I was hoping we would get some arrival/departure shots of members of the Royal Family this evening and lo and behold we have. It was reported that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were hosting a black tie dinner party this evening for 150 guests. It was deemed a private occasion this year and there was no service held at Westminster Abbey as we’ve seen in the past.
Back in 2007 when the couple marked their Diamond Anniversary, a family group shot was released to the public, but it’s unclear whether we’ll get anything similar this time around. Fingers crossed, but I’m less confident.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry arrived at Windsor by car in what appeared to be a tight squeeze. Kate is wearing the same black lace Diane von Furstenberg gown she recently wore to the gala at the Orangery, this time paired with some sort of black wool coat and four rows of pearl featuring a diamante clasp borrowed from the Queen. I have a feeling the repeat is indicative of how many formal gowns the Duchess has in her closet that can accommodate this stage of pregnancy. She also wore this gown to a private event when pregnant with Princess Charlotte shortly after debuting it publicly in 2014.
Earlier today the Queen honored Philip with the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) for services to the sovereign. Seven decades of service, that is. One wonders what Philip came up with to match that in a gift exchange.
And in other news, it was reported that Harry’s girlfriend, Meghan Markle, touched down in London on Saturday. There was some speculation as to whether we would see her tonight, but there’s been no sign of her. Naturally her presence in town after wrapping up filming on Suits has increased speculation that an announcement is imminent. Indeed, if there’s to be an engagement this year, it’s most likely to hit between tomorrow and the first week of December.
It’s anyone’s guess these days, but I for one am keeping one eye on Twitter.