Prince Harry

There's a lot going on here that I appreciate. Like, a lot. Quite a lot. So much. Very much.

Prince Harry

Let's turn to Informative Caption and learn and grow, shall we? "Prince Harry talks to Sapper Clive Smith (left) and Sapper Jack Cummings -- who both lost their legs in Afghanistan in 2010 -- at a service marking the 75th anniversary of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) across the British Armed Forces at St Paul's Cathedral." Good on all these people. Harry's trip to DC this upcoming week is in aid of veteran-related causes, and I think he has really found his calling, working in that arena. He clearly had an affinity for it when he was in the army himself, and now that he's had to leave active duty, I think it's admirable how well he's transitioned to making it a real cause of his.

Prince Harry

"No one told me we were all supposed to wear a hat today. Please keep me in the loop, you guys."

QE2 at Ascot Races

In addition to hosting the president of China and his wife -- which we shall get to presently -- QE2 also popped out to go to the horse races and present this trophy. This is her ensemble that always makes me crave orange sherbet.

Camz and Liz

These two went off to visit some horse whisperers -- I'M NOT MAKING THAT UP -- and I enjoy that we appear to have photographic evidence of people having a conversation mid-curtsy.

State Visit Of The President Of The People's Republic Of China

I love this photo of China's First Lady Peng Liyuan and Prince Phil walking into Buckingham Palace; all the Trappings of Royal Splendor behind them are so photogenic, and her white suit is lovely.

Peng Liyuan and Camilla

"And I was like, bring me my most GIGANTIC wreath hat! Today is very important!"

Phil and Liz and Jinping and Liyuan

These four are eyeballing "a display of Chinese items from the Royal Collection," and I always want to know about the lives of the people who work for the Royal Collection and who are in charge of lugging up Whatever Is Topical for Whoever Is Visiting.

Wills and Xi Jinping

One of the things I really enjoy about visits like this is seeing the inside of various rooms. Oh, do I love an old room. Heather and I have tromped through SO MANY old rooms.

Chaz and Camz and Jinping and Liyuan

Look at this old room at Clarence House! Also, look at Peng Liyuan's giant, awesome neck bow! Also, you should know that there was obviously a harpist at this event because, as I have learned from writing this feature lo these many years, Prince Charles freaking loves a harpist.

Prince Andrew

"Me so bored." Informative Caption: "Prince Andrew, Duke of York, listens to President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China speak during the Lord Mayors banquet at The Guildhall." DUDE. LOOK ALIVE.

Peng Liyuan and QE2

This was at the state dinner, which we've already covered in terms of Kate -- who you can see lurking back there, presumably waiting for Wills to get out of the bathroom so they can go home and watch Arrow. I LOVE Peng Liyuan's dress, and I enjoy how coordinated everyone is here (including, I suppose, Kate's engagement ring all the way across the room in Lurkville).

BYE!!!

(A) This cape is GREAT, and (b) yesterday, Peng Liyuan was also given a cape made for her by British scientists using a computer (this is per the Daily Mail I KNOW, so click through to the article about it with full warning). I don't THINK it is the same cape, actually, as she was wearing this one earlier in the trip as well. The lady loves a cape; I approve.

Wills and Yao Ming

Informative Caption: Wills "meets Yao Ming, Bear Grills and Sir David Attenborough before delivering a speech on the illegal wildlife Trade For Chinese Television."

Obvious Caption: WHOA, Yao Ming is tall. Wills is 6'3 and he looks so teeny here.

Wills and Henry Worsley

In case you forgot upon which throne he shall sit.

Not really. (I mean, yes, it is that throne, but that's not why he's holding it.) Informative Caption to the rescue! Wills here is hanging out with "Henry Worsley, who will attempt the 2015/16 Shackleton Solo Challenge, where the polar explorer will be attempting Sir Ernest Shackleton's unfinished journey to the South Pole from the Weddell Sea." That sounds exciting and also cold.

Princess Anne

Meanwhile, over at the rugby: "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID, NUMBER 17."

Queen Margrethe II

And also meanwhile, in Jakarta -- "meanwhile, in Jakarta" is now my favorite segue ever -- Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is mid-jaunt to Indonesia and she left all her boring clothes at home.

Queen Margrethe II Prince Consort Henrik

Here, she looks like part of Princess Anne's International Detective Squad. (I cannot see Prince Henrik without thinking about that time he stormed out of his country in a huff and also ditched Maxima's wedding due to said huff.) (He was, however, pretty handsome back in the day.)

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel

Ahem: "Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden meet President of Peru, Ollanta Humala and First Lady Nadine Heredia during an official visit." The First Lady looks great, and CPV really stocked up on that dress, as this is the red version of the purple one she wore last week.

Swedish Royals Visit Colombia

AKA, this exact dress. I hope it turns out that she bought, like, seven of them and that's ALL she's going to wear for this pregnancy.

President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia

MEANWHILE MEANWHILE, Sweden's King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia are hosting the President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff at their obvs totally hideous shack in Stockholm. I love that pink on Silvia. Also! Dimla is having a rough week because she might be impeached because she allegedly maybe took bribes and might have kinda cooked Brazil's books. No wonder everyone kinda looks like, "wellllll....." Maybe this was not a great time to go running off to Sweden, Dilma? (It is worth noting that the people who want to impeach her are ALSO in all kinds of financial scandal, that I can tell.) But that chandelier is great.

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia

These two are attending The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences Formal Gathering. He always looks dashing; I'm not sure I am totally in love with that color on her? I feel like it might play up the fact that she looks slightly nauseated. But I do love that it's covered in tiny sequins. I love tiny sequins so much that I want to name my baby Tiny Sequins. (I'm not having a baby.)

Queen Letizia

And finally, to Spain! Another lady in red! I like it.

Queen Letitiza

Later, Letizia popped out in her sexy disco jumpsuit and mid-arm cuff. I have to say, I am into the cuff.

Felipe and Letizia

And, at last: "Did you remember to turn off the hot tub, honey? It's going to be BOILING when we get back."

Royals Round-Up, October 23rd, 2015

There is A LOT happening in this post, this week, today, and next week. Today, we had a trip to Scotland for Wills and Kate, which I covered earlier. They did other stuff this week, too -- see below! -- and then next week is going to be bonkers. They, and Harry, have like six events each -- several of which are on the same day, and which they all get to do together (which is obviously the best), and then Harry is popping over here to the US for some shenanigans, while Kate is doing other shenanigans and presumably William is going to work to fly people around/staying home and doing a face mask, I dunno. ANYWAY. Stay tuned, is what I am saying, if you like it when those three leave the house together. And in this particular post, we've got Harry! Caftans! Tall people! Flags! In case you missed it, here at GFY: KATE WORE A TIARA. Also William was there in white tie and no one cared EXCEPT ME. And, presumably, Kate. Wills and Kate popped out for a reception and she wore lace and he wore a giant rain barrel. They also took a wee jaunt up to Scotland where she wore THE BEST coat and tried to steal a ship. And, in news regarding not them but us, in case you missed it, The Royal We is on track to become a feature film, thanks to Lauren Graham and Mae Whitman and CBS Films. We are EXTREMELY thrilled. And elsewhere: -- People has the details on Harry's upcoming trip to the United States. Fug Nation DC and Virgina, I expect a full report! -- Royalista has a piece on From Commoner To Royal transformations, focusing on Charlene, Letizia, and Crown Princess Mary. -- At the New York Times: The Duchess of Cambridge and Sartorial Diplomacy --CCTV News has video of basically the entire State Banquet -- well, the bits where everyone wanders in and chats aimlessly and waits for the Queen to sweep in, and then sits down for some toasting and speeching. (If you read The Royal We, that's the room where Nick's birthday is held, although we decorated it differently.) There are a LOT of randos in tiaras. (Randos in Tiaras is my new band.) It is weirdly riveting if you are, like me, a hugely nosy people-watcher. (At one point, around 8:50, Cameron wacks some guy on the behind with his invitation.) The royals come in at around 13:00, so you can finally see Wills in his white tie before he disappears behind a plant forever. -- The Express has an exclusive and fairly extensive interview with Sophie Wessex. -- BBC has clips from the DIY SOS episode on which Harry and William guested, and I think you can watch the entire episode there as well; it's really quite lovely. -- Princess Lalla Salma wore a VERY BEADED outfit the other night. (Hello!) -- Speaking of movies, at Vanity Fair, Watch Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Have a Wild Adventure in A Royal Night Out -- This is so fascinating, and quite apt, at The Atlantic: How the British Royal Family Became a Global Brand -- Speaking of the Brits, their official social media has started doing their own little weekly Royals Round-Up, which I think is smart, although I would use a more rousing soundtrack. What about "8 Mile" next week, guys?: From the #ChinaStateVisit to visiting mental health charities in Dundee @KensingtonRoyal, here's #TheRoyalWeek... https://t.co/XbtTcfdZjM — BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) October 23, 2015 -- And: BBC Norfolk: Prince Harry surprises Norfolk village: Prince Harry surprises the residents of a Norfolk village... https://t.co/eBKRZBSItw — Norfolk News (@thisisnorfolk) October 20, 2015 -- And finally, Crown Princess Mary brought out the feathers: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark handed out the design award, DANSK Design Talent– Magasin Prisen this evening: pic.twitter.com/lNCSncHnLG — everything royalty (@regardingroyals) October 22, 2015