This Week in Princesses

Several royal ladies were flying their flags all over the globe this week, from Hong Kong to Peru to the Middle East. In the Netherlands, a royal wedding brought together a small crowd of royal ladies, but nothing like you'll see when Prince William marries Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey.

NOVEMBER 20, 2010

Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parme, nephew of Netherlands' Queen Beatrix, and Annemarie Gualtherie van Weezel exchange a kiss after their wedding at the Ter Kameren (La Cambre) Abbey in Brussels, November 20, 2010. REUTERS/Sebastien Pirlet (BELGIUM - Tags: ROYALS)
What better way to start the week than with a royal wedding! Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, nephew of the Dutch Queen and the Carlist claimant to the Spanish throne, and his wife, Annemarie Gualtherie van Weezel celebrated their religious wedding ceremony four months after their civil wedding. The ceremony was postponed this summer because of his father's death.

Princess Maxima (L-R), Queen Beatrix and Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands leave the Ter Kameren (La Cambre) Abbey after attending the wedding of Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parme, nephew of Queen Beatrix, and Annemarie Gualtherie van Weezel in Brussels, November 20, 2010. REUTERS/Sebastien Pirlet (BELGIUM - Tags: ROYALS)

Many royal relatives attended the wedding including the groom's aunt, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (center), his cousin Crown Prince Willem Alexander and the Crown Princess Maxima.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 20: Prince Lorentz of Belgium arrives for the Royal Wedding of Princess Annemarie Gualtherie van Weezel and Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme at Abbaye de la Cambre on November 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)

The groom's sister Princess Carolina Marchioness of Sala was pretty in purple on the arm of Prince Lorenz of Belgium, who is also an Archduke of Austria. Although the princess is single, her escort is married to the Belgian king's daughter.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 20: Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme and Princess Irene of the Netherlands arrive for the Royal Wedding of Princess Annemarie Gualtherie van Weezel and Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme at Abbaye de la Cambre on November 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)

The mother of the groom, Princess Irene of the Netherlands, also chose purple. She looked very proud arriving with her oldest son. (For more pics from the wedding, visit Mad Hattery.)


NOVEMBER 22, 2010

Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia greet the media as they arrive at the military airport in Lima November 22, 2010. Prince Felipe and his wife are in Peru for a three-day official visit. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares(PERU - Tags: POLITICS ROYALS)

Princess Letizia and Prince Felipe arrived in Peru for a three-day visit to promote trade between Spain and its former colony. At the end of the trip, Felipe called the visit "especially gratifying and fruitful."

Princess Marie of Denmark attends a luncheon in Hong Kong November 23, 2010. Princess Marie is in Hong Kong with her husband Prince Joachim to attend Danish business promotion events. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu (CHINA - Tags: ROYALS)

Meanwhile French-born Princess Marie of Denmark and her husband Prince Joachim were spending a few days in Hong Kong promoting Danish business. Ironically, Joachim's first wife, the former Alexandra Manley now Countess of Fredriksborg, was born in Hong Kong. Wonder if that was awkward for second wife, Marie?


NOVEMBER 23, 2010

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 23: Spanish Second Vice-President and Finance Minister Elena Salgado (L) and Queen Sofia of Spain (R) attend 'Museo Reina Sofia' 20th anniversary on November 23, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

Queen Sofia of Spain attended the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Queen Sofia Museum (Museo Reina Sofia). She looks lovely, but the Spanish royal ladies seem to be wearing a lot of gray lately.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Queen Elizabeth II 'Exchanges the Peace' with the Archbishop of York John Sentamu at the ninth Inauguration of the General Synod at Westminster Abbey on November 23, 2010 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II attended a service of Holy Communion at the inaugration of the ninth General Synod of the Church of England, an event which takes place every five years. (Photo by Dan Kitwood - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

As Head of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth II attended the ninth inauguration of the General Synod. She drew praise for her speech, which included the following: "In our more diverse and secular society, the place of religion has come to be a matter of lively discussion. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue and that the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation depend on the contribution of individuals and groups of all faiths and of none. Yet, as the recent visit of His Holiness The Pope reminded us, churches and the other great faith traditions retain the potential to inspire great enthusiasm, loyalty and a concern for the common good."


NOVEMBER 24, 2010

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 24: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew, Duke of York (right) arrives at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque on November 24, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh will soon arrive on a State Visit to the Middle East. The Royal couple will spend two days in Abu Dhabi and three days in Oman. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

84-year-old Queen Elizabeth II started an official tour of the Gulf States with her husband Prince Philip, who will be 90 in June, and their second son, Prince Andrew The Duke of York. Her hat-and-scarf combo drew a lot of favorable attention for its cultural sensitivity, but it does look a little warm for a visit to desert lands.


NOVEMBER 26, 2010

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 26: Sister Leontine and Queen Fabiola of Belgium attends a tribute to Sister Leontine at Clinique Saint-Jean on November 26, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Queen Fabiola of Belgium, widow of King Baudoin, still looks fabulous at 82 in a bright red scarf. The devoutly Catholic royal was attending a tribute to Sister Leontine, who is considered the founder of palliative care in Belgium. The event marked the 20th anniversary of her unit at the St. John Clinic. She and the English queen favor similar hairstyles.

Charlene Wittstock, fiancee of Prince Albert II of Monaco, arrives to attend the 10th Monte-Carlo film festival in Monaco November 26, 2010.  REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (MONACO - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ROYALS HEADSHOT)

Finally, future princess Charlene Wittstock, fiancee of Prince Albert of Monaco, was on hand for the Monaco Film Festival. Despite the somber color of her outfit, she was positively glowing. No jealousy I guess about Kate Middleton's royal wedding trumping her own by two months, I guess.

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