Prince William visits Kenya

Wills finished up his trip to Kenya with headgear and forearms, and I appreciate both. Informative Caption tells us: "Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, smiles at Irish Soldiers during his visit to the 1st Battalion the Irish Guards Battle group, training under the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), in Laikipia, Kenya...William is on his African tour that also saw him visiting Namibia and Tanzania, to learn about the conservation efforts in African countries." And also to look dashing. I assume Kate has this one saved on her phone for moments when she is sad.

Preparations for the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank

Readers, I laughed at this photo -- that one of the pics meant to illustrate the preparations in Windsor for Euj's upcoming wedding features the Windsor pub they named for Harry in honor of his much more high-profile nups. (A pub that Heather and I spent a fair amount of time in on that fated weekend, in fact!)

Prince Edward and Sophie Go to France

Ed and Sophs have been in France this week -- this is, obvs, ththe Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Ed looks pretty jaunty! I like Sophie's boots, but the rest of her is so ovesized!

Prince Edward and Sophie

I think they both look very nice here, and also I could tell you this pic was from 1987 and you would believe me. (Sophie had short hair when she and Edward got married, and as I recall, people chattered a bit about how much she looked like Diana and the resemblance is always more noteable to me when she's wearing something...period.)

Prince Edward and Sophie

"Meghan's really got me into TROUSERS! We're ALL running around the palace in Lady Suits right now. Anne told me it's MUCH easier to climb over a fence in them, and it's true!"

Prince Edward in France

Sincerely, judging from the photos we get, it feels like Prince Edward spends 64% of his time going out to visit historical tennis courts. (Which is an interest I find very amusing. Like, he's not going to go to Wimbledon, but he WILL come to your Ren Faire Tennis exhibit.)

Princess Charlene

Also in France this week: Charlene, who went to the Akris show.

Princess Caroline

MEANWHILE, Caroline jetted off to London for "Bonhams' private view [of an] exhibition of important contemporary art from the Democratic Republic of Congo and upcoming Africa Now auction. The proceeds of eight of the artworks from the exhibition will go to the Malaika Foundation, a charity founded by the supermodel and philanthropist Noella Coursaris Musunka to empower Congolese girls and their communities, and AMADE, which provides help for vulnerable children in the Democratic Republic of Congo." That seems like a good cause! I also like her velvet suit. If the 90s are back, and velvet is back, and suits are back, can everyone just dig their Tom Ford for Gucci velvet suits out of the closet and get on with it?!

Royal reception for athletes

That is a very sunny dress on Mathilde! Informative Caption tells us, "Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde receive athletes who have won a medal in the first eight months of 2018 at a European or World Championship in an Olympic or Paralympic sport." Yay for everyone!

Belgian royals visit to Vienna, Austria

Then they went to Austria. This is a lot of green on Mathilde, but her dress is very fetching.

Chef Of The Year contest

Speaking of fetching, it's Prince Carl Philip!

Princess Sofia

Sofia looks VERY PROFESSIONAL!!! at this event (which Informative Caption tells me is "Inauguration of cognitive reception at Karolinska University Hospital," which cannot be quite translated correctly, but I assume is the opening of a brain something something. Anyway! Everyone looks nice. Congrats on your brain thing!)

'End Violence Against Children' UN panel

And Princess Madeleine -- who must be in the US permanently now, as they were moving to Florida -- dashed over to the UN for "a meeting with the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, and Together for Girls." Good for y'all!

Queen Rania of Jordan

"I'VE been wearing fashionable trousers for YONKS."

Queen Letitiza

"Oh, Meghan wore a leather SKIRT? I CAN BEAT THAT!" (FWIW, I flove this outfit.)

Queen Maxima

Of course Maxima owns something this aggressively ruffled.

Queen Maxima

"But look at my bracelet!"

Queen Maxima

And NOTHING says "I'm coming to the UK later this month and I'm READY FOR YOU, KATE" like a lace cocktail dress. IT'S ON.

Royals Round-Up, October 5th, 2018

We've got hats and forearms!