There was a completely unexpected surprise during tonight's Eurovision as the evening's ceremonies were kicked off with a beautiful rendition of last year's winning entry by Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra -- featuring a surprise cameo by none other than the Princess of Wales.
Growing up, Eurovision was a staple for my family. We would gather round and watch an eclectic mix of performers and musicians proudly representing their country to become the winner of the annual singing contest. (I don't know if any of you have seen the Will Ferrell movie on Netflix? It really rather captures the appeal). In recent years, I've missed it, but this is a special one. Due to the war in Ukraine, they were unable to host the competition, a right given to the previous year's winning country. Instead, Liverpool is home to the contest and has paid beautiful tributes with a little help from the Princess. Host Graham Norton described the moment as "a right royal cameo".
A #Eurovision surprise đš
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 13, 2023
A pleasure to join Kalush Orchestra in a special performance of last year's winning @eurovision entry.
Enjoy the show, Liverpool đĒŠ pic.twitter.com/y4WDuWvOvb
The performance was recorded earlier this month in the Crimson Room at Windsor Castle. I've long remarked about my love of the Castle on the blog. It exudes a sense of history and majesty in a way no other royal residence does in my view. A new generation is breathing life into it with the Waleses in residence.
'The Ukrainian band performed their winning entry, Stefania, from the iconic Maidan Nezalezhnosti metro station in the heart of Kyiv, Ukraine.
Throughout the performance the group are joined from the UK by a range of British contributors, including The Princess of Wales, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sam Ryder, Ms Banks, Ballet Black, Bolt Strings, and Joss Stone.
The Princess’ contribution to the film involved a short, instrumental piano, created by Joe Price and Kojo Samuel.'
Hitting all the right notes sartorially (and not just on the piano), Kate chose a stunning crystal-embellished one shoulder Jenny Packham gown in Ukrainian blue.
The Marlowe gown is described: "The one-shoulder silhouette of Jenny Packham's 'Marlowe' gown is so elegant and feminine. It's made from 'Sapphire' chiffon that's gently gathered and pleated, so it will move beautifully as you work the room."
It's available at Farfetch and Net-A-Porter.
The gown is from the Spring/Summer 2023 Collection.
Below, the Marlowe in pale pink. It is an exquisite design.
Kate teamed the dress with the Queen Mother's Sapphire and Diamond Fringe earrings. Below, the Princess wearing them for a pre-coronation reception last week.
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The dazzling appearance comes amid the release of additional official content for the coronation weekend. Kensington Palace released an extensive behind-the-scenes video shot by Will Warr featuring an array of moments, from preparations at the Palace to the family's day out in Slough for the Big Help Out.
Last night, Buckingham Palace shared two additional official coronation portraits. The first one of King Charles III with his heirs William and George.
In the second image, Their Majesties are photographed with their eight Pages of Honour and Ladies in Attendance. The photograph was taken in the Throne Room by Mr Hugo Burnand. Charles is wearing the Imperial State Crown, and Robe of Estate. Her Majesty the Queen is wearing Queen Mary’s Crown and Robe of Estate. From left to right: Master Ralph Tollemache, the Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Master Nicholas Barclay, Prince George of Wales, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, Mrs Annabel Elliot, Master Freddy Parker Bowles, Master Arthur Elliot, Master Gus Lopes and Master Louis Lopes.
Last but not least, the Princess is set to undertake engagements on Tuesday and Thursday to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. Tuesday's is embargoed for the time being. On Thursday, Kate will visit her patronage, Anna Freud Centre, in London. The engagement will see Kate spending time with teenagers and discussing their experiences before joining a series of roundtable discussions alongside sector experts, Anna Freud Centre staff and those with lived experience of mental health challenges to discuss how we can support the mental wellbeing of current and future generations.
The Princess looked, and played, beautifully. That blue gown is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWe can get a preview of their reign, with the behind the scenes look into their preparations for the Coronation. They obviously “get it”, that for the Monarchy to survive, it must be relatable in the 21st Century. I say bravo to them.
Well said Tedi!!
Delete+1! Zora from Prague
DeleteOh Yes, Tedi.... A Massive Bravo to William & Catherine & Yes.... The Clearly "Get It"!! :) xoxo
DeleteI wish we could upvote on here. Well said!
DeleteEurovision is such a big deal in Europe, I'm so happy to see they know it and are willing to take part in a way that doesn't take the mystery aspect from royalty. I was hoping William was the one in charge of giving the points from the UK but this is so so much better.
ReplyDeleteWow! The photo of the princess taken at a distance with her looking towards the windows is lovely. A perfect blue gown and gesture in recognition of Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteI just can't believe I was watching it live. I haven't watched it in years but obviously tuned in to support Ukraine. It's breaking my heart that they are being bombed as we are watching the Eurovision. This was a great way for the Princess to show her support for Ukraine again. The castle looks amazing. Beautiful room and that chandelier is just huge. I love this dress, the colour cut and style. It really suits her very well. The sapphire earrings were the perfect choice. The style really suits and look like they were made for her. If they are from the Queen Mother's wedding sapphire's I'd love to see the Princess do something with the rest of them. I'm still watching the Eurovision, I think Cyprus was very good but hopefully Ukraine will win and feel the love again. đēđĻđ
ReplyDeleteS.đ.
She looks amazing and so does Windsor Castle. This was a very Royal appearance - I love it! Although I don't see the appeal of Eurovision, I do think it's a good idea to emphasise international co-operation and this type of activity is part of Kate's diplomatic role. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteMagic. The new content is so well done. Kate is amazing in so many ways. And she pulls it off with such Grace. She makes it look easy and really never complains outwardly.
ReplyDeleteThat gown is stunning. I hope we see it again. Going right to the top of my list of favorite evening wear for Catherine. It’s similar to the redesign she had done to the white Alexandra McQueen she sported at the BAFTAs earlier this year, so must be a style she knows she looks great in.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Annabel Elliot is left of the King. The Marchioness of Lansdowne, right of the Queen.
ReplyDeleteThe pictured with the heirs is magnificent.
Why do the pages wear different garements?
ReplyDeleteId guess because some are the Kings pages and the others are the Queen's. S.đ.
DeleteI forgot to add the Princess played the piano beautifully. I love the way the dress is spread out behind her. Very regal. S.đ.
DeleteSupposedly, the page uniforms worn by Prince George's group were inspired by the page outfits at Edward VII's coronation in 1902, though George and his fellow pages wore trousers, not knee-length breeches. The Queen Consort's pages wore uniforms inspired by those of the Grenadier Guards and the Rifles.
DeleteYou can see page uniforms like the one Prince George wore in the painting of the 1902 coronation below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_of_Edward_VII_and_Alexandra#/media/File:The_Anointing_of_Queen_Alexandra_at_the_Coronation_of_Edward_VII.JPG
I meant to mention: the blue so loved by the Princess and seen here is basically Klein Blue, or an occasional variation thereof, an ultramarine associated with the important French performance artist, Yves Klein, who developed it himself and used it in works in the 1950s.
DeleteThanks, blue is my favourite colour. I really love this shade and it really suits the Princess well. Sapphire jewels look very good with the colour. S.đ.
DeleteMmm. Nice dress. Just the thing to be artistically arranged beneath the piano bench for the Princess's little performance. And her favorite color, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a terrific dress that I hate to be a spoilsport, but somehow, the jeweled belt doesn't quite work. I think it's so thin that it looks a bit like an afterthought. The color, draping, and sweep of the dress are striking enough to stand on their own, so that a simple band of the dress's own fabric would have been sufficient at the waist. It does call for dramatic statement earrings, perhaps even a bit larger than those the Princess wore. And a bracelet or two, when she's not tickling the ivories.
I've seen so much coronation coverage by now that I haven't anything further to say on the subject, except to reiterate my opinion that the official photographs taken after the event just do not excite me. Like the others posted earlier, these are uninspiring, rather anemic and slightly artificial in color and somehow a little cliched and trite in composition and concept. There aren't a lot of creative options in these situations, I realize, but still....
In none of the pictures do I see her wearing a belt...perhaps she wore something different. How can you possibly judge what is not even visible? Just asking in case I missed something.
DeleteI enjoy your opinion on fashion. You have an astute sense of fashion when it comes to Catherine.
DeleteMy take is different when it comes to the waistline treatment. Kate has a pale lavender she belts, but the dress has a simple cut. I think this dress could not work with a wider belting detail and needs the delicate embellishment at the waist. The way the gown is gathered on the top and the skirt, I think the horizontal seam at the waist needs to be covered.
I don't know anything about fashion. I only know what I like. If Kate has the pale mauve version, if she purchases a duplicate as she does at times, it would be interesting to see a different treatment at the waistline.
Anon, the crystal belt comes with the dress, as you will note in the pictures of it included in the post. It's not clear that the belt is detachable, though it may be. Click on the Net-a-Porter link for more information. (Of course, the Princess might have ordered the dress directly from the designer and asked for the belt not to be included, but I was commenting on how the belt looks on the dresses on the models) GA, I wasn't suggesting a wider belt but rather, as I said, "a simple band of the dress's own fabric" to cover the seam. By the way, both the blue and the pale pink versions come with the same crystal belt.
DeleteHi everyone, if you look the video, you can see that Catherine wears the bell. And, as everybody say, she look stunning, a true vision! Federica
DeleteThanks for the extra information about the gown. I wasn't aware of these facts. Thank you.
DeleteEverything about this is a little piece of perfection! The dress, the earrings, the room, and the piano playing... all are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAgree Judy, it is a fantastic setting and she looks fantastic. Love her playing.Ali
DeleteWhat a perfect surprise. She looks so regal in that flowing gown with the majestic castle interior. And she played beautifully!! To me this gave off “modern princess” vibes like nothing else.
ReplyDeleteRachel
What an incredible surprise! I literally gasped when I saw this on their instagram. It’s such a gorgeous room and the color of her dress really pops (and supports Ukraine). What a fun opening with the added piano part for her. Kensington Palace has definitely stepped up with their content, and I’m excited to see them move forward. Charlotte and Louis are adorable in their outfits. Thanks Charlotte- Sue from IL
ReplyDeleteGreat dress and hair, magical setting. Hope to see this lovely gown on another occasion.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who thinks this would have been a great time to bring out Diana's sapphire choker? (If it is still around.). What a wonderful surprise and beautiful dress/setting!
ReplyDeleteWe can only live in hope. It would be beautiful on the Princess. I don't think it would work with this dress. S.đ.
DeleteI think that piece works best with an off-the-shoulder (both shoulders) or strapless neck and shoulder line. With a one-shoulder dress, the detail on the Princess's left shoulder, her long hair, and the drop earrings, a little too much would have been going on.
DeleteI agree and it is a iconic piece of jewellery. Made all the better after the Princess had it made into a necklace. Maybe baby steps and start with the Saudi sapphire set, which is stunning. I think Princess Diana's matching pair of sapphire bracelet's would of worked very well with this dress. S.đ.
DeleteTo me, it looks like the piano recording was done on the same day as the coronation reception - could this be the case? She is wearing the same earrings but particularly her hair looks identical!!
ReplyDeleteI am loving the new P + POW’s social media content recently - it seems much more elevated and present day that it has been previously. Big fan!!
Also I agree with some other commentators that the coronation pictures were slightly underwhelming. Some of them even look rather comical? I wonder if the tone is much more pared down than QEII’s coronation in the early 1950s when everyone was draped in jewels, and this contributes to them looking more low key and the robes being slightly out of place. I was hoping for tiaras but alas! The modern monarchy did not deliver!!
Thank you Charlotte for the informative and unexpected post. It was a pleasant surprise -a very regal performance. What was there not to like about it.
ReplyDeleteIt made me reflect about our expectations and how we measure Royal work load and I feel we are somewhat still stuck in 20th century measurement. I saw a tweet from someone involved with the Princess's cameo and planning and work for it started in January. It would count as one the same as any other appearance but the work involved is very different. An engagement like this is important on so many levels. First and foremost Royal support for Ukraine broadcast to a world audience. Secondly the event went smoothly so showcasing the UK ability to seamless manage events of this magnitude. And from the Royal brand perspective a very polished performance from the Princess of which we can have a sense of pride.
I have also been thinking that the way Catherine and William balance work and family gives a visual support to evolving work practices that to a lesser or greater extent are evolving all over the world. And to my mind William's involvement with the day to day care of his children is important for the increased involvement father's all over the world are having with their children.
I like the blend face to face engagements including the ones with small organisations, the big events like this and also the increasingly sophisticated use of technology to connect with the peoples they serve.
Libby, what wonderful insights & I agree completely! :)
DeleteI absolutely love this comment. It mirrors my own sense that the Prince and Princess are navigating this whole new level of responsibility with grace, professionalism, and modernity. It must be daunting to live life so much in the public eye, especially with such young children. These are very human people functioning with near-superhuman expectations. Bravo to them for appearing to be handling it so beautifully.
DeleteOh, that dress is exquisite! I really hope we see it again at another engagement, the colour suited Kate perfectly and she looked the epitome of style and elegance. What a lovely surprise this was. Annie, Wales
ReplyDeleteThis blue gown is stunning. I love the way the skirts were spread around her so beautifully. The design echoes the revamp of Kate's BAFTA's dress (worn with the black gloves) that we saw recently.
ReplyDeleteTrickymum, the first thing I thought when I saw the dress was..... Oh we are Definitely going to be seeing this again!! :)
DeleteThis is the real 'fairytale princess' stuff. She looks fantastic! I sincerely hope she wears this whole look again to an event someday.
ReplyDeleteAnon 17:41, Oh you are so right!! The dress, her hair, the room in the castle.... it's just perfection!!
DeleteSo beautiful. Absolutely all of this. There is simply nothing about this lovely and graceful appearance that disappoints.
ReplyDeleteThe dress is stunning, although I have to say I was shocked at the price considering it’s polyester - for that much money I would want silk!
ReplyDeleteGood heavens. I have to say with all sincerity...I think she is absolutely most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteDitto!! :) xoxo
DeleteThe Princess looks beautiful, this gown is a divine color. She is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess is so regal. Everything about this look is gorgeous — her hair, the dress and jewelry, and the setting. But her relaxed manner and genuineness is perfection. At many public events, she seems nervous (and who wouldn’t be).
ReplyDeleteI am also loving their new social media/PR team. We get to see little glimpses of the behind the scenes, but not too much.
Hope from USA
When has she looked nervous? That's one of these things people keep repeating and I still have to see images of her looking nervous during an event.
DeleteAnon 00:33, when I finished reading this post I just said Wow!!! Catherine's look, to the setting, to the occasion, to the Coronation video, put out by Kensington Palace!!! Just Wow!!!..... Can you say "Rock Stars"!? :) xoxo
DeleteAnon 07:40, Kate's first public speech at EACH if i remember correctly, she seemed a bit nervous, also in her early royal days, she was often seen fiddling with her hair or visibly adjusting her posture. However, I agree with you that all this is a rather low level of nervousness, given the gravity of the situation and what tasks Kate has been fulfilling.
DeleteElla
Anon 7.40 plus she was new to her role and totally justified.
DeleteSo beautiful! What a great surprise appearance. The dress, the setting, her warm smile. She always seems so approachable and kind.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess smiling framed by the piano is so beautiful and natural I hope they frame that one! I love this dress and colour I hope we get to see her wear it on a formal occasion to see it move but it may have been loaned just for this recording? and as mentioned before the planning for such things happens months in advance so it's not hard to see how hard working the RF are. I imagine Kate practicing her piece for a while so as to play well at the recording so as not to waste peoples time who are there to record it. I wonder if the children are learning to play an instrument? I like the new portraits the one with Charles Will and George are lovely and relaxed looking even though they are dressed in all the regalia. Sue in WA
ReplyDeleteAre we thinking they now live at Windsor castle instead of Adelaide cottage Charlotte ?
ReplyDeleteHello Anon,
DeleteThey are still living at Adelaide Cottage. The latest reports suggest William has his eye on Royal Lodge and he and Charles are hoping to persuade Andrew to move to Frogmore Cottage. There should be more clarity on the final decision in the coming months.
What a lovely surprise!
ReplyDeleteAnd that gown is stunning. So happy to see a new one, much as I understand the repeats, I must say it is fun to see something new!
This just made my day!
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure what to think of this modernization of the British monarchy right now. On the one hand, Kate looks great in her short piano piece at Eurovision. It’s very princess like in opulent surrounding while cheering for Ukraine mired in a horrific war. There’s a weird juxtaposition here. I thought the short YT video gave us a preview or a prequel of what Will’s coronation and rule might be like. It’s 5 mins of a collection of clips and photos accompanied by stirring patriotic music. I assume this a series with Charles’ coronation video coming out next from the Palace PR team.
ReplyDeleteI think I would caution trying too hard to modernize by going the “American Idol” and “Eurovision” route. It’s like trying to make Earthshot glamorous with stars, the green carpet walk, and pop songs instead of the actual people who won and their environmental work. I worry that the royals are transforming themselves and their opulent lives into more and more of a glamorous slick production. I worry that it becomes more like the monarchy serves the royals instead of the common people and the country.
Anon 18:29, you've just laid out a lot to be unpacked!....
ReplyDeleteI think what was made clear, from the heart of Charles' Coronation through to William's speech at The Coronation Concert, is their shared ethos of "Service" to the country & to one another as people = emphasizing that in addition to The Royal's serving the people, the "people" can join in & serve one another!
I think they are very tuned in to the modalities of communicating the late Queen's mantra of, "I have to be seen to be believed", in this day & age.
Simply put: STUNNING!! đđ
ReplyDelete