Tiara Watch of the Day: More Sparkle in Sweden and the Netherlands

The Dutch and Swedish ladies are here to squeeze in the last tiara events of 2018, bless 'em.

The King and Queen of the Netherlands welcomed the President and first lady of Cape Verde to the Netherlands for a state visit on Monday, including a state banquet.

RVD

Queen Máxima continued her recent Claes Iversen streak with this burnt orange gown for the state banquet. This is the third time we've seen this dress and the second time with a tiara - to be honest, it would be neither my first pick for a triple repeat nor my first pick for one tiara appearance, let alone two. Máx clearly disagrees. Fair enough.

Embed from Getty Images

Anyway, she's provided ample distraction by loading herself up with the biggest diamonds worn in the most amusingly casual fashion. The Dutch Diamond Bandeau's tossed on like an afterthought (I mean, it's a good hairdo, this is just one of those times when she really is wearing it like any old headband, which I find hilarious). And she's continuing to find new-to-her treasures in the family vault; this mega brooch with a big fat yellow diamond in the center belonged to Queen Emma. The brooch was one of Queen Emma's wedding gifts, part of a set that also included the diamond rivière that was later made into the Diamond Bandeau. It's a diamond reunion!

Embed from Getty Images

We also have some Bonus Beatrix, yay. Princess Beatrix wore the Antique Pearl Tiara, a diadem I enjoy more each time we see it. 

The Swedish royal family hosted the King's Dinner for Nobel laureates last night.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hanna Warren (@a.royal.moment) on Dec 11, 2018 at 12:22pm PST

Meanwhile in Sweden: another killer red gown! This is a drop dead gorgeous moment for Crown Princess Victoria. She paired this fab dress with Princess Lilian's Laurel Wreath Tiara, one of a full diamond tiara line up for the ladies on this evening. (Including Princess Christina wearing the Six Button Tiara again, as you can see if you click through that gallery.)

Sara Friberg/Kungl. Hovstaterna

Princess Sofia's custom gown from Valerie by Valerie Aflalo was a bit fussy for my tastes (the sleeves, I blame the sleeves). Like most things, it could have been improved by an amethyst tiara - she was already wearing the earrings, bracelet, and brooch from Queen Josephine's Amethyst Parure. Swap out the all-diamond version of your Emerald and Diamond Tiara while you're at it, Sofia!

Sara Friberg/Kungl. Hovstaterna

Queen Silvia wore a pink Jacques Zehnder dress - itself a former Nobel ceremony selection - with a refreshing tiara choice: the Baden Fringe. We've seen her wear it in 2016, 2017, and now 2018. (And before that, obvs, this is just a seeming renewal of enthusiasm.) No one wears it like Crown Princess Victoria does, but I must say, I enjoy seeing other takes on it. Fringes (or amethysts) for everyone!

Royal Fashion Awards: The Nobel Prizes, 2018

Another year, and my hopes to see the Cameo Tiara in action are once again denied. Nevertheless, the Swedish royal family provided plenty of oohs and aahs as they attended the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm today – with supporting content from the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo, too. (Head over to our open post for links to the ceremonies!)

Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia, and Crown Princess Victoria wait to leave the palace in this photo shared by the Swedish royal court.

Sara Friberg/Kungl. Hovstaterna

Most Notable Repeat

Crown Princess Victoria

Embed from Getty Images

It’s actually a little surprising it took this long for one of Queen Silvia’s old Nobel gowns to take the stage again, given how much digging through her wardrobe her daughters have been doing in recent years.

One Nina Ricci gown, two royal appearances

Victoria chose the Nina Ricci gown her mother wore to the 1995 Nobel ceremony today – classic old school Queen Silvia, with the BIG skirt and the BIG back bow. It could be very easily dated and I’m sure for some of you it will be…but call it my weakness for a giant ball skirt, I think she’s pulling this off.

Embed from Getty Images

Victoria wore the Connaught Tiara once again, with Silvia’s diamond floral earrings and the rose brooch from the Braganza parure.

Best Continuation of a Theme

Queen Silvia

SVT

Did Queen Silvia note her daughter’s divine use of the Bernadotte Emerald Demi-Parure with a green gown last month and decide it was a splendid idea to continue? All I know is that it was a splendid idea. If Victoria was classic old school Silvia today, Silvia herself is classic new school Silvia. She broke her streak of evenly alternating the Nine Prong Tiara with the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure for a second Pronger year in a row, and I don’t even mind.

Best in Tiara Wrangling, Again

Princess Christina

SVT

I’m too lazy to see how many years in a row Princess Christina has won my heart by making some of my least favorite Swedish tiaras look good. She’s the undisputed queen, owning the Six Button Tiara like only she can. Also, I love when she does this evening coat-style look. Luxurious fabrics galore.

Best Dressed

Princess Sofia

Embed from Getty Images

The power of a red dress is real, and this Zetterberg Couture number is a RED DRESS. I’d take the sleeve pouf down a notch, yeah, and yet I still love what Sofia's got going on here. This look has impact.

SVT

Sofia also has some jewel intrigue happening; I thought her pearl choker (which is a debut for her tonight) was the same historical piece previously worn by Princess Madeleine, but it is different and something privately owned. Tall chokers are not easy to wear and she’s doing it in truly regal fashion. I love that she’s carried the pearls through with the rest of her jewels, using the pearl version of her Emerald and Diamond Tiara, plus pearl earrings and a pearl brooch.

And a Special Nod to…

Donna Strickland and Frances Arnold

Embed from Getty Images

I really never include the Nobel laureates here because, well, it's just best if we stick to our royal wheelhouse. But I must say this year what an absolute treat it was to see the two women laureates looking so elegant on their big night. Donna Strickland (in red) is a co-laureate for the Nobel Prize in Physics – just the third woman to win it, and the first in 55 years – for her work in groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics. Frances Arnold (in blue) is a co-laureate for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry – the fifth woman to take the prize in history – for her work in the directed evolution of enzymes.

Meanwhile, in Oslo…

Embed from Getty Images

The treat of the day in Norway was not in jewel form – different ceremony and different subject matter, so appropriately not a gala event – but in simply seeing Crown Princess Mette-Marit looking well in her new Fendi dress. She was a late add to the guest list. Queen Sonja repeated her purple velvet Pucci jacket, much worn and with good reason. Plus a sequin beret, because why not?

Who makes your best dressed list for Nobel 2018?

The festivities are not done! There’s a dinner in Oslo tonight and another tiara event in Stockholm tomorrow night, when the King hosts his traditional palace dinner for the laureates.

Breaking Tiara News of the Day: Queen Letizia Debuts Another Tiara

Making breaking tiara news twice in one year! Way to go, Letizia.

The King and Queen of Spain hosted a state banquet today for the President and first lady of China during their state visit to Spain.

House of HM the King

On the heels of her debut of the Cartier Diamond and Pearl Tiara earlier this year, Queen Letizia has worn for the first time the other large diamond and pearl tiara lurking in the vaults: Queen Maria Christina’s Cartier Loop Tiara, last worn by Queen Sofia. (As always, click the tiara name for more on its history.)

House of HM the King

Letizia repeated the superb black velvet Felipe Varela dress she wore when debuting the big Fleur de Lys Tiara, and once again it proves to be the perfect backdrop for a mega tiara and a smattering of other major diamonds: the earrings and twin bracelets from the joyas de pasar.

Embed from Getty Images

Also much like her debut of the big Fleur de Lys Tiara? This major diadem WORKS for her. She carries it - and styles it (did I tell you how much I love this dress?) - just right. And needless to say, she's welcome to keep up this string of debuts as long as she likes.

The Queen accompanied the first lady for events earlier in the day.

House of HM the King

Earlier in the day, the Queen made some headlines for a less fancy choice: an ASOS dress with floral and bird embroidery that costs just $119.

ASOS

It's cute!

The previous day, the King and Queen hosted the presidential couple for a private dinner.

Embed from Getty Images

While we're catching up on the state visit, one of those delectable diamond bracelets appeared yesterday with another repeated Felipe Varela dress. Wear 'em as often as possible, Queen L. As often as possible.

Tiara Watch of the Day: And Now for Norway

Tiara Week continues! The Norwegian royal family hosted their annual gala dinner for parliament last night, and it might actually be the best showing of Norwegian tiaras in quite some time?! I mean, when it comes to my personal favorites for each lady, at least.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 👑Royal Family👑 (@rroyalfamilyy) on Oct 25, 2018 at 1:51pm PDT

Queen Josephine's Diamond Tiara is my favorite of the tiaras worn by Queen Sonja, and she delivered it with a whole bunch of extra diamonds for good measure. (Even a piece out of another tiara: the brooch I believe is one of the crosses from the Malteser Tiara.) With a soft and swishy pink skirt, this look's a winner.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Det Norske Kongehus (@norwegianroyalfamily) on Oct 25, 2018 at 12:25pm PDT

Princess Astrid wore the Vasa Tiara, an absolute classic that's maybe my fave from her eclectic collection. (I do have a certain affection for Queen Maud's Turquoise Tiara, though.) After many years of what felt like nothin' but the Diamond Daisy Tiara, I'm really enjoying Crown Princess Mette-Marit's newfound affection for the Amethyst Necklace Tiara and its parure. This dress is her best gala one in a while, too - a sophisticated spin on her beloved ruffles.

NRK screencap

It is also just nice to see her, plain and simple, after the news the Crown Princess shared this week. After years of health issues, she and Crown Prince Haakon went public with her diagnosis of chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease. They chose to share because it will sometimes affect her workload. Haakon, Mette-Marit, and Mette-Marit's doctor discussed her condition; they said that the cause is unknown, that she was diagnosed early, and that they're optimistic about her prognosis. We definitely wish her all the best.

Tiara Watch of the Day: It's Denmark's Turn to Sparkle

Tiaras were out on Monday (Belgian state visit to Portugal); tiaras were out on Tuesday (Dutch state visit to Britain); tiaras were out on Wednesday (we're going to talk about them in two seconds); tiaras will even be out on Thursday (Norway has a banquet tonight, which of course we'll do our best to cover). That might be some kind of record?! We're just trying to keep up:

The Danish royal family hosted a gala banquet for members of the government, parliament, and the European parliament on Wednesday night.

Keld Navntoft/Kongehuset

Yes, Queen Margrethe definitely had to get in on this week o' sparkle. She wore her Floral Aigrette Tiara and her trusty Yeti pelt. This is the dress she wore for Crown Prince Frederik's 50th birthday gala. You can always tell when she's loving a new look, because she'll wear it a whole bunch. (I kinda love that about her.)

Keld Navntoft/Kongehuset

All of the princesses went dark and sparkly, starting with Princess Benedikte in her Floral Tiara. The extra band of bling around the waist on this dress helps make it something special, I think.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Royal Addicted (@royal.addicted) on Oct 24, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT

Princess Marie repeated a dress and used her Diamond Floral Tiara too. A solo Crown Princess Mary - Crown Prince Frederik is in Australia for the Invictus Games - wore her Wedding Tiara. We haven't seen that one in a while, since she's been using her Diamond, Ruby, and Spinel Necklace Tiara. But it's not the return that delights me most: the Bambi dress is back!

Embed from Getty Images

The original appearance, 2014

This Jesper Høvring ensemble became an instant favorite when Mary was presented with a BAMBI Award in 2014. It's not a dress, actually; it's designed as a top and skirt. The skirt was worn with a blue velvet top for the New Year's Court gala in 2016. It's always good to see the classics back in rotation.

Keld Navntoft/Kongehuset

A coral headliner and her navy back up singers, fabulous. (You can see here how Margrethe has wrapped the Floral Aigrette pieces around her 'do and how interesting her necklace is - it's a bracelet that she likes to use as a choker. Lest you think Máxima is the only one getting creative in the jewel department...)

Royal Outfit Grab Bag of the Day: Máxima, Victoria, Rania, Charlene

Checking in with a few other leading ladies before we head back to Sussexland...

Embed from Getty Images

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visited Zeeland this week.

Shockingly enough, Máxima has been up to a bunch of hats and bright colors. (Warming up for her state visit to the UK next week, I hope.) This skirt reminds me of aerial photos of tulip fields. Claes Iversen shared a little Instagram look at these skirts from his Spring/Summer 2017 collection and how they're made. Very delicate and detailed.

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visited Jordan, where they were received by King Abdullah and Queen Rania. The Swedish couple are also visiting Lebanon.
Royal Hashemite Court

Is it possible to avoid overdoing the design details on a dress by simply overloading it so much that your eyes have no choice but to gloss over some of the fussier bits? Victoria's dress is an experiment seeking an answer. (Mermaid scales. That's all I can get from this whole thing.) She does end up sort of pleasingly color-coordinated with Queen Rania's Ralph & Russo ensemble, though.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Charlene attended the 2018 Princess Grace Awards Gala.

Charlene doesn't do the big toothy grin thing in posed photos (which is her prerogative! I'm over people demanding smiles at all times) - and you don't even need one here to tell that she's quite pleased with her sassy Ralph Lauren evening suit. Blazers slung over the shoulders remain on my pet peeves list, but if there's someone who can pull this look off, it's Char.

Royal Outfits of the Day: Swedish Royals at Parliament & More

It was Sweden's turn to open parliament this week, with the Swedish royal family present as always.

Embed from Getty Images

The ladies do a black and white (and shades thereof, in this case) dress code, which is reminiscent of the black and white court dress worn decades ago. This year that led to Crown Princess Victoria wearing a Paule Ka top she's worn previously to this same event. I'm half wishing Princess Sofia's jacket had a beige bottom, thereby completing the fake out crop top effect. Just for kicks.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Royal Addicted (@royal.addicted) on Sep 26, 2018 at 4:01am PDT

The looks were likewise tame for the evening's concert. Feels a little more day attire than it usually does, really just shiny fabrics here to differentiate. Except for Victoria's metallic Escada dress, which has been worn multiple times in the past.

Kungl. Hovstaterna

While we're in Sweden: Princess Sofia attended a board meeting for Sophiahemmet yesterday and this look might have caught my eye more than the parliament stuff did. Nothing says cozy like a giant smocked velvet turtleneck, amirite? Cozy or claustrophobic, depending on your turtleneck tolerance. You be the judge.

Top by Rodebjer, per UFO No More

Royal Outfits of the Day: Victoria and Mathilde in New York

The UN General Assembly is running in New York City, so basically a whole bunch of royals are roaming the city and running into one another, which is convenient for our purposes. (Our purposes being, as always, considerably more frivolous.)

Instagram/mozabintnasser

Crown Princess Victoria's stateside visit saw her meet up with Sheikha Mozah! If anyone's going to appreciate a good monochrome look, it should be the Sheikha. Her metallic shoes are exactly the contrasting touch her own green look needed, though.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Det Norske Kongehus (@detnorskekongehus) on Sep 24, 2018 at 10:44am PDT

Also on Victoria's list of friends to see in NYC: Crown Prince Haakon, who surely conveyed this prairie dress sighting to certain interested parties back home. This is a repeat from Princess Adrienne's christening this summer.

Belgian Monarchy

A new floral dress accompanied the Crown Princess as she met up with a vibrantly pink-clad Queen Mathilde, who...

Belgian Monarchy

...naturally brought along her own supply of florals. (Don't leave home without 'em!) This Natan dress a repeat from the Australian state visit earlier this summer. As I suspected at the time, it is indeed improved without the hat.

This is far from all! Queen Máxima is expected, Crown Princess Mary's already there (we'll check in with her separately), and maybe more, I don't know. So New Yorkers, I guess you should keep your eyes peeled.

Royal Event of the Day: Dutch Royals at Prinsjesdag 2018

Get your hats ready, it's Prinsjesdag time! King Willem-Alexander addresses the government every September, reading a speech from the throne detailing plans for the coming session; he's accompanied by Queen Máxima, Prince Constantijn, and Princess Laurentien. For those not familiar, this event features a dress code that was popular for big royal events many years ago but which has become increasingly rare: long dresses, orders, and hats for the ladies. No tiaras because this is a day event.

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Máxima goes all out for Prinsjesdag with a special outfit. This year's outfit is...

NOS screencap

...well, it's impressive, really...

Embed from Getty Images

...because I would not have thought...

Louisa Beccaria Iridescent Multicolor Georgette Long Dress, per ModeKoninginMaxima

...that a candidate for my least favorite Máxima Prinsjesdag outfit ever would be so...bland, honestly?

Embed from Getty Images

It's too much and not enough for me. There's so much happening in the overly vertical hat with unrelated feathers and the fussy neck and sleeves, but underneath it all is a muted pastel color blocking thing that just doesn't do much. Suffice it to say, I won't be remembering this year's edition when it comes time for the bests of 2018.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Laurentien opted for a tried-and-true combination for this sort of dress code: the long jacket over a matching sleek long dress. Very elegant! And I need hardly tell you that she picks up multiple bonus points for highlighting an accent color from the fabric with her purse and shoes.

NOS screencap

Also, nice beard, Prince Constantijn.