Royalty Thread #13: Zooming in on our favorite royals

[aftershocks]

Beatrice and Eugenie both were memorable brides. Their dresses suited each of them perfectly! Beatrice's wedding seems more romantic due to it's simplicity and privacy. It would be nice if Eugenie and Beatrice were able to be as stylishly consistent in their everyday wear, which is often hit or miss. They are full-figured with beautiful complexions, similar to the Queen in her youth. Perhaps retro styles are more complementary for Beatrice. The champagne color of her borrowed vintage dress went perfectly with her coloring.

In recent news, it's been revealed that Beatrice is the first royal bride in a long while to depart from the tradition of having a wedding band made from Welsh gold. Edo worked with jewelry designer, Sean Leane to create a gorgeous, platinum Art deco wedding band to match the fabulous engagement ring that Edo designed for Beatrice. Edo also wears a wedding band, like Harry. Most royal men and some married-ins choose not to wear a traditional wedding band.

Princess Beatrice Broke Royal Tradition with Her Wedding Ring — in the Most Romantic Way

Princess Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi designed interlocking engagement and wedding rings for their romantic secret wedding

people.com

It's better that way.

CP Victoria's wedding dress remains the best - of this century, at least - but Beatrice looked wonderful on her big day.

This is a lovely dress on CP Victoria. And it is similar (as ryanj07 said earlier) in its simple, classic style to Meghan's wedding dress (which had slight fit issues probably due to her losing weight in the lead-up to her wedding day). Meghan's veil as @JJH said, is everything. It's stunning, gorgeously made, and the statement value still holds since what it stands for remains part of what M&H will continue to work on via their roles with the QCT.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

George is 7 tomorrow, and looking more like William and Diana than ever. Cute kid!

 

[JJH]

What I like best about George's photo is that he just looks like a relaxed and happy kid. Amid all the chaos of this year I needed to see that.

 

[aftershocks]

The below article shows a second released photo of Prince George ahead of his 7th birthday, tomorrow:

Prince George is a Little Prince No More in New Photos for His 7th Birthday

The young royal looks so adorable in a new set of photos taken by the Duchess Catherine.

www.harpersbazaar.com

Royal Reviewer video with additional photo I hadn't seen of Edo & Beatrice on their wedding day, plus wedding and engagement ring pictures, and a view of what the chapel looks like inside, although it's not a photo of the recent royal wedding that took place there. This review also provides details on the evening wedding reception, with a group of 14 friends and family. Social distancing guidelines were followed. Bea & Edo and some of the guests slept over inside glamping pods set up on the grounds of Royal Lodge:

Inside Details Of Princess Beatrice's Secret Wedding! Rings! Reception! Bouquet!

Inside Details Of Princess Beatrice's Secret Wedding! Rings! Reception! Bouquet! The couple were married in a small private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of A...

www.youtube.com

An article that discusses the evening wedding reception:

Princess Beatrice Had a Modest Wedding Reception That Still Sounds Like a Lot of Fun

A bouncy castle, jukeboxes, draft beer, glamping...

www.elle.com

ETA:
A nice rundown on Beatrice's life growing up, with cute pictures of her & Eugenie, and brief interview clips:

Princess Beatrice Has Had Quite The Transformation

Princess Beatrice announced her engagement to real estate tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in September 2019. The couple's 2020 wedding will no doubt be a glamor...

www.youtube.com

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

Needless to say,I am pleasantly surprised Beatrice chose such a classy and ladylike ensemble. I was expecting something modern and gaudy.

-BB

 

[loopey]

I think Beatrice's dress is my favorite of the 4 (Kate, Meghan, Eugenie & Beatrice - I can't remember Zara's, lol). I think the puffy sleeves were an homage to her mother's dress.

I have to confess, even in the 80's I did not care for Diana's dress. I loved Fergie's and thought it complimented her beautifully. Having said that so far as the younger royals, here's my list of favorites:
1) Best Dress: Eugenie.
2) Best Veil: Meghan.
3) Best Hair/Makeup: Zara.
4) Best Tiara: tie - Meghan and Beatrice
5) Best entire package head-to-toe: Kate. (Although she didn't wear my favorite dress, veil, or Tiara, she was just stunning, her carriage and sophistication remarkable, and she is my overall favorite "royal bride package").

 

[loopey]

Royal adjacent since she married at Kensington Palace Gardens (okay, not really lol) but Nicky Hilton probably has my all time favorite wedding dress. I just love the lace detail and that gorgeous train and veil.

Yes, although not from a royal wedding, this dress was magnificent!

 

[MsZem]

George is 7 tomorrow, and looking more like William and Diana than ever. Cute kid!

Looking like the Middleton genes are still dominant, which bodes well for his future hair

Continuing with cute royal kids, CP and Sofia each have a kid who favors them:

Princess Sofia Shares Personal Photos of Her Toddler Boys on Staycation

Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel of Sweden are enjoying a summer of exploring in their own country

people.com

 

[kittyjake5]

Happy Birthday to the adorable Prince George!

 

[Tesla]

Looking like the Middleton genes are still dominant, which bodes well for his future hair

I believe baldness comes through the mother, so William can blame Diana for his hair (or lack there of).

 

[aftershocks]

I believe baldness comes through the mother, so William can blame Diana for his hair (or lack there of).

No, it's Diana's father and paternal grandfather, though I don't know if it should be called 'blame.' It's just genetics. LOL! Plus, there's a certain amount of pattern baldness on Charles' side as well through his father's and both of his grandfathers' lines. Fortunately, with Grandpa Middleton's thick, full head of hair, the Cambridge boys shouldn't have much to worry about re hair loss in their 20s and baldness by their 30s.

ETA:
Another private 'royal' wedding, this time in a Monaco civil ceremony:

Another Royal Wedding! Princess Beatrice Wasn't the Only One to Get Married in a Surprise Ceremony

Eleonore von Habsburg and Jerome d'Ambrosio tied the knot in a civil ceremony

people.com

There Were Actually Two Secret Royal Weddings This Week

It's (surprise) wedding season.

www.instyle.com

 

[aftershocks]

Creating A Royal Picnic From Scratch | Royal Recipes | Real Royalty

Michael Buerk is joined by chef Paul Ainsworth to celebrate al fresco dining, cooking food served at royal picnics and garden parties. Paul sets up the barbe...

www.youtube.com

Princess Beatrice's Decadent Victorian Lamb | Royal Recipes | Real Royalty

Michael Buerk is joined by chef Anna Haugh to celebrate food served at royal weddings. Anna is inspired by an Italian lamb dish served at the wedding of Quee...

www.youtube.com

Recreating The Secret Recipes Of The Coronation | Royal Recipes | Real Royalty

Michael Buerk and Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth celebrate food created for the most significant royal event: the coronation. Paul cooks up a recipe th...

www.youtube.com

^^ In the latter episode, the updated salmon hor d'ouevre sounds delicious!
Wild Scottish salmon cured and cooked with salt, Scottish malt whiskey & heather honey, then thin-sliced and rolled into rosettes; crème fraîche is mixed with horseradish, then dabs of this dip are placed on Scottish oat cakes (wafer thin); the salmon rosettes are placed on top of each oat cake and garnished with sprigs of watercress topped off by a small sprinkling of additional heather honey.

Queen Victoria's Incredibly Complicated Pheasant Pie | Royal Upstairs Downstairs | Real Royalty

Rosemary Shrager and Tim Wonnacott visit Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire, following in the footsteps of Queen Victoria and her royal visits. From Elizabeth...

www.youtube.com

 

[aftershocks]

The episode, Recreating Secret Recipes of the Coronation, is interesting for a number of reasons. They dig back into coronations of the past, which is fascinating and informative. I enjoyed how the chef, Paul Ainsworth, updated various recipes. The episode is also instructive in how historical features are added into the mix.

The section on George IV and his extravagant coronation feast tells us a lot about the opulence and decadence of that era in British royal history. George IV (as Prince Regent) is responsible for renovating and greatly expanding Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, as I learned from the book I mentioned previously. I was not familiar with the Royal Pavilion at Brighton where George IV held many of his sumptuous feasts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Pavilion
The lavish coronation feast of George IV was held at London's Westminster Hall. It's fascinating to realize, as the archivist notes, that at the time of George IV's coronation, "Britain was the richest, most powerful country in the world." Due in no small part of course, to the human slave trade, in addition to military exploits and colonization. George IV's gluttony and overeating speaks to never being satiated from excess. This is reminiscent of Henry VIII's gluttony and bloody tyranny.

BTW, the references to George III being 'mad,' I always find maddening. He had undiagnosed porphyria (a genetic disease unknown at the time, caused due to inbreeding). So he didn't suddenly become mad. He was driven mad by the terrible, torturous treatments administered by his ignorant doctors which only worsened and aggravated his condition.

Back to the food: That Crème à la Carême dessert, passed down from George IV's French chef,
is so tempting, but too rich for me with those ingredients. Still, it sounds yummy. Maybe I can find a way to adapt it with less rich alternatives. The King's French chef, who "invented haute cusine."

Marie-Antoine Carême - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Sponge fingers brushed with kirsch liqueur & soaked in orange jelly from a packet positioned around the sides of a cake pan, with orange jelly placed on the bottom of the pan; sponge topper is also brushed with kirsch; for the filling: egg yolks & sugar, milk & vanilla forming a custard; mix in candied orange pieces and cream; Refrigerate to set, and then flip upside down to remove the pan. The jellied bottom is now on top and the sponge topper is the base.

I would use coconut milk and/or coconut cream with crème fraîche, and substitute dried cranberries instead of candied orange; also probably a light cranberry or raspberry flavored jelly instead of orange jelly.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Looking like the Middleton genes are still dominant, which bodes well for his future hair

Continuing with cute royal kids, CP and Sofia each have a kid who favors them:

Princess Sofia Shares Personal Photos of Her Toddler Boys on Staycation

Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel of Sweden are enjoying a summer of exploring in their own country

people.com

Just an FYI from USA Today

Is hair inherited from mother or father?
Hereditary balding is complicated, and the popular notion that it's inherited solely from your mother is incorrect. Blaming a single gene for baldness is too simplistic — in reality, your chances of losing hair are determined by a complex host of genes from your mother and father, along with some environmental factors.

 

[aftershocks]

Princess Beatrice's Decadent Victorian Lamb | Royal Recipes | Real Royalty

Michael Buerk is joined by chef Anna Haugh to celebrate food served at royal weddings. Anna is inspired by an Italian lamb dish served at the wedding of Quee...

www.youtube.com

In the above episode, the Scottish chef, Anna Haugh, mentions that Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Beatrice, wore her mother's wedding dress at her own wedding to Prince Henry of Battenburg on July 23, 1885. This bit of historical information seems to enhance the speculation that at some point it might have been planned for the current Princess Beatrice of York to wear/adapt an old gown of her grandmother's for her frequently delayed, but ultimately triumphant and private, scaled-down wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on July 17, 2020.

 

[becca]

Happy for Beatrice lovely picks and lovely idea to wear the Queens dress and tiara!

 

[starrynight]

If Kate and Meghan couldn't do it, neither will Beatrice.

Beatrice’s dress is something that regular people would wear though. Honestly I think it’s the nicest royal wedding dress seen in decades. I think that’s down to the fact that it was designed as a party dress first.

Not in a million years would a normal bride wear something heavy and plain like Meghans dress. Also Kate’s was a style that wouldn’t capture the interest of a regular wedding.

 

[clairecloutier]

Also Kate’s was a style that wouldn’t capture the interest of a regular wedding.

If I were a current bride and had anything like Kate's figure, I would have definitely loved to wear her dress! Not sure why you think it wouldn't appeal to people??

Although I like almost all of the royal wedding dresses, I think that Kate's dress is maybe the most "perfect" of all, because it has a mix of both modern and classic elements that I think will keep it looking timeless for decades. And to my eye, it's one of the most "regal" of all the gowns. And of course, just a perfect look for Kate herself.

But like I said, I do really like almost all the royal wedding dresses, even Diana's. As a child of the 80s, I will always have a fondness for her billowy romantic gown, and I agree with whoever said that it had a point of view to it. And although I've never been much of a fan of Camilla, I have to give her points for achieving a near-perfect, classy "second wedding" look with her pale blue lace dress. I did really love Beatrice's dress as well. And again, it was a perfect look for her.

 

[antmanb]

Not in a million years would a normal bride wear something heavy and plain like Meghans dress. Also Kate’s was a style that wouldn’t capture the interest of a regular wedding.

Really? My guilty pleasure is Say Yes To The Dress and they have both a UK and Lancashire version of the show and people still enthusiastically ask for a "Kate Middleton" dress on that show (and it' been over 9 years since they married!).

 

[taf2002]

Really? My guilty pleasure is Say Yes To The Dress and they have both a UK and Lancashire version of the show and people still enthusiastically ask for a "Kate Middleton" dress on that show (and it' been over 9 years since they married!).

OMG the UK version! I can't remember the main host's name but to a US viewer he is so camp. We seldom get that version but it's fun to watch. And he comes up with the perfect look for every figure. I don't know how he does it.

 

[antmanb]

OMG the UK version! I can't remember the main host's name but to a US viewer he is so camp. We seldom get that version but it's fun to watch. And he comes up with the perfect look for every figure. I don't know how he does it.

For Say Yes To The Dress UK it's David Emanuel who designed Princess Di's wedding gown.

The Lancashire version has Gok Wan as the host.

 

[taf2002]

For Say Yes To The Dress UK it's David Emanuel who designed Princess Di's wedding gown.

The Lancashire version has Gok Wan as the host.

I've only ever see the Gok one. Fun! (What kind of name is Gok anyway? )

 

[Vagabond]

(What kind of name is Gok anyway? )

It's shortened and anglicized from Gwok-hing, which is Chinese.

And why the laughing face? Laughing at people's names is rude and narrow-minded.

 

[antmanb]

I've only ever see the Gok one. Fun! (What kind of name is Gok anyway? )

He's brilliant! He hosts a show called "how to look good naked" where he unpacks a lot of people's body issues and it's really interesting. He suffered from eating disorders when he was younger and has a very interesting things to say on it.

But this has well and truly veered off topic

 

[MsZem]

Camilla will get us back on topic with her excellent mask - that's Queen Mathilde-level mask use!

The surprising start to the Duchess of Cornwall's London engagement revealed - best photos

Camilla visited the National Gallery and Boots Piccadilly store on Tuesday

www.hellomagazine.com

On a more serious note, Prince Joaquim underwent surgery for a blood clot in his brain. He is expected to fully recover, but yikes.

Update on Prince Joachim of Denmark's health following emergency surgery

The royal is married to Princess Marie

www.hellomagazine.com

 

[taf2002]

It's shortened and anglicized from Gwok-hing, which is Chinese.

And why the laughing face? Laughing at people's names is rude and narrow-minded.

Sorry, I thought it was probably a childhood nickname. I had no idea he was Chinese. No offense meant.

 

[Lorac]

Camilla will get us back on topic with her excellent mask - that's Queen Mathilde-level mask use!

The surprising start to the Duchess of Cornwall's London engagement revealed - best photos

Camilla visited the National Gallery and Boots Piccadilly store on Tuesday

www.hellomagazine.com

I love Camilla's mask - the peacock feather pattern is just gorgeous . And loved that she walked from Clarence House to her engagements.

 

[ballettmaus]

Although I like almost all of the royal wedding dresses, I think that Kate's dress is maybe the most "perfect" of all, because it has a mix of both modern and classic elements that I think will keep it looking timeless for decades. And to my eye, it's one of the most "regal" of all the gowns. And of course, just a perfect look for Kate herself.

The only thing I don't like about Kate's dress is the V neck. I would have preferred something else. Other than that, I think it's beautiful.

I also liked Meghan's dress. I wasn't a fan of the fit but the dress was beautiful, too.

But like I said, I do really like almost all the royal wedding dresses, even Diana's.

I only ever saw pictures but as a child and early teen, I was into princesses, so, of course, I loved her dress. (And every dress that an actress portraying mid-19th century royalty wore. The bigger the better )

 

[aftershocks]

Not in a million years would a normal bride wear something heavy and plain like Meghans dress.

Meghan's wedding dress was made of silk cady with a silk organza underskirt. That's NOT an overly heavy fabric. The fit could have been better in the midsection area, but the looser fit was likely due to Meghan having lost weight in the week leading up to her wedding day (not an unusual occurrence for most brides). And certainly not surprising in view of everything that was going on behind-the-scenes that still has not been fully revealed. ETA: As well, Meghan is short-waisted which probably makes proper fitting for her a bit more difficult. The silk cady wedding dress fabric was also prone to a bit of wrinkling, but all told, it was a dress that suited Meghan's style preferences beautifully. Her second dress for the after party is actually more Meghan's vibe, and is probably what she would have chosen for a normal, non-royal wedding ceremony (not just for the after-party).

A thoughtful commentary piece about Meghan's wedding dress:

Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Was Made for a Person, Not a Princess (Published 2018)

The newly minted Duchess of Sussex was married in a gown by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.

www.nytimes.com

"It was not a Cinderella choice, not one that spoke of fantasy or old-fashioned fairy tales, but one that placed the woman proudly front and center. It underscored Ms. Markle’s own independence by divesting her of frippery, while also respecting tradition ..."

As for your OTT comment about 'normal brides,' there's plenty of evidence that knock-offs of both of Meghan's wedding dresses were made and sold to future brides in the aftermath of the May 2018 royal wedding:

Exclusive: Here come the Meghan Markle royal wedding gown knockoffs

Meghan Markle's wedding gown was hailed as a royal triumph. Now the design could end up as a fashion blockbuster with non-royal brides everywhere.

www.usatoday.com

Also, below are some other 'not-so-normal' brides wearing somewhat similar styles to what Meghan wore (Meghan's dress was apparently inspired by Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy wedding gown styles in film and in real life).

Princess Angela of Liechtenstein's wedding gown from 2000 is almost exactly the same as Meghan's (which Angela designed herself) - a sbs comparison; I like Angela's larger bouquet better:

https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/SYFpAt1LXdIzOg_DGmZQwA--~B/aD01NDk7dz05NzY7c209MTthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg--/https://media.zenfs.com/creatr-images/GLB/2018-05-19/c5adf360-5b6b-11e8-9487-6934df7e8913_meg-hero-land.jpg

More on Princess Angela and her wedding gown:

Royally stylish: The Princess of Liechtenstein whose wedding dress might have inspired the Duchess of Sussex

A fashion designer and stylist whose wedding gown looked remarkably like the Duchess of Sussex's, Princess Angela is the low-key Panamanian-born European Royal who was married 25 years ago on 29th January

www.tatler.com

FYI: Queen Margrethe of Denmark's wedding gown does seem made of heavy fabric. It is also similar in it's style simplicity to Meghan's wedding gown:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/123778689738584432/ (She was not Queen when she married)

Except for its neckline, Queen Silvia of Sweden's wedding gown is also very similar to the style of Meghan's Givenchy gown:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiUMaNBhOoQ/UBh-iIWHRRI/AAAAAAAAJZU/bCicwaWr4eI/s1600/_Couple4.jpg

Ditto Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's gorgeous wedding gown with its boatneck design has a very similar style simplicity to Meghan's wedding gown:
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royal...-princess-brides-royal-wedding-dress-display/ scroll down
Take a closer look at the gorgeous simplicity of Crown Princess Victoria's gown:

https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/royalty/2016062469219/sweden-princess-brides-royal-wedding-dress-display/0-333-454/body_5_3-z.jpg

Very similar to the classic simplicity of Meghan's gown. All of these similar gowns with their simple lines, exquisite fabrics and finely crafted construction are absolutely timeless. Although the simplicity may not be everyone's preference, it is the simple, clean design elements which make these styles timeless, and that cannot be said of many royal or otherwise wedding gown choices.

Your take has most definitely been refuted.

Additional examples:

People think Meghan's dress looks familiar

J.Lo wore something similar in a noughties romcom, and so did these two princess brides.

au.lifestyle.yahoo.com

Duchess Sophie's Wedding Dress was Similar to Princess Meghan Markle and Princess Angela of Lichtenstein

Duchess Sophie of Wurttemberg tied the knot to Count Maximilien of Andigne this week and it was grand. Her notable wedding gown and design was similar to Princess Meghan Markle who married Prince Harry this year. The dress also looks similar to the wedding dress of Princess Angela of Lichtenstein.

ecelebritymirror.com

Was Meghan Markle channelling Princess Mary with her wedding dress?

Comparisons have been drawn between the wedding dresses of Princess Mary of Denmark and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

www.vogue.com.au

Rare Audrey Hepburn | Audrey hepburn wedding, Audrey hepburn givenchy, Vogue wedding

Nov 14, 2010 - Audrey Hepburn - Vogue Nov 1, 1964 - modeling Givenchy

www.pinterest.com

Audrey Hepburn in her first wedding dress (to Mel Ferrer), 1954. | Audrey hepburn wedding, Wedding dresses, Wedding dresses vintage

Mar 27, 2014 - Audrey Hepburn in her first wedding dress (to Mel Ferrer), 1954.

www.pinterest.com

Hubert de Givenchy & Audrey Hepburn :: This Is Glamorous (TIG)

A Moment in Time: Hubert de Givenchy & Audrey Hepburn: A Love Story - the elegant master of chic and the much-loved film and fashion icon

www.thisisglamorous.com

scroll down

As well, here's a feature on 38 historic wedding gowns:

The Most Iconic Royal Wedding Dresses Throughout History

These royal brides made a statement and influenced bridal fashion trends to come by wearing the most exquisite wedding dresses down the aisle.

www.brides.com

ETA:
Princess Sofia of Sweden wore a similar style to Meghan's Stella McCartney 'after-party' halter dress a month after the royal wedding:

Meghan Markle inspired Princess Sofia of Sweden's latest regal look

The 'Meghan Effect' has reached royal fever pitch

www.harpersbazaar.com

Princess Sofia has another recent connection to Meghan DoS, in that Sofia was recently named as one of Vogue's new 'Forces for Change' honorees, in recognition of her training and volunteer efforts in assisting medical workers during this current crisis:

Princess Sofia of Sweden receives honour inspired by Meghan Markle

honey.nine.com.au

LOL @starrynight, I must add that although 'silk cady' is considered to be a heavier weight fabric due to its 2- to 3-ply thickness, it's not that heavy. Cady's finest characteristics are said to be its softness, stability, stretch and durability:

https://sewingiscool.com/what-is-sfabric/ilk-cady-

"Silk cady seems to have become famous because of the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. Her wedding dress was made of the fabric and now it seems to be a very popular item to use."

Glossary – Bartol-Impex

 

[aftershocks]

News about Beatrice's honeymoon in the south of France. Reports are that Edo and Beatrice are planning a longer honeymoon getaway in August, which is well known to be the month that British royals go away on long holidays.

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi Are Enjoying a Low-Key Honeymoon in France

It's reportedly the first of two vacations for the newlyweds.

www.harpersbazaar.com

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi 'spotted on romantic low-key honeymoon'

The couple tied the knot in a surprise Windsor ceremony

www.hellomagazine.com