Royal style & gossip: a visit from He Who Must Not Be Named

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread

I just noticed that PMOK doesn't have the Royal Victorian Order. She seems to be pretty much the only senior royal that doesn't (excepting Meghan who is too new for it).

Apart from the Queen, all the royal ladies look distinctly bland and unimaginative in outfits, their expressions weary. No one seems sparkly or vibrant. No glamour at all .... all seem to have dug in their grannies' wardrobe and taken the most insipid gown they could find.
Such an eerie atmosphere for a banquet!!!

Why so many white dresses though?

Is Rose the one PW is supposed to have had the affair with? Why was she there?

Long, white gloves don't look good with a deep red gown, do they? Interesting that Ivanka isn't wearing them but other female members of the Trump family are.

Why isn't TM covering up her upper arms? That dress doesn't flatter her at all.

Melania is stunning.

Wonder why Rose isn't wearing her tiara.

To my eye, the older women really carry off the big jewels well. They look appropriate and not dominated by them as some of the younger women do. HM and Camilla particularly look fab the more big rocks the have on, but PMoK and Birgitte both look good too. Rose's dress is stunning but where's her tiara?

And do you only wear a tiara if you are royal, or titled? If Melania wanted to wear one, could she have done?

HM’s rubies were amazing. Has anyone done an analysis of her brooches yet?

Was it KellyAnne Conway who walked in to the banquet with the Duke of Kent, in a lovely gold shimmering gown ?

Yes that was said bigot @beanaseireann

I don't particularly like any of last night's gowns although I do like the colour of Sophie's. It must be hard for non-royal guests to these events because they just can't compete with the grandeur and jewels.

I thought Sophie looked the best last night, and Birgitte Gloucester looked good too. Camilla's dress was nice enough but I'd struggle to distinguish it from several she's worn before and I don't see the point of another white Alexander McQueen for Kate when she wore a similar one to the BAFTAs. A lot of people didn't like that dress but it was still better than last night's. Why spend money on dresses that look so much like ones you already own?

Ivanka's dress was nice but not for a state banquet, maybe better as a summer wedding guest outfit. Though all Trump's children as such repulsive individuals that I barely notice what they're wearing!

Was there any footage of W&K interacting with Trump? I'd have struggled to be polite after what he's said about her and about Diana!

I'd like to know about those rubies and diamonds too.

Anne looked dreadful I thought; a dress that was made to look the colour of dirty bandages, because it was paired with long white gloves, that were baggy and looked like they'd slip off any second

Blimey if you cut Ivanka's dress off at the knees, it would look like something you wore to the shops! Id have thought she would have gone all out. Melania looked beautiful, poor woman!

I think of all the Trump group, Melania has looked the best throughout. The royals seemed tired (resigned?).

Would have loved to have heard Princess Anne crisply dealing with the dreadful Jarrod.

Theresa May would look a lot better if her posture was improved. I wonder if she has a back problem? She's very hunched, it looks uncomfortable and can't be good for your back. Maybe she needs to do something like Pilates or yoga to straighten up a bit.

Ivanka's dress was a funny one, too casual at the top. Melania needed a bit of bling, she was a bit too subtle. Kate looked like she was being worn by that dress, it was too frilly and fussy. Sophie looked lovely though, that was a great colour on her.

I think the Royals generally looked like last night was one to get through and get home - maybe I'm projecting though!

Having finally seen Ivanka's dress in full length I do like it for more than just the colour but the collar is just wrong for the event.

I still remain unconvinced by the long gloves with sleeveless dresses even though Debretts say it is correct - I just don't like the look! Especially with completely strapless gowns.

I have been to white tie events and would agree with Debretts that they are no longer compulsory. It looks like the royal ladies have received the memo that they can opt out of gloves but, as a pp said, the White House advisors are still sticking to the slightly outdated letter of the rules. I wonder if the royal ladies are more comfortable in deeming gloves non compulsory because 'Old World' events and etiquette is basically their world ( and tbh largely driven by them and their circles).

Rose normally wears a tiara. Not last night, though.

I think Theresa May’s back problem is quite serious. She’d probably need to have surgery to correct it.

I wonder what she’s going to do next week?

And a different dinner :

Is there a reception before or after these things? Or is it a case where you only see the Royals in the lineup to walk in and then they only speak to the person on their left and right and then they fuck off home again sharpish?

She looks much prettier in that photo. Where was she sitting this year? Harry wasn't there, was he?

They look like they do some mingling at some point - perhaps before the procession?