Prince Oscar and the celebrity chef

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden bumped into celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, during lunch in London this week

(photo Jamie Oliver Instagram)

Most mums are worried enough about taking their baby into a coffee shop but when you're a queen in waiting with the second and third in line to your country's throne in the car seats in the back, you do things in style. Which would explain how Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden ended up in the restaurant of celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, ordering for Prince Oscar this week.

The Royal Wardrobe: August's summer seven

The Duchess of Cambridge in a standout summer look from August 2016

Summer holidays means two things when it comes to the Royal Wardrobe. One, not as many appearances and two, a lot of casual clothes. But putting that aside, August 2016 still produced some standout summer looks so as the month comes to an end here are seven times we all went wow for outfits from the Royal Wardrobe.

Queen Maxima heads to Indonesia

Queen Maxima during her visit to Indonesia as a special UN envoy for inclusive finance

(photo koninklijkhuis.nl)

After welcoming home Team NL and celebrating their medal success at Rio 2016, it was back to business for Queen Maxima before August was even over. She has headed to Indonesia in her role as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance - it's government talks and a big conference for Maxima as the summer holidays come to an end.

August's Royal Instagram Hits

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway shared this photo of her and her husband to mark their wedding anniversary on Instagram

A picture tells a thousands words so what the Royal Houses of Europe share on their Instagram accounts is a pretty quick way of getting a message across. August has seen plenty of snaps shared to the social media platform and some of them have had huge hit rates. Here are the biggest Instagram hits on the royal accounts of Europe.

Mary in Greenland

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is visiting Greenland for three days

(photo Mary Foundation press release)

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has headed to Greenland for a three day visit. She's there with the Mary Foundation and part of the reason for her visit is to take part in a conference on domestic violence. And as we've come to expect from Mary in recent times, she's not been afraid to tackle a tricky subject head on.

Royal Weddings: Harald and Sonja of Norway, August 29th 1968

Harald and Sonja of Norway on their wedding day

August 29th 1968, Oslo

She walked into a church a commoner and stepped out as the first lady of Norway. Sonja Haraldsen was a ground breaking new bride. She had waited nine years to wed her handsome prince and her marriage caused debate and controversy. But it put her on a path that would make her Queen of Norway and today she celebrates 48 years of marriage.

Prince Nikolai of Denmark at 17

Prince Nikolai of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is seventeen today

When I was 17, it was a very good year...the seventeenth birthday of Prince Nikolai of Denmark is something of a milestone and not just for him. Because as is clear in new photos taken by Steen Brogaard, the eldest grandchild of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is suddenly very grown up indeed.

Queen Victoria's coronet in the balance

Queen Victoria in her sapphire coronet in a famous portrait by Winterhalter from 1842

One of Queen Victoria's most famous coronets has been placed under an export ban after a buyer asked to remove it from the UK. ThIt's hoped that the ban, in place until December 27th,  will allow enough time for a new purchaser inside the UK to be found - but they will need around £6 million pounds to secure this part of royal history.

Maxima and the medal winners

A royal welcome for the medal winners of Team NL

(photo koninklijkhuis.nl)

This time last week, they were cheering them to the podium in Rio. Now, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima have welcomed the medal winners of TeamNL to one of their royal homes to celebrate their success at the Olympics.

Royal Rio 2016: the king of photographs

The King of Sweden brings his trusty camera along as he and Queen Silvia congratulate Peder Fredericson on his silver medal in equestrianism in Rio 2016

(photo kungahuset Instagram)

Royals are used to having their photos taken, it's an occupational hazard. But in Rio, King Carl XVI Gustaf made sure he enjoyed life on both sides of the lens. For wherever Sweden's monarch went, so did his camera. Let's hope he's got a great eye for detail because this is one seriously chunky photo album that the family is going to have to sit through on the lengthening evenings. It might well help get the grandkids to sleep but judging from these images of the king of photographs, his queen has already had enough.

Kate and William speak out for Heads Together

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to YoungMinds as part of their Heads Together campaign
(Kensington Palace Instagram)

You can tell just how seriously William and Kate are taking their Heads Together campaign as they have spoken publicly about the importance of parents getting the support they need and not trying to be superheroes. As they visited YoungMinds to find out about their work, they both talked openly about the stresses of being parents and how much it means to know that help is available.

Royal Weddings: Mother of the Groom, Queen Sonja

Queen Sonja in her emerald tiara - she wore it at her son's wedding in 2001 as well

(photo kongehuset.no)

Did a queen ever look more majestic on her son's wedding day? Sonja of Norway pulled out all the steps for the marriage of her son, and the heir to the country's throne, on August 25th 2001. She appeared in an unforgettable green gala gown but then when you've got perhaps the best set of emeralds on the continent to wear, why would you go for any other colour?

Royal Wedding Dresses: Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway on their wedding day, August 25th 2001

(photo kongehuset.no)

One of the most famous royal weddings of the 21st century took place exactly fifteen years ago today. Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby stepped into Oslo Cathedral as a controversial royal fiancee and walked out as the wife of Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and as the future queen of Norway. And she wore a dream of a dress that is still a template for royal wedding gowns today to make her transition to Crown Princess of Norway.

William and Kate in Luton

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cut a cake marking the 25th anniversary of Keech Hospice in Luton during a day of engagements in the town

(photo Keech Hospice Twitter)

The new school term is just days away and it was back to normal for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they carried out their first set of engagements after several weeks of summer holidays. William and Kate were in Luton where they visited a youth project, an electric motors company and a hospice marking 25 years of caring for people with life limiting conditions. The couple focused on mental health, the economy and the hospice movement - all causes close to their hearts.

Mary meets Monet

Crown Princess Mary tours the Monet exhibition she opened on August 23rd 2016 

(photo Royal House Denmark)

He's one of the best known Impressionist painters with works famous around the world and this week, the biggest ever exhibition of Monet's paintings to be held in Scandinavia was opened by Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

The royals at the hot dog van

Joachim and Marie hang out at the hot dog van in Copenhagen - well, it is summer after all

(photo kongehuset.dk)

It's just your average summer day out. A stroll through Copenhagen, the smell of fast food cooking and a prince and princess hanging out at the hot dog van. Joachim and Marie of Denmark spent quite a lot of time propping up the bar of the takeout van this week but it was all in a good cause. Like eating hot dogs isn't a good enough cause already.

William and Kate's Canada Dates

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their first visit to Canada in 2011

(photo Kensington Palace Instagram)

Get the diary ready, we now know when William and Kate are heading to Canada. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive on September 24th and head home again on October 1st. And there's no sitting around for this royal pairs - the week is jam packed already and they've not even got there yet.

Alexander's Album

Prince Alexander of Sweden in his father's arms in a photo released ahead of his christening

(photo kungahuset/ Kate Gabor)

Prince Alexander of Sweden has starred in some new photos released ahead of his christening, set to take place on September 9th in the chapel of Drottninngholm Palace. And at four months old, he's looking quite the little man and very like his daddy.

Gold for August: Queen Margrethe's Poppies

No one else is ever going to be wearing the same headpiece when Margrethe chooses her poppies

They sound as if they should be one of the prettiest modern additions to a royal jewellery box but this set of gem encrusted flowers is controversial and then some. The Golden Poppies belonging to Queen Margrethe of Denmark are a modern take on the traditional head wear of royal ladies but these are a real love them or hate them set of jewels. Here is the most talked about of all the sets made of gold for August.

Royal Rio 2016: the youngest fan

You're never too young to show your royal support for your national football team as Prince Nicolas demonstrates

(photo Princess Madeleine Facebook)

There's been a lot of royal support at Rio but even the members of Europe's ruling houses who are too young to make the long trip to Brazil have been showing their allegiance. Ahead of the women's gold medal match between Sweden and Germany, Prince Nicolas donned his team's home kit and showed them he was right behind them.  Meet Sweden's youngest royal fan.

Royal Rio 2016: a collection of kings

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia with some of Sweden's canoeists at the Rio Olympics

(photo kungahuset Instagram)

The Rio Olympics are coming to an end in right royal style. As the final events of this year's Games are played out on a world stage, there is a collection of kings and queens watching on to give the last moments of this Olympiad a truly regal air.

Gold for August: Queen Sonja's tiara

Queen Sonja of Norway in her golden tiara during a State Visit to Poland in 2012

(photo kongehuset.no)

August is a chance to look at some of the gems that don't fit the calendar of jewels and golden pieces are right at the top of this sparkling list. Given that it's been associated with royalty for centuries. gold plays little part in the tiara collection of many royal houses but the ruling houses in Scandinavia are changing all that right now. Queen Sonja was a bit of a trailblazer in that regard - meet her golden tiara, you won't forget it in a hurry.

The Queen and cake

The Queen received hundreds of homemade cakes for her 90th birthday celebrations this year

(photo BBC TV still)

News that the Queen has been dishing up birthday cakes sent for her 90th to her dinner guests with their coffee should come as no surprise. As Lady Elizabeth Anson, the cousin who made the revelation said, the Queen does like to make good use of everything - no waste in the House of Windsor. But given that some of the best royal photos around have involved Elizabeth II cutting a cake, why would anyone miss a chance to see the Queen slicing the sponge? To celebrate her birthday thriftiness, here are six special moments when the Queen cut cakes.

Royal Rio 2016: Willem-Alexander and Maxima get into the party spirit

 

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands adds another snap to his Rio album

(photo Team NL Twitter)

Princess Anne has competition. The royal moment of the Rio Olympics, so far, has been her double act in the making with Andy Murray as they messed around at the official photocall for Team GB. But Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is in Brazil now and she's hitting her stride. And no one does royal celebrations quite like Maxima.

Royal Rio 2016: the arrival of the Queen of Sweden

The King and Queen of Sweden have arrived at the Rio Olympics

(photo kungahuset.se/ Peter Knutson)

If ever the Rio Olympics were made for a royal, it was Queen Silvia. These games have plenty of reasons to be special for Sweden's longest reigning consort and the performance of her country's team is just one of them. Silvia's royal romance began at the Olympics while the host nation of Brazil was also her home for part of her childhood and the country where her mother was born. These games have plenty of meaning for Queen Silvia.

Royal Rio 2016: King Willem-Alexander leads the way

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands with the Dutch team at Rio 2016

(photo koninklijkhuis Facebook)

Dad had already had a chance to take in the atmosphere of the Olympics and mum had had a pretty good time on her arrival in Rio too. So it was only fair that Willem-Alexander and Maxima's three princesses got a chance for some summer Games fun too. Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariana have arrived in Rio and they're thoroughly enjoying it.

Gold for August: Margrethe's tiara

Golden flowers for a queen - the unusual tiara belonging to Margrethe of Denmark

The birthstones of August, peridot and spinel, are rarely used in royal jewellery but that doesn't mean the calendar of regal gems can just take a month off. The long, hot days of summer are perfect for mopping up some of the sparklers that don't fit anywhere else and where better to start than with a metal that is closely associated with royalty but rarely dominates tiaras - gold. And if you want to find a gold tiara where else would you look than in the Danish royal jewellery box. Queen Margrethe never lets us down.

Kate's message for mums and dads

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have carried out a high profile campaign on mental health issues

(photo UK in India via Flickr)

The Duchess of Cambridge has taken her campaign on mental health to mums and dads. Kate has publicly given her support to a series of podcasts by the Anna Freud Centre which are focused on helping parents understand mental health problems in children. And she's drawn on her own experience of motherhood to help underline her message.

The Royal Week - in Numbers

The Princess Royal presents the Fiji Rugby 7s team with their gold medals this week

(photo Royal Family Twitter)

One week filled with royal stories. It might be summer but there's still plenty of regal news to keep everyone interested and so to sum it all up, here's a look back at some of the highlights. It's time for the Royal Week, in Numbers.

On This Day...George IV is born

George IV

King of Great Britain and Ireland, 1820 - 1830

(photo public domain via Wiki Commons)

He became a byword for fashion, excess and glamour and despite ruling for a decade he is probably best known as the Prince Regent whose marriage set new lows when it came to royal unhappiness. King George IV was born on this day in 1762.

Five fairytale gowns from 2016

Beatrice Casiraghi in her dream dress at the Rose Ball this year

Princess Eugenie has added her name to two big lists in the last twenty four hours. First she's joined the princesses in magazines run down as she poses for Harper's Bazaar. And she's also joined the select list of regal ladies who have given us fairytale gowns fit for a princess in 2016. Here are five of the best.

Princess Eugenie in Harper's Bazaar

Princess Eugenie of York with Laura Brown of Harper's Bazaar - the royal features in the September edition 

(photo Laura Brown Instagram)

Another month, another glossy mag with a princess as its star. After Kate did Vogue and Mary did Vogue (again), this time round it's Eugenie doing Harper's Bazaar. The seventh in line to the throne features in the US September issue of the magazine, looking very glamourous while she's at it.

On This Day...Edward VII is crowned

He waited decades to become king but on this day, in 1902, Albert Edward, eldest son of Queen Victoria, was crowned alongside his wife, Alexandra of Denmark.

Three sisters in the footsteps of their parents

The three daughters of King Frederik and Queen Ingrid of Denmark enjoy their summer holidays togeher

(photo det danskekongehuset Instagram)

Two queens, one princess - three daughters. Eight decades ago Frederik and Ingrid of Denmark introduced the tradition of summer holidays at Grasten Castle. All these years on their three girls are enjoying some sun filled days there and smelling the roses. They might be royal but there's still nothing like a family holiday.

Summer starts as the Queen is Balmoral bound

The Queen arrives at Balmoral to start her summer holiday

(photo The Army in Scotland Twitter)

That's it, everyone. Summer is actually and most definitely here. The Queen has arrived at Balmoral with enough clothes to see her through for two months. It's holiday time.

A summer's evening for Spain's royals

Queen Sofia with King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain at the annual reception for local authorities on Mallorca

(photo casareal.es)

It's a tradition that usually marks the end of the public part of Spain's royal summer holidays and this year it took place on a perfect sunlit evening. King Felipe was joined by his wife and mother, Spain's two queens. for a reception at the Almudaina Palace on Mallorca before they walked into the sunset of this summer break to get ready for private holidays.

Let them eat birthday cake...

The Queen with Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussein, who made her official 90th birthday cake

(photo Royal Family Twitter still)

There is something rather lovely about the Queen's decision to share the many birthday cakes she's been sent to mark her 90th with her house guests. As her cousin revealed that the sweet treats sent to Elizabeth II as she marked her big day are being dished up as dessert at private parties and receptions, the Queen has scored another hit.

Royal Rio 2016: the Olympics Opening Ceremony

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark enjoying the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympics

(photo der danske kongehuset Facebook)

The Rio Olympics are under way and as they started with a flourish, there were plenty of royals in the stands of the Maracana stadium to watch the spectacle unfold. The opening ceremony of the 2016 Games was all about carnival - here's a rundown of the royals who went to Rio to celebrate the start of the 31st Olympiad.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway separates

Princess Martha Louise of Norway is separating from her husband. Ari Behn

(photo Royal Court of Norway/ Catherine Wessel)

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband. Ari Behn, have separated. The Royal Court of Norway announced that the couple, who have three daughters, had parted with statements from the princess and her parents.

A sedate photocall in Spain

Spain's royals took part in a low key photo call this summer in Mallorca

(photo call TVE.es still)

It was low key, understated and touched by politics - pretty much like their whole year so far.  Spain's Royal Family have taken part in their traditional summer pose in  but while other August evenings have been filled with chatter, this was all about a quiet sit down in the park.

Royal Rio 2016: Anne and Andy, a double act in the making

The Princess Royal and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray at a photo call for Team GB at the Rio Olympics

(photo Royal Family Twitter still)

As a former Olympian, she's got bragging rights when it comes to getting things at the Games just right. And the Princess Royal wasn't going to let Team GB's flag bearer get away with his rather awkward attempts to get the Union Jack and the whole squad into a photo with just hours to go before the Olympics  started. As Andy Murray juggled the flag, the Princess Royal joined in with the giggles and produced a double act in the making.

Royal Rio 2016: good luck from Kensington Palace

Prince Harry gets the party started in a good luck message for this year's Olympic Games

The Games are almost on us but while Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is owning Rio right now, other royals are starting to embrace the Olympic spirit. And straight out of the blocks with a gold medal winning performance are the Kensington Palace relay team of William, Kate and Harry.

On This Day....Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother is born

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

(photo Allan Warren via Wiki Commons)

Her birthday was a summer tradition for years, ending the news with happy photos of a family celebrating alongside its matriarch. When she turned 100, millions marked the moment with her. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was born on this day in 1900.

The Swedish Line of Succession

It's been a busy year for Sweden's royals so as they settle down to a relaxing summer holiday, here's a look at how the changes in their family have affected the line of succession. With two new princes in the palace, the path to the throne looks very different from the start of the year. So here's how the  Sweden's succession looks now.

Family first for Felipe

King Felipe of Spain with his daughters, Leonor and Sofia

(photo casareal.es)

This was an evening out all about family. King Felipe had barely arrived in Mallorca before he headed out for a spot of supper with many of his relations. Accompanied by his wife, children, parents and older sister as well as her children, this meal gave the King of Spain a chance to show the world that the royal house he now moves as one.  It was a powerful show of togetherness.

12 royal birthdays for August

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway celebrates her birthday in August

August is traditionally quiet on the royal front. The summer holidays beckon and as the rest of us head off for a bit of a break, the royals do exactly the same leaving a great big gaping hole where the photos, smiles and appearances usually go. But that's not to say a royal fix will be hard in August because it's also a bumper month for birthdays. Get the cards ready, here are 12 royals who will be celebrating in August.