Random Royal Appreciation: Another Wessex Tour

Alternate Title: The Wessexes Rock Gibraltar. Heh.

Trusty ol' Ed and Soph Wessex were shipped out once again for another destination on the Windsor Jubilee Whistle Stop Tour last week, in between the big Jubilee weekend and the current round of June festivities. This time they hit Gibraltar, that source of so much angst between Spain and the U.K. (Gibraltar disputes are why Queen Sofia was not permitted to attend Queen Elizabeth's jubilee celebrations this year and so on.) Nevertheless, the Earl and Countess were received with welcome Union Jack-draped arms.

After a round of new outfits back during the Caribbean tour and another few for some of the jubilee celebrations, it looks like Sophie's fashion has settled firmly back in rerun territory. We saw the dress and jacket from the Epsom Derby separated, two reruns from the Caribbean, the chic beige dress from Zara and Mike's pre-wedding celebration, and unfortunately the big white pantsuit yet again. Can this one be retired yet? 

I believe this is it for the Wessex Traveling Jubilee Machine. A few tours are yet to come, including more travels for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and an outing for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Photos: AP/Reuters/Telegraph/GibMedia/Hello/Daylife

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 27 May-5 June

1. Attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace, 29 May, repeating her Emilia Wickstead dress from the sovereigns' jubilee lunch and adding a Jane Corbett hat.
2. a) At the Thames River Pageant, 3 June, in b) Alexander McQueen with a Lock & Co. hat.
3. a) Attending the Diamond Jubilee Concert, 4 June, in b) a Whistles dress with a McQueen jacket.
4. The Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, 5 June, in McQueen again with a Jane Taylor hat. Much as I loved how she rocked the red at the Thames pageant, this final elegant turn is my favorite jubilee appearance from Kate. Which one did you like best?

Photos: PA/Getty Images/Daylife/Reuters

Event Roundup: Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee

This whole year, 2012, is packed with special occasions and commemorations in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. It's no different here in blogland, so here's a comprehensive linked guide to jubilee-specific posts.

NOTE: Events and tours for the jubilee are not finished. This post will be added to as more events happen.

Pre-Jubilee Fun

The Queen's Accession

A look at the circumstances under which Her Majesty took the throne in 1952.

The Queen's Coronation

A four-part look at the glittering coronation of 1953:

The Coronation Scene

The Coronation Gown

Crown Jewels for the Coronation

Coronation Guests and Their Jewels 

The Golden Jubilee

Take a look back at how the queen and her family celebrated in 2002.

The Queen's Top 10 Diamonds

A little sparkle in honor of the Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen's Brooches

This year included a look at one of the queen's favorite accessories, which led to:

From Her Majesty's Jewel Vault
A blog dedicated to the Queen's jewels.

Thailand's Diamond Jubilee
 A look at the last worldwide diamond jubilee, for the King of Thailand.

Special Jubilee Events

The Sovereign's Luncheon

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a luncheon for the world's sovereigns.

18 May

The Sovereign's Dinner

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall hosted a dinner for the visiting foreign royals.

18 May

The Armed Forces Parade and Muster

The combined services paid tribute to Her Majesty, with some of her foreign royal guests in attendance.

19 May

The Epsom Derby

2 June

The official jubilee weekend kicked off with a trip to the races.

The Thames River Pageant

3 June

One thousand boats paraded down the Thames in Her Majesty's honor.

The Diamond Jubilee Concert

4 June

A pop tribute in front of Buckingham Palace.

The Thanksgiving Service

5 June

The religious service commemorating the jubilee.


Jubilee Tours

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh toured the United Kingdom (including a visit to Northern Ireland) and shipped their family members off to celebrate around the world. These are the tours we covered here (some posts overlap):

The Earl and Countess of Wessex toured the West Indies (Part 1, Part 2), and visited Gibraltar. They later made a trip to Canada.

Prince Harry visited Belize, the Bahamas, and Jamaica and made a pit stop in Brazil.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited royal relatives in Norway followed by Sweden and Denmark. They also toured Canada. In November, they visited Papua New Guinea and Australia (Part 1, Part 2).

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited several locations in Asia (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4).

Logo: The British Monarchy

Royal Fashion Awards: The Thanksgiving Jubilee Service

The final event of the official jubilee weekend was a service at St. Paul's Cathedral followed by receptions and a balcony appearance. Though Prince Philip's absence was strongly felt, it was a wonderful event - and there were plenty of wonderful fashions (and diamonds). Let's get to it:

Best in Jumpy Claps

Queen Elizabeth

She did it!! She wore the Cullinan III and IV brooch, rocking 158 carats of diamonds (as you do). That’s my jumpy claps for the year, then. I don’t even care about the rest of the outfit, but for those of you that do, she sported a mint green concoction by Angela Kelly of tulle embroidered with star shaped flowers and silver thread with a chiffon drape studded with Swarovski crystals. It rather reminded me of a super hero’s cape, which I thought was quite fitting.

Best of the Best

The Duchess of Cambridge

Left to Right: the Countess of Wessex, Princess Eugenie, the Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Sarah Chatto, Lady Frederick Windsor

I asked and I wished for something fabulous and new from Sophie and once again my dreams have come true; I’m particularly loving her jaunty Robin Hood chapeau. Eugenie’s in purple, so obviously she makes the list (we all have our weaknesses); Lady Sarah’s her normal sophisticated self which I die for every time (and I do believe the lady was rocking some diamonds herself); and Lady Frederik (Sophie #2, if you like) had some great detailing under that coat. But Kate came out on top in her lace McQueen. I thought she was – if I may be blunt – chic as hell.

Best in Kids

A Tie

L to R: Lady Louise Windsor, Margarita Armstrong-Jones

 Lady Louise and Margarita, a double dose of precious. No point in choosing a winner here!

Fanciest Hat

Lady Helen Taylor

L to R: the Princess Royal, Autumn Phillips, Lady Helen Taylor, Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra of Kent

 Camilla (as we will see) did her best to run away with the major hat glory, but she failed thanks to these ladies. A turquoise bird met an untimely end on Anne’s head, while her daughter-in-law Autumn seems to have let gravity get the best of her with the tipped angle of the side flower on her hat. The Kent ladies, Princess Michael and Princess Alexandra, went the large but elegant route, but it was another Kent lady that ran away with the prize: Lady Helen. I don’t even know what is happening up there, but she can go right on with her fur-wearing, crazy hat bearing self.

Best of the Rest

The Duchess of Gloucester

L to R: Viscountess Linley, Lady Nicholas Windsor, the Duchess of Gloucester and the Countess of Ulster, Lady Rose Gilman, (above) the Countess of St. Andrews, (below) Julia Ogilvy

 A spot of elegance from a selection of lesser-known Windsors. I’m loving the Duchess the most, if only because she hasn’t pulled another repeat from the last big royal event.

Worst Dressed

Zara Phillips

L to R: the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Beatrice, Zara Phillips, the Duchess of Kent

Camilla’s outfit looks fine in pictures, but in movement at the service it looked so heavy and stiff, I can’t give it any love. Beatrice had the opposite problem in my eyes: I liked the glimpses I saw in action, but now I can see we have a droopy situation on our hands (she did sport some fierce shoes, to be fair). The Duchess of Kent made a rare appearance and though I’m happy to see her…that is just not the outfit for her. The worst, however, goes to Zara, who seems to be a genie just a little too squished into her bottle. This is not the fierce Zara that I adore so.

UPDATE: By overwhelming popular demand, I present to you the royal men and their morning dress. (This is not all the men, but it is most of them.)

Best in Men

The Prince of Wales

L to R: the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex

I have much love for all the men, but nobody puts it together quite like Charles: the trim, the accessories…the man has style. And yes, he and his sons also have top hats for the carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace.

And for that reason, William and Harry take the next top two spots.

L to R: Tim Laurence, Peter Phillips, Mike Tindall, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent

L to R: Lord Nicholas Windsor, Tim Taylor, Prince Michael of Kent, Lord Frederick Windsor, Viscount Linley, Charles Armstrong-Jones

I will give the fourth spot to Prince Michael, for being the only other royal to display a bit of that same style Prince Charles rocks so well. Panache, I say. Well played.

Who makes your best and worst dressed lists?

P.S.: Should you find yourself lost in the midst of the extended Windsor family, I'll point you in the direction of an illustrated guide to the Windsors I posted in advance of William and Kate's wedding.

Photos:  Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife/Zimbio/WPA Pool/Newspix/Belga/Profimedia/Daily Mail

Royal Fashion Awards: The Diamond Jubilee Concert

Tonight, the Diamond Jubilee concert outside of Buckingham Palace took place. Sadly the Duke of Edinburgh was hospitalized earlier and missed out, but – cliché as it may be – the show must go on. And it was a wonderful show indeed, culminating in a touching speech by the Prince of Wales and some cheering for the absent Philip. And then there were the fashions, so long as you don’t mind judging from a seated position…

Best Dressed

Queen Elizabeth

Leave it to Her Majesty to show up despite whatever else is happening looking like a boss in her Admiral’s Boat Cloak (immortalized in portraits by Cecil Beaton and Annie Leibovitz). She tossed it off when it was time to hit the stage to reveal the sparkling gold lamé party dress underneath. Elton John still out-sequined her but, you know, some competitions aren't worth entering. For the cloak alone she wins the fashion stakes.

Best Dressed Guest

Princess Beatrice

Apart from the queen, the royal that caught my eye the most was Beatrice, believe it or not, in her bright Erdem print. Just enough interest and fun for a (royal) rock concert.

Best Use of Union Jacks

Princess Eugenie

Still sporting the Union Jack manicure we saw at the Derby, Eugenie accessorized with a flag ring and a red dress – subtle, but still fun. Well played.

Worst in Repeats

The Countess of Wessex

I love me some Sophie and she has some stunning numbers in her closet. So I’m particularly baffled as to why we saw her Paris dress repeated yesterday and now this shapeless white number repeated from the sovereigns' luncheon (just in case you didn’t catch that it was palazzo pants before…now you know). Please, please, let us be in for something shiny and new at the service tomorrow.

Best in Meh

The Duchess of Cambridge

Left to right: the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall

Well enough done, ladies, I guess. I’m not finding much memorable here (saving some sartorial magic for tomorrow, perhaps?), so…eeny, meeny, miny, mo, I’ll give it to Kate for her flag-waving prowess.

Best in Funk

The Princess Royal

For those of you that couldn’t watch the concert, I feel it is my duty to inform you that Anne here was rocking out to Stevie Wonder (while possibly wearing something left over from her maternity years, but never mind that), and it was basically the best thing ever. That is all.

Best Spot in the Crowd

Zara Phillips

There's plenty of other Where's Waldo? royal spotting to be had as loads of members of the extended family can be glimpsed in the royal box, but my personal favorite was Zara. I just love a little touch of Zara in any capacity, really.

Who drew your eye in the concert crowd?

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images/National Pictures/Daily Mail/Telegraph/Daylife

Royal Fashion Awards: The Thames River Pageant

A landmark celebration for the Diamond Jubilee today: a flotilla of 1,000 boats on the Thames in a magnificent parade for Her Majesty. It was cold and rainy, but do you think that stopped our fair royals from turning out in style? No!

Best Diamond Girl

Queen Elizabeth

A one of a kind outfit for a one of a kind event! Made of course by Angela Kelly (and reported to have taken a year to plan and create), this is one impressive description: white bouclé with a silk organza frill, threaded with silk ribbon and embroidered with gold, silver and ivory paillettes with Swarovski crystal embellishment. The hat, including hand dyed feathers, sweeps up to make sure everyone can see Her Majesty’s smiling face – and to echo the waves of the Thames. And to top it off, she pinned the Jardine Star Brooch on her shoulder. I thought she looked gorgeous.

Best Queen Mum Impression

The Duchess of Cornwall

What do you get when you let Philip Treacy's brain run wild in the late Queen Mother's hat collection? This, methinks. Her long Anna Valentine coat in cream with lovely detailing is just a touch more elegant, though.

Best Use of Red

The Duchess of Cambridge

Taking full advantage of the one day in the year when red is actually the wallflower color choice (seriously, did you see that boat?), Catherine rocked her crimson McQueen. Bonus points for the Strathearn tartan scarf in her hand (she’s the Countess of Strathearn) and for the seafaring brooch with twin silver dolphins given to her by the Royal Navy Submarine Service, of which her hubby is Commodore in Chief. (So now we have polar bears and dolphins…what will be next in the Duch’s zoo-themed brooch collection? Crossing my fingers for a sloth.)

Best Spirit

All These Ladies

Left to right: the Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and the Duchess of Gloucester (Bea and Eug appeared at a street party, then donned coats for the boat)

 These ladies just looked like they were having the most fun of all on their boat, waving like maniacs with flags included and capturing everything with their mobiles. (Precisely what I would do and so would you - don't lie.) Must be good to draw the party boat assignment. So we’ll reward that, since a lot of what I see here is more worthy of a worst dressed list, I’m afraid.

Best in Bundled Up

Princess Michael of Kent

 

Can’t knock a girl for dressing for the cold and wet weather! You go on, Marie Christine.

Best in Kids

Lady Louise Windsor

L to R: Lady Louise Windsor, Viscount Severn (children of the Earl and Countess of Wessex)

Flags and Union Jack colors? Perfect! 

Best in Uniform

Everybody!

L to R: the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Earl of Wessex

L to R: the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Michael of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester

 I can’t be forced to pick a favorite today, you know what shiny things do to my attention span and LOOK at all those medals. I was especially delighted to see William back in his RAF uniform after several appearances in his Irish Guards uniforms, though I can’t help but wish he would have made it an occasion for his Navy uniform (my favorite of them all).

Who do you say wins this river pageant?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Hello/PA/Reuters/Rex

Royal Fashion Awards: The Epsom Derby

Here we go! Jubilee Weekend has begun with the Epsom Derby. The surprisingly color-coordinated Windsors are off to the races, and so are we... 

Best in Blue

Queen Elizabeth

Standard blue with sapphires and diamonds (the brooch was one of Queen Mary's wedding gifts) to kick the weekend off for the queen. It's like she knew that headline writers were going to be taxed by the end of this affair and decided to give them one with the Royal Blue reference, bless her heart.

Best in Yorks

Princess Eugenie

Left to right: Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie

How very tame, York sisters. (Ramping up for a big hatted finale later on, or permanently subdued? We shall see.) Eugenie wins for proving that jubilee fever leaves no one untouched with her Union Jack manicure. (And also because I love dresses like that, on anyone, anytime, anywhere.)

Best in Major Hats

The Countess of Wessex

L to R: the Countess of Wessex, Princess Michael of Kent

The countess and the princess tried to fill the hatted void left by the Yorks. Well, they tried, even if those are tall platform shoes to fill. Personally, I prefer the Wessex flowered pancake to the Kent chip-n'-dip tray.

Best in Elegance

The Duchess of Gloucester

L to R: the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra of Kent

There is no one more consistently adorable (above the age of 6, that is) than Princess Alexandra. And yet, the Duchess of Gloucester's ladylike blue still wins this one. Just this once. 

Best in Top Hats

The Duke of Edinburgh

L to R: Prince Michael of Kent, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of York, the Duke of Gloucester

Best part of this event: gents in top hats and umbrellas. So deliciously old school, I hope they never change this dress code. Prince Philip wins, because...obviously, but I'll throw in a tip of my imaginary topper to Prince Richard (that's the Duke of Gloucester) for looking extra dapper.

Who wins the Derby for you this year?

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Hello/Splash/Daily Mail/EPA/PA

Flashback Friday: The Thai Diamond Jubilee

Talk of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee this year is bringing everyone back to the last time that happened in Britain: Queen Victoria, all the way back in 1897. But if it's Diamond Jubilee examples you're looking for, you needn't go so far back - you can simply widen your scope to an international scale. And so we're off to Thailand for a quick peek at another impressive jubilee before the British festivities kick into full gear this weekend.

The King and Queen of Thailand during the 60th anniversary celebrations

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (also known as King Rama IX) celebrated 60 years on the throne in 2006; he took the reins at the age of 18 in 1946 after the mysterious shooting death of his older brother, King Ananda Mahidol. (Click here for a very interesting article on this royal mystery.)

A few royal guests at the first tiara event, left to right: Princess Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Queen Sofia of Spain, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden

Celebrations for the jubilee were extensive, even including the presentation of the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to the king by Kofi Annan. The king and his wife, Queen Sirikit, hosted a lavish few days of concentrated celebrations in June to mark the occasion.

Group photo with the foreign royal guests

The Thai royals were joined by a huge gathering of royal attendees for the main festivities. A selection of sovereigns, consorts and representatives were in attendance from more than 20 different countries to pay tribute to Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Some royals at the second tiara event: Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Queen Sofia of Spain, Princess Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

Festivities for the foreign royals began with a tribute ceremony, followed by an impressive royal barge procession. After indulging in a hefty dose of Thai culture, the royals were sent home after a glittering banquet at the Grand Palace.

Again at the second tiara event: Princess Mathilde and Prince Philippe of Belgium, Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan

The king still reigns today, though he has suffered from health problems in the past few years. He is the longest-reigning monarch in the world. Second on that exclusive list is of course Queen Elizabeth, who is currently celebrating her own Diamond Jubilee in a less tiara-filled, but still extensive, fashion.

Photos: Profimedia/Thai Monarchy

Random Royal Appreciation: Catching Up with the Windsors

It's only been a week since we were caught up with all the world's sovereigns gathering at Windsor, and yet the Jubilee party people have already been racking up more shenanigans. Let's play catch up:

The annual Chelsea Flower Show brought out several royal visitors, including Queen Elizabeth. Poor dear doesn't seem to have noticed that she had a spiderweb stuck on her head.

I note wryly that this is not the same hairnet as we saw last year, but rather a new one from Angela Kelly. Because you can never have enough of...those.

Left to right: the Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester

Plenty of other Windsors came out to play in the flowers, too. Most all of them seem to have received the garden-frolicking Spring memo...except for Anne. Who is always, unstoppably, just Anne.

Thankfully she (and her mother) came to their springtime senses in time for a huge Buckingham Palace garden party. Loveliness!

And finally for the queen, she attended a celebration of the arts the other night, where she acknowledged awkward curtseys from the likes of Joan Collins like a champ. Once again, she was accompanied by a posse of family members, most noticeably Sophie in her most va-va-voom appearance of the week. Me likey.

Some of the Duchess of Cornwall's Canada outfits

Last but not least, across the ocean the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall made a speedy Jubilee visit to Canada. Sartorially speaking, it was just Camilla doing her Camilla thing; the biggest piece of note for me was her maple leaf regimental brooch from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Rather a large piece, where regimental badges are concerned, and I think quite nice. Lucky Camilla.

What stood out for you in this week in Windsors?

Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Purepeople/Abaca/AP

Royal Fashion Awards: The Jubilee Sovereigns' Dinner

After lunch at Windsor Castle, the sovereigns were entertained by a dinner at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. Tiaras were not present - as we've discussed before, they weren't expected to be - so we'll have to make the best of it in their absence.

Best of the Best

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa

Left to Right: Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia

Oh la, some delicious things are happening. Ballerina pink from Char (nearly but not blergh, mind you), another to die for caftan from Lalla Meryem, and one of the best evening gowns I’ve ever seen Katherine in. But you know me, I’m ever so predictable, and no one holds a candle to my MT in a fitted Elie Saab with aquamarine jewels to accent (and bonus points for the suave hubby). Bliss, I tell you!

Best in Subdued

Queen Silvia

L to R: Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, the Queen of Tonga, Queen Silvia of Sweden, Empress Michiko of Japan

Well, no tiaras, why bother, right? Seems a few ladies had such a thought (and plenty of other reasons to go low-key, obviously). We’ll give this one to Silvia for at least attempting to spice it up with a dusting of diamonds.

Best in Attempted Bling

Queen Anne-Marie

L to R: Queen Margrethe of Denmark, the Queen of Brunei, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Princess Srirasm of Thailand, the Queen of Lesotho

Along those same lines, I did so appreciate these ladies trying at least to give us some sparkle via jewels or crystals or a little twinkle and shine from the dress. Bless Margrethe for bringing her luscious sapphires (and bless her even more for leaving her poppies at home), but this one goes to her sister, Anne-Marie, who is wearing part of her ruby parure. See, she was ready to go just in case the tiara signal flashed in the sky at the last possible moment.

Worst Disappointment

The Duchess of Cornwall

L to R: Queen Rania of Jordan, the Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Sonja of Norway

Sigh. Rania, she can turn it out so well…and she turned up in this two-faced number that I just can’t wrap my brain around. Sonja…dear, I think we need to take another look at what you wore the last time you came to party in London. And Camilla…major letdown. Hosting a dinner for sovereigns and not even one of your major diamond pieces? No whopper collet necklace, no Greville 5-strand masterpiece? I am sad.

Best in Over the Top

Inkhosikati LaMbikiza of Swaziland

Well, someone had to get their fairy princess on in this tiara-less night, didn’t they? Let’s look at it this way: she took one for the team.

Who wins the night for you?

Photos: Getty Images/AP/Daylife

Royal Fashion Awards: The Jubilee Sovereigns' Luncheon

As promised, the world’s sovereigns descended upon Windsor Castle today for lunch with Queen Elizabeth to celebrate her whopping 60 years on the throne. Historic picture time!

Anyway, several basic suits and a few mishaps with the Bedazzler later, here’s what we came out with:

Best in Boss Ladies

Queen Elizabeth

Left to Right: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe of Denmark

This lunch is being touted all over as the most exclusive lunch in the world, but this right here is the most exclusive club: the queens regnant. The Jubilee Girl wins it for obvious reasons, though Queen Beatrix gets some serious bonus points for looking so thrilled to see her girl QEII. Time for some queenly girl talk! 

Best in Shoulder Doodads

Queen Paola

L to R: The Duchess of Cambridge, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Queen Paola of the Belgians, Queen Rania of Jordan

I loved Kate’s demure pink Emilia Wickstead number and was so delighted to see her wearing a brooch (some sort of homage one way or the other to the Broochiest Queen of All perhaps?) that I bumped her up to a special little category. But when it comes to shoulder doodads, she still needs some practice: she kept forgetting her brooch was there and covering it up with the hair. I still prefer that to Maria Teresa’s hubcap shine (repeated from National Day), or the top that Queen Rania stole from an Egyptian mummy on the way up north, but Queen Paola wins this one. She’s lovely, and she’s purple. Done and done.

Best in Blue

Sheikha Mozah

L to R: Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Sheikha Mozah of Qatar, Queen Sonja of Norway

You know Sheikha Mozah’s my girl crush, right? The lady’s got flair - flair enough to steal her category right from under the NON-BLERGH suit of Charlene, wrinkles and all. As thrilled as I am to see Charlene back in that gorgeous Mediterranean blue hue, the feat of hairspray sculpture up top is way beyond her years.

Best in National Dress and Etc.

Empress Michiko

L to R: The Queen of Brunei, Princess Srirasm of Thailand, Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco, Empress Michiko of Japan, Sheikha Sabika of Bahrain

Here’s the category for those of you disappointed in the lack of tiaras at the lunch – why, the Queen of Brunei’s outfit alone gives you plenty of ornamentation. I’m a sucker for those gorgeous caftans the Moroccan ladies treat us to, but this one goes to the empress, for pure adorableness.

Worst in British Glimpses

The Countess of Wessex

L to R: Princess Eugenie of York, the Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice of York

Precious view glimpses are around of some of the other British royal ladies. We’ve got two different takes on the Princess Gladiator from the York gals: Bea in gold-wrapped super hero mode, and Eug in a toga thing. I’m pretty sure I love what Beatrice is cooking up there, but I can’t tell. On the other hand, I don’t need a better look to know that Sophie’s depressing me.

Best of the Rest

Crown Princess Margarita

L to R: Queen Silvia of Sweden, Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Queen Mesenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho

Two things I love: when Crown Princess Katherine comes out to play at the royal events, because she always looks so darn friendly, and when Crown Princess Margarita does the same, because she always puts on her royal best. Like so many of these other ladies, she’s gone the prim and simple route with a skirt suit, but there’s something about her dainty red take that jumps out above the rest.

Worst in Hot Glue Ornamentation

Inkhosikati LaMbikiza of Swaziland

Did you know that this lady here was one of the King of Swaziland’s multiple wives before this lunch? I’m guessing you didn’t. But you do now. So...mission accomplished?

Who was your best dressed at the luncheon?

P.S.: The evening event is still to come.

Photos: Getty Images/Reuters/AP/WPA Pool/Zimbio/Daylife