Lady Louise wows in elegant floral gown at King Charles' coronation
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, looked magnificent as she attended the King's Coronation with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and their children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn.
Sophie, 58, arrived in London wearing a regal white Suzannah couture floor length embroidered gown with a Jane Taylor headpiece and Royal Victorian Order Mantle for the historic first coronation of a British monarch in 70 years at Westminster Abbey, where Britain will acclaim its new King.
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Meanwhile, Lady Louise, 19, a university student at St Andrew's, wore a beautiful white and blue floral gown with a stunning headpiece. Prince Edward, 59, wore a morning gown with a Garter Mantle over a black smart suit with a white shirt. James, Earl of Wessex, 15, who rarely appears in public, looked dapper in a black suit with a white shirt and a burgundy tie.
Lady Lousie’s first royal appearance
Lady Louise has become more visible in the last two years, as her parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, have risen through the royal ranks following the disgrace of Prince Andrew and the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
She was in the spotlight during the Platinum Jubilee festivities, accompanied her parents to the Commonwealth Games, and made a successful television debut in a documentary on her adored grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh. Indeed, she has become such a familiar sight that customers at the garden center where she has been working for £6.63 ($7.5) per hour since finishing her A-levels in June last year remember her.
Sophie and Prince Edward wished to provide their children with a 'typical' childhood, complete with school pals and extra-curricular activities. Lady Louise was thus mainly kept out of the spotlight throughout her youth, with her first significant Royal appearance coming at the age of nine, when she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.
Meanwhile, she played a major part in the Queen's funeral last year, seeming both tearful and poised. James, who is still just 15 years old, is seen at public events more rarely.
A really royal affair
Last night, Sophie and Lady Louise joined members of the royal family for dinner at the Mayfair club Oswald's. Reportedly, Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall stayed out till 2 am. Prince Harry arrived in London on May 1 after a 24-hour flight from Los Angeles. It was revealed last night that he was confined to the third row of the Abbey with other non-working royals.
Today is Charles III's day of destiny, as the world prepares to see the historic first coronation of a British monarch in 70 years at Westminster Abbey, where Britain will congratulate its new King.
The monarch has been heir since he was three years old and is now ready to face his destiny with the lady he loves by his side. VIP visitors lined for a mile outside the Abbey beginning at 6 am to secure one of the top 2,300 seats inside.
On a day dripping with beautiful displays of grandeur, Charles will be crowned in a Christian ceremony that dates back 1,000 years. It will also highlight Britain's position on the global stage. Tens of thousands of people or even more who have been camping out for days to witness the remarkable event are ecstatic on the streets of London today, especially on a packed Mall. Over 100 million people around the globe will tune in to watch the historic event.
'The day was about her husband'
The King's guests began arriving at the Abbey around 7 am, four hours before the ceremony. A total of 100 heads of state have arrived in London, with delegates from 203 countries expected to participate.
The longest-serving heir to the throne in British history was crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a ceremony steeped in the majesty of his legendary forefathers - but also embraces and underscores modern-day Britain's proud diversity. His wife of 18 years - and his affection for much, much longer - will be crowned alongside the King, 74. The previously inconceivable has become a reality, as the former Camilla Parker Bowles will be known as Queen Camilla as she is annointed and receives Queen Mary's Crown.
The day before the coronation, the 75-year-old Queen Consort made only a brief public appearance, when she and her husband attended a final rehearsal at Westminster Abbey in the morning. According to reports, she chose not to attend any of his other public appearances, preferring to 'pace herself' and ensure 'the day was about her husband'. "She loves him wholeheartedly and constantly wants him to shine," according to a friend.
Last night, the couple retired to Clarence House in London for a private dinner. "The calm before the storm - possibly symbolically as well as physically," a friend joked, referring to the bleak weather forecast, which the new King and Queen's festivities share with the late Queen's Coronation in 1953.