Prince Carl Philip & Sofia Hellqvist held a private reception at the Royal Palace

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and his fiancee Sofia Hellqvist held a private reception after their banns of marriage for invited guests in the presence of their parents. They were presented many gifts. Sweden's Prime Minister Lefan Lofven, his wife Ulla Lofven and Urban Ahlin and his wife Jenni Ahlin attended the reception at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden on May 17, 2015.

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The banns of marriage for Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist

King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Princess Madeleine, Chris ONeill, Princess Leonore, Marie and Erik Hellqvist attend an service in the chapel and an reception for the presentation of the banns before the wedding of Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, Sweden, 17 May 2015. Prince Carl Philip and his bride-to-be, Sofia Hellqvist, announced their impending marriage at a traditional church service in Stockholm. The wedding will take place on June 13, 2015. (The service, called the "lysning" or "publishing of the banns" in English, is a public announcement of an upcoming marriage that was originally meant to allow anyone to raise canonical or civil legal objections to the union)

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The Duchess of Cambridge visits Emma Bridgewater factory

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visited the Emma Bridgewater factory on February 18, 2015 in Stoke on Trent, England.

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The Duchess of Cambridge visits Portsmouth

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the home of Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) in Portsmouth Old Town on February 12, 2015 in Portsmouth, England

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Cancer Society Merit Award 2015

HRH The Crown Princess Mary of Denmark presents Wednesday, February 4, 2015 Cancer Society Merit Award in 2015 in connection with World Cancer Day.Cancer Society Merit Award is intended to honor a person, group, or others who have made a special effort in the cancer field, and to inspire others to give cancer patients optimal treatment, care or care. The prize is awarded in connection with the international World Cancer Day. The award ceremony takes place in the Playhouse in Copenhagen.

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Royal Trip Report: Denmark and Spain in North America

Everybody is everywhere right now - your typical November surge in events, just before the holidays. Today's installment of Traveling with the Royals joins Mary and Frederik on a visit to Mexico and Felipe and Letizia on a visit to the United States.

When we last checked in on the Danish crown princely couple, they had just arrived for their Mexican visit and Mary was fresh and flowery in a peplum top. Picking up on day 2...

Video: Day 2

...we have another floral-type situation, plus red for the evening. It seems the theme for day 2 was belts.

Video: Day 3

And perhaps the theme for the whole trip was florals, with a darker version on day 3 that remained somewhat hidden under a sweater and coat. Whatever it was - that's it! A short, sweet, and low key trip. The Danish royal news has been occupied with other things, anyway...

A new family portrait by Thomas Kluge was revealed, and it is interesting. And by interesting, I mean a potential cover for Stephen King's next thriller about the boy prince who would stop at NOTHING to take the throne before his time {cue slasher music}. But hey, it's getting attention (as many of you have emailed me, it hit BuzzFeed and other hot spots), and, well, that's not something you can say about every royal portrait. Mission accomplished?

Also out and about are the Prince and Princess of Asturias, who have been visiting California and Florida. 

Sassy Letizia came along, too! (Hello, sparkles and hair and earrings and red shoes and red lips, all at once.)

Video: Sassy Letizia in action, also shown third from left above

But I'm boring and am partial to the flattering pale pink suit, myself.

It even goes well with Google Glass, you see.

Which trip outfit was your favorite?

P.S.: Yes, we have many more current events to handle. Stay tuned!

Photos: Thomas Kluge/Kongehuset/Getty Images/Casa Real

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: February 17-23

Best in I'm Not Gonna Say It

The Duchess of Cambridge

Visiting Hope House treatment center

Seriously, please, I'm begging you. Don't say it, that word, the one everyone has to use when talking about our friend Kate these days. My former pet peeve with the b-word (you know, that one that starts with a b and ends with a p) has blossomed into...whatever's bigger than a pet peeve. A farm animal peeve. I don't like talking about people's stomachs, but I do like this wrap dress.

Best in Fancy

Princess Letizia

Attending a cultural awards ceremony

My my, aren't we looking fancy with our little beading and whatnot?

Best in Purse

Crown Princess Mary

Attending events for a conference on global inequality

Purple Prada alert! Best thing about the week.

Best in Hats

Princess Mathilde and the Belgian Royal Family

Attending the annual mass to remember deceased family members

Well done on your anti-fascinator turnout, Belgian royals. It's been quite some time since we've seen this many legit hats in one royal gathering, no? 

Best in Institutions

Crown Princess Victoria

At a palace reception

It should just be a basic shift dress, one of those can't-go-wrong pieces...and yet I'm detecting a flair of institutional nurse, circa 1948.

And an Honorable Mention to...

Princess Estelle

Somebody turned the big 0-1 this week! Expressive as ever, Estelle's cuteness is multiplied because she is wearing the same dress her mother wore to celebrate her first birthday. Double awwws.

Who did you like last week?

Photos: Getty Images/BestImage/Abaca/Stella/Kungahuset

Royal Trip Report: The Dutch in Brunei and Singapore

Nobody does a state visit quite like the Dutch these days. Seriously. It's a festival of tiaras and giant hats, which is - hello - the reason why I love this royal watching thing. And for this trip, first to Brunei and then on to Singapore, Máxima seems to have packed an extra bit of fabulous.

Monday and Tuesday they called on the Sultan of Brunei, and Máxima threw up a chic streak in full-skirted green, classy florals, stunning white, and luxuriously ginormous millinery. And then she decided to dress like a banana set free from the fruit basket, just so we know she still has some bad judgement left.

And then! It was time! For the tiaras!
There's no reason to hold back when you're at the Sultan of Brunei's house, really, and Queen Saleha led the way in her large diamond tiara. Beatrix also went big - her tiara, which she wore on her wedding day, is one of the two largest she uses. As for Máxima, I expected more, but I can't complain; she is the queen of sneaking bling in under the radar, and you can't argue with the Rose Cut Diamond Bandeau. I also can't argue with her Jan Taminiau gown, which is better suited for state banquet purposes than for its original Prinsjesdag purpose. Click here for a video.

Night two, double the tiara fun! Bless the Dutch ladies, they busted out the tiaras even though the men were in business suits. This is what it will look like when they finally put me in charge of the world, kids: tiaras all the time, no matter what. Anyway. Beatrix wore the family aquamarines, and Máxima added yet another tiara to her repertoire. Well, sort of. She wore the base of the Pearl Button Tiara with stars for her wedding and after, but this is the first time we've seen her in the actual pearl button version. I won't say it was a successful outing, but she's excused since she let us see something new.

Next they headed to Singapore, where a separate state visit began on Thursday.

Máx wore a hairy little repeat from Princess Carolina's wedding. Some of you found it festive and appropriately Máx-level zany the first time we saw it...I think it needs a wax. I shall concentrate on the stunning pink jewels and on her delightfully sherberty second outfit of the day.

And then! Tiaras! Or: Tiara! and Not Quite a Tiara! more accurately.

For the first evening in Singapore, Beatrix wore her favorite, Queen Emma's Diamond Tiara. It's a notable step down from her first night in Brunei; perhaps a nod to their hosts this time around not having tiaras of their own to flaunt. Máxima certainly toned it down in the tiara department, wearing a haircomb-type thing from Queen Wilhelmina which went unseen for a century or so until she wore it to the pre-wedding festivities for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. She paired this with an overall look last seen on Barbie, I'm pretty sure. I'm just saying. Click here to see video.

The Singapore visit ends today.

UPDATE: The last day in Singapore.

A slower end, to be sure, but I do like both of these repeats.

What's your favorite outfit from this double trip?

Photos: All Over Press/PPE/ANP/Dutch Photo Press/Abaca/EPA/Getty Images

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: November 25-December 2

It's December now (how did that happen? Last time I checked it was March) and tartan is in the air, apparently. Let the festivities begin...

Best in Not That Different Hair? Maybe? I Don't Know?

The Duchess of Cambridge

Opening The Treasures Gallery at the Natural History Museum; visiting Cambridge; visiting her old school

It's time for a confession: I don't get the fuss over her new hairdo...it looks kinda the same to me? Well, adding some layers does not a "new 'do" make, I think, despite what the headlines say. Then again, I require an updo (tiara optional but preferred) before I pay much of any attention to anyone's hair. I'd rather talk about hockey in heels or sweet little bows on coats or the perils of peace signs on clothing, really.

Best in Shoes

Princess Letizia

At the opening of the Volunteering National Congress; attending Premios Magisterio 2012 at Caixa Forum

I am liking that number with the red top way more than I should, really...and it has to do with two little straps on the feets. It's like a nude shoe with a bite. Lurve.

Best in Isabella

Princess Isabella

So, Queen Margrethe has designed the sets and costumes for a production of The Nutcracker, because she's awesome like that, and the family went to see her show. And Isabella wore little boots, because she's awesome like that.

Best in Blergh

Princess Mathilde

Visiting the ENSAV Arts Academy; attending the Department of Defense's family information day

No real color, not even a spot of orange in sight!

Best in More Tartan

Princess Máxima

At the Prince Bernhard Culture Prize ceremony; at Action Plan apprenticeships; opening the International Supply Management Congress

Hey, maybe Máx and Kate can go on a little stroll at Balmoral together sometime and talk about tiaras. (As you do.) On a sidenote, we've now entered the time of year when Máxima insists on wearing lighter color shoes with dark tights, and makes me die a little on the inside.

Best in Adorable

Crown Princess Victoria (and Daniel)

Victoria and Daniel gave an audience to two kids with serious illnesses that wanted to meet them, though the MyBigDay Foundation. Just adorable.

And an Honorable Mention to...

Princess Beatrice

At the British Fashion Awards

Perhaps my favorite royal Erdem yet, just loverly.
 

Who did you like last week?

Photos: WPA Pool/Getty Images/Bauer Griffin/Lavenir/AP/DutchPhotoPress/PPE/Kungahuset

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 1-6

Here we go: a week of action, including an official visit, a parliament opening, hanging out with awesome friends, and a case of sleeve-itis.

Best in Mini Trips

Princess Letizia

Attending an homage to the Regimiento de Caballeria Acorazado Alcantara Nr 10 with the royal family; departing for an official trip to Ecuador and Panama; day 1, morning and evening; day 2 (two outfits); and one last white suit for day 3

And here's your Mini Trip Report for Letizia in Panama and Ecuador: she wore blergh. I prefer the blue before she left, myself - she does always take it up a notch when the King and Queen are hanging around.

Best in Fifties Prom

Crown Princess Mary

Launch of High Level Task Force for ICPD in New York; attending the opening of Parliament; visiting Statens Museum for Kunst with the family; at the awards ceremony for the couple's annual culture prizes

Am I the only one that thinks she could be an extra from Grease in her culture prize dress? Just me? Okay.

Here's what the rest of the hatted gang wore for the Parliament opening:

Queen Margrethe, Princess Benedikte, Princess Marie

Hats off to Benedikte. Hats off....literally.

Best in Orange

Princess Mathilde

At the International Polar Foundation gala dinner; meeting members Belgian Olympic and Paralympic teams; visiting a coffee company

How big is the orange section of Mathilde's closet, do you think?

Best in BFFs

Princess Máxima

Opening an exhibit; visiting a women's project; receiving Sheikha Mozah of Qatar for a short visit in the Netherlands

Look! My favorite magpie and my reigning girl crush, reunited. All this meeting is missing is even more bling.

Best in Sleeves

Crown Princess Victoria Princess Madeleine

At a seminar

Victoria was fine this week, but let's be honest: the Swede drawing the most attention was her sister, Princess Madeleine.

Attending an awards dinner for the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York City

Poor love seems to have brought out her sparkly witch costume a touch early - Halloween isn't until October 31st, dear. Alas!

Who raised your sartorial eyebrows last week?

Photos: MujerDelite/Semana/Purepeople/Abaca/BestImage/Sudpresse/PPE/ noordhollandsdagblad/Getty Images