The celebrations for His Majesty the King's 60th anniversary have had Bangkok awash in colour and spectacle. And while his citizens have set the country alight in a blaze of yellow commemorative shirts, the costumes of the visiting heads of state also provided a visual feast, a rare show of royal colour from all over the globe.

The array of regalia on view for this auspicious occasion has made for some fascinating fashion viewing. Many of the images that will remain with us are the more intimate glimpses of the visiting dignitaries in relatively casual attire taking in the sights of the city.

One of the prime candidates for most stylishly striking was Morocco's Princess Lalla Salma. With her stunning, fiery tresses, unique style, enigmatic smile, alabaster skin and the nod to traditional North African influences in her dramatic eye makeup, she cut quite a dash on the "catwalk" of the palace carpet.

To watch the Royal Barge Procession, the statuesque princess wore a high-collared dress coat in a shade of lemon sorbet with lace details, matched with simple accessories.

In contrast to her classic look, Princess Matte-Marit of Norway wore a strikingly modern, brown silk dress gathered at the waist, with white lining and an eye-catching canary-yellow bag. The outfit displayed a distinct sense of youthful fashion awareness.

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko also impressed onlookers with their elegantly understated style. Even in simple attire on a visit to Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya, the royal couple looked impeccably regal.

The empress' simple structured garments in silks and natural materials displayed a dignified mix of the modern and traditional, fit for a Vogue cover. Details worth noticing included the signature slit-sleeves and hem, practically stylish white loafers and a unique Japanese-style woven box bag.

Qatar's Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani and his wife, Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser al Missned, also made a memorable impression. The sheikha's outfits showed a gifted eye for fashion, producing clean-lined outfits that were subsequently dramatically stylish in their relative restraint.

At the barge ceremony she was in head-to-toe white, with a frock coat over silk tie-neck shirt and slim cigarette pants over peep-toe stilettos. She carried off film-star looks with regal finesse.

King Mswati III of Swaziland and his stunning wife, Queen Inkhosikati LaDube, a former Miss Teenage Swaziland, inspired numerous swoons of delight with their stunning traditional-print costumes.

But the more casual outfit of an eggshell blue dress coat, which Queen Inkhosikati wore on their departure, also hinted at a distinctly modern fashion influence, specifically in the detailing, with her stunning stilettos perfectly matching her husband's chic striped tie.

Sharing the title for the most stylish fashion icon among the male dignitaries were Liechtenstein's Prince Alois - who had onlookers enthralled by his dashing yellow suit on his visit to Jim Thomson's House - and the dashing Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan.

The youngest visiting dignitary at just 26, the Bhutanese prince received attention not only for his striking good looks and his homeland's magnificent national costume, but the way he sported it with a mix of stately self-confidence and relaxed ease.

As well as the sense of honour and excitement that welcomed these crowned heads, the visitors have left a unique courtly stamp of fashionable inspiration - an expression of cultural variety that is also well worth celebrating.

Hana Borrowman

The Nation