Category: Japan

Random Royaling – Florals and Prints
Japan · Netherlands · Spain · Sweden

Random Royaling – Florals and Prints

The HandbagLeave a comment

I like them. Either I have been worn down or these are just good prints.

Felipe and Letizia continue their tour around the country. In Majorca, Letizia wore a print dress by Maje, and another pair of lace up shoes by Mint and Rose. She accessorized with a nice tan, of which I am envious.

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I wish we had a better photo and more intel on Victoria’s dress. It might be among the best print I have ever seen her wear. Daniel and Victoria were visiting various sites around Stockholm to review progress against Covid 19.

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I dag och i går genomförde Kronprinsessan och Prins Daniel fyra besök i Stockholmsområdet relaterade till covid-19-pandemin. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Med besöken önskade Kronprinsessparet att dels uppmärksamma företag och organisationer som ställt om med anledning av pandemin, dels visa uppskattning till sjukvården. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Läs mer på kungahuset.se ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📌 Kungafamiljen är angelägen om att visa sitt stöd för de insatser som görs i olika delar av samhället för att bekämpa covid-19-pandemin. Genom samtal, digitala möten och besök informerar sig Kungafamiljen om hur pandemin påverkar Sverige. Besök planeras utifrån rådande rekommendationer och med en strävan att inte i onödan ta verksamheternas tid och resurser i anspråk. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📷: Victor Ericsson/Kungl. Hovstaterna

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I am really soothed by the gentle print on Masako’s suit. It adds a nice summery note to her usual daywear. She and Naruhito were receiving a briefing on elder care.

Polka dots? Navy? I don’t know if I could love Margriet any more. This is a fresh and lively look for a visit to the Red Cross in Utrecht. She is the honorary Chair of the Red Cross in the Netherlands.

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⁣Prinses Margriet bezoekt het Rode Kruis in Utrecht. Het bezoek staat in het teken van de werkzaamheden van het Rode Kruis in de bestrijding van de coronapandemie. Prinses Margriet is erevoorzitter van het Nederlandse Rode Kruis.⠀ ⠀ De Prinses gaat in gesprek met vrijwilligers over hun inzet en werkzaamheden tijdens de coronapandemie. Zo is er o.a. een belteam dat belt met mensen die om hulp hebben gevraagd via het landelijk telefoonnummer van het Rode Kruis.⠀ ⠀ Ook spreekt Prinses Margriet met betrokkenen over o.a. een coronatestlocatie voor mensen die met de fiets of te voet komen, die het Rode Kruis Utrecht in samenwerking met de GGD heeft opgezet. Daarnaast wordt gesproken over de voedselpakketten van het Rode Kruis voor mensen die door de coronacrisis hulpbehoevend zijn geworden.⠀ ⠀ #werkbezoek #rodekruis #coronavirus #covid19 #prinsesmargriet #prinses #princess #royalvisit #Utrecht @rodekruis 📸Rode Kruis – Arie Kievit

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Let’s toss a throwback in here. It fits our print theme. Aren’t the Haga princesses just lovely here?

Weigh in on the florals: yeah or nay?

Not-So-Bitty Bits and Bobs
Britain · Japan · Luxembourg · Netherlands · Spain

Not-So-Bitty Bits and Bobs

The HandbagLeave a comment

Things are picking are picking up, little by little. Warning – pure charm attack ahead.

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Wills and Kate continue to be the face of young Britain, now brought to you in person. At least for a couple events. Not to be outdone, Chuck and Cams show they are adapting well to the digital age, and can still knock it out of the park for the traditional visits. The Spains have been working and exhibiting good mask behavior. See it all here.

Other Voices, Other Media

Spain

The Spanish royals continue their absorption of culture with a visit to a contemporary flamenco performance. Shallow sort that I am, I just sit in envy over their long slim legs. Letizia is wearing a Massimo Dutti skirt and Leonor is in Hugo Boss.

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Japan

It seems like a thousand years, not nine months, since the enthronement. The Sparkle Sisters, Mako and Kako, appeared at the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Empress Kojun’s death. The attire is subdued, as required, and the masks add an eerie flavor to the appearance. Nevertheless, I was glad to see them. Naruhito and Masako, as well as most of the Imperial Family, were also there.

Do you like tea? I do, and am fascinated by the proper preparation of the beverage. Let’s just say here in the U.S. we make a bad job of it for the most part. Princess Akiko held an online seminar on tea and it all looks interesting.

Britain

Happy birthday and a happy father’s day to Prince William. Kate snapped the photos on the now-famous Anmer swing, to honor her husband the father of her kids. He’s 38 which is mind boggling to the couple of hofdames who remember waiting for his birth back in the hot summer of 1982. We will not reveal which ones but one of them is typing this with her ancient fingers ; ).

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This montage just slays me.

Luxembourg

The over-the-moon Luxies released a series of photos of Prince Charles and I don’t blame them. He is winning all the beautiful baby contests these days.

Cour Grand Ducale

Netherlands

Let’s end as we like to, with some Classic Princessing. Princess Margriet opened a food forest for pygmy monkeys (yes, you read that correctly). She looked utterly charming in her gray and white and utterly charmed by the monkeys.

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What did I miss?

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Battle of the Tiaras – Star Edition
Denmark · Japan · Netherlands · Tiaras

Battle of the Tiaras – Star Edition

LuckeyGirlLeave a comment

And here we are again…time for a Battle. Side note: anyone remember Celebrity Deathmatch from MTV in the 90s? For some reason this reminds me of that…without the death or bad claymation…

As The Handbag suggested over on the Japanese Abdication post we are going to put some star tiaras up against each other.

Máxima’s Wedding Tiara

Starting with my fave star tiara, the Wedding Tiara of Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti. Worn for her wedding to Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, The Prince of Orange on February 2, 2002; Maxima took the base of the Pearl Button Tiara, and topped it with Queen Emma’s Diamond Star Brooches, she created her own special tiara for the day.

Benedikte’s Star and Pearl Tiara

Princess Benedikte of Denmark inherited this tiara upon her mother’s death in 2000. Queen Ingrid inherited this tiara from her grandmother, Queen Victoria of Sweden (originally Princess of Baden). Victoria was given the tiara by her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia, who in turn was gifted the tiara for her wedding to Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden in 1857. The tiara features alternating stars and pearls, set on diamond spikes.

The Meiji Scroll Tiara

We briefly talked about this one over in the Abdication post, but let’s get some deeper history. This one is said to be by Chaumet, dating from around 1885 or so. This one is reserved for the Empress alone, and every Empress from Empress Shōken on has worn it. Empress Shōken was the one who replaced the diamond toppers with stars (a woman after my own heart). Empress Kōjun, consort of Emperor Hirohito, also wore this version.

Which star tiara lights up your night?
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Housekeeping note: The United States has a holiday on Monday, 25 May and The Handbag will be taking the day off. We will return on Tuesday, 26 May!

Glitter Giveaway-Princess Takamado
Japan

Glitter Giveaway-Princess Takamado

OrangeChiaLeave a comment

Hisako, Princess Takamado is the current Japanese Emperor’s first cousin, once removed by marriage. She has a large public life and is often seen representing the family at various Japanese and world events. This princess has huge brooch game.

But this, this absolutely stunning brooch is the fairest of them all. It takes my breath away.

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What brooches should the Princess Takamado have in her collection? What other royal jewel box items should she enjoy? Show us your suggestions and why she should have them in the comments!

Random Royal Rotogravure
Japan

Random Royal Rotogravure

lovinlorneLeave a comment

Princess Michiko In The Kitchen, May 20th, 1961. Cooking her own Birthday dinner no less!

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And the SCANDAL nearly brought down The Chrysanthemum Throne. Rather than relying on ladies-in-waiting to raise her children (notice the baby bottle on the counter behind her) and do the cooking, that upstart Michiko did it all herself. The nerve!

Do you have any favorite photos of royals cooking, or enjoying other culinary pastimes? Drop them in the comments below!