Royal Style - here's to 70 more years of frocks and rocks!

[Maireas]

Waving to the wonderful Royal Style clan!
Great Jubilee, let's hope there's more to come!.

I like Mary’s dress a lot! But then I do love anything in the dusky rose palette. I think the cape/scarf detail is striking and I love the belt. I think everything on the dress looks right and I’d definitely wear it. The colour is also great on her, which maybe doesn’t come across so well on that photo. Agree that the dresses are completely incongruent though, and like pp I’m not at all keen on Mette-Marit’s dress. Home-sewn prom dress is exactly right!

There's a kind of royal uniform that they need to avoid - kilts on immediately hitting the Scottish border, and safari suits when in forner colonies 🙄
Perhaps chino type trousers and a loose shirt?

Mary's hair looks great there, as does Queen Sonja's.

I like Mary’s dress! It’s not too Barbie pink, a bit more grown up pink. I don’t like the homemade prom dress.

I'm sure MM's bubble gum pink dress is a Simplicity Style Pattern Number D1948c !

As an aside, the Congo wasn't a Belgian colony in the usual sense of the word, as following the Berlin Conference which effectively divided Africa up between the European powers, in 1885 the Congo was granted to Léopold II as a personal possession.
Léopold himself administered the country, stripping its vast natural resources to enhance his own personal wealth. His rule was harsh, with no thought given to the development of the country or its people, for instance there was no national education programme.
It wasn't until 1908 that under international pressure, the Belgian government very reluctantly took control of the country, creating the Belgian Congo.
Since independence in 1960 the DRC is still suffering from decisions made in the 1880s.

Indeed, Ada. The brutality of Leopold's reign in the Congo was horrific. It was effectively a private fiefdom.

King Philippe has expressed regret over it but I don't think there has ever been a formal apology for the atrocities that took place.

The thought of giving a country as a possession is just so cringey, to say the least. And I think the Congolese guy had the best outfit by miles there!

I have been watching Mathilde and Philippe’s tour from afar and been quietly amazed at how little attention it has gained, given the twitterstorm that accompanied the Cambridge’s Caribbean tour - the Belgian Congo is a very dark stain on the country’s history, but one where its colonial past completely flys under the international radar. The King and Queen were invited to visit by the President who wants to build bridges - there must be plenty in the country who don’t want them there at all.

Back to the fashion - here is Sophie in a nice Etro tea dress (very non-boho, for them!) opening a flower show. Her shoes should be perfect for this outfit, but I don’t like them - too clumpy.

I agree that the Belgian History with the Congo does seem to be under the international radar. It's a shocker.
Sophie's looking nice - interesting shoes! Contrasting heels and not stilletos!

I agree @susiebluebell. There's a really fascinating fashion culture in the Congo (DRC and Congo-Brazzaville) centred on the sapeurs, who combine elegance and boldness. In case anyone's interested, you can read about it here:

www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54323473.amp

Sorry to derail!

I agree that those shoes of Sophie’s are nicer on paper than in reality. I love Mary Janes, but the ankle straps are so leg-shortening which is not good for me as I have a long body and shortish legs!

I think the bright dress and chunky heels in Sophie are a win, actually! Despite the high neck, the cut seems flattering, and I'm just basking in the non-stiletto, non-neutral shoes! Bold and summery 😊

Thanks @MotherofPearl for that link!

Exactly, @susiebluebell ! A bit of shoe interest!

Those shoes are unusual and fun!

Beatrice Borromeo at a Buccelatti show (I think she's a brand ambassador) in a Dior dress. I don't think I've ever seen her so smiley.

Daisy at a poetry prize giving. The pink suits her.

BB is so stunning.

I'm sure one Belgium tiara/parure has a terrible blood diamond legacy from Congo from Leopold. Can't remember which one.
Think it's this one



orderofsplendor.blogspot.com/2016/11/tiara-thursday-nine-provinces-tiara.html?m=1

Interesting about the Nine Provinces tiara, para. I wonder if there are calls for it to be returned.

I’ve just gone down a rabbit hole reading about the sapeurs/sapeuses. So interesting.

Occasionally Leti and Max attend Garter Day, which is today, so something to look out for, especially as Camilla is being invested in one of the Orders today. Kate will certainly be there, but Andy may be keeping a low profile!

He's not going.

I think Andrew needs a nice hobby, don't the royals have a stamp collection? Something quiet. Or he could plant a garden somewhere, and in a decade or so chat to Alan Titchmarsh.

Some of the garter photos are on twitter. Max looks great. Pale pink coat dress with epic slit sleeves.

Unless it's an old photo. Might be wrong.