The Royal Wedding - fashion highs and lows

My mother was glued to the coverage of The Royal Wedding. I admit I was also. The latent Brit in me enjoys a bit of pomp and ceremony every now and then. Mum loves the fashion. I love the fashion faux pas - and my God there were some corkers, from Princess Anne looking like she got out of bed still wrapped in the bedclothes; Tara Palmer-Tomkinson's avant-garde headwear that could have caused serious injury to anyone within two feet of her; and David Beckham wearing the OBE on the wrong lapel - actually, David Beckham attending the wedding at all is faux pas enough.

Below is probably the worst howler of the day, together with how it should be done, and finally, a cameo appearance by Julia Eileen Gillard.

Princess Beatrice (on the right, in case you haven't worked it out), put her own reputation back ten years with a get-up more suited to the opening of a safari lodge in Kenya than her cousin's wedding. What was she thinking? Take out the 'what' of that last sentence, and you would be closer to the money.

For me, the highlight of the evening (apart from Kate's sister Pippa's stunning dress) was Samantha Cameron's teal Burberry outfit, wonderfully accessorised by neck and hair bling, and a tangerine pashmina. She looked gorgeous, and shows how perfectly acceptable it is to pull off a regal occasion without recourse to a silly fascinator. Beatrice, take a lesson.

Finally, Aussie Prime Minister, our own Julia Gillard. She looks different to what we are used to each night on the news, but I wouldn't necessarily say she looks "better". She could certainly be a bit bolder with colour (and I'm not talking about her hair), and be introduced to dresses. Thankfully, Julia didn't do her nation any great embarrassment over her choice of ensemble. Her policies and diplomatic skills are another matter entirely, but it will take more than a fashion makeover to change those.

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