The Crown Princess of Sweden's Wedding: HRH The Countess of Wessex
Sophie went with her fall-back tiara for today's wedding -- her own Wessex Wedding Tiara. Something about it actually looks better here than it has in the past; maybe it's sitting down further in her hair? Nevertheless, what I'm really interested in is that necklace -- doesn't it look like it might be a small fringe tiara just waiting to be put on a frame???
Sophie went head-to-toe in silver today; here's the full-length photo...
The Earl and Countess of Wessex
How I wish that necklace was a tiara...but I did think she looked a lot better in her own today. She had definitely done something different with her hair.
I really liked Sophie's whole look for the wedding - the silver dress is one of the best I've seen her wear. And she got to sit next to Haakon at dinner, lucky thing!
Ah nope, this tiara will never look good. I think I said in the live post it looks like a pair of bunny ears...
She looked so lovely coming down the carpet. The tiara is sitting further back but it still doesn't seem to fit her head. I think she's due a new piece.
Really loved her dress, and it looks very good on her. One of my favorites for the evening.
I wasn't too keen on the dress, but I loved seeing her in a royal order finally and some new jewelry (plz put it on a frame soph!)and for once, I really liked her tiara and hair.
I'd call it perfect except for the tiara--something about it bothers me. Maybe it's sitting too far back on her head?
So what's with Lil? Plenty of other reigning Queens attended this event. Don't tell me it's because of Ascot! She could have moved Ascot up a few days and still have gotten to Stockholm in time. Or does Lil only attend British Royal Weddings?
Does anybody know?
@Massenet - she seems to have a policy of non-attendance of foreign weddings and celebrations. She went to CP Pavlos & Marie Chantal's, but it was held in London and was a private rather than state occasion. Ditto King Constantine's birthday bash. It's not just weddings - at memorial services in this country she usually sends a representative rather than attend herself unless it's a relative.
I think Charles & Camilla were meant to be going, but Charles has a chest infection that means he can't fly. Edward & Sophie are the next ranking married couple in the official order of precedence, and they probably know everyone better anyway since they seem to draw wedding duty most often.
William & Harry aren't really rostered out on official duties at the moment since they are both doing military service, and I don't imagine they know the Scandinavian royals very well.
I still don't like Soph's tiara (why doesn;t she wear the aquamarines) but her overall look is nice.
It really narks me we provide such a poor show at these dos. Every other monarch tips up, but not old Thrifty Lil, who was too busy at Ascot. Really. I just think they are missing out, because the rest of em seem to be having such a ball, and we only send Ed 'n' Soph, who don't get me wrong, do us proud - but seriously, a bit more British oomph is really needed. Come on Liz!
I think part of the reason the Queen doesn't come is because of security. The other royals might not even want her coming because of the immense security measures they need to "protect" Lil (seriously, can't anyone else imagine her pullinng out an umbrella and berating the attacker?)/ Yes there is already security measures provided for the other Queens and Kings and Princes and Princesses, but I think we can all agree that HM needs and attracts more security.
That said, I do wish she would come. Then we'd have a really ball guessing what tiara she'd wear! Wouldn't it be great if she showed up in the Imperial State Crown? I know she wouldn't, gosh I'm pretty sure she's not allowed, but I think it would be a laugh! I can't imagine her dancing the night away like Daisy and Hank do.
I think it's partly a matter of security and partly a question of the style of the different monarchies. I think Elizabeth and Juan Carlos probably have a similar, more reserved style than the Scandinavians; I was interested that he doesn't attend these events either.
And in spite of her ability to bling it up with the best of them, she's not really a party animal - at least not in public view. Walking from the palace to the cathedral in full evening dress and jewels, stopping to get photos taken - it's just not the way she operates.
I get the impression that Bea & Daisy especially are real party people - they really seem to enjoy these get-togethers, and seem really comfortable even though the cameras are on them. Elizabeth would rather go to the races, and then home to her dogs and an early night, and I don't begrudge her it one bit!
I thought I'd seen the necklace Sophie's wearing before, so I checked my Leslie Field book "The Queen's Jewels". It looks like the necklace King Khalid gave The Queen in 1979. The picture I remembered was of The Princess of Wales wearing it when she was pregnant with Prince William. She wore a dark red evening gown with white lace trim around the collar. I'm almost positive this is the same necklace; Field's book said The Queen "loaned" it to Diana early in her marriage, before she had many jewels of her own.
I've been lurking here awhile and really enjoy this blog. Keep up the good work!
Welcome to the blog, LauraS!
Thanks for that info about the necklace -- it certainly looks like it could be something borrowed from HM!
I never really liked this tiara except i liked it on her wedding day, and at this wedding. I think it's all in the way Sophie's hair is styled. I liked that she looked really "princessy"!
I also agree with reply 12 re the necklace; i also thought it was the one with Princess Diana wearing red when pregnant. By the way, great blog; i just love your comments. Funny and clever without being mean or disrepectful. Well done.
@Maggie - I think you're on to something. Maybe Lil doesn't want to be seen as one among many. That's part of her mystique, isn't it? Perhaps that's the reason she doesn't attend funerals, except when it's a British person - e.g., Lord Louis Mountbatten. I always thought it was because of scheduling problems - funerals are usually sudden; not booked a year in advance, like the rest of HM's calendar. Thank you all for your responses. I'm going to look up Diana in the red dress.