Open Post – New Year’s Levees and Receptions
Denmark · Japan

Open Post – New Year’s Levees and Receptions

The Handbag

I am slowly coming out of the fog of my New Year’s Eve celebrations – although I didn’t even make it to midnight! – but a Happy New Year and a happy new decade of royal watching to the entire community. Photos have started coming in from Japan and we’ll get them up asap, but I am searching for a live link for Denmark (found, see below for times and links).

In the meantime, the usual drill applies here. It’s open for both the Japanese and Danish celebrations, and if the thread doesn’t get too long we’ll keep it open for the next two nights in Denmark, too. We’ll play that by ear.

Japan

The family appeared for the New Year’s greetings in photos and a video released earlier today. The Sparkle Sisters, Mako and Kako, stepped away from the pastels and into some more satured color suits, and just look at Aiko beaming in the middle.

Oh, be still my heart! The Emperor and Empress Emeritus, looking well and exuding the elegance of the world’s poshest retirees!

The entire family group. I just love Masako, glowing gently in the center. That suit is so perfect for her. Kiko is also looking elegant.

For today’s reception, the Empress in the Meiji Scroll tiara. I just re-read the entry at OoS and now wish to see this someday in the star incarnation. Her earrings are no slouches, either. A video of the reception can be found here.

Kiko in the Scroll tiara.

Prisma on Twitter has been finding early photos of the Japanese receptions. As is typical, the women are representing in the light cream and white shades, but all that gentle sparkle on their heads is working well for my tired, early morning eyes.

Photos courtesy of Kyodo, The Sankei News, Yomuri

Denmark

Thanks to Milou, we now have a link for the Danish festivities: https://www.dr.dk/drtv/kanal/20875 and thanks to JR on Twitter we also have a backup link: https://www.billedbladet.dk/ . If you missed it all, and would like to re-watch, Milou has provided a link.

First up, the Queen, as it should be. Ah, Margrethe. As I mentioned in the comments, I can see the Yeti pelt a mile away. That dress underneath is a lovely, sparkly, liquid green, and I like the slim silhouette. It’s a nice change-up from the ballgowns, and the Emerald and Diamond crown jewels fancy it all up to proper levels. I was a bit worred about her back, because she seemed hesitant while walking in the videos.

Both Mary and Marie wore repeats, and both are re-worked maternity gowns. Mary wore her oft-repeated (by my count, this is the fourth wearing) Birgit Hallstein gown. It’s a workhorse for a reason. Look how it stands up to the orders and gew gaws and the Ruby parure. Marie is wearing her re-worked Henrik Hviid gown, which we were just discussing – so we must be clairvoyant or something.

Speaking of Marie, why yes, the Order chain can touch skin. Let’s add that to our “royal myths busted” folder. Also, you can’t see it here but both women wore hair bling WITH tiaras, which makes them heroes in my eyes.

Courtesy of Billed Bladet

Lest you think I overlooked someone, here is my big, big win for the night. Benedikte has not been to this even recently and boy, oh boy, did we miss her. She simply slayed it tonight. She didn’t just enter the event, she knocked it down and walked right over it. Regal purple in velvet? Sign me up! A big “pearly” necklace and the Order of the Elephant? The Star and Pearl tiara? Bow down everyone, this woman is simply the most consistently royal royal in action today.

Here is a lovely video about the royal house setting up for the levee: http://kongehuset.dk/menu/foto–video/video-et-nytarstaffel-bliver-til a

Please check out the arrival video. Sometimes you have to see this stuff in action, and there are some good shots of the tiaras sparkling and the gowns a-flowing.

Comments Below