Prince Harry
Harry was in fine, fine form this week, both in the sense of "he did good stuff" and the sense that he looks foine doing it.
Prince Harry Meets Walking With The Wounded Team
Allow me to begin with Informative Caption before we really get into the HUGGING OH MY GOD. Ahem: "Prince Harry meets with members of the Walking With The Wounded team in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace after their latest endeavour, the Walk Of Britain.... Six members of the Walk of Britain team concluded their 1000-mile trek, which began on 22 August in Scotland and continued through the length and breadth of the country to London."
You MUST read the story behind this hug. It's amazing and very touching. This girl is a hero.
Prince Harry Meets Walking With The Wounded Team
This seems like a truly excellent hug, one which I long to experience. I will take off my backpack for Ideal Hugging Conditions. Also maybe my top.
Prince Harry Meets Walking With The Wounded Team
Like I wasn't going to bring you all the snaps with kidlets in them.
Prince Harry Meets Walking With The Wounded Team
CAN'T STAND THIS CUTENESS. I assume they're talking about being sassy gingers?
Wills and Harry Attend The Rugby World Cup
The princes also went blue suit to blue suit at the Rugby World Cup this weekend. I'm giving this one to William.
Wills, Harry, and Phil Attend The Rugby World Cup
Even Prince Philip came to the game, where they all appeared to be having a jolly good time, AS ONE MIGHT HOPE.
Wills, Harry, and Phil Attend The Rugby World Cup
I also love the expression of the dude behind Wills, who seems to be thinking, "THESE ARE THE BEST SEATS EVER!!!!"
Wills, Harry, and Phil Attend The Rugby World Cup
I always love Wills in his glasses -- it feeds into that part of me that is really hot for a sensible man who, like, sits at the kitchen table and responsibly pays bills in a sweater and his glasses, drinking a coffee.... sigh -- and I enjoy how entranced he is by the Australian coach Michael Cheika and HIS SportsFaces.
Prince Harry at the Rugby World Cup
Harry got to do the Trophy Presentation, and he clearly enjoyed it. I assume that he is here joking that he's going to steal that trophy.
Prince Harry at the Rugby World Cup
No, seriously, Harry, give it to him. He's earned it.
Prince Harry at the Rugby World Cup
"Just kidding, mate. You earned it."
Princes Philip and Prince Harry Visit The Field Of Remembrance
Harry did a lot with Grandfather this week, actually. Here, per Informative Caption, the two of them are at "a Service in the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey," which is part of the UK's Remembrance Day events (which is similar to Memorial Day here in the United States). (Actual Remembrance Day is on Sunday.) Everyone looks very handsome in his uniform and coat.
Princes Philip and Prince Harry Visit The Field Of Remembrance
I hope there was some light and respectful flirting here.
DOGS!
Please meet "Watchman V, the mascot for the Staffordshire Regiment Association." HE'S THE CUTEST.
QE2
Meanwhile, "The Queen looks upon a cabinet of medals issued during Queen Victoria's reign during a visit to the medal room at the Ministry of Defense medal office at the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre at Imjin barracks in Gloucestershire." Also, this is a GREAT photo.
The Queen Receives The President Of Kazakhstan
"Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, receives the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Deputy Prime Minister Dariga Nazarbayeva at Buckingham Palace." Andy is not pictured -- I assume he wandered inside to see if the gift shop still had those little chocolate things he likes.
The Deputy Prime Minister here (whose pink ensemble I quite like) is also the President's daughter, and he appointed her. FYI, no election held in Kazakhstan has ever met international standards for a legit election. Her Wiki is FULL OF SHADE. For example: "Dariga served as a jury member in the second season of SuperStar KZ. She is an avid amateur opera singer. In spite of the lack of formal vocal training Dariga often performs opera arias at various concerts and events." Her husband also claims the president there divorced the two of them without his consent!
The President's Wiki is also quite fascinating/horrifying. Apparently, he has 85 MILLION DOLLARS in a Swiss bank account, which is very unsuspicious! WHOOPS, turns out it was supposed to go into the treasury. So he handled that by passing a bill granting himself immunity! Additionally: "When Kazakh opposition newspaper Respublika reported in 2002 that Nazarbayev had in the mid-nineties secretly stashed away $1 billion of state oil revenue in Swiss bank accounts, the decapitated carcass of a dog was left outside the newspaper's offices, with a warning reading 'There won't be a next time'; the dog's head later turned up outside editor Irina Petrushova's apartment, with a warning reading 'There will be no last time.' The newspaper was firebombed as well." Kazakhstan has terrible human rights standards as well. It is not a surprise they did not have a state dinner for this two and I have to think that QE2 AT LEAST had some SEVERE INTERNAL SIDE EYE about this entire visit.
Prince Philip
Prince Philip got to go underground to eyeball a new tube station they are building and I truly hope I get to examine construction sites and the like when I am in my 90s.
Chaz and Cams in NZ
Cams and Chaz are currently in New Zealand, where Charles handing wildlife is apparently HILARIOUS. (He appears to be about to lose control of said wildlife, which IS amusing.)
Chaz and Cams visit New Zealand
"Do you guys do gallery walls in England? We LOVE THEM here."
Chaz and Cams visit New Zealand
In Wellington, they were attacked by a phalanx of orderly zombies. (Or a student dance performance. Whichever!)
Chaz and Cams visit New Zealand
I feel like Chaz is never too far from a portrait of his mother that someone is making him stand underneath.
Chaz and Cams visit New Zealand
But can we just agree that Camilla BROUGHT some drama here at their arrival? I approve! (Beige shoes not withstanding, of course.)
Sophie Wessex
Meanwhile, back in the UK, Sophie went to the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards. She looks...fine? This is far from my favorite of her looks, I must confess.
Princess Beatrice
"Princess Beatrice speaks to guests during the Pitch@Palace entrepreneurial event at St James's Palace," and apparently whatever she was being pitched was DRAMATIC.
Fergie
BUT NOT AS DRAMATIC AS THIS! Fergie is SHOCKED, I TELL YOU! As am I, that she was allowed into St James for a royal-sponsored event (I believe this is Andy's brainchild). I know there are certain factions of royal watchers who pooh-pooh this, but I really think they are going to get remarried.
Queen Letizia
Over to Spain! I barely missed this last week; I always enjoy this leather dress on Letizia.
Felipe and Letizia
She also put her cape back into play this week.
Queen Letizia
AND sported this fantastic trench.
Crown Princess Mary and Maxima
These two are attending the World Conference of Women's Shelters and you should know that CPM's skirt is ALSO pink.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit
This is "The Celebration Of The 150th Anniversary of the Norwegian Red Cross" and apparently, it's Leather Dress Week for Royal Ladies. WEAR ONE TO REMEMBRANCE DAY, KATE. Wait. No. Don't do that.