The Queen of fashion

There's been a lot of talk in recent days about a new fashion battle between the Duchess of Cambridge and Letizia, soon to be Queen of Spain as the current Princess of Asturias takes on a much higher profile globally as he husband takes the throne.  But both women have lost this week's chic contest.  And by a long way.  The Queen wore not one but three knockout outfits she made her way to Paris for a state visit.  Tres, tres, tres chic.

The Queen at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 5th 2014 on a State Visit to France

Elizabeth II began her day at St Pancras station where she took the Eurostar to Paris to begin her State Visit.  And for that part of her day, which included a meeting with the train's staff, she chose a white coat with navy hat which set the pace for a day of royal fashion excellence.

All white to start the day - the Queen at St Pancras station in London

But just a few hours later, after zooming through the tunnel beneath the Channel, the Queen was in Paris and in a white lace effect dress with a black and white hat.  Elizabeth II was met by officials and diplomats as she began her State Visit to France.

The Queen in Paris - chic flowers, chic royal fashion

But the star outfit appeared not long after that as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the Elysee Palace to greet President Hollande.  Elizabeth II stepped from her car and on to the red carpet in a pink suit with matching hat that simply stunned.  

Pink for Paris - the Queen, Francois Hollande and the Duke of Edinburgh

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had lunch with the President of France after an audience.  Later, the President accompanied his royal visitors to the Arc de Triomphe where they laid a wreath.

The Queen and President Hollande of France at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at theArc de Triomphe in Paris

Elizabeth II has been the most constant feature of royalty in Europe for over sixty years but she has also produced some surprises - like taking part in a James Bond sketch to help open the London Olympics.  And today, the Queen surprised us all again.  Because just as royal watchers were gearing up for a debate about Kate and Letizia's fashion battles, Elizabeth II showed everyone just how royal chic should be done.  After 63 years on the throne, at the age of 88, the Queen is still showing the younger generation how it's done.

The Queen's Purse

Queen Elizabeth II is making do with a heating system that's sixty years old and costing her a cool three quarters of a million pounds every year to keep Buckingham Palace warm.  She's also down to her last one million pounds in reserve funds after big overspends in recent times.  But it's not the Queen's fault.  A new report from the Public Accounts Committee says that Elizabeth II has been let down by the Treasury and her Household and the royal purse string holders now need to start saving more cash and making more money.

Luckily, she's staying at Sandringham as the weather gets colder.  A report by an influential committee of MPs says that the Queen's heating system at Buckingham Palace is sixty years old and costing a fortune

The Queen has already opened the doors of Buckingham Palace to visitors with a chance to wander round the royal corridors available in the summer months.  But the committee says that brings in around half a million pounds every year while other royal buildings do far better - the Tower of London made £2 million in the same year from ticket sales.  Now the committee is suggesting that the Royal Household look at ways to make efficiencies as well as exploring methods of bringing in more cash.

Open all hours?  A group of MPs suggested the Royal Household should find ways of making more money after overspends in recent times

The criticisms in the report were a surprise and are the first leveled at the royal finances for several years. The timing is also a bit of a shock as criticisms of a royal family's spending usually come when they're under fire on all fronts.  The last time the Queen faced real outrage over royal financial affairs was in the early 1990s when her family was fragmenting and Charles and Diana were going through a very public separation and divorce.  Perhaps the most surprising element of this latest angst over cash is that it comes at a time when the House of Windsor is riding high.  The Queen is enjoying huge personal popularity. The celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee and the 60th anniversary of her coronation as well as the already growing anticipation for the September day in 2015 when she overtakes Queen Victoria as Britain's longest reigning monarchs have all cemented appreciation for Elizabeth II and her family.  And the global superstar status of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and - to a lesser extent - her husband and her brother-in-law mean that the British royals haven't had it this good for decades.

The Queen has enjoyed huge popularity in recent years

This controversy over royal finances is small compared to previous criticisms and the fact that it is focused on the way the Queen's budget is managed for her, rather than on what the royals themselves are spending, means that the negative press reaction hasn't, so far, hit the House of Windsor directly.   But it does open up a vein of criticism that had lain dormant for a long time.  It will be interesting to see how the Royal Household reacts.