#RoyalVisitSweden: the state of things to come?

This is not a State Visit. Repeat. This is not a State Visit. If you didn't know better, the mega attention and the pattern of engagements going on during day two of #RoyalVisitSweden might lead you to believe otherwise. Business, culture, ties between the two nations involved? Check. Lots of royal hosting and tea with two future queens? Check. Glamourous evening event involving boat ride? Check. Welcome to the final part of Kate and William in Stockholm.

Toff meets the Royals

The Queen of the Jungle met the king in waiting today as Prince Charles visited the ITV studios in London. The Prince of Wales was snapped chatting with Toff, otherwise Georgia Toffolo, as he popped into This Morning for some anniversary celebrations. The prince is patron of the Royal Television Society which turns 90 this year while the show that Toff has just joined is marking three decades and counting on screen. No wonder everyone is smiling.

#RoyalVisitSweden: Day One

#RoyalVisitSweden is well and truly under way. Day one has seen the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge play bandy hockey, visit the Nobel Museum and have lunch at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. And that's only the half of it. Here's a summary of what William and Kate did on day one of their visit to Sweden.

#RoyalVisitSweden: black tie and flowers

After a day of red carpets on ice and frost on cobbled streets, the very well polished floors and very expensive rugs of the British Embassy in Stockholm were very, very welcome. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ended day one of #RoyalVisitSweden at a dinner hosted by the UK Ambassador at his official residence. Think relaxed glamour. And flowers. Lots and lots of flowers.

#RoyalVisitSweden: a winter's walk

It was picture postcard perfect. A future king and queen, along with their consorts, took a stroll through Stockholm in the snow. As #RoyalVisitSweden got well and truly under way, Kate and William were treated to a proper winter wonderland in Stockholm.

Meet Europe's new royal superstar, Leonor

On her dad's 50th birthday, Princess Leonor gave Spain's royals an invaluable present - the best day they've had in months. As the heir to the throne was presented with the collar and insignia of the Toison de Oro by her proud dad, she gave everyone a hint that the magic that's got the Borbons out of more than one corner is alive and well in the new generation. Leonor is a star in the making.

#RoyalVisitSweden: red carpets and snow

#RoyalVisitSweden is under way. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are already out and about in Stockholm as their trip gets going. It all got very busy very early on for William and Kate as they took to the ice, well a red carpet covered version of it, for a spot of sport at the start of their stint in Stockholm. Very snowy, very pretty and very William and Kate.

#RoyalVisitSweden: the past trips

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are about to touch down in Sweden for a three day visit (OK, two full days but they don't technically leave until the following morning so let's go for the hat trick). It's part of a longer trip to Scandinavia, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that will also see them head to Norway. They're getting a right royal welcome but this isn't a State Visit. However, Sweden has shared several of these glittering events with the UK since the Queen took the throne in 1952 so as Kate and William get ready for Stockholm, here's a look back at the State Visits to and from Sweden during the reign of Elizabeth II.

Sweden's Royals mourn the death of the king of IKEA

Sweden's Royal Family have led tributes to Ingvar Kamprad, the man who gave the world IKEA. He was, of course, much more than that. One of the great entrepreneurs of the 20th and 21st century, he became as well known for his philanthropy as for his skill in the business world. Ingvar Kamprad has long associations with King Carl XVI Gustaf and his family and they are leading Sweden in marking the passing of a legend.

The Windsor Wrap, January 28th 2018

January is almost done, the Queen is getting ready to leave Sandringham after her Christmas break and the royal year is warming up nicely. It's been quite a busy week for the Windsors as the royal diary cranks back into action and to get everyone feeling sparkly for the year ahead, another regal grandchild went and announced their engagement. Here's the Windsor's week in a minute....

Felipe at 50: say hello to the first photos

If you're in the mood for some glossy royal photos with a cuppa this Saturday, then Spain's ruling house has ticked all the boxes for you. Felipe VI has let the cameras behind palace doors as part of the celebrations for his 50th birthday this month. Hola has even gone to the presses with a special edition as photos of the king getting ready to say hello to his half century come out. The pics are just about everywhere in the Spanish media this weekend. And they're already causing quite the stir.

5 things we already know about the Cambridges in Sweden and Norway

We're down to five days and counting. On January 30th, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge start a four day trip to Sweden and Norway. There's plenty to look forward to including lots of European royal sightings and celeb hangouts for Kate and William as well as a focus on some of the causes most important to the couple. As the trip edges nearer, here are five things we already know about the Cambridges Scandi style....

Windsor Engagement Rings: the sapphires

The latest Windsor engagement ring follows a long tradition. For while the stone at the centre of Princess Eugenie's ring might be pink, it's a version of a gem that has been a favourite of her family for betrothals for almost a century. When Albert, Duke of York proposed to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 he chose a sapphire engagement ring and ever since then, that gem has turned up as a marry me moment on plenty of occasions.  As Eugenie adds another interesting sparkler to the collection, here's a look at the Windsor engagement sapphires....

Eugenie's Royal Wedding: the reactions

Engagements are always happy news and there were plenty of smiles in response to the announcement that Princess Eugenie and her boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank, are getting married. Since the moment this morning that they surprised us with their big news, it's been royal watching bliss as reactions have poured in from family and friends. And to round it all off, we got to hear from the couple themselves as they chatted happily on BBC's The One Show this evening. Here's the response, so far, to Royal Wedding 2018, Mark 2.

Fergie, mother of the bride

And like that, she's back in the room. Let's face it, Fergie never really went away. But within moments of her younger daughter, Eugenie, announcing her engagement, La Ferg was in full throttle and reminding everyone why she made us laugh and cringe all at the same time. So often. The comments that followed the news of Royal Wedding Number 2 were almost as joyous as the big announcement itself and herald the start of a new age of Fergie. Bet the Queen can't wait.

Eugenie and Jack: the official photos

Here comes the bride. Princess Eugenie and her husband to be, Jack Brooksbank, have set the seal on their engagement with a series of official photos. The couple smiled for the camera of Jonathan Brady in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace just hours after their happy news was shared with the world. The official announcement of their engagement was made at 10am on Monday January 22nd 2017.

Princess Eugenie is getting married

Princess Eugenie of York is getting married. The Queen's granddaughter is engaged to her partner, Jack Brooksbank, with another Windsor wedding set for this autumn.

Royal birthdays, the gifts that keep on giving

This weekend sees three big royal birthdays and a bit of a surprise. We expect anniversary photos from several of Europe's royal houses but the Windsors are rather more hit and miss when it comes to celebrating birthdays with new snaps. Not this year. As Sophie, Countess of Wessex marked her big day we got an avalanche of pictures and information about her on the official Royal Family social media accounts. Add in to that the expected new portraits from Norway and Belgium where other royal birthdays were being celebrated and the weekend turned into a bonanza of photos and that can only be good news for the royals.

The Windsor Week: let's make it a keeper

We've had high profile TV interviews, so many engagements it's been hard to keep up with, fashion as a way of helping others and a man's sartorial choices making the biggest headlines. It's been a good week for the House of Windsor. Speaking very personally, this is how I want my royals to be. OK, I'm one voice but I'm going to share it anyway. If this is the future then all is looking rosy. Why have the past seven days worked so well for the bods at Buck House?

State Dinner Sparklers: Iceland to Sweden

And we're off. The Royal 2018 has welcomed its first sparkling State Banquet of the year and who else would be getting the whole tiaras at tea party started than the Swedish royals. Yep, Queen Silvia and co were all diamonds and smiles as they welcomed the President of Iceland and his wife to Stockholm on the first State Visit of the year. It was a small and select gathering of gems (Crown Princess Victoria is ill and Princess Madeleine stayed in London as she is now in the final stages of her third pregnancy) but when they glitter that much, who'se grumnling. Let's start the 2018 State Dinner Sparklers selection....

The great work of England's first queen

The Bayeux Tapestry could be heading for England. The famous telling of the Conquest of England by a certain king called William in 1066 is, according to The Times and the BBC, on its way to the country he claimed for a little holiday. It would give millions the chance to see this amazing historic source. And put on display the most fabulous legend surrounding England's first post conquest queen.

The Queen and the Corsetiere

There's a word you don't get to write every day. Corsetiere. And so much more sophisticated than bra supplier even though they have both been used to describe a lady who has just fallen foul of the Queen of England. To much fanfare, and headlines around the world, Rigby & Peller has lost its royal warrant because one of its leading ladies wrote a book about bras and Buckingham Palace.

Royal Wedding Dresses: Princess Margriet of the Netherlands

Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven on their wedding day, January 10th 1967

(photo koninklijkhuis.nl)

If the cold days of January are starting to make you feel a bit grey, how about a royal wedding dress covered in daisies to celebrate a golden anniversary to brighten things up? Today marks the anniversary of the marriage of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven and, just like this rather happy royal couple, the wedding gown of January 10th 1967 has stood the test of time.

Meghan Markle's Media Day

For a woman who made her name in the media, perhaps it shouldn't be that surprising that Meghan Markle's first public engagement of 2018 was dominated by communication. Meghan, along with Prince Harry, was a guest at a radio station. But while they heard about this take on the oldest form of broadcast media, a new way of getting the message across was making headlines, too. Yes, Meghan has closed down her social media accounts. Anyone would think she was marrying into royalty or something.

The Birthday Duchess: Kate's year in pictures

The Duchess of Cambridge is 36 today. Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, born on January 9th 1982 in Reading, Berkshire, is celebrating with a busy year ahead of her as she gets ready to welcome baby number three to her family. But the year just gone has been pretty packed, too, so as Kate enjoys her special day, here's a look back at some of her best pictures in the year since she was last a birthday duchess.

Princess Charlotte's first day at school

She is one confident looking litte girl. Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge started school today with mum on hand to capture the moment on camera and number four in line to the throne seemed more than ready for her big day. Smiling cheekily and ready to step out, Princess Charlotte headed off to begin a new chapter in her life brimming with confidence.

A Day of Kings in Spain

The feast of Epiphany, marking the day the three kings visited Jesus at the stable in Bethlehem, is a high point of the Christmas celebrations in Spain. And in 2018 it became a Day of the Kings for another reason. Juan Carlos joined his son, Felipe VI, at the traditional Pascua Militar for the first time since his abdication. Spain's two kings were joined by its two queens for a regal start to the country's royal year.

The Windsor Wrap, January 6th 2018

A new year, a new start and some lovely news as 2018 begins. The Windsors might still be on their Christmas break but that didn't stop them making headlines. Here's what the Royal Family got up to this week, all in one minute (and there's music, too, just make sure you're not on mute).

Juan Carlos at 80

For a man who never really did birthdays, it was as low key as you might expect. Juan Carlos, King of Spain from 1975 - 2014, marked his 80th with a family lunch at the palace he calls home and celebrated with a special photo.

King Juan Carlos at 80: eight decades, eight photos

King Juan Carlos of Spain celebrates his 80th birthday today. Once the most popular monarch in Europe, he is now largely unseen following his abdication in favour of his son, Felipe VI, in 2014. But few royals have left as much of a mark on Spanish history as Juan Carlos and his milestone birthday is another reason to reflect on his life and work. On his 80th birthday here are eight photos for his eight decades...

Spain's royals find a reason to celebrate

King Juan Carlos of Spain is 80 today and while he's normally not a great one for birthday parties, the man who was monarch for almost forty years is about to embark on two days of festivities. Amongst the events of the coming 48 hours will be a symbolic public appearance and a private lunch. At last, Spain's royals have found a reason to celebrate.

Royal News: first out of the blocks for 2018....

...it's those Danes, again. Someone is going to have to get up really early one New Year's Day to beat this lot to first engagement of the year. Queen Margrethe got her brood glittering at her traditional gala at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen and knocked everyone else out of contention for first royal job of the year. Here's how they sparkled.

The Royal 2018: January's Aquarians

January brings a shower of regal birthdays. In fact, there are so many celebrations going on, it's hard to keep count. So we've fallen back on signs of the Zodiac and having lined up the Capricorns (find them all here), it's time for the royal age of Aquarius. Eight more regal birthdays including a milestone that will likely pass all but unmarked and yet more opportunities for cute photos of younr royals. Who am I talking about? Read on to find out more about January's later royal birthdays....

The Royal 2018: January's crop of Capricorns

After all that Christmas feasting, don't think you're out of the party woods yet. January is a bumper month for royal birthdays with kings, queens, consorts and heirs packing out the month with celebrations. If you get a day off from all this anniversary cake and candles, count yourself lucky. To keep it manageable, this year's birthdays are served in two parts with a little help from the signs of the zodiac. Here come the royal birthday girls and boys for January born as Capricorns.....

The Royal 2018: 6 reasons to look forward....

It's here! The bumper royal year that is 2018 is under way and already excitement is mounting. So much to look forward to and so much to celebrate, what better way to start a new year than with hearts filled with smiles at happiness still to come? Here's what we already know we can look forward to in 2018 and that's before our royals have even got their jammies off after a night of celebrations. Happy New Year!!