Royal Outfit of the Day: January 23

Crown Princess Mette-Marit joined Crown Prince Haakon at the Nobel Peace Center earlier this week.

Not the sort of attire that's going to move mountains, sure - though given the problematic daywear Mette-Marit can be prone to, this is actually rather nice, right? - but M-M's back! And wearing heels after her surgery, as many have noticed, so she must be feeling pretty good. It looks like her official schedule is filling up again, so here's to more Mette-Marit in 2014. (You can click here for a video with the couple speaking.)

Photos: Se og hør

Year in Review: 2013's Honorable Mentions (...and Some Worsts)

We tackled the bests from the roster of royal women usually featured here, but they weren't the only ones accomplishing feats of sartorial splendor in 2013. Today's honorable mentions are for the stand outs among the rest of the royal crew! Excellent looks, plain and simple, left to right:

• Princess Charlene is trying, bless her heart, and she seems to know that purple and jewels are the quickest way to my heart. She simply killed it with this appearance.
• Speaking of killing it, the Countess of Wessex had an amazing year. Take your pick - this red number was just one of several bests.
• Princess Marie's sleek take on a Little Red Dress also needs to join my best list.
• I can't always pinpoint what I love about an appearance, and Princess Caroline's simple black dress is one such situation. Maybe it's the slightly longer necklace? Whatever it is, I thought she looked absolutely tremendous here.
• It wouldn't be a favorites list for me if it didn't include some Elie Saab, so Princess Madeleine's pre-wedding sparkles will cover me quite nicely there.
• Likewise, I require a dose of the couture mastery of Sheikha Mozah, so we'll go with this Valentino in the Netherlands.
• Plus, the Duchess of Cornwall got to make her big foreign royal event debut. I really enjoyed seeing her out and about this year, more and more regal and ready to step up when the time comes.

And just a few sentimental favorites, because it isn't all about the fashion...even here.

• Queen-to-Princess Beatrix was full of win this year, particularly the strong front she formed with Princess Mabel as they said goodbye to Prince Friso. On a more superficial note, the fact that she added an extra row of pearls to her big pearl tiara for the first time in a long time on her final night as queen wins all the things.
• The return of Crown Princess Masako to the international royal stage was completely lovely, and I hope we'll see more of her to come.
• WEE ESTELLE is my spirit animal. That is all.

And...The Worsts

Wouldn't be a proper year end wrap up without one last glimpse back at what made us cringe this year, would it? And then we never have to think about them again. Until one of these women decides to haunt us with a reappearance, that is.

• Princess Märtha Louise set the standard for the worst list early in the year in this number.
• Queen Máxima did a particularly bad thing with an ill-fitting dress and some black stockings recently, but for me, this Valentino (which she is the third royal to wear) is the year's true crime. It's the one time a tiara actually made things worse.
• Crown Princess Mary also wore the H&M mullet dress sported by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, but the addition of heavy black tights, SHOOTIES, and a jacket is such a peculiar look. She's managed to be both blergh and baffling, all at once.
• Princess Charlene at Princess Madeleine's wedding looks less a mess than the rest of those in this row, that is true - but. But. This one makes me sad. It's not just that she didn't wear a tiara to a tiara event, it's that this dress really could have used a tiara. Something, anything, to liven up this drab color which felt like a thud on the red carpet of a summer royal wedding.

Who makes your list of honorable mentions and worsts this year?

Photos: Getty Images/PA/Scanpix/Kungahuset/ANP

Tiara Watch: The Nobel Prizes, 2013

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm is one of the most glittering occasions of the year - usually. This year was a bit sparse, though, because two of the royal ladies had to miss the event: Princess Madeleine declined due to her advanced pregnancy, and Crown Princess Victoria instead flew to South Africa to attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela. (Don't you just hate when people remind you that there are things more important than sparkle and frill?!) The King, Queen, Prince Daniel, and Prince Carl Philip made up a small group on the stage.

We did still get our required tiara alert, though. Actually, make that a Party Antler Alert.

Queen Silvia opted for a Nobel favorite, the Nine Prong Tiara (this was predictable, since she gave us the sapphires last year). Ye Olde Pronger may not be my favorite, but even I have to admit it brings the sparkle - as does Silvia's dress, a repeat from Princess Madeleine's pre-wedding dinner. It still has a bit of the figure skater feel to it thanks to that top, but I like to imagine she was just trying to give us as much flash as she could since she was carrying things without her daughters.

Video: The entrance to the banquet, and some sparkle in action. The award ceremony in full can be viewed by clicking here.

Well, she wasn't entirely alone, of course: Princess Christina was there! (The King's sister is a regular attendee, along with her husband, but they sit in the audience and not on the stage for the ceremony.) She wore the Six Button Tiara - again, not one of my favorites, but also again, completely predictable. She seems to stick to either the Cut Steel Tiara or the larger button thing. And she happens to be one that can make the buttons look okay, so that works out.

And though they don't have any tiaras associated with their part of the Nobel Prizes, we'll add here the Norwegian contribution. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in Oslo, and again a reduced royal group was on hand. We would usually see the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, but Mette-Marit is still in recovery and Haakon was also in South Africa for the Mandela memorial, so the King and Queen went solo.

Click here to view the entire ceremony.

Sonja did hold down the fort in her smart red and black, though. Basic, but you'll note she threw in some hat sparkle, just for us (let's pretend).

Update: Victoria returned in time for the second tiara event of the Swedish Nobels, and she brought a surprise:

She's wearing bits of the Cameo parure for the first time since her wedding! It makes a surprisingly good pairing with the Cut Steel Tiara, though it makes me long for the Cameo Tiara to be worn again. (And for the record, I like the idea of that dress, which is a repeat...I just think it's unfortunate that it's also a dress that speculation lovers adore as well. A reminder: our comment policy around here requests that you avoid the pregnancy speculation.) Silvia wore the Connaught Tiara, and Christina wore the Six Button Tiara for the second night in a row.

Photos: SVT/Getty Images/Nobel Prize/Scanpix/Tt

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: December 4-9

Hmm.

The Duchess of Cambridge

Video: William and Kate attend the London premiere of "Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom"

Look, I find this outfit rather baffling, but the whole thing takes on an extra unimportant tone considering the death of the great Nelson Mandela was announced while they were at this premiere. William's short statement when they left is included in the video above. (Kate also paid a visit to a children's hospice, smartly wearing trousers to avoid any precarious situations when crouching to kid level. Click here for some video cuteness.)

HMM.

Queen Máxima

Attending a concert given in Princess Beatrix's honor

Well, the outfit above is nothing compared to the level of bafflement this brings. From the unflattering bands to the messy skirt to the overly dark stockings - I just can't.

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Mathilde visits Hong Kong (this was my favorite from the trip - click here for a nice video featuring more), Haakon and Mette-Marit at a meeting, Victoria pays a visit to discuss bioenergy, Mary hosts a holiday reception for her foundation

Some lovely business happening here, but the winner has to be Mette-Marit - she's alive! (She's been out of commission for weeks due to a neck problem that required surgery, if you haven't been following your Norwegian royal news.)

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Raad van State/RTL/Kronprinsparet Fond/Lehtikuva/Maryfonden

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 22-28, Plus a Tiara Watch!

Best in Annual Events

Princess Letizia

Video: The 2013 Prince of Asturias Awards ceremony

Each year, the Asturias couple head to Oviedo for a couple days of engagements surrounding the big show, the Prince of Asturias Awards. It almost always ends up being one of Letizia's sartorial highlights of the year, and 2013 is no different - look at her, all sparkly and green! Like a tasteful Christmas tree come two months early.

Asturias Awards events

I mean, I could have done without the 1980s flashback tuxedo-dress, but on the whole - a good week in LetiziaLand.

Best in Returns

The Duchess of Cambridge

At a charity dinner

Ooh, this is lovely. I know many of you will cry out for a necklace here, but I actually think it's styled perfectly for this occasion - add a necklace and you'll need to pull the hair back or up, but the dress works well with the cascading locks she loves so much. Welcome back to the fray, Kate.

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Victoria

Victoria at a meeting and at a formal gathering for the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences; Mathilde finishing up her visits around the country with her husband; Máxima with her husband in Greece

That blue dress, which we've seen before, is just so elegant on Victoria, I'm not even mad at her for not wearing a tiara (it's not a tiara event, despite the otherwise extremely formal dress code). Besides, someone else got their tiaras out last week, so I'll live. Read to the end for that...

A (Dis?)Honorable Mention to...

This Dress, AGAIN

Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Kate in 2012; Alexandra of Luxembourg in September and Madeleine just this past week

I'm starting to get mad at this dress and it's not even poor Madeleine's fault. There are two different designers here, Jenny Packham and Tadashi Shoji, yes - but come on, same difference. I loved it at first and now all I can ask is: Are we done yet? (On another note, Madeleine will be in attendance at this year's Nobel Awards! Huzzah for maternity tiara fashion! Please don't let it be another version of this dress.)

Plus an Honorable Mention to...

The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

Video: Guillaume and Stéphanie have an audience with the Pope

I don't cover Stéphanie here as much as some of you would like, but there's no denying the girl can wear a veil.

Speaking of cool things to put on your head (segue, nailed it), time for that little Tiara Watch I promised.

The Norwegian royal family hosted a gala for parliament and Queen Sonja busted out her mega emerald set. I'm entranced by the movement or perhaps lack of movement of her skirt - click here for video, the royal party enters at 10:38 (including Haakon and the King - and Haakon, yes). And Princess Astrid was in attendance, dutifully wearing the largest tiara at her disposal, her turquoise diadem, as though trying to do whatever she could to make up for the family being down a tiara-wearer in Crown Princess Mette-Marit's absence. Bless.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Getty Images/PA/Style.com/Matches Fashion/BestImage/Stella/EdA/Orange Grove/DPP/ANB

Tiara Thursday: The Vifte Tiara

The Vifte Tiara (shown in necklace form)

Today's tiara is a lesser-known member of the Norwegian royal collection, but one I wouldn't mind seeing more often. The tiara is a smaller piece in a fan shape ("vifte" means "fan" in Norwegian) composed entirely of diamonds set in gold and silver. It can be worn upright in the hair or worn on a diamond necklace. It may be a petite tiara, but it has grand origins: it is said to have been a gift from Queen Victoria to her granddaughter, Princess Maud of Wales, to mark Maud's 18th birthday in 1887.

Queen Maud

Maud was the daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra; she married Prince Carl of Denmark, who in 1905 became King Haakon VII, first king of the newly independent Norway. The Vifte Tiara came with Queen Maud to Norway, and there it remains today.

Queen Sonja

The tiara was inherited by Maud's grandson King Harald, and has been worn by his wife Queen Sonja (who started using it during her years as crown princess). More recently, it has been worn a couple of times - as a necklace only - by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who first wore it to her pre-wedding celebrations.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

It's not worn often, which is probably not a surprise given its unique shape and small size. But I do wish we'd see it more; this little tiara plus a skilled hairdresser could yield fantastic results (it has some serious My Fair Lady potential, no?).

What do you think: serious potential, or seriously too small?

Photos: Corbis/NTBScanpix

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: September 22-28

Best in New York

Queen Máxima

All in New York City, for various reasons: Queen Mathilde (appearance from the previous week), Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Queen Máxima, Princess Charlene, Queen Rania, Crown Princess Mary

The party really has been in NYC, hasn't it? Even those outside of our normal scope. Máxima's first look is everything, but then again I will always and forever be a sucker for a full skirt. And so much better than her second look - there is no way that amount of loose fabric around one shoulder will not make me think of a toga party, and that's just the way it is. Even Charlene looks good, believe it or not! (Relax, Charlene fans, a joke. Let's don't talk about her other encounter with the Obamas...which is one awkward outfit, at best.)

Best in Other Stuff

Queen Mathilde

Mary christening a ship, Letizia at an audience, Victoria holding an audience and at the opening of the General Synod, Mathilde with Jacques Rogge and at a concert and a visit to Antwerp

Speaking of white peplums, let's give this one to Mathilde, who will always win in that repeated dress (far better than that shape-shifter printed outfit, which seems to look like a completely different hat and dress depending on the angle). Elsewhere, Mary's giving us classic princess all the way - and yet, I've never been a fan of that hat. It's very...large. Camilla-esque, in a way? That's what I'm thinking. Anyway...

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: Belga/NTBScanpix/Kongehuset/Getty Images/Berlingske/Kungahuset/Lehtikuva/LeSoir/BestImage

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: September 15-21, Plus a Tiara Watch!

Best in Visits

Queen Máxima and Princess Letizia

Video: Felipe and Letizia meet their Dutch visitors at the airport

Willem-Alexander and Máxima got back to their one day visits to fellow European monarchs this past week with a quick stop in Spain to see the King and Queen. So many things to love just in this video: the warm greetings, the best thing Letizia wore all week, Máxima's abundant use of aquamarines, and her excellent response to the Spanish monarchy's anti-hat and currently anti-bling culture.

 

That would be a jeweled butterfly in the hair, of course. Attagirl!

Most Curiously Hatted

Queen Mathilde

Continuing visits across the country with King Philippe

Mathilde had other events this week (she was in New York, and I think we'll cover that when we cover the rest of the people in NYC next week), but this one sort of wiped them all out. There are outfits that you can casually throw a hat on...and then there are outfits that you can not.

Second Most Curiously Hatted

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Visiting Vest-Agder

I don't know what exactly is going on here, but these two together without context humors me. If I hadn't seen them next to each other on video (click here!), I might think someone had Photoshopped this up: one Arctic survivor bundled up for life and one dude in a suit, just out for a stroll.

Best in Family Events

The Swedish Royal Family

King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, Chris O'Neill, and Princess Madeleine attend a reception celebrating the King's 40th Jubilee

First, the Jubilee festivities continued with a reception, where Victoria's simple dress was the perfect day dress to pair with her father's order, and a much less distracting choice than Silvia's Easter egg suit...

The Opening of Parliament and the evening performance (King and Queen not pictured)

...and then it was time for the annual opening of Parliament. The black and white on the ladies is the standard dress code, and a throwback to the court dress of earlier days, and Madeleine's winning it (during the day at least).

Best in Variety

Crown Princess Mary

Mary at an awards ceremony, and during the state visit from Vietnam (with her Erdem dress)

Mary had a busy week, more events than this, and she had some interesting designers too. A blue Gucci number - not unlike the Gucci worn by Máxima earlier this year, sans the Bea sleeves - and Erdem! Count that as another royal Erdem that I actually like. I like that blue coat too, and as a bonus it was worn for a state visit, and you know what that means...

Tiara Watch!

Reason #597 why fall is awesome: we usually get a couple state visits out of it, and state visits = tiaras. Tiaras in all their sparkly action, no less:

Video: State banquet for the President of Vietnam

Queen Margrethe is wearing the Baden Palmette Tiara; Mary has on her wedding tiara; Marie is wearing her regular floral tiara; and Benedikte is also in her floral tiara. A regular diamond party! And thank heavens for the tiaras, because I'm not wild about the gowns. Marie's is lovely, but that waist ornamentation has no business being cluttered by a sash and a star. And Mary looks like she's reusing the skirt from one of my favorite New Year's Court outfits, and yet I still don't love it. Hmm...

Who was your best dressed last week?

Photos: IBL/Belga/NRK/Expressen/BestImage/Abaca/Kongehuset

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: September 8-14

Best in Brights

Queen Máxima

Video: Máxima in Malaysia

This dress appeared to legitimately be an eye-searing shade of highlighter yellow in some of the pictures. Happily for her audience, it appears slightly more tame in action.

Best in Prints

Crown Prince Haakon's Jacket

Letizia holds an audience; Mathilde visits Wavre and later a museum; Mette-Marit, Ingrid Alexandra, and Haakon open an environment house; Mette-Marit in Paris

Well, I do prefer Mette-Marit's family appearance to her head-to-toe reptile situation, which looks all kinds of stiff. And while we're at it, we can't forget Crown Prince "Not Just Another Navy Suit" Haakon there. (We must also give a nod to another kind of print entirely: Crown Princess Mary in camouflage, training with the Home Guard, which would be such an automatic winner for me I dare say it's not fair competition.) 

Best in Sparkle

Duchess of Cambridge

Video: William and Kate attend the Tusk Conservation Awards

When in doubt, go with glitter, that's what I always say. 

Best in Statement Accessories

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Máxima opens a museum; Mette-Marit in Paris

As relieved as I am that Máx has not busted out another of her bug jewels, I have to stick with Mette-Marit's shoes. They're not for everyone, but this Shoe Person loves 'em. I mean, not with this outfit, but just generally speaking. From the ankles down.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Psst: We'll have a glimpse at Prinsjesdag tomorrow.

Photos: Getty Images/Abaca/NTBScanpix/Kongehuset/Stella Pictures/ANP/Valentino

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: August 27-September 7, Plus Your Diamond Winners!

Hello again, lovelies. It's that glorious time of year when the deadly slow month of August is over and our royals have returned to the fashion playing field! Rejoice. A hodgepodge of some of what we've missed:

Best in Brights

Princess Letizia

Mary and Victoria at separate awards ceremonies; Letizia with Felipe in Argentina for the IOC meeting; Mathilde and Philippe in Leuven and at the Hanswijk Cavalcade; Máxima on an engagement with Willem-Alexander and at a university

Yes, I think you truly know summer is over when the Natan twins return to greet you with their dueling Slimer green ensembles. Elsewhere, Victoria keeps trying with that statement necklace but isn't quite there yet, and Letizia made a valiant attempt to win the 2020 Olympics for Madrid by the sheer power of lookin' good - didn't work for her (Tokyo won the Games), but it works for me.

Best in Casual

The Duchess of Cambridge

Video: Kate and William on an engagement in Anglesey

Not so much a sartorial thing, but here you go anyway. 

Best in Black and White

Crown Princess Mary

Mette-Marit opening a sculpture park; Mary in Morocco; Letizia in Argentina

Mary's been busy, squeezing another trip in, but I can't concentrate on anything but this skirt right here. I need it, you see. NEED. Alas, it isn't a new one, but an older model from By Malene Birger. Sigh. Mette-Marit looked ab fab, but not even the power of a well placed puppy can distract me.

And an Honorable Mention to...

Princess Madeleine

At a memorial service for Princess Lilian

Jumpy claps to Madeleine, who has recently announced that she and her new husband are expecting a baby! Maternity wear ahoy.

Who's been your best dressed lately?

And now for the winners of your recent double pick for your ultimate tiara collection...

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and the Fife Tiara!

Inevitable that these would make the cut at some point, really. As for your runners up, let's have a moment of silence for Poor Polty - it took the #2 spot in both categories, but even combining its votes, it wouldn't have pulled out a win. The remainder were all over the place.

Here's the full thing so far:

That's the end of the August voting extravaganza (as stated previously, just something to do while we're summer bored). The next one will be at the end of September.

Photos: Abaca/Getty Images/Belga/DutchPhotoPress/NTBScanpix/BilledBladet-Kongehuset/Stella Pictures

Wedding Wednesday: Mette-Marit at Royal Weddings

For the birthday girl (she turned 40 on the 19th), a retrospective on some of our favorite Norwegian queen consort-to-be's royal wedding guest looks - both at the weddings themselves and for some assorted other wedding events:

The Dutch wedding one just makes me sad. A raincoat and a funeral hat. (And look at her taunting us because she's got the arm candy, bad outfit and all.) Her complete 180 for her sister-in-law's wedding is almost comical in comparison, like an overcorrection that went straight into Disney territory.

She's refined that step into Disney territory over the years, still loving a pastel with some frill for her fancy tiara-sporting royal weddings, but substituting tulle volume for train length. (I do love her in those pastel gowns, oh I really do.)

The tiara count comes in at two for the Amethyst Necklace Tiara (Sweden 2013 and Denmark 2004, Part 1) , one for the borrowed Queen Maud's Pearl and Diamond Tiara (Sweden 2010) and the rest for the Diamond Daisy. Conclusion: Time for the birthday girl to get a diadem upgrade, wouldn't you say?

Which look is your favorite?

Photos: Getty Images/Corbis/Scanpix

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: August 11-17, Plus Your Convertible Tiara Winner!

Best in Back to School

Princess Isabella

Video: Princess Isabella poses with her parents before heading to her first day of school

It is always a good week when Isabella's involved, giving her little interview and sporting matching bracelets with mom. (Loving what Mary's wearing, too - loved that Isabel Marant blouse since Jennifer Aniston sported it a while back!)

Best in Birthday

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Video: Click here for a full video of the outdoor church service celebrating Mette-Marit's 40th birthday

Haakon celebrated his 40th, now it's Mette-Marit's turn - and she did it in a very Mette-Marit way, with an outdoor church service. Wellies for everybody!

Best in Baby

Prince George

Video: Pictures of Prince George of Cambridge are released

Slightly more current news: George! Prince William's been talking about him (click here for his CNN interview), and his first pictures have been released, and that's the story of this week so far because babies will do that to you.

Who was your favorite last week?

P.S.: In sadder news last week, Prince Friso was laid to rest. Click here for a video report from the BBC. We will not cover this event here, for reasons I hope you can understand.


Next up: the winner of your convertible tiara competition...

The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara!

You might say this is the most famous case of multiple tiara personalities out there? A worthy addition to the collection, to be sure. Pearls, emeralds, or neither, your choice. 

Your runners up, an interesting mix of popular pieces and those that aren't that popular but sure can change it up:

2. The Connaught Tiara

3. Queen Fabiola's Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara

4. The Poltimore Tiara

5. Queen Margherita's Musy Tiara

And here are all your winners so far:

Stay tuned for your next vote!

Photos: NRK/British Monarchy/Corbis/Getty Images

Wedding Wednesday: August Brides

August is a little lighter month for royal weddings, and we have a light little selection of late summer gowns for you:

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby

August 25, 2001

Part of your list of favorite gowns, and rightly so.

Prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau and Anita van Eijk

August 25 & 27, 2005

Another of the four sons of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven.

Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Tatiana Blatnik

August 25, 2010

A Greek royal wedding held in Greece, which has become a rarity (Nikolaos' older siblings were both married in London, where the family has lived in exile).

Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia and Princess Sophie of Isenburg

August 25 & 27, 2011

If you're going to have an August royal wedding, you want to have at least part of it on August 25th, I guess?

Prince El Hassan bin Talal and Sarvath Ikramullah

August 28, 1968

The lovely Sarvath and Hassan, often seen among the guests at big royal occasions (due to the fact that Hassan served as the Crown Prince of Jordan for his brother, King Hussein, for many years).

 

Crown Prince Harald of Norway and Sonja Haraldsen

August 29, 1968

If you can't have it on August 25th, then have it in Norway, apparently. (Understandable coincidences, both, but still - I'm easily entertained.)

Who is your favorite August bride? Among these or the many other options out there?

Photos: Kongehuset/Scanpix/Colourpress/Getty Images

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: July 15-20, and a Bonus of Cute

Best in Cute

Prince George of Cambridge

Video: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave the hospital with their bundle of joy

Obviously this is outside of our date range, happening yesterday. Whatever. BABIES, amirite?! You could just pick him up and squeeze him. (But don't, because police.) They were one adorable, happy family in blue. Kate's bespoke Jenny Packham was great {insert your own required Diana polka dot comparison here}, but the warm fuzzies were better.

I do love any occasion that lets the headline writers run wild.

UPDATE: The baby's name is George Alexander Louis. Anybody guess right? (I certainly didn't!)

Best in Other Cute Things

The A-Team, ESTELLE, and Puppies

Left to right: the Dutch royal family poses for their annual family photoshoot, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Estelle meet scholarship winners, and the Norwegian crown princely family pose with their new puppies

Too. Much. Cute. This should hold us over for a while (it won't, though, because we're not reasonable like that).

Compared to all that, the rest of the week was kinda boring. Haakon tried to liven things up by parachuting into his 40th birthday music festival (because who just has a plain old party, come on).

This party caused a bit of a stir, I guess. First, there was fuss over increased police cost, then it emerged that the guests had been asked to contribute to the costs of the party. All this with a background of fuss over Mette-Marit accepting designer clothes and such for free. But on it went. Click here for a long video, and here for a picture gallery. There were some other royals there too.

Best of the Rest
Princess Letizia, Princess Mathilde, Crown Princess Mary

Princess Letizia attending a naval graduation and audiences; Princess Mathilde (this all happened pre-abdication, pre-Queen Mathilde) at a luncheon and other engagements

Here's a highlight of the rest, the actual business sort of events. But frankly, as far as this post is concerned, if you can't give me at least a puppy you get a meh.

Video: Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik attend a ballet

I suppose Mary and Frederik are my favorites. Fred, really. You gotta respect a man whose sartorial dictionary doesn't include the word blergh.

Who's your favorite?

Photos: The Sun/Getty Images/Abaca/Kongehuset