The Household Cavalry are preparing for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, reports the Telegraph.
Ah, yes, the practices in Hyde Park. I remember watching them one sunny October day in 2008.
A great group! Read more about them here at the British Army website.
Many people like to think they’re above the fantasy of royalty. Serious people dress in suits, work in an office in a capitol building, and they certainly don’t wear crowns! Hmph!
In truth, fame, money, and the trappings of titles are things that people dream about. Some even make it a reality.
The American media loves the Kennedys and once proclaimed Jackie O. as their “Queen”. The former first lady even had frocks and hats made in the style of Her Majesty’s outfits.
There’s something special about being a princess.
Princesses have that enviable combination of being regal and glamorous, looking like they’ve just stepped out of a fairytale. Glorious royal weddings really highlight the fairytale status, with the princess bride marching up the aisle in yards of silk and lace topped off with a diamond tiara. It makes your heart melt right then and there.
Your own wedding is one of the best times to celebrate your inner princess. I knew just how I wanted to look on that special day, and being a royal historian I had a lot of research from which to choose my ideal ensemble.
Here is what I did to capture royal glamour:
1.) Do your homework. My search took a few months because there were a lot of Royal brides to study. Start looking for ideas right away when you get engaged.
Eventually I decided to emulate Crown Princess Letizia of Spain.
The Crown Princess’ dress was fitted with long sleeves, and the collar of the gown was high, which I liked. Her tiara was a graceful curve, lending a subtle sparkle. The earrings were small, the veil was long, and the makeup subdued. Very smart indeed!
2.) Look carefully. Even though I had a specific dress style in mind, I tried on several gowns of every variety just to see how they looked. Keep an open mind in case you cannot afford the exact dress you want. You never know – the second choice may turn out to be even better than the first!
3.) Assume nothing. I thought that because of the approaching autumn weather (I got married in October), the gown designs would feature sleeves. No such luck. I had found a beautiful gown at last, but it was strapless. What to do?
4.) Improvise. Throw on that Bolero jacket. Perfect! I now had the long sleeves I wanted with a smooth, curved collar. Add that to the cathedral-length veil scattered with pearls to match the lace and pearls on the dress, and Voila! Major wedding shopping is complete.
5.) Get a fabulous tiara with quality crystals. This is probably the only time in your life you will get to wear a tiara, so don’t get a cheesy one. Make it a goody!
My Accessories: Below is a picture of my tiara, made of genuine Austrian crystals and leaded-glass rhinestones. It was attached with bobby pins instead of combs, which I felt was more comfortable. It measures 2″ high in the center, and is formally known as the “Fantasy Trellis” style. It was purchased through Princess Bride Tiaras (http://www.princessbridetiaras.com)
This is one of my earrings. They are not real diamonds, but they still look regal and sparkle like an icy fire. They reminded me of something the Queen might wear, so I was absolutely sold. They were discovered at JC Penney for under $20.
Below, a necklace I made myself several years ago. I did not want too much jewelry to clash with the intricacy of my gown and the tiara, so I went simple. It is a small diamond threaded with clear wire, with small metal ends that screw together. The thread is barely noticeable in any photos, but the little diamond shines brightly to compliment the earrings and tiara.
My Hair: All royal ladies wear their hair up on the day of their wedding. I’ve seen some brides wear their hair down under their veil, but it just looked uncomfortable to me. A sleek up ‘do is the only way to go. I chose another of Letizia’s looks.
My Makeup: I chose Clinique’s Superbalanced Makeup (32 Breeze) for my foundation, followed by just a mere poof of blush on my cheeks. I smudged a small amount of gold eye shadow on my lids, and lined my eyes’ water line with black eye-liner. I topped it all off with Maybelline’s “Very Black” Great Lash mascara. A quick smudge of tinted lip gloss, and I was ready to go.
I hope these photos and ideas inspire you for your own wedding. Just follow my advice of simple and elegant, and you too can be an amazing royal bride!
- Mandy
If you didn’t know about it before, you certainly will now.
Dutch TV series Blauw Bloed (Blue Blood) chronicles the latest news and events in the royal families of Europe – specifically the Dutch Royal House headed by Queen Beatrix.
I wasn’t aware that this program existed, but thanks to a nice trip through the depths of YouTube, I found a “promo” video. It looks great and definitely made me want to watch the program, even though I don’t speak or understand Dutch at all. Ah, the power of Royalty!
It was very exciting. I still have my newspaper that carried His Excellency’s visit in the Court Circular (Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Chun Yung-Woo. October 9th, 2008).
See the video here at RoyaltyNow! or at YouTube: MandysRoyalty.
This is my tiara. It measures 2″ high in the center, and is called the Fantasy Trellis Tiara.
For real royal tiaras and other famous jewels, visit MandysRoyalty.org
Prince William has been made a Royal Knight of the Garter, the most senior British order of chivalry.
The Prince was officially appointed by his grandmother the Queen at a service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The Order of the Garter – established by Edward III in 1348 – honours those who have contributed to national life or served the Queen.
See the video at the BBC.
