Royal style: tours, rings and gowns galore, how could we possibly ask for more?

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread

I like Max's hat 😊 (and I am not usually in the camp of loving all her looks). Also like the wrap-type belted dress on the woman next to her.

I like it too. With all the hats they have to wear, I tend to think the more variation and interest, the better.

Madeleine and QS in NY at a charity gig for Childhood Foundation whatsit. I'm not keen on either dress. Madeleine's looks like it might be lovely live when you see the craftmanship, but in the photos it looks a little meh to me.

www.svenskdam.se/kungligt/madeleine-och-silvia-galakvall-pa-childhood-gala/

www.svenskdam.se/kungligt/madeleine-och-silvia-i-new-york-exklusiva-bilder/

I'm constantly surprised by how much better the dresses look in video clips .
Opposite for suits on men .

Feel I should make that into an exam question with "discuss" added

I think those dresses both look lovely!

Madeleine is beautiful as always. Silvia's dress is a touch ice dancer.

I'd wear Silvia's dress for a posh event, but probably in dark grey or midnight blue. I love a bit of sparkle and can often be found lurking in Roman Originals. 🤗

I don't think Madeleien's dress is very flattering on her. But I think QS looks good.

Going back to the LiW vs PAs etc, I think LiW was very much ceremonial, while still doing shedloads of work and it definitely was not paid. They were the queen's friends and confidants and they helped her with all that admin that a staff would do.

But the younger royals are taking a more professional approach to the whole thing - so paying for specific expertise (and I think we can safely assume that most of their staff work for a living, not just because they want to hang out with Kate etc). For the men, in the old days, weren't all those army officers who were seconded to them sort of the same thing? They were paid by the army I guess, but not directly by the palace?

Also, can you imagine the outcry if Kate got, say, Pippa to be her LiW? Even if it is entirely unpaid? hahaha.

That's what Harry needs, a batman to make sure his suits are pressed and he isn't wearing brown suede shoes with a navy blue suit!

I’ve said before-Harry needs to sack his tailor and get a valet who knows how a gentleman dresses. Although he will have been told/shown as a child- his dad dresses beautifully.

Yes, Charles is always impeccably turned out, Harry needs to change to his Dad's tailor.

Harry has had every opportunity to learn the rules he patently doesn’t care!

I have just been to see the Downton film. Perfect escapism on a wet Friday. Lots of pretty frocks and sparkles 🤴👸👑👗👠

I can't imagine the younger royals actually being able to employ a loyal, long term LiW these days. Who can afford not to be paid?!

Also on that article "These are the journalistic equivalent of screaming in the street that a woman should have sex with you because you bought her a drink. Or, in this case, bought a titchy percentage of her drink as a UK taxpayer." I'm not British but .... you are being forced to buy the drink. So the analogy isn't quite right imo? You shouldn't expect anything, but nor should you have to pay for them.

There are still women (and men although I imagine less!) who don’t have to work for money. LiW have always been aristocratic themselves and old money still exists. I’m sure there are women of Kate’s age who have either a husband or a father willing to support them in that role.

I agree though that politically a paid PA is more in keeping with the age we live in.

I’m sure there are women of Kate’s age who have either a husband or a father willing to support them in that role. Words escape me.

I had no idea LiW weren’t paid!

Why? I wasn’t advocating it as a constructive life choice but the fact is these people do exist...

I know we've discussed royal engagement rings on this thread quite a bit before, but I really enjoyed this post on British royal engagement rings:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2-gXJbAAZH/?hl=en

Wallis Simpson's emerald is just staggering (last slide).

The Duchess of Cornwall's engagement ring is my favourite. It reminds me of Angelina Jolie's to Brad Pitt.
It's interesting that the Queen Mother had a Pearl. These are supposed to be bad luck aren't they?

I think I’d have Queen Margrethe’s ring.

You certainly couldn’t accuse it of being subtle, but I love it!

I think I like the Queen’s best. Some of the others are a bit OTT for me - I prefer simple jewellery myself.

Fergie’s is the one that’s most dated now, imo.

@Spudlet my engagement ring (which I picked myself) is really small and dainty, much smaller than what I would have got had my OH picked it, because I generally like subtle jewellery. But there’s something about Margrethe’s huge fuck-off ring that just really appeals to me!

I agree about Fergie's, it's not particularly attractive given the range of options available to her. I wonder if she had any say in its design?

I do love an emerald, and Wallis snagged herself a corker!

Interesting there's no close up of Princess Margaret's. Evidently showing off the rocks was not the done thing in those days.

HM's is the most timeless, without doubt.