Rose Ball - March 29th, 2008

[thekla]

Originally Posted by amad1108

who is that woman that push charlene at the side so she can take picture with albert and i cannot belive albert allow her to treat cw that way, if they are madly inlove why is she walking behind him and albert seems to not care, because i dont understand is this in their agreement?

I don't know her name, but she seems to be some sort of lady in waiting since Princess Gracia's time. You always see her in the background at official events. The one who always carries a spare pantyhose or a napkin for the ladies in her purse in case of need.. Meanwhile she's probably the only one left who cares about protocol or at least knows about it. Over the years (I believe she serves for 50 years or so) she became a grey eminence in the back. Albert or Caroline wouldn't dare to snub her. I observe her for many years and I'm wondering what's going on in her mind about the way events like that have developped over the years. But sometimes you can read on her face though. Does anybody knows more about her or at least her name - would be interesting.

[thekla]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaDreamin

You think Charlene looks old for thirty? Hmmm. I would have agreed about a year ago but either she has put herself into the hands of a great aesthetician or she has a helluva makeup team. Her skin looks flawless now, not the weather beaten freckled mess it used to be. Caroline's I-smoke-and-worshipped-the-sun-in-my-youth skin looks dramatically improved too.

I noticed quite many wrinkles for her age around her eyes and mouth - they are all gone now - obviously she has been under serious treatment.

[berry]

Originally Posted by thekla

I don't know her name, but she seems to be some sort of lady in waiting since Princess Gracia's time. You always see her in the background at official events. The one who always carries a spare pantyhose or a napkin for the ladies in her purse in case of need.. Meanwhile she's probably the only one left who cares about protocol or at least knows about it. Over the years (I believe she serves for 50 years or so) she became a grey eminence in the back. Albert or Caroline wouldn't dare to snub her. I observe her for many years and I'm wondering what's going on in her mind about the way events like that have developped over the years. But sometimes you can read on her face though. Does anybody knows more about her or at least her name - would be interesting.

her name is virginia gallico. and you are right. she is always around. was married to a writer i think, now she is widowed. i think she is a godmother either of charlotte or alexandra. quiet sure it's alexandra.

[sandsla]

Originally Posted by thekla

I don't know her name, but she seems to be some sort of lady in waiting since Princess Gracia's time. You always see her in the background at official events. The one who always carries a spare pantyhose or a napkin for the ladies in her purse in case of need.. Meanwhile she's probably the only one left who cares about protocol or at least knows about it. Over the years (I believe she serves for 50 years or so) she became a grey eminence in the back. Albert or Caroline wouldn't dare to snub her. I observe her for many years and I'm wondering what's going on in her mind about the way events like that have developped over the years. But sometimes you can read on her face though. Does anybody knows more about her or at least her name - would be interesting.

I believe she would be EMPLOYED BY THEM! I don't believe they are worried about snubbing her, she would no longer be there if they didn't wish it! I'm sure they have a lot of respect for her since they grew up with her and she still stands by their side. However I imagine Albert and Caroline have no need for simple protocol instruction that others may still be in need of.

[rosana]

Originally Posted by berry

her name is virginia gallico. and you are right. she is always around. was married to a writer i think, now she is widowed. i think she is a godmother either of charlotte or alexandra. quiet sure it's alexandra.

Yes, Alexandra, you remember Alex has all their godmothers names: Alexandra Charlotte Ulrike Marian Virginie.

[assia]

Originally Posted by rosana

Yes, Alexandra, you remember Alex has all their godmothers names: Alexandra Charlotte Ulrike Marian Virginie.

Sorry, it's not Marian but Mariam (after Mariam Sachs, o,e of the godmothers)

[Sira]

Originally Posted by julliette

Caroline (her dress is horrible)
http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/8042...0A760B0D811297
http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/8042...0A760B0D811297

Funny pic of Charlene and Albert
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture...ev/8813430.jpg

Juliette, I had the same recation when I saw P Caroline's pictures. What an horrible dress!

She used to wear very beautiful dresses before.

[moby]

The worst has happened! Caroline is being featured on Go Fug Yourself.

[iloveroyals]

Originally Posted by moby

The worst has happened! Caroline is being featured on Go Fug Yourself.

Hilarious , and well-deserved !

OK, let me get this straight : this was actually a costume ball, but only Caroline and Charlotte knew it, so they were the only ones "appropriately" dressed, leaving Charlene, as usual, in the cold, and "inappropriately" dressed. That's a stretch !

[hibou]

No it's not a stretch. Please refer to my early post above. The Rose Ball is traditionally a COSTUME BALL. This year's theme was Movida a time period in the 1980's Spain and cultural events taking place at that time. Most don't like Caroline's dress and had it not become see-through in certain light, it actually was indicative of the quirky style of the theme of the ball. Not everyone was in costume. Those who understood the spirit of the event came in costume. Please note the Mardi Gras atmosphere of the event. The photographers naturally shot only the main "characters" but if you notice the surroundings you will see that Caroline was in "character" for the theme. Charlene and a few others were not. You need to look at the whole event.

[hibou]

Originally Posted by sandsla

I believe she would be EMPLOYED BY THEM! I don't believe they are worried about snubbing her, she would no longer be there if they didn't wish it! I'm sure they have a lot of respect for her since they grew up with her and she still stands by their side. However I imagine Albert and Caroline have no need for simple protocol instruction that others may still be in need of.

Correct Sandsla. She was in fact Princess Grace's Lady in Waiting and has remained with the family after Grace's death.

[iloveroyals]

Originally Posted by hibou

No it's not a stretch. Please refer to my early post above. The Rose Ball is traditionally a COSTUME BALL. This year's theme was Movida a time period in the 1980's Spain and cultural events taking place at that time. Most don't like Caroline's dress and had it not become see-through in certain light, it actually was indicative of the quirky style of the theme of the ball. Not everyone was in costume. Those who understood the spirit of the event came in costume. Please note the Mardi Gras atmosphere of the event. The photographers naturally shot only the main "characters" but if you notice the surroundings you will see that Caroline was in "character" for the theme. Charlene and a few others were not. You need to look at the whole event.

Well, whatever the case may be, when in charge of an event of such magnitude, one should try to impose a certain coherence, and coherence was certainly lacking. (As opposed to when Grace was in charge: there, it was certainly clear when there were costume balls.) Charlotte's dress has been compared to enough styles, a Spanish eighties one not being one of them, unless I missed some posts. Who among her friends, also came in costume ? Or is costume all in the eyes of the beholder ?
As far as the photographers' lights go and everything, Caroline has been to enough events to be aware of such mishappenings. This is not Princess Diana as a nursery school teacher with the back lighting highligthing her legs.
I am sure I am not the only one that happened to have such a myopic view of the event that it needed to be explained to make us "get it".

[sm1939]

I think caroline should stay away from Karl Lagerfield's for the time being .

[La Bouche d'Or]

I'm wondering what Caroline's thinking now, when these unflattering pictures are all around the globe.

[Elly C]

Just looking at the 1st & last videos posted earlier & it seems Caroline was conscious of perhaps revealing too much up top when you look at her hand gestures. I dread to think how she might have looked when she first emerged from sitting in the limo on the way to the ball

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by moby

The worst has happened! Caroline is being featured on Go Fug Yourself.

That's funny! I guess even a style icon like the Princess is allowed an occasional misstep. She doesn't do it very often. She is still my ideal!

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by iloveroyals

Well, whatever the case may be, when in charge of an event of such magnitude, one should try to impose a certain coherence, and coherence was certainly lacking. (As opposed to when Grace was in charge: there, it was certainly clear when there were costume balls.) Charlotte's dress has been compared to enough styles, a Spanish eighties one not being one of them, unless I missed some posts. Who among her friends, also came in costume ? Or is costume all in the eyes of the beholder ?
As far as the photographers' lights go and everything, Caroline has been to enough events to be aware of such mishappenings. This is not Princess Diana as a nursery school teacher with the back lighting highligthing her legs.
I am sure I am not the only one that happened to have such a myopic view of the event that it needed to be explained to make us "get it".

I agree with you 100%. Even if this was a costume ball, Caroline surely could have gotten more into the "spirit of things" without flashing certain body parts best left covered up after age 35. She is one of the world's most tasteful, elegant women and I am her biggest fan but she belly flopped big time this year and there is no use trying to excuse it away. I totally "get it!"

As for Charlene, maybe she felt she couldn't pull off the "camp" look for the evening so decided to play it safe? She would have been torn apart worse than Caroline if she showed up in an outfit like the Princess's!

[Nad25]

Why on earth did Princess Caroline wear that dress?!!! what so nice about it??!!!

[loghan]

I think charlotte looked great.

[hibou]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaDreamin

I agree with you 100%.