On February 21, King Harald of Norway celebrated his 70th birthday, kicking off a weekend of festivities during which a host of royals turned out for, including members of the Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg royal families.
February 21
The King's actual birthday was celebrated with a service at Oslo's Trinity Church, attended by members of his family. He then unveiled a statue of his mother, Crown Princess Märtha, a gift from the Norwegian national assembly, the Stortinget. The evening was capped off with a dinner at historic Akershus Fortress.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked just great the statue unveiling. The little beret and and the wavy hair was a very soft and feminine look. A big contrast to the hideous hairband she wore to the church reception.
Her sister-in-law, Princess Märtha Louise's fashion sense was the flip for me: At the church service she looked lovely in her bias-styled hat and beige floral jacket. At the statue unveiling she looked like a mismatch with her plain wool hat and the long black coat with the blue fun fur trim on the cuffs and on the hem of the coat.
Queen Sonja looked like a bear swallowed her whole at the statue unveiling, attired head to toe in fur. I know it's cold in Norway, but was that much fur really necessary? Hasn't she heard of moderation? Like wearing the fur coat without the fur hat, too?
At Akershus, Mette-Marit was the picture of grace and elegance with her curly hair pinned back loosely. Her new gown was a soft and billowy beige-coloured gown. She also wore a short, beige fur jacket at her arrival.
Princess Märtha Louise donned a gown she wore ten years ago -- to her father's 60th birthday reception! The floral pattern makes me think more of spring than late February, but the colour is nice and vibrant and it looks good on her. Although I didn't care for the rat-tail like hair thing she had going on.
Her husband, Ari Behn, fared even worst in the hair department, neither having shaved nor trimmed his long hair for his father-in-law's birthday.
Queen Sonja and one of the King's sister, Princess Astrid, donned evening gowns they wore the previous week (or two weeks) for Princess Astrid's 75th birthday celebrations. Bah humbug! I know the royals need to recycle gowns, but could they not have recycled a gown that wasn't worn so recently?
February 23
The royal contingents from the rest of Europe arrived in Norway -- and they brought their furs with them! Princess Märtha Louise emceed a concert at Rådhuset for her father, which was attended by the various royal guests. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit then hosted a private dinner for the royal guests at their residence, Skaugum.
The Norwegian royal ladies all donned new gowns.
Queen Sonja was decked out in a minimalist white gown with a belt cinched at the waist, accented with a white fur stole when she arrived.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked lovely once again in a one-shouldered grey number and black chandelier earrings. Her hair could've used some work as it seems it was curled but not much else was done to it to give the curls shape.
Princess Märtha Louise chose a purple gown accented with a floral print and black lace.
Queen Silvia of Sweden recycled a red lace gown that she has worn in recent months, but it is a nice dress on her.
Speaking of recycling, Princess Anne of Great Britain recycled (what a surprise) a sky blue gown. Not one of her best gowns but not one of her worst either. But the real fashion faux-pas of Anne's look on this evening was the horse blanket she apparently borrowed from the horse stable. What was with the red and navy plaid cape Anne wore on the red carpet? Nobody is saying she needs to wear fur capes, stoles or jackets as the other royal ladies did, but a horse blanket? I know that you like horses Anne, but this is a bit extra.
Princess Alexandra Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg arrived on the arm of her cousin, Danish Prince Joachim, looking every so classy in a black satin fitted jacket and embroidered skirt.
Their cousin, Princess Alexia of Greece looked beautiful, too, in a black satin skirt with a black and white floral and leaf print jacket with a big black flower in the middle.
Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands looked quite good in velvet -- surprisingly since velvet isn't a very flattering fabric for curvaceous women, even one who is aglow from a seventh-month pregnancy. My only complaint: Her one-sided hair style was a bit girlish for my taste.
Too bad that the hair of her sisters-in-law was not my only complaint. Their hair styles were actually good, it was their outfits that made me cry. Well, not so much Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands's outfit. It was very ethnic-inspired (as in Russian or Moroccan) with its red beading and accented gold trim, and quite lovely, just not my taste.
Now, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau on the other hand, really made me cry. Her lacy gown with the see-through bra was just an attrocious sight. And certainly not fitting for a royal event. I guess Mabel likes to shock others with her appearances. Well, it worked.
Another shocker of the evening: Princess Madeleine of Sweden's short, nightie-like pink gown. Unlike Mabel where her bra beneath her dress caught your eye, it was Madeleine's bountiful cleavage that caught your eye here. It was a nice dress on the whole, and certainly Madeline probably would've been complimented for it had she worn this dress to a private party for one of her friends who are her age, but for the 70th birthday of the King of Norway, it was rather revealing and inappropriate even.
February 24
The King and his family and their royal guests spent the morning at the Norwegian Museum for Cultural History. Bundled up in their winter hats and scarves, the royals enjoyed some traditional Norwegian songs and dancing, and of course, the snowy scenery. Princess Märtha Louise's two daughters, Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora, partook in some of the activities like collecting firewood and being pulled in sleds. The day was capped off with a gala dinner and ball, where the royals dug into the royal vaults for their spectacular tiaras and jewels. A fireworks display was watched from the balcony of the royal palace.
Fun in the snow! Prince Joachim was the most dapper gent in his cap and red scarf. And Princess Märtha Louise's daughters were ever so cute in their little backpacks, which were nearly as big as them!
For the gala dinner, nearly all the royal ladies arrived in new dresses. (The exceptions being Queen Silvia and Princess Madeline of Sweden -- who arrived in her navy Nobel gown, which is quite nice, actually, -- Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Anne (what a surprise, again!) and the Duchess of Gloucester.)
Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium stole the fashion runway with her cream-coloured beaded dress with the fun hem and elegant elbow-length gloves.
Princess Märtha Louise's strapless floral gown was also very lovely.
Infanta Cristina of Spain, who traded down when she was escorted by a disheveled looking Ari Behn rather than her dashing husband Inaki, looked elegant in a navy satin gown.
Crown Princess Mary also recycled a gown from the New Year's receptions in Denmark this year, but this gown is quite nice. A deep burgundy velvet gown that accents her pregnancy figure quite nicely and is a nice contrast with her pale, porcelain skin and her dark hair.
The outfit Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore on this occasion was more matronly than any of the previous gowns she wore, but it was still nice. A cream coloured top with a pink skirt.
In her first tiara event, Princess Mabel was very disappointing. She chose a flapper-like gown by her favourite Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf that made it seem as if she had gone bra-less.
The arrivals seemed to be a bit random however, but a nice mix of the royals: Crown Prince Phillippe of Belgium with Princess Madeline of Sweden, Prince Edward of Great Britain with Crown Princess Mary, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with the Duchess of Gloucester, Infanta Cristina of Spain with Ari Behn, King Constantine of Greece with Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Friso of the Netherlands with Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria.
My favourite part of the evening: When the royals hit the dance floor. Queen Sonja looked like she couldn't get out there fast enough while her dance partner, her husband and the birthday boy, seemed a bit resistant. Prince Henrik of Denmark (without his wife Queen Margrethe II, who was at home recovering from knee surgery) and Crown Princess Maxima shared a dance and apparently a mini contest to see whose belly was bigger! Crown Princess Mette-Marit shared a dance with King Carl Gustav of Sweden, though they seemed more interested in talking than dancing judging by their initial animated gestures.
Formal portraits were also taken of the heads of state and crown princes and crown princesses in attendance.
Closeups of the royal ladies' gowns:
February 25
Before the royal guests returned home, they were treated to a ride in horse-drawn carriages.
Finally, we get to see Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus! I don't know why they didn't part in the event at the museum since their cousins did.
I have also a new royal crush: Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria, who looks so handsome in his fedora. There is something very dapper about him!
In his speech at Akershus Fortress, the King said: "It is fun to be alive, at least most of the time. For my own part, I think it's a privilege and a treasure to be king in Norway, and I'm glad I get to perform a lifelong service for the Norwegian people."
February 21
The King's actual birthday was celebrated with a service at Oslo's Trinity Church, attended by members of his family. He then unveiled a statue of his mother, Crown Princess Märtha, a gift from the Norwegian national assembly, the Stortinget. The evening was capped off with a dinner at historic Akershus Fortress.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked just great the statue unveiling. The little beret and and the wavy hair was a very soft and feminine look. A big contrast to the hideous hairband she wore to the church reception.
Her sister-in-law, Princess Märtha Louise's fashion sense was the flip for me: At the church service she looked lovely in her bias-styled hat and beige floral jacket. At the statue unveiling she looked like a mismatch with her plain wool hat and the long black coat with the blue fun fur trim on the cuffs and on the hem of the coat.
Queen Sonja looked like a bear swallowed her whole at the statue unveiling, attired head to toe in fur. I know it's cold in Norway, but was that much fur really necessary? Hasn't she heard of moderation? Like wearing the fur coat without the fur hat, too?
At Akershus, Mette-Marit was the picture of grace and elegance with her curly hair pinned back loosely. Her new gown was a soft and billowy beige-coloured gown. She also wore a short, beige fur jacket at her arrival.
Princess Märtha Louise donned a gown she wore ten years ago -- to her father's 60th birthday reception! The floral pattern makes me think more of spring than late February, but the colour is nice and vibrant and it looks good on her. Although I didn't care for the rat-tail like hair thing she had going on.
Her husband, Ari Behn, fared even worst in the hair department, neither having shaved nor trimmed his long hair for his father-in-law's birthday.
Queen Sonja and one of the King's sister, Princess Astrid, donned evening gowns they wore the previous week (or two weeks) for Princess Astrid's 75th birthday celebrations. Bah humbug! I know the royals need to recycle gowns, but could they not have recycled a gown that wasn't worn so recently?
February 23
The royal contingents from the rest of Europe arrived in Norway -- and they brought their furs with them! Princess Märtha Louise emceed a concert at Rådhuset for her father, which was attended by the various royal guests. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit then hosted a private dinner for the royal guests at their residence, Skaugum.
The Norwegian royal ladies all donned new gowns.
Queen Sonja was decked out in a minimalist white gown with a belt cinched at the waist, accented with a white fur stole when she arrived.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked lovely once again in a one-shouldered grey number and black chandelier earrings. Her hair could've used some work as it seems it was curled but not much else was done to it to give the curls shape.
Princess Märtha Louise chose a purple gown accented with a floral print and black lace.
Queen Silvia of Sweden recycled a red lace gown that she has worn in recent months, but it is a nice dress on her.
Speaking of recycling, Princess Anne of Great Britain recycled (what a surprise) a sky blue gown. Not one of her best gowns but not one of her worst either. But the real fashion faux-pas of Anne's look on this evening was the horse blanket she apparently borrowed from the horse stable. What was with the red and navy plaid cape Anne wore on the red carpet? Nobody is saying she needs to wear fur capes, stoles or jackets as the other royal ladies did, but a horse blanket? I know that you like horses Anne, but this is a bit extra.
Princess Alexandra Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg arrived on the arm of her cousin, Danish Prince Joachim, looking every so classy in a black satin fitted jacket and embroidered skirt.
Their cousin, Princess Alexia of Greece looked beautiful, too, in a black satin skirt with a black and white floral and leaf print jacket with a big black flower in the middle.
Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands looked quite good in velvet -- surprisingly since velvet isn't a very flattering fabric for curvaceous women, even one who is aglow from a seventh-month pregnancy. My only complaint: Her one-sided hair style was a bit girlish for my taste.
Too bad that the hair of her sisters-in-law was not my only complaint. Their hair styles were actually good, it was their outfits that made me cry. Well, not so much Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands's outfit. It was very ethnic-inspired (as in Russian or Moroccan) with its red beading and accented gold trim, and quite lovely, just not my taste.
Now, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau on the other hand, really made me cry. Her lacy gown with the see-through bra was just an attrocious sight. And certainly not fitting for a royal event. I guess Mabel likes to shock others with her appearances. Well, it worked.
Another shocker of the evening: Princess Madeleine of Sweden's short, nightie-like pink gown. Unlike Mabel where her bra beneath her dress caught your eye, it was Madeleine's bountiful cleavage that caught your eye here. It was a nice dress on the whole, and certainly Madeline probably would've been complimented for it had she worn this dress to a private party for one of her friends who are her age, but for the 70th birthday of the King of Norway, it was rather revealing and inappropriate even.
February 24
The King and his family and their royal guests spent the morning at the Norwegian Museum for Cultural History. Bundled up in their winter hats and scarves, the royals enjoyed some traditional Norwegian songs and dancing, and of course, the snowy scenery. Princess Märtha Louise's two daughters, Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora, partook in some of the activities like collecting firewood and being pulled in sleds. The day was capped off with a gala dinner and ball, where the royals dug into the royal vaults for their spectacular tiaras and jewels. A fireworks display was watched from the balcony of the royal palace.
Fun in the snow! Prince Joachim was the most dapper gent in his cap and red scarf. And Princess Märtha Louise's daughters were ever so cute in their little backpacks, which were nearly as big as them!
For the gala dinner, nearly all the royal ladies arrived in new dresses. (The exceptions being Queen Silvia and Princess Madeline of Sweden -- who arrived in her navy Nobel gown, which is quite nice, actually, -- Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Anne (what a surprise, again!) and the Duchess of Gloucester.)
Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium stole the fashion runway with her cream-coloured beaded dress with the fun hem and elegant elbow-length gloves.
Princess Märtha Louise's strapless floral gown was also very lovely.
Infanta Cristina of Spain, who traded down when she was escorted by a disheveled looking Ari Behn rather than her dashing husband Inaki, looked elegant in a navy satin gown.
Crown Princess Mary also recycled a gown from the New Year's receptions in Denmark this year, but this gown is quite nice. A deep burgundy velvet gown that accents her pregnancy figure quite nicely and is a nice contrast with her pale, porcelain skin and her dark hair.
The outfit Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore on this occasion was more matronly than any of the previous gowns she wore, but it was still nice. A cream coloured top with a pink skirt.
In her first tiara event, Princess Mabel was very disappointing. She chose a flapper-like gown by her favourite Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf that made it seem as if she had gone bra-less.
The arrivals seemed to be a bit random however, but a nice mix of the royals: Crown Prince Phillippe of Belgium with Princess Madeline of Sweden, Prince Edward of Great Britain with Crown Princess Mary, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with the Duchess of Gloucester, Infanta Cristina of Spain with Ari Behn, King Constantine of Greece with Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Friso of the Netherlands with Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria.
My favourite part of the evening: When the royals hit the dance floor. Queen Sonja looked like she couldn't get out there fast enough while her dance partner, her husband and the birthday boy, seemed a bit resistant. Prince Henrik of Denmark (without his wife Queen Margrethe II, who was at home recovering from knee surgery) and Crown Princess Maxima shared a dance and apparently a mini contest to see whose belly was bigger! Crown Princess Mette-Marit shared a dance with King Carl Gustav of Sweden, though they seemed more interested in talking than dancing judging by their initial animated gestures.
Formal portraits were also taken of the heads of state and crown princes and crown princesses in attendance.
Closeups of the royal ladies' gowns:
February 25
Before the royal guests returned home, they were treated to a ride in horse-drawn carriages.
Finally, we get to see Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus! I don't know why they didn't part in the event at the museum since their cousins did.
I have also a new royal crush: Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria, who looks so handsome in his fedora. There is something very dapper about him!
In his speech at Akershus Fortress, the King said: "It is fun to be alive, at least most of the time. For my own part, I think it's a privilege and a treasure to be king in Norway, and I'm glad I get to perform a lifelong service for the Norwegian people."
0 Responses to “King Harald Turns 70”
Post a Comment