Royal National Day of the Week: May 19

Royal National Day of the Week: May 19

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Sunday was national day in Norway, and you know what that means...

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It's Bunad Time! One of my favorite Times, second only to Tiara Time. And Big Gowns With Trains Time. And Royal Wedding Time.

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The Crown Prince and Crown Princess and their whole family - Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, Marius Borg Høiby, and labradoodles Milly Kakao and Muffin Kråkebolle - gather outside their Skaugum home to watch the local children's parade go by. Traditional costume (bunad) all around, and even a festive bow for the pups.

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The bunad Mette-Marit wore this year is from Vest-Agder, the county where she grew up. Each version is related to a specific area and M-M has several to choose from, which is a luxury as they are not at all cheap. The craftsmanship is wonderful, and I just love seeing these traditions alive and well.

Next, they joined up with the King and Queen to greet the Oslo children's parade from the balcony of the Royal Palace. Traditional dress is gone, and hats are in place instead. I never give the gents enough credit for upping their own game with top hats here. King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon, consider your brownie points awarded.

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With her fedora and her shades, Queen Sonja looks like her efforts to go incognito were deviously foiled by a family that refused to give her the dark coat memo. Crown Princess Mette-Marit's in Prada, and against all odds (Prada = not usually my fave) I am COVETING that coat. Shame about that thing crawling up the side of her head.

Prada Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear

Photos: via Getty Images as indicated and Style.com

Royal Family Outfits of the Day: May 19

Royal Family Outfits of the Day: May 19

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The Norwegian royal family (the King and Queen, Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Princess Astrid) continued celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the constitution with a visit to the Norwegian Parliament.

And we have another candidate for Mette-Marit's best of the year! This is one well-chosen coat, the detailing calling to mind the trim of the bunad national dress (though it is actually Valentino, from the Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection, as seen on the runway above right). And no one does these simple hats better than M-M. Special recognition also goes to Ingrid Alexandra, though. She's wearing a heart pendant which was a gift from her grandmother, Queen Sonja, when she was born. A sweet gesture, a family connection, and a jewel all in one.

Click here for more photos from the Storinget Flickr, or here from Paris Match.

Also, the 17th of May has passed - and that means National Day in Norway, and that means the actual bunad outfits come out to play! Doesn't get much better than that.

Oh, but it gets a little bit better: a bonus royal sighting! The Swedish and Danish royal couples joined in for part of the fun, since this was a special event.

Photos: NRK.no/Style.com and Håkon Mosvold Larsen/NTB scanpix/Stortinget