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

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread

From my extensive research (ie, watching Downton Abbey) it appears that ladies' maids did helped them get dressed and undressed and do their hair etc.

Can I (sort of) recommend a book?
Longbourne It’s about the lives of the servants in Pride and Prejudice. “Sort of” because the book isn’t as good as the idea, sadly.

Fgs I have got into a terrible habit of dropping parentheses!!

Don't worry, Nink, you can save it until your very last post and then sign off with it in a flourish!

@BertrandRussell Thanks!

@Myimaginarycathasfleas I’ve been doing it for weeks and I can’t stand it!

Thanks...thought I might be mistaken for troll.
You could get quite feminist about it- that style of dress is beautiful but utterly decorative and non-functional.
You wouldn't have time for running a country, or forestalling any wars. Or hopping on a horse to make your getaway.
No comfy jim-jams for a cosy night in by the fire.

Oh yes, plenty of scope for feminist analysis.

Mind you let’s not pretend these women were anything but extraordinarily privileged, even if it was a gilded cage for some.

Looks like Meghan is attending the well child awards next week, I am not sure if the Instagram post has included an old photo or maybe Meghan is out and about?

But also extraordinary what women did do while wearing wildly unsuitable clothes.....”Up the Amazon in a Bustle” and “Everest in Stays” sort of stuff.

@Alwayscheerful That photo is from last year. IIRC there were some complaints about Meghan wearing black to greet sick children!

IIRC there were some complaints about Meghan wearing black to greet sick children!

Oh dear! That really is scraping the barrel..

@BertrandRussell and winning Wimbledon in corset and bustle!

...unless they were saying she could maybe have worn some bright, child-friendly colours. That I can understand. Don't honestly care.

I’m just reading She Merchants and Buchaneers about British women in India. Very interesting reading about a few rare encounters between rich Indian women and British women. Indian women found the clothes British women wore a puzzle. Hooped petticoats and bustles perplexed them particularly. They also found the lack of ostentatious jewellery disappointing.
God knows how they functioned in that heat all trussed up and wearing corsets.
Indian women were not allowed out in public at all apparently and lived in compounds. Unless they were very low caste.

I've been up the Amazon. I did it in the extreme comfort of a cruise and even that was bloody uncomfortable.

It must be Eugenie's wedding Anniversary very soon. I wonder if we'll get some unseen photos....

She and Fergie have shared so many that I'm not sure there are any unseen!

Back to fashion! CPF and Mary announced their engagement 16 years ago today.

Gallery of photos from the day at top of page, including engagement ring, first official photograph with the RF and first gala dinner/dress.

www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/se-billederne-saa-lykkelige-var-mary-og-frederik-paa-deres-forlovelsesdag

DevonUkelele

I love those Swedish Royal Summer portraits. Seeing the (seemingly serene) portrait brings back memories of being stuck in bed post surgery a few years ago with only Swedish TV and watching a TV programme that was basically a year in in the life of the Swedish Royals covering the major events of the year.

They were filming during the summer portrait and it was complete chaos brought about by Princess Leonore (Madeleine's dd). She could not sit still and kept running off and shrieking and it was clear that neither Madeleine or Chris had a clue what to do and just stood there while first Daniel and then CP chased her around the garden to return her to the portrait place.

Isn't it Leonore who ran around at her sibling's christening?

I think she might be rather..ahem...’spirited’.

Leonore will benefit immensely from not being recquired/expected to perform royal duties - and I mean that completely non-snarkily, I think it's just cruel to force children into what's "expected" when they're not ready. She seems a tonic she does, who doesn't love a rebel? Lunde I think in a similar situation I might feel the same way you do!

Nink CPM has barely aged!

Oh I find spirited children quite a joy most of the time (as long as there are some boundaries in place). It was pretty funny though.

Mind you I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing for children to learn from quite a young age to at least try to behave and they can’t do that if no one tells them what’s expected.

Found the film - wait through the ads (two of them) and then enjoy haha www.expressen.se/nyheter/kungligt/silvia-om-sommaren-med-barnbarnen

So, harking back to CurlyWurlyTwirly's photo of all the Queens (Lillibet and friends) - I have a question. I know one of you will be able to tell me ...

The queens are all together. How is it sorted out who goes through the door first, sits down first, is served first, addressed first, ect?

(i admit when i saw the photo i had this mental image of them all maintaining rigid smiles and trying to squish through a door at the same time. All being used to going first. Plainly that does not happen obvs )