royal wedding celebration

Thanks to everyone for continuing to support The Princess Palace blog with your visits and links! After neglecting my blog for a few months (having taken on a couple of extra jobs to pay the mortgage!), I have returned to keep you updated on the world of princesses. Here are a few things that happened during my period of blog silence.

QEII went social
Having joined Twitter some time ago, the British Monarchy finally launched a Facebook page earlier this month. I'm a "fan" and I definitely like this interaction better than the Twitter feed. (It's the pictures!)

Queen Sofia played with pandas
In a moment designed to make my little sister cry with jealousy, Queen Sofia got to feed and handle two baby pandas. My sister never wanted to be a real princess more than when she found out royal ladies get to play with pandas instead of visiting them religiously from a reasonable distance at Zoo Atlanta (where, by the way, we had a brand new panda cub born this month.)

A Sheikha shook up fashion watchers
Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, wife #2 of the three wives of the Emir of Qatar, showed Western style moguls that the modesty required in traditional Muslim societies, doesn't have to be humdrum. During official visits with her husband to France and England, she drew a lot of press attention, including favorable comparisons to Jackie Kennedy. Of course, drawing attention to oneself may not fit some people's definition of modesty.

Not like mother-in-law
Sheikha Mozah's daughter-in-law, Sheikha Al Mayassah Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, apparently does not aspire to the same Western-influenced sartorial style as her mother-in-law.

We ARE amused
The queen is often represented as lacking a sense of humor, but she clearly was amused by something at the annual Highland games at Braemar in Scotland. She also obviously enjoyed sharing the moment with her oldest son, Prince Charles.

A new princess arrived
Prince Nikolaos of Greece finally ended his long bachelorhood by marrying the gorgeous Tatiana Blatnik on a gorgeous Greek island surrounded by other gorgeous royals on Aug. 25. If only my life were half as gorgeous...

Back to school
Little princesses, like Infanta Leonor and Infanta Sofia, went back to school like millions of other youngsters.

Princess with a pen
Princess Martha Louise of Norway, who is looking more and more like her mother, wrote a book about guardian angels.

Remembering 9/11
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited Ground Zero during a trip to New York City.

Not pregnant
Despite my insightful analogies between the lives of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Princess Letizia of Spain, Letizia has not announced a pregnancy to coincide with the impending arrival of Mary's twins in January. The two princesses each had their first two children within a month of the other's. (Read my faulty prediction.)

No engagement
Kate Middleton went to a wedding with Prince William, but alas it wasn't her own. I'm with other royal watchers, however, in predicting a 2011 wedding, but I think it will be a lower-key affair than Charles and Diana's extravaganza in 1981. I certainly don't think it will be at St. Paul's. Look for Westminster Abbey or St. George's Chapel.

Many princesses were still scarce as their summer vacations continued, but a few did manage to make appearances both public and private in view of the cameras.

AUGUST 7, 2010


Queen Sofia of Spain, who spent all of last week at the Copa del Rey sailing competition, wrapped up the event by helping the Rey, King Juan Carlos, present the prizes on Saturday.


Alright, Prince Charles is not a princes, but you must admit he wore a daring hemline at the Mey Highland Games in Scotland.


AUGUST 8, 2010


Three queens (and one King) of style were pictured together when U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama spent some time with KKIng Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and Princess Letizia during her girls-only Spanish vacation with daughter Sasha and an old friend. The visit sparked some controversy for being too expensive and glitzy for the president's wife until it was revealed that she had agreed to accompany her friend because she couldn't be there when her friend's father died early this year. Who can resist the adorable Sasha?


AUGUST 10, 2010

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The always colorful Queen Margrethe II took a little boat ride with her pregnant daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary. The expected twins will be grandchild number six and seven for the queen and her husband, Prince Henrik.


AUGUST 12, 2010


If you were out shopping in Palma de Mallorca, you might have noticed a large family group visiting the shops and snacking on ice cream. Queen Sofia of Spain took her daughters, Infantas Elena (seen here) and Cristina and their kids out for the day. Sofia's two older granddaughters were with them: Elena's dark-haired Victoria Federica and Cristina's blonde-haired Irene.


Photographers desperately seeking pictures of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark's baby bump found some satisfaction from the low-belted blouse she wore to the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair.


In chilly ole England, the Princess Royal looked sunny as she reviewed the graduation parade at the Army Foundation College. She will be 60 on August 15.

While we here in the deep south sent our children back to school this week (despite soaring temperatures), European royal families were enjoying summer holidays.

AUGUST 2, 2010


Queen Sofia of Spain is a lifelong fan of yachting, so it was no surprise to see her at the Copa del Rey race on the first day of the competition. It's not unusual for all or most of the royal family to show up.


It was a bit cooler in Britain where most of the British royal family ended their holiday cruise. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor clearly resembles her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. Not only does she have the queen's girlhood golden curls, but she seems to have adopted the queen's fashion sense, even wearing a little headscarf. Louise's mum, Sophie Count of Wessex, and brother, James Viscount Severn, also enjoyed the family break.




AUGUST 3, 2010


On Day 2 of the Copa del Rey, Infanta Leonor was a little doll in her purple and green summer dress. Although she no longer has her Shirley Temple curls, she is still one of the cutest children on the planet.


AUGUST 4, 2010


Girls day out for the royal ladies (and little ladies!) of Spain. Abuela Queen Sofia, Mama Princess Letizia and las chicas adorables Infantas Leonor and Sofia paid a visit to the Museum of Glass in Palma de Mallorca. Baby Sofia seemed less-than-impressed with the waiting photographers.


Then Letizia and her darlings joined Prince Felipe for a little family time back at the Copa del Rey.


AUGUST 6, 2010


Day 5 of the Copa del Rey found Princess Letizia really getting into the nautical spirit with her navy striped T-shirt, denim capris and sporty flats.

While Queen Elizabeth II continued her family cruise and vacation in the north, many other royal ladies were also scarcely seen this week.


JULY 25, 2010


Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain joined the annual festivities in Santiago de Compestela where Spaniards combine two celebrations to make one long festival at the end of July. Politicians, religious pilgrims and good-time seekers congregate to honor Galicia Day and St. James's Day.


Later that day, Princess Laurentian of the Netherlands enjoyed a public display of affection with her husband Prince Constantijn at a play premiere in Salzburg.


JULY 28, 2010


Who says Camilla Duchess of Cornwall doesn't have the royal touch? These folks at the Sandringham Flower Show didn't seem to mind waiting in the iffy weather to catch a glimpse of the wife of the heir to the throne. Folks seem to agree that Camilla isn't glamorous, but she definitely has that sporting, common, country touch perfected by British royals since Queen Victoria's reign.


JULY 30, 2010



Princess Stephanie of Monaco "busted" out at Monaco's annual Red Cross Ball while her future sister-in-law, Charlene Wittstock, showed more "grace."

Two royal families celebrated their nations' triumphs on the World Cup field, while others kept busy with the usual royal (and familial) duties.

July 15, 2010


Queen Elizabeth II looks dapper in the robes of the Order of Thistle in Scotland. Her mother was a Scottish lass.


July 11, 2010


Despite the rivalry between their nations on the pitch, Crown Princess Letizia of Spain and Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands behaved like two old girlfriends in the grand stand at the World Cup final.


A kiss for the Queen! Spain's triumphant goalkeeper shared his joy with Queen Sofia after Spain's World Cup victory.


July 12, 2010


Infantas Leanor and Sofia of Spain shared in the World Cup victory celebrations back in Madrid.


Little Leonor is probably the most adorable princess in history.


Princess Stephanie of Monaco shared a tender moment with her daughter, Pauline Ducruet, in Finland. Pauline was competing in the European Junior Diving Championships. Sixteen-year-old Pauline finished in 22nd place in the three-meter.


Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and hubby Prince Charles came prepared for the rainy weather at the Royal Yacht Club in Falmouth. At least Camilla wore a sunny color to brighten everyone's cloudy day!


July 13, 2010


Queen Beatrix was overjoyed to welcome home the 2nd place World Cup team from The Netherlands. That's a lot of handsome athletes for one widowed lady! Lucky Bea!


Princess Hanako Hitachi and her husband, Prince Masahito Hitachi, joined Prince Albert II of Monaco at the opening of a Japanese art exhibition in Monte Carlo. Prince Hitachi is the Japanese emperor's younger brother.


July 14, 2010


Letizia was slim in gray at a military graduation ceremony in Talarn. It's hard to look so stylish when everyone else is wearing medals.


July 16, 2010


Princess Stephanie greets her future sister-in-law, Charlene Wittstock, as the bridegroom, Prince Albert, looks on. The three were attending an annual AIDS gala.

This week was an intercontinental week for royal ladies as the English queen headed to North America and the Belgian queen visited Africa. Back in Europe, it was a quieter week for everyone but the Spanish ladies.

June 28


Tiny Princess Letizia of Spain shows off her figure in this form-fitting dress. Some royal watchers this week have been worrying whether she is too slim.


June 29


Queen Elizabeth II seems as charmed by Prince Philip as she was when she first fell in love with him more than 70 years ago. It's adorable to see octogenarians in love! This was Day 2 of their North American visit. This week they were in Canada, next week it's the U.S.A.

June 30


King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium have spent the week in the Democratic Republic of Congo, celebrating that nation's 50th anniversary since its independence from Belgium.

July 1


This is more like it. How can someone so petite look like she has legs a mile/kilometre long? Princess Letizia of Spain's standard high heels and straight-legged trousers certainly help.


Queen Elizabeth II dressed patriotically to celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa. Notice the maple leaf pin? She is, after all, Queen of Canada, too.

July 2


Prince and Princess Michael of Kent looking snazzy at the All England Tennis Championships. The prince is a dead ringer for his granddad, King George V--and, therefore, he also looks like Grampy's cousin, Tsar Nicholas II.


Was it take your son to work day in Spain? Queen Sofia was joined by Prince Felipe at the Barcelona School of Business to meet Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.