So you didn't win the Today show's trip to London for the royal wedding. No worries. Joanne King Herring is bringing us a close look at royal weddings next month when HRH Prince Jean de France, Duc de Vendome, addresses a very fancy luncheon crowd on the subject.

In the line of succession to the French throne (were there one), HRH will share his wisdom on royal weddings in French history and his close relationship to royal weddings of the modern day — in Great Britain, Monaco and France.

The prince will be guest speaker at the "Royal Weddings — Then and Now" luncheon April 26 at the Hilton Americas-Houston where proceeds will benefit Joanne's Marshall Plan Charities for Afghanistan.

If the serious-minded mission of bringing U.S. troops home from the war in Afghanistan seems a bit out of sync with the frothiness of royal weddings, never mind. It has never been Joanne's way to follow an expected path in achieving her many goals. Money will be raised and it will be directed to creating a model village in Afghanistan.

Taking up the cause as chair of the luncheon, for which everyone is encouraged to wear white and white chapeaus, are Connie Reeves Cooke. Donna and Robert Bruni will serve as honorary chairs and Margaret Williams as honoree.

Adding to the festive affair, for which party designer Darryl Murchison promises a vision in white, will be a performance by French mezzo-soprano Marie Lenormand, currently performing in Houston Grand Opera's The Marriage of Figaro.

A host of parties for big table buyers are surrounding the prince's visit, with various hosts including Susan Krohn, Diane Lokey Farb and Paige and Tilman Fertitta.

Details: Connie Reeves Cooke at 713-626-0570 or conniecooke@sbcglobal.net.

Birthday boys

That would be Pices pals KC Gifford and Stuart Rosenberg, who celebrated their birthdays with a slew of friends in Midtown, landing first at the Community Bar and then at the sleek 5th Amendment. The partying throng, favoring bottle service over blowing out candles, included James Sivco, Jessica Phifer, Jeff Gremillion, Jody Schmal, Claudia Solis, Caroline and Jared LeBlanc, James Glassman, Edward Sanchez, David Cordua and Farrah Akhtar.

A heartfelt gathering

The evening was originally billed as a reception for Houston-based HEART (Housing, Entrepreneurship and Readiness Training) at the River Oaks home of British General Paul Lynch. And while the organization that provides occupational training for low-income/developmentally-challenged individuals has indeed a worthy mission, the conversation tended to the earthquake/tsunami tragedy inJapan, the homeland of Lynch's wife, Yoko.

The gathering served to announce the HEART benefit luncheon scheduled for May 17. The Lynches have a son with cerebral palsy and are therefore keenly interested in the non-profit's work. Joining in the evening were Karen and Byron Hood, Jane Cummins, Bob Borochoff, Bill King, Don Hooper and Rachel Palmer, City Councilman Steve Costello, David Arpin, Eric Andell, Joe Nelson and Honorary Consul of Cameroon Charles Greene.

Sight 'ems

Houston Rocket Yao Ming and wife Ye Li lunching with another couple at Ouisie's where the gentle giant enjoyed Ceasar Salad with crabmeat and his wife had a crab Cobb salad. The table shared dessert of lemon ice box pie and Tres Leches . . .

Billy Gibbons lunching in the bar at Tony's where he was joined by friends and where he kept his laptop handy.