Thursday 1 June 2023

A Sparkling White-Tie Banquet Brings Jordan's Royal Wedding to a Close

It was a spectacular night of royal style and sparkle for the glittering banquet completing a day of festivities for Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and (the newly styled) HRH Princess Rajwa.

The Prince and Princess of Wales tonight.

The bride and groom arriving to join King Abdullah and Queen Rania in greeting guests from all over the globe.

The couple welcomed 1,700 guests to Al Husseiniya Palace.

More from the Royal Hashemite Court:

'Al Husseiniya Palace was built in 2006 west of the capital Amman, next to the King Hussein bin Talal Mosque, Al Hussein Park, the Royal Automobile Museum and the Children’s Museum Jordan.

The Palace houses the new offices of His Majesty King Abdullah II, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.

In its design, Al Husseiniya Palace is a combination of Arab Islamic architectural heritage, represented by the arches and the designs on the walls and doors; and the simplicity and elegance of interior design.

Al Husseiniya Palace also houses the offices of the Royal Hashemite Court Chief and the Royal Protocol Chief, in addition to the halls where bilateral and expanded meetings are held during official visits.

Moreover, the Palace also includes a dining hall, a hall for major celebrations and a courtyard for outdoor ceremonies — located in the space separating the Palace from the King Hussein Mosque — where kings and presidents are received.'

An arrival video.

In conversation with a very proud Queen Rania.

The wedding was one of the increasingly rare white-tie opportunities on the royal calendar. To see such a large gathering in tiaras and regalia is absolutely one to savour. Kate has been loving wearing pink of late and today she selected dusky pink shades twice. Earlier today, it was an Elie Saab creation from the 2017 Autumn/Winter Collection (click here to catch up on that post).

Tonight, the Princess opted for the shimmering 'Georgia' gown by the queen of eveningwear, Jenny Packham.

In the image below, you can see the embellishment on the neckline and tailored silhouette.

This gown is a familiar one to royal watchers who may recall Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wore it for an interview with the Financial Times ahead of her 50th birthday.

Kate wore a very similar Packham gown in Pakistan and most recently for the 2021 Royal Variety Performance. The Princess styled the vivid green gown with Missoma Zenyu earrings and Emmy London matching green pumps.

The Princess sparkled in the Lover's Knot tiara. Alongside the Queen's Mother's Lotus Flower tiara, the Lover's Knot is the primary piece in Kate's rotation and one very deeply associated with the late Princess Diana and now with the new Princess of Wales.

The tiara features elements of the Gothic Revival style. The circle of the Cambridge Lover's Knot is made up of a lower semi-circular band, set with a row of brilliant cut diamonds. Where two adjacent arches meet, a pillar-like structure is formed that rises up and ends in a round diamond, forming a diamond spike. There are nineteen diamond spikes of this nature and the size gradually decreases from the centre towards both ends. We've previously discussed just how heavy Diana found it, sometimes opting to borrow the Spencer family tiara, as she found it headache inducing. It is a substantial piece.

The most notable element of Kate's jewels tonight, surprisingly, was not her tiara, but her choice of earrings from the Royal Collection. The Princess wore the fabulous Greville Chandelier earrings. The stunning earrings were a wedding gift to the then Princess Elizabeth from her parents in 1947 (originating from Mrs Greville's bequest). According to the Royal Collection Trust: "Their design incorporates a lexicon of modern diamond cuts, including half-moon, trapeze, square, baguette, baton and emerald."

Below, Queen Elizabeth II wearing the earrings at the White House whilst dancing with President Gerald Ford in 1976.

Kate donned her Royal Family Order (below, photographed on another occasion). The order for King Charles III has not been distributed yet. When it is, we'll see Kate wearing two.

The Princess donned her GCVO regalia. In April 2019, to coincide with William and Kate's eighth wedding anniversary, the late Queen appointed her granddaughter-in-law Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order for services to the Sovereign. The Royal Victorian Order was established in 1896 by Queen Victoria to recognize personal service to the monarch. Like the Royal Family Order, the blue sash with red and white trim and the star of the order will be worn at white-tie occasions throughout Kate's life. The GCVO robes came to the fore when the Princess wore hers for the Coronation last month.

Once again, Kate used her divine diamond Bentley & Skinner brooch to secure the sash. The piece is described as: "An Art Deco diamond set brooch, of rectangular shape with corners cut away, with an openwork pattern comprising of a central, round brilliant-cut diamond with an estimated weight of 0.35 carat, with a baguette-cut diamond to the top and bottom of the rectangle, total estimated diamond weight 4.5 carats, all mounted in platinum, circa 1920." I have long suspected it may have been a gift from the King.

Kate completed the look with her pink satin Prada clutch.

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As requested, we're taking a look at the megawatt sparkle on offer tonight in addition to the Princess. First, we're taking a look at another British princess -- Beatrice -- whose tiara appearance tonight was a blast from the past for royal watchers.

Emerging for the first time in over two decades, Beatrice borrowed the tiara from her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York. The piece was gifted to Sarah in 1986 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and was subsequently worn for her wedding to Prince Andrew. The scroll tiara, created by Garrard, is Sarah's property (she has joked about keeping it by her bedside table) and it now begins life with another generation as her daughters may opt to wear it for the rare occasions which call for a tiara.

Embed from Getty Images

Beatrice wore Reem Acra's pink and gold embellished satin-piqué gown. Below, the dress in beige. It's also on sale in navy at Net-A-Porter.

Beatrice and Edo greeting the royals.

Princess Rajwa chose a sweeping custom Dolce & Gabbana design for her second look. Rajwa wore white evening gloves and an elegant updo.

The bride wore her new tiara and earrings, designed by FRED Paris. It's understood the scroll tiara features an Arabic inscription meaning 'Hope from God' (with thanks to Regalfille and Princess Marie of Denmark via Twitter).

Below, the runway look Alta Moda 2022 collection.

Hussein and Rajwa welcoming guests including Queen Jetsun of Bhutan.

Queen Rania was in custom Elie Saab couture from the SS23 Collection (with thanks to Royal Fashion Police) and her Arabic Scroll Tiara. Certainly not a coincidence -- the tiara, one of Rania's staples, was created by FRED (as her daughter-in-law's was today) almost twenty years ago and features an inscription with an Arabic prayer. There's greater poignancy to Rajwa's tiara choice and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was a gift from her new in-laws.

The Court Jeweller notes Princess Iman (the groom's sister) sported the diamond Chaumet tiara she wore for her own wedding in March.

Iman teamed it with a Giambattista Valli pink gown, which was one of the more unusual designs of the night. In the video below, you can see Princess Salma in a wine sequin gown and her mother's (Rania's) bracelet tiara.

It was a night of jewel-filled decadence for the Dutch royal ladies (and we would expect nothing less). Máxima was sparkling in an adjusted version of her Stuart tiara and a bespoke Jan Taminiau gold gown. Princess Catharine-Amalia was regal in red and Queen Wilhelmina's Ruby Peacock tiara.

Embed from Getty Images

I adore this photo -- it will be one Máx and her eldest daughter will no doubt look back on fondly in years to come.

Embed from Getty Images

An immensely warm greeting for King Willem-Alexander from King Abdullah.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was striking in a hot pink cape gown by Safiyaa. The Ginkgo style is available at My Theresa.

Victoria wore the beautiful Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara.

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Sofia of Spain was regal as ever in her Niarchos ruby parure.

The talented Royal Fashion Police team noted Crown Princess Mary of Denmark very cleverly upcycled a gorgeous Jesper Hovring gown for the event and teamed it with her ruby and diamond tiara.

Belgium's Princess Elisabeth opted for a bespoke blue Armani Prive gown teamed with a diamond tiara which was purchased for the Princess by her parents.

What a night! Looking forward to hearing which look was your favourite :)

75 comments:

  1. Since the gown Kate wore for this Jordanian wedding ceremony is from Elie Saab's 2017 collection, and the blush/pink colour is similar to what Kate wore for Pippa's wedding ceremony, I wonder if this is the gown Kate wore for Pippa's wedding reception.

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    1. Makes sense and if that's true, love it even more!

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    2. I can't imagine she would wear a long sleeved gown with a train for an evening family wedding party, where dancing might be on the agenda.

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  2. Lovely surprise photos.

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    1. Good grief I never posted before and ended up just posting my name. What I wanted to say was that I remember Diana saying she wore the lover’s knot tiara mostly because it was the most comfortable. Maybe Catherine is feeling the same way.

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    2. I've read that Princess Diana thought it was heavy after wearing it for hours and gave her a headache. That was the reason she mostly wore the Spencer tiara. S.🙂.

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    3. Diana said this Lover's Knot tiara gave her a headache.

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  4. Beautiful dress! It seems to be the same dress Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wore for her 50th birthday photos. Iva

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  5. I’ll try posting again - third time is the charm. Diana found the lover’s knot tiara to be the most comfortable. Maybe Catherine feels the same.

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  6. I was so happy to see these surprise photos! Didn’t think it would happen but oh how happy and giddy I am to see these two all dressed up!!! And Queen of Jordan looked resplendent! Absolutely lovely photos! 💗

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    1. Giddy is a great word to describe how I feel too FloridaGirl! Color me happy!

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  7. Shimmering wonderfullness!!! She looks so elegant and regal. What a fun wedding.

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    1. Agree! But I am a little bored with the Lover's Knot. It's like wearing the same dress over and over. So happy to see Beatrice included in photos. She looked beautiful.

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    2. How can you get bored with a Tiara. She wears the one she wants to wear.

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  8. Stunning. The dress looks beautiful. I can't wait to see better pictures. I'm delighted that the Princess got to wear the Grenville earrings. They look amazing on her. I didn't think they would look so good with this tiara but they do. Queen Victoria's pearl earrings would look amazing with it. Princess Beatrice in the York tiara, great to see it being worn again. I hope she is wearing the full set of jewellery. A nice nod to Queen Elizabeth. Thanks for the updates Charlotte, this was a unexpected surprise. I just hope we do get better pictures. S.🙂.

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  9. Sarah from California1 June 2023 at 22:03

    Wow! Kate looks stunning! I have a passion for all shades pink so obviously I'm happy!

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  10. I absolutely love Kate’s dresses today, particularly the one she wore to the wedding ceremony. I don’t think she’s ever looked better. Absolutely breathtaking!!

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    1. I have to agree with you Anon, I think the Ellie Saab gown is beautiful and I like it for all the reasons that many other don't. Love the bodice work and the flow of the skirt. Most of all I love how respectful and appropriate it was for the occasion. (In fact, all the ladies dresses were 'en pointe' in that regard). The earrings were just a plus! Pink is the theme it seems! Even Beatrice had on pink for the evening! I am soo happy that William and Kate went to this wedding!!!

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  11. Alas, I'm just not feeling the Princess's Jordan wedding wardrobe. I've commented before that I am not a fan of the all-sequin look. I own a couple of sequin tops and a sequin skirt. I wear them with plain silk-charmeuse or satin separates. I'm a very big believer in limiting and balancing glitz.

    So, all the shimmer here doesn't excite me, and again, I just don't think that this weak, pale- rose blush color does the Princess any favors.

    And unfortunately -- and here I risk exciting much protest among the jewelry aficionados -- I don't like either the tiara or the earrings. I've always disliked that tiara -- I think it's overly large and heavy looking, and I don't care for the dangling pearls -- and with the earrings and the glittery dress, well, it's all a bit too much.

    I do appreciate the slim, sleek silhouette of the dress. That I like very much. I think an updo might have complemented it a bit better and offered a better variation on the too-long and limply curly/wavy style that the Princess wore to the ceremony.

    I'm sorry that I can't praise the bride's reception gown in the same rapturous terms I devoted to her wedding dress. It's a very fancy, full-skirted Saudi evening dress, the sort of thing that Saudi royal women often wear to special events under their abayas. I suspect that's why the new Crown Princess chose it, but I am not impressed.

    However, she does understand how and when to wear evening gloves. We had that debate regarding the Princess of Wales's opera-length black gloves worn with a white dress. The Crown Princess did get it right.

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    1. I have to agree, the tiara is large but I think the Princess wears it very well. I would think it is very heavy. I love the pearls, it has a Russian look to it. I would love to see it set with sapphire's. The Dubai sapphire's or similar. The earrings are a work of art. I also agree about her hair up. You have a great eye for detail and fashion. S.🙂.

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    2. I totally agree with you. I also think a designer like JP needs to be able to produce something a little different from the green the princess already has. I loved the brides day time dress, especially the train, but the evening outfit feels like a prom dress. Her Majesty just looks gorgeous in whatever she wears and will, I am sure, help her new DIL with all her sartorial knowledge. I have been listening to my favourite radio station… BBC World Service… there sure is some gossip and scandal in the Jordanian royal family. I hadn’t realised. LRB

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    3. I have to agree unfortunately! The silhouette of this dress is lovely but the color doesn’t do anything for her. I wish she’d reworn the dark green version she wore in Pakistan.

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    4. I agree when it comes to the tiara - but to me it's more that there's a mis-match between the tiara and the dress. The look is a touch too heavy: the pulled-back, long hair, heavy earrings , sequins.

      I'm not comparing the two ladies as such, but Diana of Wales wore the tiara with shorter hair, and so it created a lighter look that worked well, in my opinion. After all, it's a lovely tiara

      Heidi

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    5. I have to disagree regarding Kate’s all-sequined gown. Just because a particular approach works for you doesn’t mean it works for everyone. Kate is tall and has a rather narrow frame with some width in the shoulders. She looks best in clothes that match her long vertical line rather than break it. The long sweep of sequins in this gown suits her frame and actually looks more balanced on her because it harmonizes with the structure of her body. Breaking up her silhouette as you suggested would look unbalanced on her. I’m sure the way you wear sequins looks great on you, especially if you have a balanced frame with a more moderate yin/yang balance. That’s not Kate. She’s very tall-I think about 5’10”, so she’s more Yang dominant in her frame. This may be why she favors dresses over skirts and tops and tone on tone dressing in general: she looks better when her clothes form an unbroken line head to toe.

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    6. You may have noticed that I praised the slim, sleek lines of the silhouette of this dress. The problem is all the glitz, not the silhouette. It's possible to design a long, slim dress that isn't glitzy and glittery from neck to ankles. In my view, the all-sequin look is simply overdone and bordering on tacky, no matter who wears it, particularly when it's paired with important and very conspicuous jewelry. Balance is all.

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    7. anon 18:41, Kate is actually only 5'7", 5'8" at best. She wears 4in heels consistently which makes her look taller than she is (6ft). But if she were 5'10" than her 4in heels would make her taller than William and even in heels she is 2-3in shorter. When Kate was first married the royal reports were told from the palace she is 5'8". So she is taller than average (5'4") but not super tall :)

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    8. I agree. There is no way she is 5'9 or even 5'10.

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  12. I’ve had so much fun today with all the beautiful looks from the bride, family and guests. This is a gorgeous dress with such a different feel than the green version. I LOVE these earrings :) thank you Charlotte! Sue from IL

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    1. Kate sometimes get criticism for wearing the same outfit in different colours, but I agree with you; a different colour often has a very different feel - and if the silhouette suits her, why not?

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  13. Absolutely Breathtaking!! I can't wait for your full post!

    Regarding her earlier ensemble... if in fact the earrings were a gift from The Jordan Royal Family, then she would have based her whole ensemble around those earrings & with being customarily appropriate.. I think she did an amazing job threading that needle & we can all agree that she would look great in Anything!! :) xoxo

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  14. Since we have this time, while we are awaiting the full post.... It's the right time for me to share that my Daughter-in-law's Father, used to be the Personal/Head Chef for the King's Father!

    It's just incredible to hear him recant stories from those years! I just sit there & I'm sure at times my mouth is open! lol

    But he was in charge of & served all the State Dinners, all the way to planning/serving private picnics when Queen Elizabeth, when she would come to visit! He talks about it so casually, while I'm sitting there pinching myself!! lol :)

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    1. I have a trip to Jordan booked next year. Would he come and be my personal chef? How wonderful to hear his stories. LRB

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    2. What an amazing family story! Thanks Becca for sharing it with us.

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    3. As a follow up, 2 things.... #1 - Going to their house for even a "Casual Grilling Night" is a feast for the senses! They both (husband & wife) are so adept at entertaining, that we can be on the boat (complete with full picnic) & come back to their place & they say "we'll just whip up something quick"... & I've never tasted anything so good in all my life! They have such an effortless way of entertaining & making everyone feel like family (even though we are lol).

      Then #2.... I was looking online for any & all pics of the weekend & read the story of how the white Land Rover, the couple left the wedding in/via the parade... was one that was made especially for a visit from Queen Elizabeth & Prince Phillip in 1984 & the story showed the actual pics of the trip they took them on, when they had "said" picnic!! :0 I was looking at the photos & was like OMG!!! But he was in his twenties & at some point it just got too dangerous to be working over there. He got to a point where he was like, I'm outa here!! lol :)

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  15. Susan in Florida2 June 2023 at 00:12

    Thank you for all the video coverage ,Charlotte! I love the Bride’s dress. It respects her culture and is classic for a Princess. As for Princess Kate, I think her day dress had too much going on for her frame. One feature like the bodice or the sleeves would have been enough. I love her evening dress and how she placed her sash and orders.

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  16. So interesting that the dress code of the actual wedding was more casual (and different) than the evening reception. Lucky for us because it means double the fashion!

    Just a few comments…Kate looks good although seems similar to several of her past formal looks. I loved the bride’s ceremony gown and train but the evening dress is completely different, but not in a good way. It’s a prom bomb as we say in the US. Queen Raina’s gown is absolutely fabulous!

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  17. Valerie in Arizona2 June 2023 at 02:06

    I watched the reception line on Jordan TV's Youtube feed and it was magical. I had heard that the Wales were only going to the earlier reception so I was thrilled when, right after Crown Prince Harken I heard the announcement about the Prince and Princess of Wales. And then a little later Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo. She looked lovely too, wearing the Duchess of York's wedding tiara and some beautiful earrings. Charlotte, do you know what the new protocol is for the Royal women borrowing the late Queen's jewelry? Do they speak to Charles directly and he just gives them carte blanche? Is there a catalogue? I always wondered before but since Queen Elizabeth died I have wondered even more.

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    1. That's an interesting question and I am curious too! I think the sapphire tiara Camilla wore to the state event shortly after the Queen's death was really great on her and it was nice to see her in something different. I would hope that the ladies will now be freer to wear some historical jewels. Next to the Lover's Knot, the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland is my favorite tiara. It may be that we won't see that one for many years because it was so thoroughly associated with the Queen (and probably the Vladimir too). But there are many other tiaras that are still modern enough to wear and it would be so great if the ladies would bring them out and wear them now and then.

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    2. I would think it all comes down to rank and how close the person is to the Crown. A good example would be the Princess of Wales. The Queen would of gifted her pieces for her personal use when she was alive. I would also think that she would of set aside pieces for the Princess after she died. With regards to the rest of the collection. The new Queen would have first choice, Then it would be up to the King to decide what piece's of jewellery are available to different members of the family. I would guess every piece of jewellery we have seen the Princess wear is hers for life. I'm hoping to see her wearing the wedding bracelet again. S.🙂.

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  18. It's so great to see Fergie's wedding tiara! After both daughters married without wearing it, I wasn't sure we would ever see it again, and in my opinion it is one of the prettiest tiaras! (Although I think the center point diamond can go).

    Another BIG win for me are the Art Deco earrings worn by Kate. I'm glad she's claimed the Lover's Knot tiara, but it's really nice to see her break out some other stunning historical jewels from the vault. These earrings seem timeless, and I hope in the future we can see other beauties the Queen only wore in her earlier days.

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  19. I dislike all Jenny Packham sequin gowns and this is no exception. The color is pretty but that’s it! Princess Beatrice continues to surprise and dazzle recently.

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  20. Breathing taking, what a treat. Everyone looked wonderful.

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  21. If it is true that the King of Jordan’s half Brother is under house arrest for being apart of a coup attempt. Not sure if I would marry into that family.

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    1. It is true. Queen Noor had wanted her children to be the "heirs," but that was rather unrealistic. Her oldest son continues to be a "guest" of the palace.

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    2. Was Queen Noor a wedding guest?

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    3. I doubt Queen Noor would be invited.

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  22. Thanks again for your full and fascinating coverage of a major event packed with international royalty!
    I love seeing all these ladies glammed up in tiaras. Not my all time favourite PoW gala look, but she looked lovely. Also liked her daytime dress, Both dresses were perfect for this occasion, where modest couture was the key.
    My winner for the night was Kate's Dutch counterpart, the Princess of Orange. She looked stunning in red and rubies.
    Also fab to see Beatrice in a tiara again and to see a reappearance of her mother's York tiara.
    On a side note the name Rajwa means Hope in Arabic, so Hope from God written on her tiara (surely a gift from parents or in-laws?) has particular meaning for her.

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  23. Kate looks elegant but wish she would not wear this pale pink on her skin it doesn't enhance her and nice to see her finally back in Tiara. so nice to see princess beatrice in her mom's tiara. the bride is so beautiful but this dress is not outstanding like her wedding gown it is too prom dress for me. Queen Raina is a goddess

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  24. I love to see Queen Jetsun of Bhutan. I love the traditional style but she is not wearing a Tiara. Is that not a thing in Bhutan?

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  25. I lived in Jordan for many years and have so much love for the country and her propke. Queen Rania, in particular, is a wonderful role model in the work she does for women and children across the Aran world. How lovely to see Kate & William at this wedding, I’m sure the new Crown Princess Rajwa will grow into her new role as well as Kate has in hers.

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  26. I’m going to keep coming back to today’s posts whenever I need a little shot of royal glam.

    The sequined JP dress that Kate opted for tonight is a lovely glamorized version of the dress she wore for the ceremony earlier. The sequins give that color a little more life, which I think makes it more flattering for Kate. Appears that she’s wearing a mauve lipstick, and the deeper shade really looks good on her. I agree with another poster that the earrings are a bit over the top along with all the other jewelry she has on going on, but it’s not like she could get away with a simple pair of diamond studs at that occasion.

    I noticed in the pics from her arrival at the ceremony that she was wearing open toed shoes and appears that she dark red varnish on her toes.

    Questions for anyone who might have thoughts on how such a large gathering of prominent guests might be handled: do you think each traveling female dignitary was accompanied by her own make-up stylist and hair dresser? Or would the Jordanian RF made available a team to assist the ladies as they prepared for the events?

    Also, I would have thought the reception would have included some mingling and maybe dancing (not sure about the protocol at a Muslim wedding.) We’ve seen Kate wear a tiara at State dinners, and it looks like she mainly walks into the hall and sits through the dinner and speeches. Honestly, the tiara looks heavy, so I always figured all she wanted to do was get through the speeches so she could it off her head. Major props to her if last night’s reception involved her balancing the tiara on her head (as well as sporting all the other hardware :) she had on) iif she was moving around among the other guests throughout the evening.

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  27. Princess Elizabeth is among the most wonderfully dressed!

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  28. Really appreciates the sharing of such beautiful and lovely photos of Princess Kate.

    As the saying goes, in order to wear the crown, one must bear the weight. We will never be able to fully comprehend the weight Princess Kate must bear.

    I had so much admirations and praises for her. She has been such a steadfast and dedicated Princess to her country.

    She has shown much inner strength and tenacity in all her dealings ❤️❤️❤️

    Thank you Charlotte for the lovely post! 🌸🌸🌸



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  29. I don’t care for Kate’s reception dress. The color is not that great on her. I normally love all her looks. This is a miss for me.

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  30. I like the gown Kate has worn I just wish it was a different colour no variety in colour the 2 gowns she has taken for the wedding. I’m not a fan of her hair style I think an updo would suit the large tiara. Gorgeous earrings. Beatrice looked lovely and so nice to see her in Sarah’s tiara. Sadly I don’t like the brides Dolce and Gabbana. Mary who can normally do no wrong in my eyes has got the reworked dress very wrong. I think CP Victoria is my favourite for the evening gowns. Sue in WA

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  31. For history buffs out there - I read that the wedding is seen as solidifying the succession of the Crown Prince as the heir. The current Kings father (deceased) transferred the title of Crown Prince to his own brother when the current king was a child and then transferred it back again years later when he was dying. The former king married several times so there are various half siblings with succession claims.

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  32. Perhaps it is a little unkind to describe the Dutch royal family as decadent.

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  33. Beatrice looks good these days. Both her wedding and reception dresses were appropriate, stylish and suited her. Queen Jetsun of Bhutan, as usual, looked graceful, understated, and queenly. There’s something to be said about turning up without the glitter and fussiness in a room full of dazzlers that makes a person stand out. Jetsun of Bhutan has that innate grace.

    Kate’s outfits on this trip was a miss for me. She has so many outstanding formal gowns that I’m at a loss why she chose these two. One was too fussy and overwhelmed her very lean built. The other, too Miss Universe pageant like. The washed out rose tone does not do her any favor. Perhaps it was the lighting. The bride’s reception dress was also garish and a miss compared to her stunning wedding gown.

    Overall, it was nice to get a peekaboo of “the wedding of the year”, but I’m also mindful of how chaotic and impoverished strategic Jordan is presently. The country is hosting refugees from Syria, Iraq, Palestines and is poor with its people, especially its youth, struggling to make ends meet.

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  34. I love that Beatrice is looking so spectacular! I just love her hair in particular.

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    1. I was irritated and didn't like it at first, but after a view more looks I will say- she looks spectacular. The blush pink flatters her complexion. And the blue was even better.

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  35. I found both looks a bit underwhelming (the colour doesn't suit, the first a bit fussy and the second a bit sort of heavy - not her, of course, but the dress) but I think she did a great job diplomatically: dressed perfectly and not stealing the limelight from the bride! (Given that Kate was possibly the most well known woman worldwide in attendance). One thing I forgot to say earlier: the day time venue was spectacular!

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  36. Sadly, the second bridal gown did disappoint me quite a bit. The first one was so very elegant and the second looks like a bad 80/90 cream puff. It drowns her.
    And Kate stuck with the pale pink/rosé. It’s a better style than her first dress but she was definitely outshone by the other royal ladies. If she wants to stick with the Lover’s Knot she needs a different hairstyle. It’s too solid to wear it like that. Especially with the hair all back and no strands in the front to balance it out. This gets particularly obvious in the picture with Rania. She wears her tiara the same way, but her front part is a bit looser and her tiara is more filigrane.
    The all glimmery sleek look is not bad, a bit outdated maybe. The details get swallowed by her order etc. It would have looked better if she repeated the green one. I miss the more ethereal looks she had from JP. Or something as stunning as the gold Bond Premiere gown. This look has nothing to remember.
    C.

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  37. I agree that this blush color isn't the best for Kate, but I suggest that this color choice is deliberate and I admire her for choosing it. She wore this subdued pink-nude tone for this wedding and also for her own sister's wedding. Kate is secure enough to wear a subdued, quiet color so that she doesn't distract from the bride. She looks perfectly polished and made sure to choose a designer who would be meaningful to the location of the wedding, but in my opinion she consciously chose to avoid the vibrant jewel tones that she wears when she is a focal point of an event. As a comparison, I think than the Swedish princess in hot pink and the Dutch princess in vivid red are not being as gracious - their bright gowns scream "look at me!"

    I agree with others that her hair would have looked much better in an updo. Perhaps she didn't bring her hairdresser with her?

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  38. I personally preferred Kate’s first look today. The dress was beautiful and her hair style pulled off the finishing look for me.

    I do agree with others on her second look. She has got to find a new hairstyle for the lovers knot. Having her hair pulled back like that, does not look good imo. She needs hair pulled down closer to her face and in an updo I think. I personally am just not a fan of this tiara. I wish she would use a tiara that hasn’t been used in awhile or stick to the lotus flower. Come on Kate!! We want to see more tiaras!

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  39. Beautiful, natural, and gracious bride! All the Best Wishes to the couple and their families! The couple may have some challenges in the future as Jordan has socioeconomic problems currently. I hope they will meet the challenge to meet and succeed in people's circumstances. Jordan had been taking thousands of migrants from Syria and Palestine, but the future is not certain as is the case in the Middle East.

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  40. Beautiful, natural, and gracious bride! Best wishes to the couple and Jordan!

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  41. Well, I for 1 thought Kate looked Fabulous! She absolutely glowed & glittered! I thought she looked absolutely beautiful & appropriate in both dresses. I love the Lovers Knot Tiara & love her hair either up or down with it!

    It was fun seeing pics of them interacting at the reception & in conversation with CPMary & CPFredrick from Denmark & CPVictoria & PDaniel from Sweden. It is so nice to have this day finally come, where they are interacting with their European counterparts/relatives, on the same level. Truly building friendships & relationships that will last a lifetime!!

    Plus, I was thinking how nice it must be for them, to cultivate these relationships with other royals who are also raising children. Talk about not having many people who can relate to your given situation... It's so important as parents, to at least have some other parents that you can relate to. Just my musings. xoxo

    P.S. Thank you Charlotte for your Amazing coverage!! :)

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  42. Catherine looked spectacular for both the day and evening events. Love her reception earrings. Both dresses are gorgeous and look wonderful on her. She and William looked relaxed and elegant. Ali

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    Replies
    1. They didn’t look like their loving as they usually are when they are together. Catherine was walking behind William when they usually walk side by side.

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  43. MissMercedesfromCanada4 June 2023 at 19:52

    Thank you Charlotte for the coverage - lovely photos and fashion coverage. Fun fashion fact - Princess Victoria's Safiyaa's Ginkgo cape dress was a hot pink version of the same dress that Meghan wore for the Australia/NZ/Fiji tour - I thought it looked familiar.

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  44. I think that Catherine’s outfits were a thoughtful and intelligent homage to Jordan and Arab traditions. The buildings of Amman and Petra are subtle sandstone and rose hues and I think the colour of both dresses reflects that. Whilst I am not a fan of the Ellie Saab dress, it fully reflected Arab tradition. The heavy embroidery is typical of the region and maybe the billowing skirt was a nod to flowing Arab robes especially as the Bride is from Saudi Arabia. The constraints of modest dressing for women in Arab countries would have dictated the long sleeves and modest neckline. So I think she got it right.

    I notice that one of your contributors thought that Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden’s
    dress was a standout.For me it was a standout for all the wrong reasons..the garish pink
    seemed harsh against the subtle colours of the Desert Kingdom and she had bare arms which I think would not have accorded with Arab modesty.
    GJ.

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  45. Kate was gorgeous, polished, appropriate and elegant, as usual. What a pity they had to wait so long for their first international royal event. We are now so used to her perfection it is not as exiting as it would have been years ago.

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