke about Friday's attack on Paris, however, so it wasn't all champs and pastries.)
Queen Rania
We got a LOT of Queen Rania this week, mostly because she's visiting Spain at the moment, but here she is in Jordon. That skirt is AWESOME.
Queens Letizia and Rania
And, as mentioned, over to Spain! Letizia looks GREAT -- albeit somewhat cocktail-y, no? -- and I love love that coat on Rania.
Queen Rania
I think this is good, but maybe could use a pop of color? Yes? Yes.
Spanish Royals Host a Dinner for Jordan Royals
Felipe and King Abdullah II of Jordan TOTALLY called each other to coordinate their outfits before this dinner, right? I like Rania's outfit well enough, but I hate and have always hated those shoes. Like, flames on the side of my face hatred.
Queens Letizia and Rania
Letizia's suit is very chic, here -- an upgrade from ADA to District Attorney, if you will -- but Rania looks slightly costume-y, to me. Perhaps just in comparison?
Felipe and Letizia
These two look chipper, perhaps assured that all electronics in the palace are safely unplugged. That dress on Letizia doesn't light my world on fire with joy, but the shape of it is good on her.
Queen Mathilde
I LOVE this skirt on Mathilde, and also how this photo makes it look as if she's about to be eaten by a reptile.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit
This was a Paris memorial in Oslo and again, not the point, but I do love that coat. (I do think our French brethren, of all our brethren, understand the importance of noting when someone's coat is chic.)
Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel
Speaking of coats, someone is about to burst out of this one!
Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel
But how cute is she in this wrap dress? Daniel clearly agrees. There was a cute piece this week, wherein she noted that Estelle has told them she'd rather have a hamster than a brother or a sister, which is ALSO the best. Everyone get ready for Estelle to try to unload New Baby Sweden to the highest bidder.