I actually like the Princess' short hair. I personally hate the idea that for a woman to be attractive or sexy she needs long hair (for most that means hairpieces as not all women are blessed with a crowning glory like Princess Salma of Morocco). The hair with the tiara look good to me and it is nice to see this piece of jewerly worn as a tiara. I have no objections to the photoshoot it helps to raise her profile in parts of Europe and Latin America and that cannot be a bad thing. The poses HSH strikes are not unbecoming or wrong. She is photographed in with her tiara in the gallerie des glaces of the palais princier a very familiar room often used by the Princely family and also the setting for many family portraits during Rainier III's reign (the yellow upholstery has been replaced a number of years ago and was allready in this pale blue colour when the princess married Albert II). Another picture shows her in front of the rock and that is fitting for the Sovereign Princess.
It's a shame she does not wear the family jewels but for some reason she has no access to or interest in them. At the wedding of princess Madeleine this tiara would have required another dress and i liked the dress she wore to that event. I did think she was underdressed for the wedding and should have added her diamond earrings and a diamond tiara (the one she wore on the evening of her own wedding, Grace's small diamond tiara or Charlotte's fringe tiara).
As for her position as consort to a Sovereign Prince. She does come across as used to that yet. I have no clue why she doesn't look comfortable in her role yet. Still Queen Mathilde of the Belgians occasionally displays a tightness in her shoulders that indicates she isn't fully comfortable either and Mathilde unlike Charlene has been receiving positive reviews for most of her official life.
--Previous Message-- : A few thoughts on the photos and discussion : here....... : : Charlene has difficult hair to dress for a : tiara, it being so short. : The style and effects of the photos are also : the end product of the hairdresser, : photographer and dress designer as well as : the Princess. So maybe this isn't 'all her : own work' by any means. : : She has always shown herself in many ways to : be her own person and retain her own sense : of style in what type of clothes and how : many jewels she wears to what events. So I : am not surprised she has not taken this : opportunity to present herself as the : 'grand' traditional Princess that her sister : in law often portrays herself as these days. : : I do think she often has sad eyes and : doesn't look entirely comfortable at events. : Maybe, like many other people not born : Royal, she hasn't got used to and doesn't : like the paparazzi and perpetual sense of : being on public view whenever out and about : and her every move can be recorded and : published for all the world to see. : : She must be under terrible pressure to : become pregnant and produce an heir so I : don't wonder that she doesn't always look : totally happy and carefree. : : --Previous Message-- : --Previous Message-- : : The difference to Crown Princess Mary of : Denmark is, that she before appeared regal : and in all style with order and jewels in : public and in portraits. : [snip] : : : We all know that, Barbara. My point was, : that there are different criterions for : formal portraits and photos accompanying : home stories in glossy magazines. To apply : the first for the latter is useless. And no : "grand" photoshooting for a : magazine could ever make up for a refusal of : grandeur in real life. : : We've seen photos of Grandduchess Maria : Teresa sitting barefoot on the floor, of : Princess Caroline and Crownprincess Mary in : staged poses wearing tiaras in informal : settings, of the Duchess of Vendôme with : jewellery in front of her mirror... do I : like it or find it appropriate? No. I find : it uninteresting and the immanent vanity of : such (non)stories basically contradicts : everything I associate with style and : posture, and yes, noblesse. Still, the : photos of Princess Charlene are not less : "royal" or more : "celebrity" than those : afore-mentioned. : : I happily admit, that the fashion historian : in me prefers a somewhat ironical approach : to "royal image" questioning : handed down perceptions, to an overdone : fulfilment à la Henri M's suggestions. And : I'm probably in a minority here insofar as : I'd prefer a lady wearing "not : enough" to "too much" : jewellery. : : We've now at least an idea how the ocean : tiara looks like when actually worn as a : tiara. I do like the piece (again apparently : in a minority here). It has a 30's look and : feel that I find appealing and it suits the : princess well, although the bottom row of : diamonds should get better support to avoid : sagging above the ear. : : :