Wedding Wednesday: Three Brides of Austria

December ended with one last royal (imperial!) wedding for the year: that of Archduke Christoph of Austria and Adélaïde Drapé-Frisch. Christoph is the son of Archduke Carl Christian of Austria, of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg, who is the sister of the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Christoph is the second of the couple's five children to marry this year and the third overall, so I thought we'd have a three Habsburg-Lorraine bride day today.

Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria and Count Rodolphe of Limburg-Stirum

December 6, 2008

Mechelen, Belgium

Marie-Christine is the eldest of Carl Christian and Marie Astrid's children, and was the first to marry. She wed in a coat-style gown from the Belgian designer Yves Dooms. The satin dress featured a 4 meter train and winter-appropriate fur cuffs.

Her veil was the ancient Habsburg veil, a family heirloom said to have been worn by Empress Eugénie for her wedding to Napoleon III in 1853. (Talk about a family tradition!) She topped the veil with a tiara borrowed from her Luxembourg grand ducal relatives, the smaller of the two diamond floral tiaras in their collection - it's usually seen these days on Princess Alexandra. The couple now have a son, Léopold.

Archduke Imre of Austria and Kathleen Walker

September 8, 2012

Washington, DC, USA

The next family wedding was a rare American royal event, as Imre married his American bride in Washington, DC. Imre and Kathleen's wedding was a smaller affair than our other weddings here, and not as many details were available. I don't think the designer of her wedding dress was publicized. (It looks to me like an off-the-rack strapless gown with lace added on the top for modesty for their very traditional service.) She did not wear a bejeweled tiara - only a pearl headband of sorts - but she did get to use that ancient Habsburg veil.

Archduke Christoph of Austria and Adélaïde Drapé-Frisch

December 28 & 29, 2012

Nancy, France

And finally, the latest imperial wedding: Christoph and Adélaïde. The bride wore a custom gown from French designer Diane Lelys made of heavy duchesse satin with a lengthy train and a fur-trimmed jacket. The bride seems adorable, doesn't she? So much so that I'll forgive the jacket, which is just terribly peplum-y, I think (you can get a glimpse of a lace topped dress in the photos from the reception, click here). She accessorized with the same tiara (from Luxembourg) as Marie-Christine, and the same Habsburg veil as all three of our brides today.

Left to right (click to enlarge): Archduchess Marie-Astrid (mother of the groom), the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess, Prince Félix and his fiancée Claire Lademacher, Prince Louis and Princess Tessy, Prince Sébastien and Princess Alexandra

The whole Luxembourg family turned out for the wedding. My favorites were the elegant Marie-Astrid (wearing the same or an identical suit to the one worn by her mother Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte for Grand Duke Henri's accession day) and the so very chic Maria Teresa, followed closely by Claire - she seems to like a little flair in her fashion, something we can always use more of. Tessy's attempt at a jaunty hat angle appears to have ended up in lopsided eye patch territory, sadly for her; meanwhile, Alexandra's hat seems to have shrunk in the wash. And Stéphanie was appropriate. And nice. (Which is about as much as I can think of to say about any of the things she's worn since her wedding, basically. Except to say this: girlfriend loves her some scarves.)

Which wedding gown is your favorite?

Photos: Getty Images/AFP

2012 in Review: The Tiaras

You know what? 2012 was a truly excellent year for tiara lovers. Even though the Diamond Jubilee didn't yield any tiaras (oh Windsors, why must you toy with us like this?), the year had plenty of glittering events. And those glittering events seemed extra packed with new bits and pieces, tiara debuts, and tiara news and rumors. Get your jumpy claps ready for a review of the year in tiara surprises:

At the beginning of the year, Mary showed us the versatility of her ruby parure redesign by debuting the hair clips she made with extra bits from the tiara at the New Year's gala.

January also brought Queen Margrethe's Jubilee celebrations, with two wondrous tiara events. We got to see Princess Theodora borrow her aunt's Turquoise Bandeau and the return of the Alexandrine Drop Tiara on the first night, plus the reappearance of Queen Sophie's Diamond Tiara on the second night (squee!). 

This year was officially declared the Year of Tiara Surprises in October when we delighted in the pre-wedding dinner in Luxembourg. Princess Stéphanie chose the larger of the two floral tiaras for her first tiara appearance, while Princess Tessy got to wear Marie-Adélaïde's tiara for the first time. Princess Sibilla wore Queen Victoria Eugenia's Aquamarine Tiara, tidily squashing rumors her family had sold it back to the Spanish royal family (and generously allowing Countess Diane the chance to wear her first tiara, borrowing Sibilla's Art Deco Tiara). Princess Caroline wore the Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara for the first time in a long time. The Countess of Wessex surprised with a new (to her) piece, the Five Aquamarine Tiara, and Crown Princess Victoria introduced us to another piece of the family's cut steel collection. Best tiara event of the year? INDEED.

And in one final tiara surprise for the year, Princess Madeleine wore Queen Josephine's Amethyst Tiara for the first time at the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony. 

Many had hoped for a larger surprise from the Nobel Prize Ceremony, because earlier this year a report surfaced claiming that a pink tourmaline tiara belonging to Countess Estelle Bernadotte (and prior to that, Queen Sophia, shown wearing it on the left above) was bought back by the Swedish royal family. Alas, we'll have to wait longer for visual proof. We do know for sure that the Danish tiara collection grew this year, as Queen Margrethe was given a tiara for her Jubilee from Greenland (center above). We also sadly saw a tiara collection shrink this year, when a thief stole a tiara from Princess Christina of Sweden (the one she wears above right).

Click here to see posts covering many of this year's tiara events.

What was your favorite tiara moment this year?

And as a bonus holiday treat... Last year's documentary on royal jewelry, De Kongelige Juveler, is again available for viewing online! The narration is in Danish, but there are interviews in English and French, so it's easy to understand. It's a rare chance to hear the royals talk about their jewels, so make some time to watch! Part 1 discusses the jewels of Empress Joséphine as well as the jewels of her many descendants in the royal houses of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Part 2 focuses on Russian jewels. (Note: these videos are only up for a limited time.)

Click here to see Part 1.

Click here to see Part 2.

(Thanks to the many readers that emailed me to make sure I knew it was up again!)

Photos: MSN/Getty Images/Cour grand ducale/Kongehuset

Royal Fashion Awards: The Nobel Prizes 2012, Part 2

On the second and final big day of Nobel celebrations, the Peace Prize Concert was held in Norway, and a banquet for the prize recipients was given by the King of Sweden. It's always a more low key day than the first, but this year it was more awkward too.

Worst in Dance or Whatever is Happening Here

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Royals at rock concerts = guaranteed awkwardness. Marius agrees with me.

Best in Dress

Crown Princess Victoria

I thought we might get a second outing of this bandeau Victoria debuted in Luxembourg; this banquet is less formal, but still a tiara occasion, so something smaller is suitable. And she did just that, and now I can call it for sure: I don't like this. It's just not very...uh...head-shaped. Human head-shaped, at least. Maybe it was made for a Conehead. Either way: awkward little thing. (This piece is apparently another item from the set of cut steel Queen Silvia unearthed in the 1970s, we just haven't seen it until this year. The palace calls it a "private tiara with associated comb".) BUT: I love that dress.

Best in Inevitable

Queen Silvia

Like I said: she picks either the sapphires or the Pronger for the Nobels. And since the sapphires got an outing on day 1...prongs it is. At least she's giving me some purple love.

Best in Repeats

Princess Christina

Same tiara, two nights in a row? And now we really feel the loss of her own tiara. I guess I'll have to say it twice, because this tiara leaves me with not many other comments to make: she makes the best of this one.

Best (and Tallest) in Tiaras

Princess Madeleine

I do enjoy the Modern Fringe Tiara. And so does Madeleine, obviously. But placing a tiara on the tallest part of your head like a sparkly flag is awkward at best. It's trying to be the Baden Fringe, and it is not that major. This tiara is lying.

What was your favorite Nobel look this year?

Photos: Expressen/IBL/Stella/Belga

Royal Fashion Awards: The Nobel Prizes 2012, Part 1

It’s Nobel Prize time! A.k.a. the December Tiarafest! And also, you know, time to honor some crazy smart people, but we can leave that discussion to the serious places of the interwebs. This here is magpie central, and we’ve got some fashion to review. Sunglasses at the ready, please.

We begin in Norway, where Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra attended the Save the Children’s Peace Prize Festival prior to the awarding of the Peace Prize itself (which went to the European Union this year) and the evening banquet.

Best in Ear Bling

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Mette-Marit was all about the earrings today: crazy colors for the day, and dangling intricacies for the evening. Lurve it. Have to, basically, because there’s not much else to get super excited about in her typical neutrals-n’-navy wardrobe.

Best in Snow Queens

Queen Sonja

Crisp clean white is the preferred Norwegian neutral. So says I, and also Sonja.

And now we’re off to Sweden, where the rest of the Nobel Prizes are awarded and things get really sparkly. YAY.

Best Decision

Queen Silvia

Silvia usually chooses between the Nine Prong Tiara and the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure for the Nobel ceremony, and I must commend her non-pronged choice for the evening. And I must commiserate, because the poor dear looked a little sick. Looking at tiaras always makes me feel better, but I don’t know that wearing a massive one for hours on end would do the same trick.

Best in Distractions

Crown Princess Victoria

I forgot to specifically mention in my list of Nobel dreams that I wanted a button-free evening, and look what happened. Le sigh. Victoria’s added an extra string of diamonds to the base of the dreaded Four Button Tiara, but it’s not helping. With that severely parted tiara hair.......no. So let’s focus on the distractions, because the rest of the look is in fact exactly what I wanted! We’ve got the look of an Elie Saab (that makes two years of maximum sparkle, fully sequined gowns in a row – though I will confess the color was rather radioactive on the video stream). And we do have a first for Victoria: no new-to-her tiara, but this is the first time she’s worn the historic Bernadotte emerald demi-parure, which is usually left to Silvia. Movin’ on up in the collection, that’s what we like to see. (But please, someone get this family an emerald tiara, ASAP!)

Best in Compromises

Princess Christina

As though one wasn’t enough, BOTH button tiaras made an appearance, gah. But if you’re going to have a button tiara, you should make it the Six Button; and if you’re going to have the Six Button, you should put it on Christina. She’s the only one that makes it un-lollipoppy. (It’s a word. Well, it is now.)

Best in Dreams Come True

Princess Madeleine

Thankfully, I did say that I would like the amethyst tiara on Madeleine, and looky here: she did it! And it looks amazing on her. Tricky tiara to wear, this one, but I think she’s nailing it. She’s paired it with the Angel Sanchez gown she wore to her sister’s pre-wedding festivities. Fun fact: this gown actually comes from a bridal collection. Foreshadowing? (I hope not. This is kinda boring, amethysts aside.)

And finally, we’ll hop back and forth between the two countries, because if I don’t throw in some gentlemen you lot will mutiny, you're ornery like that.

Best in Gents

Prince Carl Philip

Left to right: King Harald, Crown Prince Haakon, King Carl Gustaf, Prince Carl Philip, Prince Daniel

I’m usually on the fence about Carl Philip. Dude might need to seek out Hair Products Anonymous, is all I'm saying. But the scruff: now we’re talking.

Tomorrow, the fun continues. We’ll have a separate entry for that.

Who do you say wins the Battle of the Nobels, Day 1?

Photos: Scanpix/Getty Images/Stella Pictures/Expressen/SVT/Reuters

Tiara Watch: The Girls on Parade

Yesterday, the Queen and her family welcomed Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait for a state visit to the United Kingdom. Pomp and circumstance and jewels, that's what we're here for!

The welcoming ceremony featured the Queen in one of my favorite brooches, the Williamson Diamond, plus a kicky little hat that falls somewhere between Queen Margrethe and Queen Mary's ghost. Bonus points for the dapper Duke and his top hat (the Prince of Wales sported one too).

And then it was time for the state banquet. This one was at Windsor Castle instead of Buckingham Palace. There's no way around it: this is one dead impressive venue.

Click above for an article and video from the BBC.

And the Queen was bedecked in dead impressive diamonds, including an outing for my favorite tiara, the Girls! Yay! (As always, see the Jewel Vault for the full diamond scoop.)

Another Yay!: we got to see Camilla in the riband of the Royal Victorian Order for the very first time! I do so love a sash. It's just that extra regal touch one's outfit needs. Ribands for everyone! She sported her regular Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara (a.k.a. the Greville Tiara) on top - and I must confess, I had hoped we might see something different since she's all official and sash-ed up now. Perhaps the Delhi Durbar again, or the Teck Crescent, since that's apparently on loan to her. But, no. That'll teach me to get my hopes up with these Brits.

Also in attendance were the left side of the Countess of Wessex's face and the Princess Royal's hair. Sophie's wearing, what, maybe the Five Aquamarine again? I don't see the tell-tale signs of cat ears that usually marks an outing of her wedding tiara, but this is a wonky angle. And I'm thinking that's either the Aquamarine Pineflower or the Meander for Anne. Those Windsors, they build the guessing game right in.

P.S.: This replaces Wedding Wednesday for the day.

Photos: Getty Images

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards (+ Other Things): November 19-25

Sorry for the radio silence yesterday - thanks to those that emailed, I assure you I'm not dead. (Yet.) I am however in a bit of a post-holiday daze accented by cold medicine, so if I make even less sense than usual, there you go. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. So let's have a big ol' update to get us up to speed, shall we? It's a week in review and a wee trip report and a touch of a tiara watch, all in one package.

Best in Team Spirit

The Duchess of Cambridge

Attending the Wales v. New Zealand rugby match

Perhaps the most predictable outfit from last week, a repeat in the proper spirited color. Not spirited enough, though: Wales lost to New Zealand. Next time, bring the face paint.

Best in Kids

Princess Letizia

Audiences and a lunch in honor of the visiting President of Brazil; attending the Francisco Cerecedo Journalism Award ceremony; visiting King Juan Carlos in the hospital after his most recent surgery

Just can't resist those wee infantas.

Most Dubious Shoes

Crown Princess Mary

Celebrating a new project for her Mary Foundation

It's as though she couldn't decide if she wanted the boot effect or the shootie effect...so she went with the trousers at just the right length to catch only some of the time. Oh, Mar. There is no "best of both worlds" when shooties are involved.

Most Textured

Princess Mathilde

Visiting a boarding school; attending the European Symposium for Family Assistants

That beige top has this bumpy thing going on that I just do. not. enjoy. Needs to be a different color so as to be certain that's not her skin with the problem. Perhaps a nice chocolate, like the other outfit here.

Best in Purple

Crown Princess Victoria

Visiting Fagersta Municipality

As long as someone fits in a purple category each week, I'm good.

Tamest Trip

Princess Máxima

On an official trip to Brazil (click to enlarge)

Willem-Alexander and Máxima spent 5 days in Brazil last week. I'm sorry to report that it was just an official visit, which means it wasn't quite the sparkly hat-tacular extravaganza we get when these two roll with the Queen Bea. But! There was dancing. Obviously the bestest part.

Unfortunately, that does not excuse the fact that we missed yet another tiara appearance from Máx, as they missed welcoming the Slovakian President. Boo!

Princess Margriet (far left) is wearing the family emerald tiara in its pearl setting; Queen Beatrix (far right) is wearing Queen Emma's Diamond Tiara, which is one of her favorites

Who caught your eye last week?

Photos: AFP/Getty Images/Kongehuset/Belga/PPE/Abaca

Tiara Watch: A State Visit Hits Britain

The first incoming state visit of the year has arrived in Britain, and I. Have. Been. Waiting.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with the President of Indonesia and his wife

Yes, I have been waiting for Tiara Time, and it is here. The President of Indonesia arrived yesterday for a three day state visit, headlined by a white tie state banquet last night. The Golden Queen wore pearls and diamonds and the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara. (It's actually been an interesting week in the Queen's jewels - you can see all of that plus the full scoop on what she has on at this banquet on the other blog.)

The setup at these banquets held at Buckingham Palace does not allow for many glimpses of the other royals in attendance and that's just the way it is. But for the record, there is always a bevy of them: the Prince of Wales (minus Camilla, who is on holiday ahead of their upcoming tour), the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent were present.

Princess Anne, and a very blurry Earl and Countess of Wessex

We get a brief glimpse of Anne since she took Camilla's seat, wearing her most impressive diamond set, the Festoon Tiara, and a dee-lighted expression (never change, Anne). And the tiniest of glimpses was available of Sophie, who appears to be repeating the gray gown she wore in Luxembourg a few days ago. The tiara's a question mark - it could be the Five Aquamarine Tiara again.

I know a lot of people had their hopes up for a Kate appearance, or perhaps Beatrice or Eugenie in a tiara. So let me just be blunt about it: they don't attend these things, that's just the way it is right now. As we can see from the royal guest list, the Windsors have plenty of full-time royals to pitch in and entertain without calling up the next generation. I'm just as much for more tiaras as everyone else is, but until there's a change in their part-time status, I wouldn't hold my breath. Kate will sit through many a boring function like this in her future, though, so don't worry.

Photos: Getty Images

Tiara Watch: In Denmark and Norway and the Netherlands, Oh My!

When it rains, it pours! So long we were in a tiara drought, and now the royal world is just lousy with the things. Oh, why can’t it be like this all the time…

The Danish royal family welcomed the President of Slovakia for a state visit last week, which naturally included a glittering state banquet. Crown Princess Mary wore her wedding tiara with the pearl option, along with her fabulous aquamarines. I wondered if she’d use the pearl option to showcase some of the great pearl jewels she has, and sure enough – she’s on it! I also love this older Kenth Fredin gown, which seems swishy in all the right ways.

Princess Marie showed up in one of those gowns that always seems to be fresh off the homecoming dance sale rack – though her usual diamond floral tiara does seem a tiny bit more legit than the Homecoming Queen’s. Queen Margrethe paired the Baden Palmette Tiara with what seems to be her favorite gown of the year, and Princess Benedikte wore Queen Ingrid’s Star and Spike Tiara.

Earlier they all welcomed the President at the airport, Mary and Marie in chic hats, Benedikte in a koosh ball hat, and Marge in her Teletubby topper.

On the second day of the visit, Mary made a well-coordinated appearance alongside the First Lady (in a Prada suit with a colorful Paul Smith scarf and matching accessories) before attending the return dinner with the rest of the family. And it’s here that Marie redeems herself, looking infinitely more festive than the rest of them with her little sparkles.

The Dutch were also in on the state visit action last week. Queen Beatrix welcomed the President of Italy for a low-key trip, highlighted by a state dinner where the dress code seems to have been something along the lines of “dress up, if you want, I guess…”. Beatrix wore the all-purpose Rose Cut Bandeau, and Princess Margriet went tiara-less (the horror!). Yes, this was sorely missing Princess Máxima, who was on a visit to Nigeria.

Also dodging her tiara-wearing duty last week was Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who missed the annual gala dinner for the Parliament. In her absence, Queen Sonja wore Queen Maud’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara, and Princess Astrid wore the Vasa Tiara.

And the state visit fun has just begun: the British will have their first state visit of the year later this week.

Photos: Abaca/BestImage/SN/Quirinale/ANB

Royal Fashion Awards: The Pre-Wedding Gala Dinner in Luxembourg

You guys. YOU GUYS. I don’t even know where to start. You know what they did, those royal ladies? THEY BOUGHT OUT THE WHOLE ELIE SAAB BOUTIQUE. And then they topped all those gowns of wonder with TIARAS. And I really feel like we should have had some advance notice, you know, so I could have started a fitness regime months ago. (Well, I would have at least procured some oxygen and extra wine, for heaven’s sake.) I mean, I’m just not in proper shape for this level of extended jumpy clapping. BUT I WILL FORGE ON. For you, my loves. All for you.

Best in Leading Lux Ladies

Princess Stéphanie

Left to Right: Princess Stéphanie and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

I, like many of you, have been crossing fingers and toes in the hope that we might get an Elie Saab royal wedding gown on Saturday. Even if we don’t, I shall rest easy knowing Maria Teresa has at least introduced her daughter-in-law to the couture magic. Gorgeous Saab for both of them.

Best in Red

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

L to R: Princess Marie Astrid of Luxembourg, Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Princess Sarvath El-Hassan of Jordan

There were so many ladies rocking gorgeous red gowns tonight (even more than I show here), I feel like awarding one massive joint Best Dressed. But then I’d need another for all the Elie Saab. And then chaos would reign. (No, it wouldn't.) So I’ll resist. Right now, I’m liking Mette-Marit and her kicky Pucci…but ask me in five minutes and I might switch to Máx and her oh-so-Máx Jan Taminiau outfit…and in another five, I might need to give Margaretha her proper credit for joining in on the bulk family Elie Saab discount. It's a never-ending loop of fabulous.

Best in Metallic

Princess Marie-Chantal

L to R: Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, Princess Miriam of Bulgaria

Another Elie Saab getting a prize, GO FIGURE. But, see, that’s how you do ornamentation and sparkle without looking like you murdered a disco ball...Märtha Louise.

Best of the Repeat Queens

Queen Anne-Marie

L to R: Queen Paola of the Belgians, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Queen Sonja of Norway, Queen Silvia of Sweden

These ladies sure do get their money out of their gala gowns. They never seem to get rid of any. (I thought Paola’s looked so familiar, and then it hit me: she wore it to Máxima and Willem-Alexander’s pre-wedding shindig 10 years ago.) I give this to Anne-Marie, because of purple. (Her sister Queen Margrethe was there too, wearing an oft-repeated green lace gown and her Floral Aigrette Tiara.)

Best in Non-Tiara

Queen Fabiola

The Princess of Venice and Piedmont (Clotilde Courau), Queen Fabiola of Belgium, Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco, Queen Margarita of Bulgaria

Lalla Salma is exquisite as always, and Clotilde is wearing another Elie Saab (but I have to dock her for not pairing it with the family pink tourmaline tiara, tsk tsk). But Fabiola wore a little flower pin in her hair. C’mon, that’s adorable.

Best of the Rest

Princess Mathilde and Princess Astrid

The Duchess of Braganza, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Astrid of Belgium, Princess Claire of Belgium, Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia

I can’t decide between Mathilde in that stunning blue and Astrid in her emerald Elie Saab, so we’ll call it a draw. I can decide, however, that I do not care for Claire’s mullet dress.

Best in We Only Want to Talk About Your Tiara Anyway

Crown Princess Victoria

L to R: Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Princess Caroline of Monaco

Well, it’s true. But Victoria wins this anyway, for repeating the magical Elie Saab she wore to the 2010 Nobel Prizes.

And on that note, let’s get to the tiara business.

The Tiara Rundown

The best kind of tiara events are those that either answer old questions or pose new ones, and this dinner did both, bless its heart. Answering questions was Sibilla, who wore Queen Victoria Eugenia’s Aquamarine Tiara. There were rumors earlier this year that her family had sold it to King Juan Carlos for Queen Sofia, and this was a tidy way to kill that speculation off. Also answering a question was Princess Caroline, who dug two tiaras out of storage, the Cartier Pearl Drop and Charlotte’s Russian Fringe (for her necklace). I wondered if any of the significant family tiaras would go to Charlene, but it appears that answer is no. And posing new questions for us is Victoria: What is that on her head, hmm? It’s no Swedish tiara I’m familiar with, and it is not the tiara of Countess Estelle Bernadotte that the family is rumored to have bought back. There’s also a hair comb at the back. Delicious mystery!

I was hoping the Luxembourg ladies would empty the vault, and it looks like they did! Stéphanie made her tiara debut in the larger floral tiara, Maria Teresa went for the Chaumet necklace tiara, Margaretha chose the Art Deco aquamarine bandeau, Marie Astrid wore the emerald and diamond necklace tiara that belonged to her mother, and Diane (she's the wife of Prince Jean, one of the groom's uncles) borrowed the small version of Sibilla’s Art Deco Tiara. Good teamwork, ladies, good teamwork.

Thoroughly typical selections out of Belgium, with Paola in Elisabeth’s Art Deco bandeau, Mathilde in her laurel wreath, Claire in her pearl and diamond tiara worn for the third time, and Astrid in the Savoy Aosta Tiara. From Greece, Anne-Marie brought the romantic Khedive Tiara, and Marie-Chantal was back to her typical fringe.

From the Norwegian vault came Queen Maud’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara for Sonja, the trusty Diamond Daisy for Mette-Marit, and King Olav’s Gift Tiara (her only personal diadem) for Märtha Louise. Máxima went with the Mellerio Ruby Tiara, and Silvia brought her party antlers (a.k.a. the Nine Prong Tiara).

And to finish us out, some little known diamond tiaras: Sarvath in her regular tiara, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania wore the Romanian Greek Key Tiara, Katherine wore a small tiara which I believe she also wore to the Swedish royal wedding, the Duchess of Braganza wore a petite necklace tiara, and Miriam wore what I believe is the same tiara she wore to Frederik and Mary's wedding.

Late updates, ladies we did not see arriving: Princess Alexandra in the small floral tiara, and Princess Tessy in a new (to her) tiara, Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde's Tiara which is a favorite of Maria Teresa. And Mary brought her rubies and a new way to wear the ruby necklace! I love that she's playing with her toys. (Even more ladies in red, see what I'm saying?)

L to R: Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Archduchess Marie Christine of Austria (daughter of Marie Astrid and cousin of Guillaume), Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleberg (wearing her mother Princess Benedikte's Floral Tiara), Countess Diane de Nassau, the Countess of Wessex

UPDATES: Some more gowns, and a new (to her) tiara on Sophie! I originally thought this might be the Strathmore Rose Tiara with sapphires, but it's an aquamarine tiara once worn by the Queen. Her necklace is also borrowed from the Queen, which is interesting - lots of new loans for Sophie!

PHEW. And that's not even everyone. If you need me, I'll be curled up in the corner rocking back and forth, waiting for the wedding to start. Until next time, tell me:

Who's got the best gown? What about best tiara?

Photos: Grand Ducal Court/Guy Wolff/Christian Aschman/Getty Images/RTL/PPE/DutchPhotoPress/Profimedia