21 June 2010

This Week in Princesses

Midsummer has arrived and the number of high-profile royal events was unbelievable. Here’s just a tasting of the princesses who popped out of their palaces this week.

June 14

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 14: Prince Felipe of Spain and Princess Letizia of Spain attend 'Plastic Arts Velazquez Award' at El Prado Museum on June 14, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

What a way to start the week! Felipe and Letizia of Spain attended an event at El Prado Museum and were seated in front of the incredible painting, “Las Meninas,” by Velazquéz, who painted himself into the scene. The central figure is Infanta Margarita Teresa, daughter of King Felipe IV and future wife of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. I wouldn’t have behaved well at this event—I would have felt compelled to run my chair around!

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 14: Princess Elena of Spain meet children's painting competition winners at El Pardo Palace on June 14, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

At an art event of another sort, Infanta Elena of Spain showed she is not afraid of a little sartorial splendor; she often choosing colorful ensembles. Check out the stripes on those high heels—her legs look super long at this event for children who won a painting competition.

June 15

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 15: Prince Felipe of Spain and Princess Letizia of Spain (R) attend 'Toison de Oro' ceremony at the Zarzuela Palace on June 15, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

Felipe and Letizia of Spain looked serious and already tired at this ceremony in Spain. Maybe they had a bit of pre-travel jet lag considering that in the next two days, they would fly to South Africa and then to Sweden. How do you pack for that?

June 16

June 16, 2010 - Durban, South Africa - epa02205008 Spanish Prince Felipe de Bourbon and Spanish Princess Letizia applaud prior the FIFA World Cup 2010 group H preliminary round match between Spain and Switzerland at the Durban stadium in Durban, South Africa, 16 June 2010.

Felipe and Letizia of Spain made a quick trip to South Africa to attend the World Cup match between Spain and Switzerland. (Is it just me, or did Americans go World Cup Crazy for the first time EVER this year?)

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When she’s not riding horse, Princess Haya of Jordan can still be found at equestrian events. On Wednesday, she presented one of the trophies at Royal Ascot in England.

Princess Madeleine, Queen Silvia, Prince Carl Philip, Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling on their way to a reception on a historic ship in Stockholm, Sweden, 16 June 2010. The wedding ceremony will take place on 19 June 2010. Photo by David Sica/Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

The Swedish royal family attended many events in advance of Saturday’s royal wedding. Here, they are arriving for a reception on a historic ship. Queen Silvia’s bright yellow jacket stands out between her more soberly clad daughters, Princess Madeleine and Crown Princess Victoria.

June 17

ASCOT, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 17: Princess Haya Bin Al Hussein and Sophie Countess Of Wessex attend Royal Ascot Ladies Day on June 17, 2010 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

Princess Haya of Jordan looked summery and delightful throughout the week of Royal Ascot. Her companion on Ladies Day, Prince Edward’s wife Sophie of Wessex, may be patterned and be-feathered, but she still looks dowdy next to her Middle Eastern friend.

Britain's Princesses Anne and Beatrice arrive on the Ladies Day, the third day of horse racing at Royal Ascot in southern England June 17, 2010. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT ROYALS HORSE RACING SOCIETY)

The Princess Royal and her niece, Princess Beatrice of York, arrived from Windsor Castle by carriage at Ascot. It looks like Aunt Anne may be offering Bea some advice.

Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Martha of Norway and husband Ari Behn arriving at a private gala dinner hosted by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace, in advance of their daughter Crown Princess Victoria's wedding on Saturday. Photo by Tom Hansen/Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

The Norwegian royal family took their yacht for the short trip from Oslo to Stockholm for the Swedish royal wedding. The entire family came along for the festivities. Here, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, kisses her mommy, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, goodbye as her aunt, Princess Martha Louise, looks on.


June 18

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Mr Daniel Westling looking at the gifts from the municipalities and county councils of Sweden during a reception by the local government in the Stockholm City Hall on occasion of their wedding in Stockholm, Sweden, June 18, 2010. The wedding ceremony will take place on June 19, 2010. Photo by David Sica/Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling opened gifts at a reception in their honor hosted by the city of Stockholm. Just what do you get a future queen for a wedding present? Apparently, apple trees and wine.

Princess Caroline of Hanover attending the International day of the refugee 2010 in Monaco on June 18, 2010. Photo by Marco Piovanotto/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

With her marriage to Prince Ernst of Hanover reportedly on the rocks, Princess Caroline of Monaco might be expected to look a little world-weary. Of course, this wasn’t a cheerful occasion either; she was attending the International Day of the Refugee.

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa arriving at the Swedish government dinner in honour of H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling held at the Eric Ericson hall in Stockholm, Sweden on June 18, 2010. Photo by Mousse-Nebinger-Orban/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

Rarely seen in American coverage, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg is actually from the Western hemisphere—she is Cuban. She has five children with Grand Duke Henri, here arriving for the Swedish government’s dinner in honor of Crown Princess Victoria’s wedding.

Princess Alexia Morales and husband Carlos Morales, Prince Philipo, Ms Tatiana Blatnik and Prince Nikolaos of Greece, Queen Anne-Marie and King Constantine of Greece arriving for the goverment dinner at the Eric Ericson Hall in Skeppsholmen, one of the islands of Stockholm, on the occasion of the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling, Stockholm, Sweden, June 18, 2010. The wedding ceremony will take place on June 19, 2010. Photo by Marius Gulliksrud/Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

Most of the Greek royal family arrived together. Did Princess Alexia and her mom, Queen Anne-Marie, coordinate their beautiful red gowns? If so, it looks like Prince Nikolaos’ fiancée, Tatiana Blatnik, did not get the memo.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - JUNE 18: Princess Victoria is helped with her dress by fiance Daniel Westling during the Government Pre-Wedding Dinner for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling at The Eric Ericson Hall on June 18, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

The arrival of the honored couple had a bit more drama, as Daniel Westling cheerfully mucked in to arrange his fiancee’s train so that Crown Princess Victoria would look spectacular in photos. Ironically, this photo is probably the most used one from the event.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain attending the gala performance at Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden on June 18, 2010. Photo by Mousse-Nebinger-Orban/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

Here’s another one of those touchy-feely moments between Felipe and Letizia of Spain as they arrived for the gala concert in Stockholm the night before the big wedding.

Princess Madeleine and Prince Carl Philip attending the gala performance at Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden on June 18, 2010. Photo by Mousse-Nebinger-Orban/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

Princess Madeleine of Sweden looked gorgeous (as usual) as she arrived on the arm of her big brother Prince Carl Philip for the concert in their sister’s honor. Their own weddings will be much less spectacular since they won’t be national occasions.

June 19
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland dance after the Wedding Banquet at the Royal Palace on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo by Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

Of course, the top event of the week was the actual wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her long-time beau (and former fitness trainer) Daniel Westling, now Prince Daniel. Their gorgeous day included a lovely ceremony attended by royalty around the world (see some of the guests), a carriage ride and boat tour through Copenhagen, a grand feast and dancing into the wee hours. Throughout it all, their love for each other was apparent and touching.

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attending Royal Palace during the ceremony of the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling in Stockholm, Sweden on June 19, 2010. Photo by Mousse-Nebinger-Orban/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

One of my favorite images of the day. This one shows three of the world’s most glamorous royal couples, dressed to the hilt, caught in a “just like the rest of us” moment. Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Haakon of Norway look on as Frederick of Denmark uses a point-and-shoot camera to take a snap of their wives, Mary, Maxima and Mette-Marit, all in a row.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Duchess of Vastergotland, her husband Prince Daniel of Sweden, Duke of Vastergotland pose after their wedding ceremony with (L-R first row) President Mrs Tarja Halonen of Finland, Queen Sonja of Norway, King Harald V of Norway, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Ewa Westling, Olle Westling, Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Prince Henrik of Denmark, Queen Sofia of Spain, (L-R second row) Pentti Arajarvi, Dorrit Moussaieff, President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson of Iceland, Queen Paola of Belgium, King Albert, II of Belgium, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Anna Westling Blom, Queen Rania of Jordan, King Abdullah of Jordan, The Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, The Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Prince Albert of Monaco, (L-R third row) Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Princess Letizia of Spain, Prince Felipe of Spain, Margaretha Ambler, Greve Carl Johan Bernadotte of Wisborg, Countess Gunnila Bernadotte of Wisborg, Mikael Soderstrom, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan. (L-R Fourth Row) Christina Magnusson, Tord Magnusson, Desiree Silfverschiold, Niclas Silfverschiold, Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Prince Johann Georg av Hohenzollern, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Prince Richard zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, King Constantine II of Greece, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Crown Prince Philippe of Guillaume de Luxemburg, (L-R Back), Ingrid Sommerlath, Walter L Sommerlath, Anna-Britta Astrom, Hasse Astrom, Ann-Catrin Westling, Nils Westling, Ralf Toldeo Sommerlath, Anita Henriksson, Olle Henriksson, Birgitta Westling and Erik West on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo by Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

And, here’s the big picture. The bridal couple surrounded by their families and all of the royals who attended. If you click on this photo, you can actually read some of the names. The photo includes at least 10 current kings and queens and at least 16 future ones. (You’d think they could have found a prettier place to take the picture.)

June 20

All the princesses slept off the busy week.

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