One week, five photos

As the week comes to an end and the spring sunshine reminds us of all there is to look forward to, there are some royal memories that will linger for a long time to come. Seven days, five photos, one week in images. Here are some of the best royal pictures of the week just gone.

It's the royal baby photo we were all waiting to see, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar of Sweden together. We weren't disappointed. Dad Daniel did the honours and we got a hug and a smile that was worth the wait and then some. Plus Estelle did retro fashion again by wearing a dress first used by mum back in 1982 when Princess Madeleine made her debut. A picture for the history books.

Prince Harry took a number of photos and videos during his official tour of Nepal. He is now working with Team Rubicon helping a community to reconstruct a school damaged in last year's earthquake. He wanted to share some of his favourite photos from Leorani village in west Nepal, where he stayed overnight with a local family. For a couple of these he has provided captions in his own words....this one, though, speaks for itself! Hope you enjoy his photos - thanks for all the lovely comments over the last few days.

A photo posted by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Mar 24, 2016 at 6:25am PDT

Prince Harry's visit to Nepal provided so many must see again images that it's hard to choose just one to sum the whole trip up but the picture posted as he began his private stay in the country just wins it. Harry selected some photos from his overnight stay in Leorani in the middle of his tour and as the caption says, this one really does need no words. One of the royal images of the year.

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His grandmother didn't too bad on the photos to remember front this week either. As the Queen handed out the traditional Maundy Money at St George's Chapel, Windsor there was a chance for a photo with full pomp and ceremoy as she stood on the steps surrounded by beefeaters. There was even a sprinkle of spring sunshine to turn this into a sparkling image of royal tradition.

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Grand Duchess Marisa Teresa of Luxembourg marked her 60th birthday in the week and the day before she and her family had an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. It really was a family affair and the photo of Maria Teresa beaming as she holds her granddaughter, Princess Amalia, for the group picture is a pretty special way to mark a pretty special birthday.

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This week made its mark on Europe and left many mourning and in shock. As Brussels was hit by terrorist attacks which killed at least 34 people and left hundreds more injured, royal families across Europe sent condolences, paid tributes and had flags lowered to half mast. Leading those tributes were King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians - we share your pain, the king said in his address after the attacks and as they remembered those killed and injured that was shown in poignant images.

5 royal Easter bonnets

We now know we won't see the Duchess of Cambridge at Windsor for Easter - she's staying with her mum and dad while William heads to Kenya for a wedding and some sight seeing plus a meeting with the country's President that was added at a later date. So that means no Easter bonnet for Kate, at least not in public, but that doesn't mean we won't get a treat of outfits. The Royal Family can always be relied on to provide a topper or two on Easter so to get ready for the big day, here are 5 royal Easter bonnets from times past.

It's not her most famous Easter bonnet (remember the blue and white outfit of 1987?)but this pink wide brim hat with veil, chosen in 1991, is definitely the most spring like and the most striking. Hats with veils are a rarity in royal circles these days so that addition of this tiny one here is an added bonus. A proper Easter bonnet.

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The Queen always pleases with her Easter hats and this pretty blue with yellow detail is about as spring like as they come.  It was worn in 2009 with a matching coat and lots of pearls and it's light, airy and delicate while making a statement at the same time. Very nice indeed.

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The Duchess of Cambridge tends to keep Easter away from the public eye but in 2014, during her trip to Australia with William, she attended morning service in Sydney in a cracking little hat. It's very Kate, small and perched towards the front of her head, but the shade and shape of this one set it apart. The pale lilac was super spring like and the matching coat was very duchess like.  A chic, sweet winner for Kate here.

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Princess Beatrice does like a hat and if it's slightly large and odd then all the better - pretzel, anyone? But sometimes she picks subtle and often scores a winner with it. This yellow with blue trim, chosen in 2013, is a perfect example of less being more for Beatrice. It's a classic and needs to be seen again.

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But when it comes to Easter bonnets, this takes some beating. The Countess of Wessex chose this blue straw hat with peacock feather detail in 2013 and won by a head, even with Beatrice's subtle selection (see above). This has got all the pzazz of a proper Easter bonnet mixed with enough chic and charm to make it a classic. Sophie, by a head.

Prince Oscar and his mum

He's just turned three weeks old so cuddles with mum are rather important. And Prince Oscar of Sweden is seen enjoying a big hug in a new photo released today.

Mother and son, Crown Princess and Prince, Victoria and Oscar of Sweden

(photo kunaghuset.se)

The new picture shows Oscar in blue with his proud mum, also in blue right down to the blue earrings that sparkle in the photo. It's the first time we've seen Crown Princess Victoria cuddling Oscar Carl Olof, Duke of Skane since his birth on March 2nd. And the second time around mum looks very well and very proud.

The first photo of Prince Oscar of Sweden was released soon after his birth but this is the first time we've seen him being cuddled by his family

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel sent a message of thanks with the photo to show their appreciation for all the good wishes given to hem following the birth of their son and the birthday of Princess Estelle, who turned four on February 23rd. And they also gave us the photo we've all been waiting for - Princess Estelle with her brother for the first time. Stand by, it's every bit as cute as you are expecting.

Princess Estelle cuddles her baby brother in a new photo shared by the Swedish Royal Family

Prince Oscar slept through this big photocall but looked very like his sister at a similar age. There will be more photos to come in the weeks and months ahead but these special images are another chapter in the royal story of Sweden.

Sofia's maternity fashion: the daywear highlights

With just weeks to go until Princess Sofia becomes a mum for the first time, royal baby excitement is on the up again. So to keep us all calm during these regal great expectations, here's a look back at some of the daywear that Sofia has shown us since October 15th when she announced that her pregnancy. And there are some pretty stunning looks here. Sit back and enjoy some of the highlights of Sofia's maternity daywear.

November 26th 2015, Global Child Forum, Royal Palace, Stockholm

Where else to start with a run down of some of the highlights of Sofia's daywear maternity looks than with this terrific teal top and black trousers combo? The top has a stunning drape effect and the addition of mid length sleeves gives it the perfect shape while the slim trousers and ankle boots add another winning touch to this outfit.

November 27th 2015, Royal Palace, Stockholm

For a meeting ahead of the Nobel Prize ceremony, Sofia chose another draped top this time in a pale oatmeal. OK, we didn't get to see very much of it and we were all wondering just when her hair had got so long but it was still pretty enough and very appropriate for the event.

December 2nd 2015, Royal Palace, Stockholm

Hands up any pregnant woman out there who hasn't done the whole big scarf effect in at least one outfit? The latest royal take on this trend came as Sofia held an audience with Admir Lucacevic to launch a Sports without Borders project when she teamed a blue floral print scarf with a pale blue top and dark blue jacket and looked really rather nice indeed.

December 3rd 2015, Royal Palace, Stockholm

There was more blue on show the next day for a board meeting at the Royal Palace. We were here before with Crown Princess Sofia but this big splash of baby blue came around the time in a pregnancy that parents can find out the gender of their baby. Carl Philip and Sofia have said they don't know but let's just focus on the blue. It's a very pretty shade and shape as well and just very, well, blue.

Prins Carl Philip och Prinsessan Sofia tar emot julgranar från studenter vid jägmästarprogrammet på Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU). Sedan slutet av 1960-talet överlämnar SLU julgranar till Kungliga slottet. Kungsgranen har fått sitt nuvarande namn efter denna tradition, den hette från början nordmannsgran. Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia receives Christmas trees from students at the program of forestry at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Since the end of the 1960’s, SLU gives Christmas trees to the Royal Palace. The “king fir Christmas tree” have received its name from this tradition, it was earlier called Nordmann fir. #kungahuset #kungligaslottet #kungsgran #slu

A photo posted by Kungahuset (@kungahuset) on Dec 16, 2015 at 12:52am PST

December 16th 2015, Royal Palace, Stockholm

As she took part in the official reception of the Christmas trees at the Royal Palace for the first time, Sofia went for a geometric print which worked rather well. It was bright, it was bold and it was teamed with a sharp jacket that added a formal element to the whole outfit. And mostly blue. Again. 

And there will be more of Sofia's daywear soon. Check out her evening maternity wear here.

Prince Harry in Nepal: Day Five

He ended on a high and that is saying something because up until today Prince Harry's visit to Nepal was a huge success. The fact that he made day five the best of an already impressive lot shows just what a dream of a royal tour this has been. Today, we had serious issues, we had big smiles and we had a promise from a prince that he would stay and help with the rebuilding work he has seen and heard about this week.

Prince Harry speaks on the final day of his tour of Nepal

(photo @KensingtonRoyal Twitter)

Harry's day began at the Girls Summit which sounds a lot less serious that it actually is. This gathering is all about ending forced marriage, stopping really young girls being forced into wedlock and opening up education opportunities for them all around the world. It's a big deal and Harry was there to open it alongside Nepal's President Bhandari. And he tapped right into the central issue under debate when he stood up to open the summit.