King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Sofia were on hand Friday to host the annual "Sweden Dinner" at the palace. The dinner honors guests making contributions in different areas from all around the country.
Henrik Garlöv/Kungahuset.se
My hands-down fave here: Victoria. Looooooove this off the shoulder look for her. Sure, I'd ditch the watch and go with some strappy sandals - there's always room for a quibble or two - but it's very pretty. It's a fairly inexpensive choice for her too, $273 from By Malina.
By Malina Othelia dress
I realize some may find this a little too informal when there are men in tuxes. For that, though, you must consider the context of the event:
Henrik Garlöv/Kungahuset.se
Guests wear business suits, tuxedos, short dresses, long dresses, traditional dresses, and so on. A lot of different walks of life represented here. So it works for me.
Henrik Garlöv/Kungahuset.se
In that context, then, it appears that Queen Silvia's motto for the evening was simply to be seen. Print on print, texture on texture, color on color. It's...a look, alright.
Psst: Looking for coverage of the Duchess of Sussex's big day out with the Queen? Click right here.
The Polar Music Prize was awarded yesterday, to the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and Metallica, with the Swedish royal family in attendance.
Crown Princess Victoria is usually the one to watch at this event, according to me, because she often uses it as an opportunity for some "edgier" garb. Sometimes that strategy works for her; sometimes it doesn't; sometimes it just proves that even the "edgy" side of a royal wardrobe is, in fact, not very edgy at all.
Let 2018 go down as a year where that strategy netted her both the first and the third results: this red toga-style Stylein dress may not be too much of a stretch, but it really works for her. That's a stunning look! I did want to find a picture to share where she wasn't holding the bouquet, though, because tucking her clutch under her arm messed with the sleek lines. That's my caveat #1. Caveat #2 is her black strappy shoes, a clunky end to an outfit with otherwise gold accessories.
Polar Music Prize Instagram/Maria Nilsdotter
Those gold accessories included jewelry from Maria Nilsdotter. The Cherry Valley earrings have one longer earring and one shorter one, a great play to balance the one shoulder on the gown. Victoria also wore the Spike headband, which at first made me wonder from far away if she'd worn her 18th Birthday Tiara for some unknown reason. (That was enlightening, because I learned that there is one occasion on which I wouldn't mind seeing that thing, and that occasion would be a non-tiara occasion.) The gold, of course, was a better match.
Meanwhile, Princess Madeleine's Giambattista Valli dress is stepping all over Crown Princess Mette-Marit's signature territory (M-M, I can only imagine, either has this one in her closet already or will be swiftly making some calls), and Princess Sofia is knocking it out of the park.
Knocking it out of the park, I say! She's really proving this week that green is her color. And that a halter neck is her neckline. And that statement jewelry is her best accessory. I'm surprised at how much I love this whole thing. I might be making a note for the best of 2018.
Let's not forget about Queen Silvia, of course, who wore a tidy black skirt, evening jacket, and pearls. We can always count on her to add a final stately note to the family group.
Here's how I've decided this whole thing played out: "How dare people call my mustard floral gownupholstery," the Duchess of Cambridge fumed. "That was not upholstery. I'll show you upholstery," she exclaimed.
On the evening of the second full day of their official visit to Sweden, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel for a reception in Stockholm.
Kensington Palace
Show us she sure did, in floral blue velvet from Erdem again. Definitely more upholstery-esque to this pair of eyes, but my definite favorite of the back-to-back Erdems.
On arrival, the Duchess used her "diplomatic dressing" concept as a cover to add another black coat to her growing pile, opting for one from Swedish designer Ida Sjöstedt. Sjöstedt has been really popular with the Swedish princesses in the past few years, making all sorts of outfits from Princess Sofia's wedding gown to the dress Crown Princess Victoria wore the day before.
For the evening event, Victoria also stuck to Swedish design and her designer from the evening before. A most unfortunate decision in this case, I'm afraid. It's just...oof.
The two couples also teamed up for engagements during the day.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Day two also repeated day one in that safer choices prevailed during the daytime and the coats were the best part of the deal for both ladies. In case you missed it the first 700 or so times I've said it, give me alllllll the houndstooth, including this snappy red version from Catherine Walker.
Raphael Stecksén/Kungahuset.se
Underneath those coats, Victoria's pantsuit begs you to debate the merits of pastel safari jackets, while Kate ordered up just about the most basic model you can get from Alexander McQueen. William was doing his part for diplomatic fashion too, by the way: his sweater is from Swedish brand Acne.
Also on day two, the Crown Princess couple hosted the Cambridges at their home, Haga Palace, and William and Kate had the biggest honor of the their trip (I'm sure): a private audience with Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar.
Raphael Stecksén/Kungahuset.se
Raphael Stecksén/Kungahuset.se
Next up for the traveling Cambridge circus: Norway!
On the evening of the first full day of their official visit to Sweden, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a dinner at the British Ambassador's residence with Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel.
LOL. Okay, giggles out of the way...listen, I think there are people who could pull off this ruffled floral mustard Erdem gown; it's just that Kate, bless her, isn't one of that particular group of chosen ones. You need some attitude to pull off something that's ruffled and floral and mustard all at once. (This is where some of you will jump in and argue with me that it's not mustard, as though calling it some other color name could save the whole thing, and I shall giggle once more.)
Erdem Stephanie floral-print silk crepe de Chine gown for Kate, Stylein dress for Victoria (per Heaven) Lyst/Fashionweek.se
I'm not that wild about Victoria's choice either, mostly because I keep thinking she left half her dressing gown on. But any port in a storm, I suppose.
Earlier, the Cambridges had lunch at the Royal Palace with King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, and Prince Daniel.
Raphael Stecksén/Kungahuset.se
Maybe I have ~issues~ with all of Victoria's neckline choices yesterday. The bow on this Ida Sjöstedt dress is strangling her, majorly distracting from what might otherwise have had potential. This Catherine Walker ensemble on Kate is pretty basic...
The Cambridges and the Crown Princess Couple walked to the Nobel Museum after lunch.
Kensington Palace
...and it looks a lovely picture when all bundled up. Victoria improved with the addition of a coat, too (the addition of SHOOTIES and all).
Before meeting the royal family, the Duke and Duchess attended a bandy hockey event at Vasaparken.
You wanted sparkle? Queen Silvia’s got your sparkle RIGHT HERE. She took on the daunting task of matching the incredible sparkle of the Leuchtenberg Sapphires with a disco ball choir robe, which she carries off with more gravitas than you’d think possible when the words “disco ball choir robe” are involved.
Crown Princess Victoria is here to single-handedly make you fall in love with the Cut Steel Tiara, that polarizing non-gemstone diadem. She realizes that she might have left some of you behind even after her magnificent Nobel 2010 appearance, so she’s giving it another shot with this bespoke H&M gown (yes, H&M). This is just so REGAL.
SVT
She is again pairing the Cut Steel Tiara with the necklace, bracelet, earrings, and brooch from the Cameo Parure (another polarizing set). I love this pairing so much. It’s special for the occasion, because she’s not often allowed to use the Cameo pieces; plus, the styles fit together so well, since they’re approximately of the same time frame. (If I can whine for two seconds in the face of this gloriousness – and oh look, I can – what do I need to do here to get someone to wear the Cameo Tiara again, eh? Nobody’s worn it since Victoria’s wedding. It’s cruel to make me to love something and then take it away, guys. Whining over.)
I’ve been waiting for Princess Sofia to wear a dress truly geared towards showcasing the emerald part of her Emerald and Diamond Tiara. I’ve also been waiting for her to wear something other than that Emerald and Diamond Tiara. So, hilariously, she did both at the same time. Her bespoke House of Dagmar emerald green dress was paired with the Cut Steel Bandeau, a piece which we’ve previously seen exclusively on Crown Princess Victoria. It does suit Sofia’s head better than Victoria’s, even though it will never be a tiara highlight for me. She also wore the emerald and diamond earrings from Queen Silvia that she wore last year.
SVT
(That green dress is such a great color for her, by the way, and yet: nope. I blame the sleeves.)
Princess Madeleine went full princess in the most Disney fashion, with an assist from a soft pink Fadi El Khoury ensemble with a big flowered skirt and a blouse top. Expressen reported that she was unhappy with the outfit and the tailors were fixing it into the early hours of this morning. If that’s true: WORTH IT. It’s my favorite Swedish designer in my favorite color for Madeleine, and it’s fantastic.
SVT
She wore the Connaught Tiara. This is another example of something special for the event – she was first allowed to wear the tiara for Victoria’s wedding, though she has used the drops on several occasions – and I think she wears it best of all the current Swedish ladies.
Tiara Bonus!
Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg
SVT
There were a few interesting head ornaments in the crowd. Here’s Bettina Bernadotte wearing one of her tiaras, topped by stones in multiple colors (here’s a closer look), for a little modern contrast to the older gems on display.
And finally, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded earlier in the day in Oslo, with the Norwegian royal family in attendance in coordinated blacks. From Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Norwegian designer Mariette comes...an eyelet hoodie dress? Sure, why not.
This is not a gala event - obviously - but that doesn't mean Mette-Marit didn't bring us some interesting jewels. Her earrings are what catch my eye, pricey new numbers in a friendly crescent moon crafted in gold and set with moonstone, black agate, purple chalcedony, and diamonds, from Venyx designer Eugenie Niarchos. They're a fun detail, and she's pulling them off.
While the Swedes get their gala on, the Norwegians go black tie. Crown Princess Mette-Marit stuck to Norwegian design with a dress from the brand Fall Winter Spring Summer (FWSS). It's a very M-M choice, what else can you say? I do like the added touch of her pearl headband.
Sweden: King's Dinner, Sunday evening
The Royal Family with Yoshinori Ohsumi and Mariko Ohsumi Photo: Kungahuset.se
The King hosts a palace dinner for the Nobel laureates in Sweden, and it's a second tiara event for the royal ladies. (Check out pictures here.) While Queen Silvia wore red and her other go-to Nobel tiara, the Nine Prong Tiara, we had more tiara interest from the princesses:
A photo posted by RoyaltyinArabic (@royaltyinarabic) on
Many (including myself) thought the Four Button Tiara would be Princess Sofia's first tiara from the family collection, and it turns out we weren't far off. This is way better than her look on night #1, I must say - both dress (from Swedish brand Stylein) and hairdo.
A photo posted by Expressen Kungligt (@expressenkungligt) on
Crown Princess Victoria used Princess Lilian's Laurel Wreath Tiara, along with a repeated Jenny Packham gold gown. I want to like this one more than I do; it's very tall with most of her hairstyles.
Princess Madeleine really brought the tiara interest. She wore the Modern Fringe Tiara, her most predictable choice, but proved she wasn't ready to let the Connaught Tiara go: she's wearing it in necklace format! You can't really see it on top of her Valentino gown, but I don't mind. I'm just glad she piled it on.
Newbury Races
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*The Queen attended the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend at Newbury
Racecourse.*
Embed from Getty Images
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