Royal blue is the colour

It's perhaps not surprising that Sofia Hellqvist has chosen royal blue for her first official portraits as a princess in waiting.  When a royal woman starts a new stage in her life or wants to make a statement on an important occasion, she usually chooses this very regal shade. The soon to be princess of Sweden joins a long list of ladies who have made royal blue THE colour.

A royal lady in waiting in royal blue - Sofia Hellqvist in one of her first official portraits

(photo Erika Gerdemark for royalcourt.se)

Her future sister-in-law, Crown Princess Victoria, chose royal blue for her own engagement announcement.  As she introduced Daniel Westling to the press after the official news broke in February 2009, the future queen was wearing deepest royal blue to set off her diamond ring.

If there's a royal engagement in Sweden then chances are the bride to be will wear royal blue at least once before the big day - Victoria and Daniel show off the ring in 2009

Deepest royal blue was also picked by Kate Middleton as she stepped firmly into the royal spotlight in November 2010 to announce her engagement to Prince William.  

All in blue - William and Kate match on their engagement day

It brought back memories of the first woman to wear the famous sapphire and diamond ring that matched the royal blue dress so well.  Lady Diana Spencer had chosen the same colour for her engagement outfit in 1981.

The Prince of Wales introduces Lady Diana Spencer on the day their engagement was announced in 1981

Queen Maxima chose it for the beginning of her husband's reign on April 30th 2013 when she wore a full length dress in royal blue as she watched Willem-Alexander take his oath.  The dress was later worn for some of the official portraits of the new king and queen.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in royal blue on the day of her husband's accession

Princess Beatrix was also in royal blue on the day of her abdication when she watched her son, and now king, take his oath wearing the same shade as the new queen.  Willem-Alexander and Maxima's three daughters - Amalia, Alexia and Ariane - were also in royal blue.

Three queens - one past, one present and one future - on a special day for the Dutch Royal Family

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians also chose the shade for the outfit she wore for her first official portraits as consort to the new king.  The full length royal blue dress was worn for photos released several weeks after the accession of King Philippe on July 21st 2013.

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians in an official portrait from the summer of 2013

Crown Princess Mary had chosen baby blue for her outfit at the christening of her eldest child, Prince Christian, in 2005 and baby pink for the baptism of her daughter, Princess Isabella, two years later. But when she and Crown Prince Frederik arrived for the christening of their twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, the proud mummy was resplendent in very royal blue.

The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark with their four children following the christening of twins, Vincent and Josephine

And always one to modernise, the new Queen of Spain chose royal blue for her first public appearance after her husband's accession but Letizia put the colour on a trousers suit.  For the engagement in Madrid just forty eight hours after Felipe became king, his consort was in a royal blue jacket and matching trousers - a regal and fashion conscious start to the reign and yet another instance in which Europe's royal ladies have chosen royal blue for the big events.

Royal blue for a new queen - Letizia of Spain in Madrid at the start of her husband's reign