The Duchess of Cambridge celebrates her 31st birthday today. In lieu of cake, I thought we might celebrate with a review of some of her best hat moments!
June 2011 For Kate’s first appearance at the Trooping of the Colour, she chose a dramatic black statement hat with upturned lattice brim. I was not initially a fan of this hat, but it has grown on me and I love the unique brim. I also like the contrast of this hat shape compared to the small berets and cocktail hats Kate often wears.
Designer: Silvia Fletcher for Lock & Co.
For Prince Philip’s 90th Birthday celebration service at Windsor on June 10, 2011, Kate wore a straw cocktail hat in cornflower blue with split back brim and silk flowers. Kate looks fantastic in blue and this hat and coat ensemble was just beautiful on her.
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Designer: Jane Corbett
To celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa on July 1, 2011, Kate sported a red cocktail hat with a straw disk base trimmed with round straw disk flowers and a spray of maple leaves. It was a thoughtful homage to her Canadian hosts and Kate looked full of true patriot love!
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Designer: Silvia Fletcher for Lock & Co.
For Zara Phillips’ wedding to Mike Tindall in Edinburgh on July 31, 2011, Kate wore a much larger hat than she usually chooses. While some dubbed this the “Potato Chip Hat”, I loved the unique shape and the cabbage rose trim that made it dramatic and fun.
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Designer: Gina Foster
For Christmas Day church services in 2011 while at Sandringham with the Royal Family, Kate wore a beautiful burgundy velvet modified trilby with ruffled back and satin piping. The colour was gorgeous and the velvet was absolutely perfect for Christmas.
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Designer: Jane Corbett
For the Diamond Jubilee Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 29, 2012, Kate wore a pale pink hat with small, upturned brim. I particularly liked the asymmetrical brim and lace trim on Kate as it framed her features well.
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Designer: Jane Corbett
One of the highest profile events for Kate so far during her royal life, the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla on June 3, 2012, warranted a special hat. Kate chose a red wool hat trimmed in large monochrome wool lilies to compliment her red Alexander McQueen dress. While the red made her blend in with all the red upholstery on the Royal Barge (likely a deliberate choice on her part!), I thought the shape of the hat was perfect for her and the floral trim was fun without being crafty or twee.
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Designer: Silvia Fletcher for Lock & Co.
Two days later on June 5, 2012, Kate wore a hand embroidered cocktail hat for the Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving. If I had seen this hat on it’s own, I’m not sure I would have been a fan (with embroidery, netting and tule petals, there is a lot going on for a small hat). But paired with her gorgeous lace Alexander McQueen dress, the hat made this outfit spectacular.
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Designer: Jane Taylor
On July 5, 2012 Kate repeated a latte coloured straw beret with curled ribbon trim for the Order of the Thistle ceremonies in Edinburgh when William was awarded the prestigious order. I adore this hat- it’s the perfect amount of jaunty cheekiness without being over the top and it looks fantastic on Kate.
Desigenr: Whiteley
Happy Birthday Duchess! Here’s to another year of great hat wearing (along with a few other big events in 2013!)
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
best hats. no contest. except for the queen cuz she’s the queen.
I think Kate has the best hats. They all look really good on her. She has a great face for hats. I can’t wait for what hats she wears this year.
Kate is so pretty and elegant, all of these hats look so beautiful. I don’t like the black ones as much but they are not as bad as a lot of the other princesses. She looks so beautiful in white, pink and blue.
I think I agree with you- the black hats do not look as good on Kate as most of the others. I suspect, however, we will see here in a LOT of black hats over the next decades (she will probably attend the November 11 Remembrance Day services every year).