Monday Tidbits for November 19: Weddings and Tiaras Ahoy

Tiara sightings right now and (hopefully) in the wedding-related future:

--The Greek royal family announced the engagement of Princess Theodora, daughter of King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie, and Matthew Kumar. The Princess is an actress (as Theodora Greece) on The Bold and the Beautiful and her fiancé is a lawyer in Los Angeles. Theodora will be the last of Queen Ingrid of Denmark's granddaughters to marry; all the rest have continued the family tradition of wearing the Khedive of Egypt Tiara with the family's antique wedding veil on their wedding days.

Greek Royal Family

--Zac Posen posted a few more pictures of the custom gown he made for Princess Eugenie at her evening wedding reception: the back before the York rose/wheat ear embroidery was added, and the waistline. [Instagram]

Zac Posen Instagram

--The Belgian royal household posted a new set of portraits of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Queen Mathilde is wearing a repeated Armani Privé gown and the full Nine Provinces Tiara. [Photos: Royal Palace]

--Over at the Jewel Vault: We covered Charles' birthday party, of course, and you can scan the comments for pictures of guests that have been added since the day. And then QEII teamed up with King Harald for an engagement since he was in town and all.

--A tiara sighting last week in the United States! Princess Margriet continued her tradition of bringing something sparkly from the Dutch family vaults with her to attend the annual Peter Stuyvesant Ball in New York City. She wore the diamond base of the Antique Pearl Tiara, without the pearls on top. [Telegraaf]

Telegraaf screencap

--And finally, there's a new picture special for Prince Charles' birthday with photos by Chris Jackson, including this precious moment with Prince Louis.

Coming up this week: Um, a whole lot. Monaco's National Day, a state visit in Belgium, and the Sussexes at the Royal Variety Performance - that's all happening today - plus a state visit to the Netherlands later in the week. We'll do our best to get to it all...

 Tidbits is your spot for royal topics we haven't covered separately on the blog, all week long. Please mind the comment policy, and enjoy!

Royal Fashion Awards: Crown Prince Frederik’s Birthday Banquet

The Danish royal family doesn’t usually mess around when they label something a “gala” dinner, and they did not disappoint for Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th birthday banquet at Christiansborg Palace: tiaras all around! Plus, plenty of foreign royal guests to up the tiara count. A gift of sparkle for us all.

Award time:

Finest in Fringe

Princess Benedikte

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This event could go down as one of my all-time favorites just based on the number of fringe tiaras alone. Even a fringe from Liechtenstein – not a country we usually see represented at big Danish gatherings – showed up: the Habsburg Fringe Tiara on Hereditary Princess Sophie. Countess Sussie of Rosenborg (not pictured) added a Danish fringe to the pile with Queen Alexandrine’s Fringe Tiara.

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Crown Princess Victoria threw in the Baden Fringe Tiara, a nice contrast to her floral Camilla Thulin ballgown. The dress has been changed since we saw it at the King’s Dinner for Nobel laureates in December; it has sleeves now and I like them.

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Much as I love a floral ballgown, my fringe queen of the evening has to be Princess Benedikte. The Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara is large and in charge and the dress seals the deal. She’s regal in her sleep, I’m pretty sure, so add in the built-in cape at the back of this and she soars off the charts.

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Probably the most notable fringe appearance of the night comes from Princess Maria-Olympia, in her very first tiara appearance. She’s wearing the fringe we usually see on her mother, Princess Marie-Chantal, but the story is that it was destined for Olympia all along. She had the biggest tiara of her grouping, followed there by Princess Theodora in the Antique Corsage Tiara.

Highest Achievement in Headbands

Princess Marie-Chantal

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What’s a mom to do when her daughter claims her tiara back? And when it’s not really a big gun occasion, leaving Queen Sophie’s Diamond Tiara off the table? While I don’t normally approve of teensy headbands at big tiara occasions, it would be Princess Marie-Chantal that would make it work. This piece pairs really well with the delicate necklace and the hair works around it to make it more than a headband.

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Unlike this one, which is Crown Princess Mette-Marit just totally giving in to her tendency to use the Diamond Daisy Tiara in the same way she'd use a plastic headband. Girl, I guess. (This dress is a repeat from King Harald and Queen Sonja’s birthday celebrations.)

Most Radiant in Red

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa

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Queen Silvia added some red to her repeated magenta gown by wearing the Edward VII Ruby Tiara. Queen Mathilde’s red gown was accompanied by her Laurel Wreath Tiara and Queen Fabiola’s fringe brooch. The one shoulder on her dress was positioned so that it holds her sash, which is great except…

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...all the interest was happening on her sleeve and we don’t really get to see it on the parade into the banquet because she’s arm in arm with King Philippe. According to ModeKoningin Mathilde, the dress is by Esmeralda Ammoun and that sleeve detail is art by Belgian artist Paula Raiglot. Let’s see it again another time.

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All of that leaves me to crown Grand Duchess Maria Teresa the ruler of the reds. Playing catch up to Queen Máxima’s red caftan from earlier in the week suits her well. And she finally gave us a different tiara – but only because this one was already out of the vault from the state banquet, let’s not get too crazy. She’s wearing the Chaumet Diamond and Pearl Choker Tiara with the pearls back on top.

Most Satisfying Tiara Sightings

Countess Alexandra and the Duchess of Castro

We don’t get to see these two tiaras that often, three cheers for any appearance at all: the Alexandrine Drop Tiara on the Countess of Frederiksborg and the Ancona Tiara on the Duchess of Castro.

Most Intriguing Designer Introduction

Princess Marie

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Princess Marie’s sporty n' sparkly blue dress is from Elie Saab (per Laura). Elie Saab! Not a designer we see on Marie or really in the Danish royal house. So…more, please? From the department of no surprises at all, on the other hand, Marie wore her Diamond Floral Tiara. (Also: Prince Nikolai joined Princess Maria-Olympia and Prince Constantine-Alexios in making their gala debuts.)

Most Complicated Accessorizing

Queen Máxima

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Several of you have noted that Queen Máxima’s purple dress from King Willem-Alexander’s 50th birthday celebrations had been borrowed back from the ongoing Jan Taminiau exhibition, and were anxiously awaiting its appearance. Did she pick the right event for it, though? The dress has so much going on that I actually hate to see the sash over top of any of it. The Dutch Diamond Bandeau was probably her safest tiara choice.

Most Dubious Tiara Pairing

Queen Margrethe

Keld Navntoft/Kongehuset

Queen Margrethe had to plan ahead for the Naasut Tiara; it, along with Princess Benedikte’s Floral Tiara worn by Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and the Khedive of Egypt Tiara worn by Queen Anne-Marie (neither pictured here) were on display in Koldinghus. And I can’t help but wonder…why? Looks-wise, I mean. That yellow gold doesn’t look its best with the settings on these diamonds. Oh well. It worked out alright with her new pink party dress. She still can’t resist a big sleeve, can she? Bless.

Prettiest in Pink, and Best of the Evening

Crown Princess Mary

Keld Navntoft/Kongehuset

 This dress. Crown Princess Mary's dress. Oh my. This is a piece of art by Lasse Spangenberg. Mary paired it perfectly with her Diamond, Ruby, and Spinel Necklace Tiara, the matching earrings, and even a brooch at the back of her hair. That brooch was a gift to her from the late Prince Henrik.

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Time to get out those future Best of 2018 lists and ink some things in, methinks.

Do you spy any Best of 2018 prospects here? 

Who takes home your best dressed awards for the night?

Readers' Favorite Outfits of 2017, Evening Division: The Results, Part 2!

Here we are: The End. It's time for your final five favorite outfits of 2017, the very best that royal evening wear had to offer us:

#5. Princess Sofia at the Nobel Prize Ceremony in Ida Lanto

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A supremely princess-y turn for Sofia on one of Sweden's biggest nights gave her a tidy showing on both your day and evening favorite lists for the year.

#4. Princess Tatiana in Australia in Celia Kritharioti

Instagram/@tatianablatnik

Princess Tatiana doesn't appear here very often, but when she does, her continued partnership with this Greek designer wins her consistent praise. Also, CAPE!

#3. Queen Máxima at the Argentina State Banquet in Jan Taminiau

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Can't beat a great necklace or a great repeated dress, from the Dutch designer that's landed Máxima her greatest praise - and her second spot on your evening top 10.

#2. Queen Letizia at King Willem-Alexander's Birthday in Stella McCartney

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And finally, the two themes that ran through this year in review ring true once more: it was the year of Letizia, and...

#1. Queen Letizia at the Spanish/British State Banquet in Felipe Varela

House of HM the King

...it was the year of the red dress. I can't think of another year when one person could have taken the top two spots, and I can't think of another year in which it would have been so well-deserved.  La Reina, folks.

So, tell me: How'd your picks make out? Are you in agreement with the group vote?

Readers' Favorite Outfits of 2017, Evening Division: Place Your Votes!

And now, it's time for the sparkle. Twenty-five gowns worn in 2017 are here for your evaluation and ranking fun in the evening division, a (hopefully) well-rounded selection of those that were popular in your comments on our Best of 2017 posts and throughout the year.

Links to past coverage are included below. You may select up to three outfits to vote for. Vote in the poll at the bottom of the page. (If you're unable to see the poll, try a different browser.) Voting will be open through noon Eastern time on January 3rd.

UPDATE: The poll is now closed.

One quick programming note before we dig in: Our next post will feature the first gowns of 2018 at the sparkling New Year's event in Denmark (and Japan!) on the evening of the 1st. See you then!

CasaReal, NRK, RVD, Italian presidency, Palais Princier

1. Queen Letizia at the Spanish/British State Banquet in Felipe Varela

2. Queen Mathilde at the Norway Birthday Gala in Armani

3. Queen Máxima at the Italian State Banquet in Jan Taminiau (also worn for King Willem-Alexander's Birthday)

4. Princess Charlene at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Carolina Herrera

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5. Queen Letizia at King Willem-Alexander's Birthday in Stella McCartney

Royal Family/Belgian Monarchy

 6. The Duchess of Cambridge at the Spanish/British State Banquet in Marchesa

7. Queen Mathilde at the Danish/Belgian State Banquet in Armani Privé

8. Crown Princess Mary at the Danish/Belgian State Banquet in Jesper Høvring (also worn for the New Year's Gala Banquet)

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9. Queen Máxima at the Argentina State Banquet in Jan Taminiau

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10. Princess Sofia at the Nobel Prize Ceremony in Ida Lanto

Instagram/NRK/Belgian Monarchy

 11. Princess Tatiana at the Norway Birthday Gala in Celia Kritharioti

12. The Countess of Wessex at the Norway Birthday Gala in Suzannah

13. Queen Margrethe at the Danish/Belgian State Banquet (also worn for the Norway Birthday Gala)

British Embassy/CasaReal/NRK

14. The Duchess of Cambridge in Paris in Jenny Packham

15. The Princess Royal at the Spanish Guildhall Banquet

16. Queen Letizia at the Spanish Guildhall Banquet in Carolina Herrera (originally identified as Armani)

17. Crown Princess Victoria at the Norway Birthday Gala in Elie Saab

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18. Crown Princess Mary at the New Year's Reception in Lasse Spangenberg (though this was a day event, the cape was debuted in the evening at the New Year's Gala Banquet and the overall look seems destined to be repeated for a gala, so let's call it evening)

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19. Princess Charlene at the Princess Grace Awards in Ralph Lauren

20. Queen Máxima at the Norway Birthday Gala in Jan Taminiau

21. Princess Madeleine at the Nobel Prize Ceremony in Séraphine

22. Princess Tatiana in Australia in Celia Kritharioti

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23. Crown Princess Mary at the Norway Birthday Dinner in Erdem

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24. Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in Cannes in Ralph Lauren

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25. The Duchess of Cambridge at the Diplomatic Reception in Jenny Packham


You may vote for up to THREE outfits. Ready? VOTE:

Year in Review: 2017's Bonus Favorites

We're going to do something this year that we haven't done in the past...a Readers' Favorite Outfits of 2017 vote! As I noted when we started these recap posts, I'm paying attention to all your discussions of 2017 favorites in the comments, and a selection of them will make the cut for a final vote. We'll be voting after Christmas.

So...make sure you've added your favorites and supported others you love down in the comments! You still have time. And I still have this round up of my personal favorites from the rest of the royal women we haven't covered yet...

Princess Sofia: Deputy MVP

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Princess Sofia earned my affections earlier in the year by trying out new tiaras. Then she solidified them later in the year by giving us some more tiara excitement, going full princess in Ida Lanto at the Nobel ceremony, and - this one most of all - her touching choice to wear her folkdräkt to Prince Gabriel's christening. Deputy Most Valuable (Sartorial) Player of 2017!

Princess Tatiana in Australia

Instagram/tatianablatnik

Tatiana has found her sartorial soulmate in Greek designer Celia Kritharioti, turning up in one extraordinary creation after another. (There was a lot of love for her Kritharioti numbers at the Norwegian birthday celebrations this year, too.) This one instantly entered my hall of fame: elegant white and caped for days, mmmm.

Princess Marie-Chantal at King Harald and Queen Sonja's 80th Birthday Banquet

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Speaking of the Greek princesses and the Norwegian birthday bash, Marie-Chantal claimed my best dressed in Valentino back when we covered the gala banquet and now that I've made my list and checked it twice, the title is still hers for the keeping. Man, I love a floral ball gown. And man, do I love that I get to say that twice in one month.

Princess Charlene at the Laureus World Sports Awards

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I love most ball gown appearances, while we're at it - especially those sported by one of the people I'd least expect to go the fairytale route. Charlene should be red hot in Carolina Herrera more often.

The Countess of Wessex at King Harald and Queen Sonja's 80th Birthday Banquet

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Another fancy Norway flashback! Sophie went solo to the Norwegian party and she really nailed it with this green Suzannah gown. Very elegant.

Autumn Phillips at Trooping the Colour

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A flip back through the 2017 events of the extended British royal family left me with an urgent need to applaud Autumn Phillips. Strong colors, simple lines, nothing fussy or overdone but always interesting and always good. Pairing a magenta hat with a jade dress is still a combo that makes me smile.

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie at the Cannes Film Festival

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Crisp white Ralph Lauren (also worn, with great success, by Crown Princess Victoria) and a fascinating pair of earrings elevate this Luxembourg lady to my 2017 best list.

Queen Margrethe at the Belgian State Banquet and the Norwegian Birthday Banquet

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You can always tell when Queen Margrethe loves a new outfit, because she'll wear it again right away. (Queens: they're just like us!) She was really feeling her look in this new evening gown - and with good reason - wearing it first for the Belgian state banquet and then at the Norwegian birthday bash. I think I'd give this a solid round of jumpy claps on any number of royal ladies!

What else is on your list of 2017 sartorial highlights?

Our next post will be a rundown of Christmas happenings, probably up on Tuesday the 26th (with the usual QEII coverage over at the Jewel Vault on Christmas Day). See you then!

Royal Outfits of the Day: An Instagram Grab Bag

Here comes a grab bag straight from the world of royal Instagram, an assortment of outfits ranging from interesting!, to uh..."interesting":

Queen Rania attended Amman fashion week.
Instagram/@queenrania

Did she miss my rants about SHOOTIES? Is that what this is about? Otherwise, it's fashion week, and Queen Rania's gonna Queen Rania. (My caps lock-required term encompasses shooties, booties, or whatever you want to call them, by the way - as long as they're worn with a shorter skirt or pant in the stumpiest of ways.)

Crown Princess Mette-Marit with medalists from Eurosurf 2017.
Instagram/@crownprincessmm

Are we sure that Mette-Marit isn't pulling off the world's most elaborate Little House on the Prairie cosplay? You can't really be sure, can you.

Bijou heart-print dress with Victorian-inspired details, from Ganni (per Heaven)
MyTheresa

Go ahead and yell at me that it's NOT a "prairie dress", and I just don't understand TRENDS (as some of you always do when this topic arises), but listen, it's definitely also a long cosplay con.

Greece's Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana attended the One Greece 2017 Sydney Gala Dinner in Australia.
Instagram/@tatianablatnik

Let's end this with a reason to use your caps lock powers for good, because GASP and OOHHHHHH! Tatiana's relationship with Greek designer Celia Kritharioti just keeps going from strength to strength, and those strengths now include capes and I LOVE.

Readers' Favorite Tiaras, The Rematch: Place Your Final Vote

You made your nominations and the top contenders have made it through to the final round in the battle to name your favorite tiara. Now it's time to make your final selection. One tiara to rule them all!

Together, you proposed more than 200 different tiaras to vie for the top spot in our contest for your favorite tiara. (Hello to those of you that made your first comments for the occasion! I hope you'll chat with us more often.) You nominated tiaras hailing from monarchies and museums and mystery owners; you nominated tiaras we see all the time and tiaras we've never seen worn; you nominated diamond tiaras and wooden tiaras and tiaras of just about every material in between.

The field has now been narrowed to the top 25 nominated tiaras. Your task now: pick just one as your most favorite of all.

Below are your 25 nominees, in alphabetical order (by the name I've used for their tiara posts; many are known by more than one name). Place your vote in the poll at the bottom of the post. The poll will be open until noon Eastern on Tuesday, August 8th.

The Baden Fringe Tiara

Crown Princess Victoria's signature tiara offers a rich royal history and a stylish twist on the diamond fringe, one of the most classic tiara designs. See the tiara's story here.

The Braganza Tiara

Also known as the Brazilian Tiara, this diamond floral tiara is the premier tiara in the Swedish royal collection and is among those reserved for the use of Queen Silvia. See the tiara's story here.

The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara (or Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara)

The tiara made famous by Diana, Princess of Wales, and now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge was commissioned by Queen Mary as a copy of one worn by her grandmother, Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge. (We use both the Cambridge and Queen Mary names for this piece here.) See the tiara's story here.

The Cameo Tiara

The tiara best known for its use at Swedish royal weddings boasts an impressively long history and memorable materials with its cameo, pearl, and gold design. See the tiara's story here.

The Connaught Tiara

Delicate diamond garlands shape this flexible tiara in the Swedish collection, which can also be used as a necklace and can have its pendants removed for use as their own necklace or earrings. See the tiara's story here.

The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara

This ruby tiara and its impressively complete accompanying parure became signature jewels for Queen Ingrid and then for Crown Princess Mary, with each royal lady putting her own spin on the historical set. See the tiara's story here.

The Duchess of Angoulême's Emerald Tiara 

Considered a masterpiece of craftsmanship from the time of the French monarchy, this emerald and diamond tiara has remarkably survived intact from its creation to today, where it is showcased at the Louvre. See the tiara's story here. 

The Dutch Diamond Bandeau

Sometimes called the Rose Cut Diamond Bandeau (though not actually made of rose cut diamonds), this frequently worn Dutch royal tiara is both simple and staggering, being composed of nothing but a single row of giant single diamonds. See the tiara's story here.

The Dutch Sapphire Tiara

Sometimes called the Mellerio Sapphire Tiara (though not actually made by Mellerio, as it turns out), this sapphire delight experienced an exponential rise in favor when Queen Máxima chose it for King Willem-Alexander's inauguration. See the tiara's story here.

The Fife Tiara

Featuring articulated diamond pendants in a delicate diamond framework, this tiara from Princess Louise of Wales, Duchess of Fife would probably be stunning in use - if only there were more modern examples of it in use. See the tiara's story here.

The Fleur De Lys Tiara

The premier tiara in the Spanish collection is currently earning its La Buena nickname on the head of Queen Letizia, who has made this another tiara with a recent boost in popularity due to a new wearer. See the tiara's story here.

The Floral Aigrette Tiara

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This Danish tiara is a splendid example of a classic diamond floral design with a big bonus: it's three separate pieces and can be worn on or off a frame, a flexibility used to full advantage by Queen Margrethe II. See the tiara's story here. 

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

 A classic design dating back to 1893, the "Girls", or the "GGBI", or - to Queen Elizabeth II - just "granny's tiara", is the Queen's favorite and arguably one of the most iconic tiaras in the world. See the tiara's story here. 

The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara

This pearl drop tiara with intertwined diamond circles survived a daring escape from the Russian revolution to find a new home and a new emerald drop option in the collection of Queen Mary (and, today, Queen Elizabeth II). See the tiara's story here. 

The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure Tiara

One of Queen Silvia's favorite tiaras has a long history and a complete set of jewels to go with it, all featuring luscious deep blue sapphires. See the tiara's story here.

The Lotus Flower Tiara

Also known as the Papyrus Leaf Tiara, this delicate diamond and pearl tiara went from the Queen Mother to Princess Margaret and back to the Queen, who has loaned it out for a new life with the Duchess of Cambridge. See the tiara's story here.

The Modern Fringe Tiara

Another variation on the classic diamond fringe tiara from the Swedish royal collection, Princess Madeleine wears this one regularly and it is convertible from a tiara to a necklace. See the tiara's story here.

The Oriental Circlet Tiara

Designed by Prince Albert and originally made with opal centers for Queen Victoria, this ruby tiara is best known from its use by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. See the tiara's story here.

The Poltimore Tiara

The tiara may have been sold, but this huge, flexible diamond diadem will forever be associated with Princess Margaret's most fabulous moments. See the tiara's story here. 

Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara

A silver wedding gift for Queen Alexandra inspired by the popular Russian kokoshnik-style fringe diadems, this tiara is simple in pictures but comes alive like no other when seen in motion (there's a video in this post). See the tiara's story here.

Queen Josephine's Amethyst Tiara

 Also known as the Napoleonic Amethyst Tiara, this Swedish tiara is a necklace on a tiara frame, part of a parure of magnificent amethysts which was swapped around by Queen Silvia and is now worn by multiple royal family members. See the tiara's story here. 

Queen Sophie's Diamond Tiara

This big gun from the Greek collection went unseen for decades - long enough to make you wonder if it was still with the family - before an amazing surprise reappearance in 2012 on the head of Princess Marie-Chantal. See the tiara's story here. 

Queen Victoria's Emerald and Diamond Tiara

Another Gothic Revival masterpiece designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria, this tiara features a stunning top row of cabochon emeralds and was immortalized in paintings by Winterhalter before disappearing into the lines of Queen Victoria's descendants. See the tiara's story here.

The Spanish Floral Tiara

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Often referred to as the Mellerio Floral Tiara, though it is another that turned out not to be by Mellerio, one of the prettiest tiaras in Spain is one of the most classic examples of a diamond floral tiara. See the tiara's story here.

The Swedish Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara

This tiara went from obscurity to adoration when Princess Madeleine started to wear it, bringing new attention to its beautiful combination of large aquamarine stones and a diamond kokoshnik design. See the tiara's story here.

And there you go, those are your nominees! Place your vote - yes, sorry, just one tiara this time! - in the poll below. (If you're reading this via email or a reader, you may need to click over.) The poll will be open until noon Eastern on Tuesday, August 8th. Choose wisely...