Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway celebrates her 40th birthday today. To celebrate, we’re taking a trip back through time to look at how her her hat style has evolved since entering royal life.
Mette-Marit’s hats were initially quite simple and with minimal embellishment. The only statements we see here are the overly rounded or square shapes on the hat’s crown.
A few years into royal life, Mette-Marit wore a series of similar hats from Philip Treacy. The stronger shapes, larger brims and signature Treacy looped bow suited her well.
By 2006, Mette-Marit’s confidence in her royal role was displayed by a bolder millinery style….
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… which included lots of fascinators!
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More recently, Mette-Marit has moved to smaller, simpler, more streamlined pieces.
I have mixed feelings about Mette-Marit’s recent millinery choices- rumours are that the princess suffers from chronic headaches and if this is indeed the case, hat wearing might not be a comfortable option for her.
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
She is a strange lady whom I have a hard time understanding when she wears headbands and knitted ski hats to royal occasions. She looks so elegant in the pillbox hats and the berets that I hate to see this “hat break” on such a woman who has the chance to look so elegant. Let’s hope her break doesn’t last much longer when we will again see her in beautiful hat creations that she wears with such panache.
very very very nice thanks for this!!!!
I like the Philip Tracey hats with the looped bows. They look great on Mette-Marit without being fussy. Most of the fascinators are too fussy.
The fascinators are fabulous! This is a girl who can rock a feather.
Dear HatQueen:
Thank you for the hat montage. Really enjoyed it:)
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I did not think of Princess Mette-Marit as a wearer of diverse hats until putting this together. It’s always interesting to see all of someone’s hats side by side to compare.
For me Mette-Marit and the pillbox hat are a match made in heaven!
She looks very elegant in the pillbox hats. They are so classy and very royal.
You said it! Those pillbox hats are real classy and royal. I like them much better on her than those feathered ones.
I think the brimmed and the pillboxes suit her best.
I agree when you say you hope the trend towards minimalism is a short one. Where else can we enthusiasts see these wonderful creations if not at State or Royal occasions.
The princess does have a flair for wearing the small hats, doesn’t she? Very beautiful lady.