11 December 2010

This Week in Princesses

Wow! What a truly newsworthy week. While the Swedish royals were celebrating the Nobel Prizes, the Prince of Wales and his wife were caught up in the middle of violent student riots. Sometimes, I'll admit, royal news isn't really "news", but this week, it absolutely was.

DECEMBER 4, 2010

PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 04: (L-R) Jean Rochefort, Princess Caroline of Hanover and Rodrigo Pessoa attend the International Gucci Masters Competition at Paris Nord Villepinte on December 4, 2010 in Paris, France. (Photo by Yves Forestier/Getty Images)

Princess Caroline presented the ceremonial prize check at the International Gucci Masters Show Jumping Competition in Paris. Her daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, competed in the tournament, but didn't get the big check.
PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 04: Charlotte Casiraghi rides and competes during the International Gucci Masters Competition at Paris Nord Villepinte on December 4, 2010 in Paris, France. (Photo by Yves Forestier/Getty Images)

Incidentally, Gucci is Charlotte's sponsor: the fashion house makes her couture riding ensembles (and presumably the matching hat for her horse!)


DECEMBER 8, 2010

ITAR-TASS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. DECEMBER 8, 2010. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev with his wife Svetlana (C), King Albert II of Belgium (R) Queen Paola of Belgium (L) pose for photographers at a meeting. (Photo ITAR-TASS/ Mikhail Klimentyev) Photo via Newscom

Queen Paola and King Albert II of Belgium officially welcomed Russian President Medvedev and his wife Svetlana on an official visit. It almost looks like the two ladies coordinated their ensembles. Did Paola (on the left) call Svetlana and tell her to wear dark blue or did they both say, "Look! We are twins!" when they met?


DECEMBER 9, 2010

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall get out of a car which was attacked en route to the Royal Veriety Performace at the Palladium on December 9, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

The Duchess of Cornwall and her husband, the Prince of Wales, were all smiles as they arrived at the Palladium for the Royal Variety Performance. However, the two had just emerged from a truly frightening experience. Their car, which was somehow separated from its security detail drove straight into a violent protest by students angry over British tuition hikes. The crowd kicked the royal vehicle, threw things at it and chanted "Off with their heads." An investigation is underway to determine why the heir to the throne didn't have sufficient protection to have prevented his car bumbling into a riot and how his vehicle was separated from the following security vehicle. Concerns are now being raised about the level of protection that will be needed at next April's royal wedding.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: General view of broken window and thrown paint damage to Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's car which occurred en route to the Royal Veriety Performace at the Palladium on December 9, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square stands behind piles of barriers on December 10, 2010 in London, England. Thousands of protesters participated in a mass demonstration yesterday in central London as Parliament voted in favour of the coalition Government's proposals to increase university tuition fees in England. Windows were smashed on several buildings around Parliament including the treasury, as the scenes turned progressively violent. A car carrying Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall was also attacked on Regent Street as they were on route to attend the annual Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the rioting students not only damaged the prince's car, but also defaced several London landmarks.


ITAR-TASS: MOSCOW, RUSSIA. DECEMBER 9, 2010. Visitors in front of an ornate portrait of Russian Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in Tretyakov Gallery. The exhibition, which marks the 300th birthday of the Russian monarch, features paintings, furniture, books, silverware, and other historical items evoking some of the atmosphere of Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna's era. (Photo ITAR-TASS/ Dmitry Serebryakov) Photo via Newscom

In Moscow, Empress Elizabeth celebrated her 300th birthday by opening an exhibition about her life and reign. The daughter of Peter the Great, Elizabeth never married, just like the English Elizabeth. The Russian Elizabeth adopted her nephew Peter as her heir and found a nondescript German princess to marry him to. It took nine years for the couple to have a child, whom Elizabeth immediately claimed. After Elizabeth's death, that frustrated German princess overthrew her husband and declared herself empress; she became Catherine the Great.


DECEMBER 10, 2010

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 10: (L - R) Her Majesty Queen Silvia, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, Crown Princess Victoria, (Back row) Prince Daniel and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden attend the annual Nobel Prize Award Ceremony at The Concert Hall on December 10, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. Dignitaries in Norway have honored the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize , imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, with an empty chair. The award's winner is being held in a Chinese prison with China enforcing a blackout of western news coverage of the event. (Photo by Patrik Osterberg/Getty Images)

While Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philipp and the new Prince Daniel looked suitably regal at the Nobel Prize ceremony, King Carl XVI Gustaf looks angry and slouchy in this photo. All of the prizes, except peace, are presented in Alfred Nobel's native Sweden, followed by a lavish Swedish banquet. The Peace Prize is usually presented in Oslo with the Norwegian royal family on hand. This year, the Peace Prize winner, Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo, is being held in a Chinese prison, so, he was honored with an empty chair in Stockholm. The Nobel Prize web site is full of great information, including a look back at Queen Silvia's Nobel gowns since 1976. (View the gowns page.) Princess Madeleine, who is now living in New York City, did not attend this year. Although she was not scheduled to be present, she is also said to be suffering from the flu.
Meanwhile, (below) the king's sister, Princess Christina, attended her 47th ceremony; setting a record!
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 10: Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel Laureate in Literature, and Princess Christina of Sweden, arrive to the Nobel Banquet at the Stockholm City Hall on December 10, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. The banquet features a three-course dinner, entertainment and dancing. (Photo by Patrik Osterberg/Getty Images)

07 December 2010

A Princess at Seven

LECH, AUSTRIA - FEBRUARY 16: Princess Catharina-Amalia skies at the start of their annual Austrian skiing holiday at the ski resort of Lech am Alberg on February 16, 2009 in Lech, Austria  (Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images)

The adorable Princess Catharina Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria of the Netherlands is celebrating her seventh birthday. In a country that has had only queens since 1890 (Wilhelmina then Juliana and now Beatrix), Princess Amalia stands to continue the tradition of grand dames following a masculine interlude by her father, Crown Prince Willem Alexander.

Like most seven-year-olds, Amalia has big plans for her big day. First, a plane will be named for her. Then, the Royal Dutch Navy Choir will present its annual Princess Amalia concert at The Hague. But, little Amalia will miss the parties: it is, after all, a school night, even for princesses.
Feb. 23, 2010 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - epa02050812 Left to Right: Princess Alexia, Princess Ariane, Princess Catharina-Amalia, their mother Princess Maxima and their father Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands watch the Men's 10000 m Speed Skating at the Richmond Olympic Oval for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, Vancouver, Canada, 23 February 2010. On the back row, Queen Sonja (2nd L) and King Harald V (3rd L partly visible) of Norway.

04 December 2010

This Week in Princesses

NOVEMBER 27, 2010

MUSCAT, OMAN - NOVEMBER 27: Children wave flags as Queen Elizabeth II arrives for a reception at the Ambassador's residance on November 27, 2010 in Muscat, Oman. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are on a State Visit to the Middle East. The Royal couple have spent two days in Abu Dhabi and are are currently spending three days in Oman. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II donned a sunny yellow ensemble for the final day of her official visit to several Middle Eastern countries. Hopefully, she stored up some of the warmth and sunshine before returning to London, which received a blanket of snow this week.


NOVEMBER 29, 2010

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark arrives at the at Danish Embassy to host a reception for the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment on November 29, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

The usually colorful Queen Margrethe II of Denmark was in more somber colors, choosing a full-length black coat against the bitter London temperatures as she attended a reception at the Danish Embassy honoring the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. Formed in 1992 and named for Diana Princess of Wales, the regiment's Allied Colonels-in-Chief were Diana and Margrethe. After her divorce, Diana resigned and the Danish queen assumed the honorary duties on her own.


NOVEMBER 30, 2010

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh attend the Royal Film Performance and World Premiere of 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader' at Odeon Leicester Square on November 30, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II combatted the cold in London by wrapping up in a long, gray shawl for a 'date night' with Prince Philip. You can still see the shiny splendor of her electic blue gown under the dress. The royal copule attended the premiere of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of The Dawn Treader." She is said to have enjoyed the film, even tearing up at times.


DECEMBER 1, 2010

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: Princess Beatrice attends The Dickensian Ball at Harrods on December 1, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Snow on the ground didn't stop Princess Beatrice from wearing an above-the-knee ensemble to The Dickensian Ball at Harrods in Knightsbridge, London. Despite the event's name, I'm guessing you weren't supposed to come dressed as your favorite Dickens character.

48097, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Wednesday December 1 2010. Royal bride-to-be Kate Middleton attends a carol service at St Luke's Church in Chelsea, London. The princess-in-waiting was wearing her engagemnt ring, a sapphire and diamond ring that belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Miss Middleton will marry Britain's Prince William on April 29th 2011.  Photograph:  Jesal Parshotam, PacificCoastNews.com

Across town in Chelsea, snow obscured the lenses but the photogs still managed to snap a few shots of royal bride-to-be Kate Middleton, dressed in heavy coat and boots, as she launched her holiday season by attending a carol service.


DECEMBER 2, 2010

LOGRONO, SPAIN - DECEMBER 02: Princess Letizia of Spain attends 'XIII Volunteering National Congress' on December 2, 2010 in Logrono, Spain. (Photo by Ander Gillenea/Getty Images)

Letizia Princess of the Asturias made a very small fan when she attended a national volunteering conference in Logrono, Spain.

48126, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Thursday December 2, 2010. Princess Beatrice leaves the launch of 'Public' Nightclub in London with her long-time boyfriend Dave Clarke, amidst the snowy weather! As Princess Beatrice was entering a waiting car, a male fan tried to block the couple and was soon escorted away. Photograph: PacificCoastNews.com

Snowy weather wasn't the only thing Princess Beatrice and her boyfriend Dave Clark had to face as they attended the opening of new London night club. As they were leaving, an eager young man (who probably had too much to drink) got too close to the princess and her security detail dragged him away. The princess appeared amused by his goofy antics, but the incident highlighted the controversy over whether or not the British public should foot the bill for protecting Beatrice and her sister Eugenie, who are fifth and sixth in line for the throne. (See and read more.)

Photo by: Raoul Gatchalian/starmaxinc.com @2010  12/02/10 Princess Alexandria of Greece arrives at Christie's, NYC to celebrate Room To Grow Benefit Gala, Dec. 2, 2010 Photo via Newscom

Across the pond, 19-year-old Princess Alexandra of Greece grabbed the photographers' attention with a wrap skirt and thigh-high purple boots at the Celebrate Room to Grown Benefit Gala at Christie's. The charity honors parents who make "extraordinary efforts to help their babies thrive despite the challenges of poverty."