Royal style and gossip: new year, new thread

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread.

And let's stick to critiquing the outfits rather than the wearer!

I'm late to the favourite outfits chat but mine has to be the pale cream Givenchy shoulder cape dress worn by the DoS on her engagement with The Queen in the summer and the lilac Emilia Wickstead worn by the DoC in Oct (which I think has been seen before?).

I think Parabolica she has introduced something unique. She has been trained professionally to produce a separation between her public and private self. While most newbies have had to gradually build the ability to switch a public persona on and off (Camilla, Catherine, Sophie) she has been doing it professionally for years. On the other hand as you say her role is now 24/7 and her struggle is almost how to be "a Duchess" privately rather than publically. Being privately posh is something Camilla and Catherine are very comfortable with and born to or trained for. But it's getting the approval of others in her private sphere that might be more baffling and scary to Meg.

It helps me appreciate more and more all that Diana was trying to do barely out of her teens!

Perfectly put @IdaBWells

That's what gives her that disconcerting air of oh so sincere insincerity.

Interested to follow what happens with the marijuana for guests at the last wedding story. It does look like they have something reliable source-wise.

I would never in a million years get away with it but I love the headbands - I think it’s great for Kate to have something that’s unique to her and she can really pull them off. I think there has been, as a pp mentioned, a marked but not contrived change which has taken her from royal to regal. Very much a pre-queen demeanour about Kate now. I think that after the baby she has seemed extremely at ease and taking it all in her stride and looking great. Case in point: curtsying on Christmas Day - was hugely evident that she’s use to it whereas Meghan (naturally and to be expected, not a slight against her!) looked pretty unsure of herself and like she had to psyche herself up and make sure she got it right. Kate seems settled and comfortable in her role now and I think that might indicate she has finished with babies!

I think you're on to something there @IdaBWells. When you look at Diana's background, Camilla's, (even Fergie's) they were all from that same world - basically mega posh aristos, connections/friends with the royals since childhood. Even Kate was educated/moved in those same circles. I suppose Autumn Kelly/Mike Tindall are more in the Meghan bracket but the difference is she married The Most Eligible Prince in the World and has the car-crash family saga that never seems to end.

Kate is far more assured and self confident. She has three children, a good family life and is more used to the royal business. Back into the fray, she is looking good!

I don't mean to knock MM in anyway and wish her all the best. Yes, I think it's easy to see why Chelsey and Chressy ran for the hills.

Ida you're absolutely right. When they were coming out of church they all looked like they were dreading facing the photographers etc. I think Harry and William will be absolutely furious about recent media stories. Personally I don't believe there's a feud or rift between Kate and MM, although I would believe they're not close. I think both women are too smart not to make an effort with each other. Interestingly, KM was making the most effort on Christmas Day to put on a happy face. She knows her role well.

I don't agree that Meghan seems that unsure of herself in public with the RF. I think she is doing amazingly well, especially considering what she has had to deal with. And that includes her curtsy.

Maybe it really is time to draw a line under the royal family, if Harry, William etc really do despise their life as royals because of the press attention as appears to be the case, surely for their mental health they need to give it up and we need to move on to an elected head of state, they would still be wealthy and privileged beyond anyone’s wildest dreams but they could become private citizens and lead their life as they wish, the more I read about their angst the more I think our head of state should be someone who really wants the job and not there under sufferance, Harry has said himself no one wants the top job so I really don’t understand if they hate their royal life so much why they choose to continue with the whole charade. I would miss the frocks though......

IPromiseIWontBeNaughty

But their alternative Ida is to abdicate, leave the royal family. They don’t either out of a sense of duty or because they want to be there or for some other inexplicable reason!

They need to meet their public otherwise the public will start to ask more vocally why we pay for them. A walk to church in return isn’t much to ask. (Apart from their loss of privacy).

Quite so. They won’t give it up. Lol

And in the meantime let’s enjoy the aesthetics and maybe be grateful we’re not staggering under the burden of all that gorgeousness 😂

Letizia clothes retrospective. All good apart from the navy floral jumpsuit.

rétrospective
There are tonnes of outfits; some I hadn’t seen before.
She is just perfection in her dressing for her role.
Also noticed Harry has lost lots of weight since his pre Meghan days

Yes Harry has lost lots of weight. The media have it that Meghan has. Hanged his diet. Don’t know if that’s true. He just seems to have lost his joy in life. He used to be cheeky and full of spirit. He just looks haunted these days. Don’t know if it’s the press unpleasantness or the weight of responsibility. He loved being in the Army but now he’s a full time Royal.

Meghan has changed his diet!!

Thad Kate retrospective just proves to me she isn't stylist at all. Unless wearing JP or some McQueen ( banquet dress excluded). The blue JP day dress in October is exquisite

Kate's Xmas walk dress is the same as the Remembrance Day abbey coat dress isn't it? Just in green?

Thé red and green coats were identical. That’s pretty standard Kate.
She’s got at least 3 identical coat dresses in cream, lemon and pale blue.
The dress she wore to Eugenie’s wedding, she also has in bright pink for the Trooping of the colour.
The QM, HM and. Camilla have all done the same. They stick to a coat / dress / hat shape that suits them and rework it in different colours and fabric. They are not about fashion, just looking smart and appropriate as they know these photos will be looked at 50 years from now.
Kate has a bit more fun with evening wear and when she goes overseas, especially when it’s a not country; then she cracks open the colour.
I think Kate regards her royal engagement photos as a uniform, to do her job, likewise the Queen. Both very wise.
The more Kate wears her uniform, especially the Anne Boleyn headpiece, the more she can be unrecognised in her private life.

*hot country

Yes and it simplifies her life which I'm sure can be busy with three children and a young baby.

Just have to share that I have ordered myself something from Heavenly Necklaces. Thanks to whoever pointed it out as a go to for Sophie - it has some gorgeous things and has a sale on ...

Yay for Queen's Community!

Curly I loved that dress you posted, was that from 2018? Was it from a trip to India? I loved so many outfits on that trip but I think I must be barking up the wrong tree as India wasn't this year was it? She was expecting Louis and then had a new born. So when did she wear that beautiful dress?