Royal Parliament Openings of the Day: October 5

Autumn rolls on, parliament openings roll on. This week: the Norwegians and the Danes.

Morten Brakestad/Stortinget via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

King Harald, Queen Sonja, and Crown Prince Haakon paid their annual visit to Norway's parliament (Crown Princess Mette-Marit does not attend). The Queen wears either white, black, red, or some combination thereof. So that's all in order. This one's all about the uniforms, to be honest, as befits an occasion involving a speech from the throne.

Stortinget via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Over in Denmark, Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and Princess Benedikte went to their own parliament opening. There's no speech from the throne for the monarch here; the royal family listens to the proceedings, and it's your standard hats n' suits affair.

See videos here and here.

Well, it's hats for some people. Marie, I'm glad you wore a brooch (this unusual one was a gift from Queen Margrethe), but you're killing me with the headband thing.

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Mary was in full chapeau mode. Though I'm a little divided on her choice - she's worn this hat without the side pouf before, why mess with perfection? - this is one hat that could potentially conceal a little mid-speech nap if need be. In other words, a perfect parliament opening hat.

Embed from Getty Images

(Also, any accessory that encourages her to wear her magnificent sapphire brooch from Crown Princess Margaret gets all the bonus points. Brooches for everyone!)