The Windsors poured out to Horse Guards Parade and the Buckingham Palace balcony today in their hatted best, just to give us something to chat about. Wasn't that nice of them? (Coincidentally, it also happened to be Trooping the Colour, the queen's official birthday parade. Ahem.)
Best in Strategic Planning
Queen Elizabeth
She’s so sly, our Liz. With the potential for bad weather looming (and, no doubt, not wanting to take any chances after what happened to the Duke of Edinburgh following the rainy Thames parade), the queen rode for the first time in the glass coach rather than an open carriage. So she brought her own sunshine in the form of her repeated royal wedding outfit, and at the same time made herself easy to spot inside the dark coach. Well played, Your Maj. (Brooch check: she is wearing
the Guards’ Badge as always.)
Best in Jewels
The Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla can rock a choker, yes she can, and check out the aquamarine on this one. Dee-licious! Don’t even care about the rest of the outfit, no I don’t.
Best in Incognito Hat Angles
The Duchess of Cambridge
I'm sorry, every time she perches a hat like this, she loses me. What's the point of hiding the top half of your eyes? I shrug in her general direction. I much prefer her new Erdem dress today.
Worst Hat
Princess Eugenie
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| Left to Right: The Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Princess Michael of Kent |
Buckle your seat belts kids, the York sisters have abandoned their recent trend of tame millinery and they've taken some family members with them. Sophie's faring the best here (as she also repeats her royal wedding outfit, with a different hat), though I just want to reach right in and give that hat a tug before it falls off the side. Beatrice has opted for a deflated balloon, while Marie Christine appears to have added a veil to a sailor’s cap…and I just can’t. At least she’s not scaring me, like Eugenie and her roadkill. Eug, sweetheart, you are not the family member that needs to be toupee shopping right now.
Best in Uniform
The Duke of Edinburgh
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| L to R (and click to enlarge): The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Kent |
I’m a little worried about the normally indefatigable Duke. He looked a little fatigued. He gets the prize for showing up anyway, though I tip my imaginary hat to Prince William for debuting the star of the Order of the Thistle on his uniform today. He’ll be formally inducted to Scotland's senior order of chivalry next month.
Best in Purple
Lady Louise Windsor
No carriage ride for the Wessexes this year, but thankfully we still got a glimpse of my favorite wee Windsor – and in my favorite color, no less! (I
told you they just came out to play for us.)
Best Random Royal Spotting
King Abdullah of Jordan
Look who joined the party! King Abdullah, on a working visit to London, was seated with the Prime Minister, rather than with the royals. He did not bring his chic wife, Queen Rania, which is sad.
Best in Balcony Spotting
Lady Gabriella Windsor
The balcony was nice and full once again after a sparse Jubilee showing, and so we can get back to playing Spot the Royal! My personal favorite of this motley crew is Lady Gabriella Windsor (under the ribbon there), simply because we didn't get to see her at all during the Jubilee festivities.
Who wins the Trooping fashion stakes for you?
Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Zimbio/AP/Reuters
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