Let's talk royals
We the People of the United States need to take a page from the mother country and start wearing hats on special occasions.
I’m not talking about gluing toys on a wide-brim hat and taking it to the races. I’m talking about beautifully crafted objects of art that sit daintily atop one’s head.
One milliner who recently caught my attention does just that. London-based Juliette Botterill worked for uber-famous designer Philip Treacy before breaking out on her own.
Leon Neal – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Last week, after the dust settled and Pippa Middleton’s engagement to financier James Matthews became old news, the Daily Express revealed that Middleton will one day become “Lady Glen Affric.”
The press had a field day with the news, billing it as a new way for Middleton to try and one-up her older sister, the Duchess of Cambridge. “Two Titles For The Middleton Girls!” was all any media outlet could talk about.
Clive Mason/Getty Images
Princess Margaret was Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister and the second daughter of King George VI. Her Royal Highness’ presence was arguably as commanding (and intimidating) as Her Majesty’s. Margaret’s life was filled with flash and excitement, and she ran with a very trendy set of people. The stories of her jewelry are almost as interesting as the life she led.
I’ve asked my favorite jewelry blogger, The Court Jeweller, to explain the stories behind some of Princess Margaret’s jewelry [Read more…]
Chris Jackson/WPA-Pool
If you ask me, royal books are having the best year ever.
First, I plowed through The Royal We in about three days and suffered from withdrawal.
THEN I discovered The Prince George Diaries (Michael Joseph books, November 2015) a satirical first-person account of George’s life, as recorded by the heir himself. [Read more…]
Once upon a time on Instagram I started following Chris Schleicher, a writer on one of my favorite shows, “The Mindy Project” (season 3 now streaming on Hulu). After scrolling through every one of his photos (a tribute to Her Majesty, reviews of “Grace of Monaco”), I decided to track Schleicher down for an interview. It’s not very often one finds a sitcom writer who’s almost as enamored with royalty as oneself.
The Harvard graduate and former competitive pairs figure skater was a good sport, and even played a jolly good game of Shag-Marry-Kill, Windsor edition. [Read more…]
Today, September 9th, is a very significant day for Her Majesty, who – at 5:30pm local time – will officially surpass her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
The Telegraph clocks Victoria’s reign at “23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes” or 63 years and seven months. Save for an engagement (the Queen will visit Edinburgh, Midlothian and Tweedbank for the Scottish Borders Railway opening celebrations), Elizabeth II will mark September 9th privately at Balmoral, according to reports.
The Daily Mail‘s Sebastian Shakespeare claims that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join Her Majesty on September 9th for a “private dinner.” [Read more…]
I first read one of Claudia Joseph‘s biographies, Kate: The Making of a Princess in 2011, just a few months before the royal wedding. Since then I’ve read a number of books on Catherine, William and a number of other royals, but few authors have been able to keep me hooked like Joseph, who doesn’t glaze over details of Catherine’s upbringing and her relationship with William. For example, in Making of a Princess, Joseph introduced readers to Kate’s ancestors, which allowed for a better understanding of who she is and, perhaps, why she is where is she today. [Read more…]
Few books cast such a spell that the reader can’t tear him or herself away.
This is how I felt about The Royal We (Grand Central Publishing, 2015), the book born out of a labor of love that involved thorough research, clever plot twists and the imagination of two very funny women, Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, otherwise known as the team behind the hugely popular (and hugely witty) site, Go Fug Yourself.
Even Buffy’s getting involved: [Read more…]
Like the appeal of a piece of string to a cat, a sparkling object has the power to capture my attention for hours on end. Add in a bit of history and you’ll see me only when I emerge for mozzarella sticks and Pellegrino.
Because of this, I asked The Court Jeweller‘s Ella Kay to select four royal tiaras to talk about. Now only is she a bauble genius, but she acted as one of the sparkle consultants for The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. [Read more…]
Whether or not you think that last Sunday’s premiere of “The Royals “lived up to its hype, there’s no question that one character in particular completely captured our attention. Princess Eleanor, played by Alexandra Park, was equal parts disastrous and beautiful in episode one, showcasing both a rough exterior and a vulnerability that left the viewer wondering if they loved her, hated her or felt sorry for her (or all three).
I spoke to Park about her first big stateside break a few days after the show premiered in E!. She’s an Aussie who loves “Good Will Hunting,” can’t get enough of “The Walking Dead,” and is taking orders from Elizabeth Hurley on her literary selections. “You need to start reading more thrillers. They keep your mind busy!” she told Park. [Read more…]
